Inorganic Research Articles

Adsorption of 2-4-6.trichlorophenol on montmorillonite surface: ONIOM study

The wastewater contains several chemicals, organic and inorganic molecules, among themolecules, 2.4.6-trichlorophenol, which is a source of contamination. The main aim of this work is to distinguish the process of 2.4.6-trichlorophenol retention with montmorillonite using QM: MM-ONIOM approach and applying local and global reactivity parametersthatare an excellent key for identifying adsorption sites. A weak hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl proton of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol molecule and oxygen atom on the montmorillonite surface, with a specific distance, Hb = 2.66 Å using M06-2X functional) has proved the physical adsorption. Thermochemical analysis reveals the exothermic nature of adsorption process. Negative ΔH values signify heat release and negative ΔG values indicating spontaneity under standard conditions.Theobtained results have proved an agreement with other experimental and theoretical data.

Effect of surfactant PEG on the property control of Bi2O3 and its photocatalytic activity

A detailed investigation into the effect of the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) addition mass on the bismuth (III) oxide (Bi2O3) photocatalyst is limited but necessary. Bismuth (III) oxide/PEG photocatalysts with different morphologies were prepared with different PEG mass via the solvothermal method and characterized for phase, morphology, optical absorption properties, elemental composition and specific surface area. The results indicated that all bismuth (III) oxide photocatalysts with different additions (Bi2O3/PEG-m x ) were pure β-bismuth (III) oxide phases, comprising larger platelike and smaller particle-like particles. Enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to increased larger specific surface area with PEG below 10 g. With 12 g of PEG, the formation of surface pores on plate-like bismuth (III) oxide impoved light penetration and utilization. Bi2O3/PEGm12 exhibited optimal photocatalytic activity, achieving over 90% bisphenol A(BPA) degradation after 180 min at 0.6 g·L−1 under visible light. Bismuth (III) oxide /PEG-ty prepared below 140°C showed poor activity, while above 160°C, high activity was observed. Bismuth (III) oxide/PEG effectively mineralize over 80% of bisphenol A into inorganic molecules and water under the co-oxidation of superoxide radicals (·O2 −) and holes (h+). This is the first detailed research on the regulation and modification of β-bismuth (III) oxide by PEG, which may provide new insights into the photocatalytic technology.

Advances in the Synthesis and Bioactivity of Polysaccharide Selenium Nanoparticles: A Review.

Selenium, an essential trace element of the human body, is pivotal in human health and disease prevention. Nevertheless, the narrow therapeutic index of selenium, where the toxic and therapeutic doses are close, limits its clinical utility. Significantly, nanoscale selenium synthesized by different methods using polysaccharides as stabilizers has low toxicity properties and exhibits excellent bioactivity. Its biological activities, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and immune function enhancement, are improved compared with traditional organic and inorganic selenium compounds, conferring greater potential for application in biomedicine. Therefore, this review evaluates the advancements in various synthesis methodologies for polysaccharide selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and their biological activities. It aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical basis and research directions for the future development of highly efficient, minimally toxic, and biocompatible polysaccharide-Se NPs and the application of polysaccharide-Se NPs in biomedicine.

Tracking the Photoactivity At The Interface of SiC/Poly 2(2-Thienyl) Furan Thin Solid Film in Polymer Gel Electrolytes

Assemblies made by immobilizing nanoparticles SiC into poly 2(2-thienyl) furane (PTF) were subjected to optical and electrochemical investigation. The studies show that SiC, a molecular inorganic compound, and PTF produce reproducible photo responses. Optical studies show that the optical band gap of SiC is around 2.5 eV while PTF's is around 2.2 eV. The band gap values suggest these assemblies absorb the visible solar radiation spectra. Electrochemical studies in gel electrolytes indicate that PTF and PTF/SiC under illumination show p-p behavior, where hole accumulation dominates. SiC thin films lack such character. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) studies revealed that the PTF and PTF/SiC possess kinetic and diffusional charge transfer properties. The studied assemblies and the gel electrolyte showed stability and resistance to photodegradation as evidenced by the regeneration of the same photo response after a longer period of experimentation.

Aflatoxin Removal and Biotransformation Aptitude of Food Grade Bacteria from Milk and Milk Products- At a Glance.

Microorganisms are the only entities in the biosphere with an incomparable ability to employ diverse organic and inorganic compounds for growth and convert it to simple form that is no longer harmful to human health and environment. Food grade microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, propionibacteria as well as several yeast species are associated with food fermentation processes as well as have gained probiotic status owing to their noteworthy offerings in health stimulation as a natural gut microbiota in animals and humans. However, as biological agents little is known about their application for bioremediation and biotransformation aptitude. In context to this, aflatoxin M1 is a class of mycotoxins often associated with milk through consumption of fungus contaminated feed & fodders by cattle and well documented for their adverse health effects. Therefore, current review summarizes significance of aflatoxins present in milk and dairy products in human life, their source, types & health implications; food grade bacteria including probiotic strains and their mechanism of action involved in the removal of aflatoxin; and last section discusses the outcome of major studies showing aflatoxin reduction potential of food grade bacteria in milk and milk based products.

Enhancing Understanding of Siloxane Surface Properties and Functional Group Effects on Water Deoxygenation

The deoxygenation process in water used in well injection operations is an important matter to eliminate corrosion in the petroleum industry. This study used molecular dynamics simulations to understand the behavior of siloxane surfaces by studying the surface properties with two functional groups attached to the end of siloxane and their effect on the deoxygenation process. The simulations were performed using LAMMPS to characterize surface properties. Jmol software version 14 was used to generate siloxane chains with (8, 20, and 35) repeat units. We evaluated properties such as total energy, surface tension, and viscosity. Then, we used siloxane as a membrane to compare the efficiency of deoxygenation for both types of functional groups. The results indicated that longer chain lengths increased the total energy and viscosity while decreasing surface tension. Replacing methyl groups with trifluoromethyl (CF3) groups increased all the above mentioned properties in varying proportions. Trifluoromethyl (CF3) groups showed better removal efficiency than methyl (CH3) groups but allowed more water to pass. Furthermore, the simulations were run using the class II potential developed by Sun, Rigby, and others within an explicit-atom (EA) model. This force field is universally applicable to the atomistic simulation of polymers, inorganic small molecules, and common organic molecules.

Facile fabrication method of nanocomposite pore filling ion exchange membrane: Impregnation method using dispersion solution of inorganic particles

Research on composite ion exchange membranes (IEMs) focuses on compensating the limitations of homogenous IEMs. The fabrication of nanocomposite IEMs is relatively complex, as the dispersion of inorganic substances within a polymer matrix must be considered. In this study, we propose a simple method for preparing nanocomposite IEMs by combining a porous substrate and dispersion solution with inorganic nanoparticles. The nanocomposite porous substrate with nanoparticles is prepared by impregnating a solution into a porous substrate, where the nanoparticles penetrate the nanosized pores of the substrates by capillary forces. Subsequently, nanocomposite pore-filling IEMs (PIEMs) are fabricated by impregnating an electrolyte solution into the substrate and photopolymerization. Impregnation applies to the manufacture of nanocomposite PIEMs, regardless of the type, surface conditions, and size of inorganic particles in dispersion. Through the sequential impregnation of dispersion solutions, single- and multi-component PIEMs containing more than one type of nanoparticle are manufactured. The increased interconnectivity of ion conduction channels in PIEMs by nanoparticles causes permselectivity improvement in nanocomposite PIEMs. However, compared to PIEMs without inorganic particles, the addition of inorganic particles results in a lower electrolyte polymer content in the PIEMs, leading to deterioration of the ion exchange capacity and resistance of nanocomposite PIEMs.

Precise management and control around the landfill integrating artificial intelligence and groundwater pollution risks

The Landfill plays an important role in urban development and waste disposal. However, landfill leachate may also bring more serious pollution and health risks to the surrounding groundwater environment. Compared with other areas, the area around the landfill needs more precise management. To solve this problem, based on the "pressure-state-response" framework, a method for the identification and evaluation of groundwater pollution around the landfill was constructed. The LPI method was used to assess the contamination potential of the leachate. The comprehensive quality of groundwater was evaluated by the entropy-AHP water quality assessment method, sodium adsorption ratio and sodium percentage. The probabilistic health risks of groundwater were assessed based on a Monte Carlo algorithm. The sources of pollutants were identified by comprehensively using the PCA-APCS-MLR model and the PMF model. Finally, the self-organizing map algorithm and the Kmeans algorithm were integrated to enhance the precision of groundwater management and control measures. The results showed that the leachate of the landfill was in the mature stage, and the concentration of inorganic substances was relatively high. Leachate had the potential to contaminate surrounding groundwater. The groundwater quality of 68.14% of the study area was in the poor or lower level. The groundwater near the landfill was unsuitable not only for drinking but also for irrigation purposes. Cl- was the main non-carcinogenic risk factor. Reducing pollutant concentration and controlling exposure time are effective strategies for mitigating health risks caused by high-concentration pollutants (Cl-, NO3-) and low-concentration pollutants (F-), respectively. The groundwater around the landfill was jointly affected by six pollution sources. The PMF model has better analytical ability in mixed pollution areas. The groundwater in the study area was divided into five clusters, of which cluster Ⅰ was significantly affected by leachate, and cluster Ⅴ had the lowest pollution and health risk.

Towards water-resistant perovskite solar cells: Electron-beam deposited SiO2 layers for highly stable perovskite solar cells

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) incorporating organic–inorganic compounds exhibit promising potential for future photovoltaic devices. One of the main obstacles to commercializing perovskite photovoltaic technology is oxygen and water-induced degradation in ambient conditions. Herein, we demonstrate a general approach to protect PSCs from water-induced degradation using electron-beam evaporated silicon dioxide (SiO2) barrier coating. A number of small (0.25 cm2) and large-area (2.0 cm2) PSCs have been fabricated to obtain statistically significant data. An optimal 1-μm thick SiO2 layer coated over RbCsMAFAPb(IBr)3-PSCs provided remarkable protection even after fully immersing the devices in a water-filled container. After immersing the PSC in water for 1 min, the device efficiency showed only a small reduction in efficiency from 14.3 % to 12.0 %, highlighting the excellent water protection offered by the barrier layer. We show that SiO2 barrier layers can improve the overall stability of the cells. Perovskite devices coated with 1 µm-SiO2 protective layers maintained more than 85 % of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) values after 2000 h in ambient storage. The devices coated with the optimum SiO2 layer thickness of 1 µm also showed excellent stability during outdoor sunlight testing for 2000 h, maintaining ∼ 80 % of their initial efficiency values.

Molecular characterization and validation of zinc solubilization potential of bacteria isolated from onion (Allium cepa L.) rhizosphere

Zinc (Zn) is essential for optimal plant growth and nutrition, while zinc-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) enhance plant accessibility to zinc by converting its insoluble forms into usable ones. The primary objective of this research was to isolate and identify Zn-solubilizing strains from the onion rhizosphere and evaluate their ability to solubilize different insoluble Zn compounds, including ZnO, ZnCO3, and Zn3(PO4)2. Of the nineteen bacterial isolates retrieved, fifteen demonstrated the ability to solubilize inorganic Zn compounds based on plate assay techniques. The Zn-solubilizing bacterial strains, selected for their qualitative properties, underwent quantitative testing in broth culture using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (FE-SEM-EDS). Seven bacterial isolates with a high capacity to solubilize Zn were identified based on 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequence analysis. These isolates were affiliated with Pantoea eucrina, Pantoea dispersa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus velezensis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Notably, this study is the first to report the potential of Pantoea eucrina as a ZSB. The strain Pantoea eucrina ZSC9 exhibited the maximum Zn solubilization index (8.85) and the highest soluble Zn content (624 mg L−1) among the three insoluble Zn compounds, with ZnO being the most effectively solubilized on the 10th day of incubation in ZnO-enriched basal medium. All bacterial isolates were more effective at solubilizing ZnO than ZnCO3 and Zn3(PO4)2, and this solubilization led to a significant drop in the pH of the broth. Pantoea eucrina ZSC9 showed the maximum pH reduction (3.82) in a ZnO-supplemented medium, indicating a negative correlation between broth pH and Zn solubilization. Seven selected ZSB strains were assessed for their potential to enhance onion growth under pot house conditions. The results showed that inoculating onion seedlings with these ZSB strains significantly improved their growth. Among the strains tested, ZSC9, ZSC10, and ZSC17 were the most effective, enhancing growth attributes such as plant height, bulb diameter, fresh and dry weight of bulbs, Zn uptake by the plant, and overall bulb yield compared to other strains. These findings suggest that these ZSB isolates have great potential as biofertilizers to enhance plant growth and development.

Phenanthroline and phenyl carboxylate mixed ligand copper complexes in developing drugs to treat cancer

The success of a classic inorganic coordination compound, Cisplatin, cis-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2], as the first anticancer metallodrug started a field of research dedicated to discovering coordination compounds with antitumor activity, encompassing various metals. Among these, copper complexes have emerged as interesting candidates to develop drugs to treat cancer. In this work, mixed ligand complexes of Cu(II) with diimines (phenanthroline or 4-methylphenanthroline) and 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate, phenylcarboxylate or phenylacetate were synthesized. They were characterized in the solid state, including a new crystal structure of [Cu2(3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate)3(phenanthroline)2]Cl·H2O. The obtained complexes presented a variety of stoichiometries. In solution, complexes were partially dissociated in the corresponding Cu-diimine complex. The complexes bound to the DNA by partial intercalation and groove binding, as assessed by Circular Dichroism, relative viscosity change and UV–Vis titration. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was determined in vitro on MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 (human metastatic breast adenocarcinomas, the first triple negative), MCF-10A (breast nontumoral), A549 (human lung epithelial carcinoma), and MRC-5 (human nontumoral lung epithelial cells), finding an activity higher than that of Cisplatin, although with less selectivity.

Understanding the Activity and Stability Relationship on Metal Oxide Surfaces during the Electrochemical Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species

Inappropriate waste disposal is a significant anthropogenic source of water pollution. This action is responsible for the release of a variety of pollutants into water bodies, including heavy metals, inorganic and organic compounds, which can have severe consequences for aquatic ecosystems and human communities.[1] Particularly, some organic contaminants such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) commonly found in trace concentrations can remain in the environment due to their high resistance to breakdown.[2] Thus, the development of highly effective water remediation technologies is a challenge.Electrochemical methods stand out among the array of tools due to their ability to eliminate pollutants effectively and selectively in an environmentally friendly way. The advantage of the method is tied to the electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOP), which involve the generation of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ozone(O3), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH). These species can indirectly mineralize organic pollutants to CO2 and H2O. The ROS generation is related to the electrocatalyst's nature, being limited for some classes of materials, such as metal oxides (PbO2, SnO2, TiO2, WO3), and Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD).[2-5] Despite their highly reactive nature, we still know very little about the impact of ROS on the surface stability of metal oxide surfaces that show a high overpotential for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and therefore, are believed to generate predominantly ROS at high electrode potentials (e.g., >1.7 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE). Concerning the electrocatalysts' stability, the eventual deactivation constitutes a pivotal parameter with significant implications for the operational cost to commercialize this water remediation approach.Hence, to understand the trends in surface stability of metal oxides and their correlation to the activity toward ROS formation, we have deployed a combination of in situ electrochemical methods that allow us to directly measure the reaction rates (current) simultaneously with metal dissolution rates using the Stationary Probe Rotating Disk Electrode-ICP-MS method, and selectivity for the formation of O2, H2O2. Ou study framed metal oxides typically considered non-active for oxygen evolution and capable of generating ROS, such as PbO2, SnO2, TiO2, and ZnO.[3] To establish a comparative benchmark, we also utilized IrO2, known as a good OER catalyst due to its high activity-stability factor (ASF).[6-8] Figure 1 shows a set of cyclic voltammetry data obtained from a PbO2 surface in 0.1 mol L-1 NaOH. Although we observe oxidation currents only above 1.9 V vs RHE, monitoring the ring current at two different potentials reveals close to 100% selectivity towards O2 evolution and below 0.2% for H2O2 up to 2.2 V, while the onset of metal dissolution occurs above 2.1V. This result suggests that O2 evolution is still present even on materials that require very high overpotentials, and that metal dissolution might be intrinsically related to the formation of O2 and ROS from the electrolyte’s adsorbed oxygen anions on the metal oxide surface and/or (ionically) bonded oxygen anions in the metal lattice as expected from thermodynamic considerations.[9] Such fundamental comprehension about how the dissolution process impacts the activity of the surface sites for ROS generation can guide the design of not only active but also stable materials for water remediation systems.[10]

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

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

Performance of a Ship-Based Cupronickel Alloy in Exposure Conditions of Arabian Seawater-A Comparative Study.

Cupronickel-based alloys are widely known for their excellent resistance against aqueous corrosion, however, they can be susceptible to corrosion at accelerated rates and premature failure when exposed to a polluted or brackish seawater medium, even for short-term exposure durations. This unfamiliar corrosion behavior may be a result of the formation of an unprotected corrosion film during the early exposure durations. The paper investigates the corrosion phenomenon in cupronickel 90/10 alloy, by exposing the coupons in two different seawater compositions in the Arabian Sea region. Corrosion losses were investigated on the experimental coupons in a submerged position, for a maximum exposure duration of 150 days, using the conventional weight loss method and a new dimensional metrology-based measurement technique. Additionally, in this research the tubes of a marine heat exchanger having similar material that failed prematurely during operation in the Arabian Sea were also investigated for corrosion losses, followed by the characterization of the corrosion deposits using following analytical techniques: SEM, EDS, XRD and Raman Scattering. The experimental results showed significantly higher corrosion losses on coupons exposed to seawater site rich in pollutants and nutrients including dissolved inorganic nitrogenous compounds, compared to those subjected to a natural seawater solution in corrosion tanks maintained in a controlled environment.

Distribution and functional perspective analysis of epiphytic and endophytic bacterial communities associated with marine seaweeds, Alexandria shores, Egypt

There is an enormous diversity of life forms present in the extremely intricate marine environment. The growth and development of seaweeds in this particular environment are controlled by the bacteria that settle on their surfaces and generate a diverse range of inorganic and organic chemicals. The purpose of this work was to identify epiphytic and endophytic bacterial populations associated with ten common marine macroalgae from various areas along the Mediterranean Sea coast in Alexandria. This was done to target their distribution and possible functional aspects. Examine the effects of the algal habitat on the counting and phenotypic characterization of bacteria, which involves grouping bacteria based on characteristics such as shape, colour, mucoid nature, type of Gram stain, and their ability to generate spores. Furthermore, studying the physiological traits of the isolates under exploration provides insight into the optimum environmental circumstances for bacteria associated with the formation of algae. The majority of the bacterial isolates exhibited a wide range of enzyme activities, with cellulase, alginase, and caseinase being the most prevalent, according to the data. Nevertheless, 26% of the isolates displayed amylolytic activity, while certain isolates from Miami, Eastern Harbor, and Montaza lacked catalase activity. Geographical variations with the addition of algal extract may impact on the enumeration of the bacterial population, and this might have a relationship with host phylogeny. The most significant observation was that endophytic bacteria associated with green algae increased in all sites, while those associated with red algae increased in Abu Qir and Miami sites and decreased in Eastern Harbor. At the species level, the addition of algal extract led to a ninefold increase in the estimated number of epiphytic bacteria for Cladophora pellucida in Montaza. Notably, after adding algal extract, the number of presented endophytic bacteria associated with Codium sp. increased in Abu Qir while decreasing with the same species in Montaza. In addition to having the most different varieties of algae, Abu Qir has the most different bacterial isolates.

The Role of Antioxidants in the Therapy of Cardiovascular Diseases-A Literature Review.

Antioxidants are endogenous and exogenous substances with the ability to inhibit oxidation processes by interacting with reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS, in turn, are small, highly reactive substances capable of oxidizing a wide range of molecules in the human body, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and even small inorganic compounds. The overproduction of ROS leads to oxidative stress, which constitutes a significant factor contributing to the development of disease, not only markedly diminishing the quality of life but also representing the most common cause of death in developed countries, namely, cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this review is to demonstrate the effect of selected antioxidants, such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), flavonoids, carotenoids, and resveratrol, as well as to introduce new antioxidant therapies utilizing miRNA and nanoparticles, in reducing the incidence and progression of CVD. In addition, new antioxidant therapies in the context of the aforementioned diseases will be considered. This review emphasizes the pleiotropic effects and benefits stemming from the presence of the mentioned substances in the organism, leading to an overall reduction in cardiovascular risk, including coronary heart disease, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and myocardial hypertrophy.

In-Line Thermal Desorption and Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization for Rapid Mass Spectrometry Detection of Explosives.

Thermal desorption (TD) of wipe-based samples was coupled with an in-line dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDI) source and rugged compact time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MS) for the detection of explosives, propellants, and postblast debris. The chromatography-free TD-DBDI-MS platform enabled rapid and sensitive detection of organic nitramine, nitrate ester, and nitroaromatic explosives as well as black powder and black powder substitute propellants. Parametric investigations characterized the response to TD temperature and optimized DBDI voltage, aerodynamically assisted entrainment, and fragmentation through in-source collision induced dissociation (isCID). Excess nitrate generated by the DBDI source yielded predominantly nitrate-adduct formation. Subnanogram sensitivities were demonstrated for all explosives investigated, except for nitroglycerin, specifically due to its volatility. Further, most analytes/explosives exhibited tens of picograms sensitivities. The platform also demonstrated the detection of propellant and military explosives from postblast debris. The TD-DBDI-MS system performed well without the need for aerodynamically assisted entrainment (and the associated rough pump), which along with requiring no additional gases (i.e., N2 or He) or solvents, aid in potential field deployment. The ease of TD-DBDI attachment and removal added trace solid or liquid residue detection to the rugged mass spectrometer, designed primarily for the analysis of volatile organic and inorganic compounds.

Cyclotriphosphazene: A Versatile Building Block for Diverse Functional Materials.

Cyclotriphosphazene (CP) is a cyclic inorganic compound with the chemical formula N3P3. This unique molecule consists of a six-membered ring composed of alternating nitrogen and phosphorus atoms, each bonded to two chlorine atoms. CP exhibits remarkable versatility and significance in the realm of materials chemistry due to its easy functionalization via facile nucleophilic substitution reactions in mild conditions as well as intriguing properties of resultant final CP-based molecules or polymers. CP has been served as an important building block for numerous functional materials. This review provides a general and broad overview of the synthesis of CP-based small molecules through nucleophilic substitution of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP), and their applications, including flame retardants, liquid crystals (LC), chemosensors, electronics, biomedical materials, and lubricants, have been summarized and discussed. It would be expected that this review would offer a timely summary of various CP-based materials and hence give an insight into further exploration of CP-based molecules in the future.

Construction of Sulfone‐Based Polymer Electrolyte Interface Enables the High Cyclic Stability of 4.6 V LiCoO2 Cathode by In Situ Polymerization

AbstractLithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) is considered an indispensable cathode material in the realm of consumer electronic batteries due to its high volumetric energy density. However, at a charging cut‐off voltage as high as 4.6 V, significant interfacial side reactions between LiCoO2 and the electrolyte occur, which adversely impact the battery's cycle performance. The surface‐related issues of LiCoO2 at high charge voltages not only constrain its utilization in conventional lithium‐ion batteries with liquid electrolytes but also limit its application in solid‐state batteries. Although traditional coating methods using inert inorganic compounds can partially alleviate this issue, their point‐like coatings fail to completely prevent the surface of LiCoO2 from direct contact with the electrolyte. The exploration of novel surface protection strategies for LiCoO2 remains imperative to address the associated challenges. Herein, introducing a sulfone‐based polymer electrolyte interface is proposed on the surface of LiCoO2 using methyl vinyl sulfone (MVS) through in situ polymerization. Remarkably, LiCoO2 with sulfone‐based polymer electrolyte interface exhibits a capacity retention rate of 83% after 500 cycles when employing a carbonate electrolyte without additives at a charge cut‐off voltage of 4.6 V. Furthermore, the LiCoO2 and polymer electrolyte interface exhibits exceptional cycle stability when paired with polyether solid electrolytes that do not possess high voltage tolerance. Moreover, the incorporation of a polymer electrolyte interface not only enhances the cycle stability of LiCoO2 but also improves its thermal stability. This work presents novel research perspectives for exploring high‐voltage stable LiCoO2.

A novel approach to produced water management using surfactants for water-wise energy production

Evaporation can become a prominent solution for management of the large volumes of contaminated water produced each year in the energy industry. However, improvements to the evaporation rates are needed which can be accomplished through the use of surfactants. In this paper, organic and inorganic compounds commonly found in produced water were studied in a controlled, laboratory oven to understand their effect on water evaporation rate. Organic compounds were classified in three ways: as either miscible or immiscible, as having a density less than or greater than water for immiscible compounds, and by their volatility. For each sample, the evaporation rate and surface tension were measured, and correlations were made between the two. As the cationic charges of salts added to water increased from +1 to +3, the evaporation rates decreased and the surface tension increased. Monovalent cationic charges were 60% higher than solutions containing divalent or trivalent cations. From the organic compounds tested, the addition of surfactants to deionized water increased evaporation rates by more than 50% while the addition of immiscible organic compounds hindered these rates. Surfactants reduced the surface tension of these samples thus positively affecting the evaporation rates. Applying surfactants to basic salt solutions showed evaporation rates increased with the greatest being that of sodium chloride, the most common salt in produced water. Increases in salt concentrations lowered evaporation rates and increased surface tension while increases in surfactant concentrations did not necessarily continue to reduce surface tension and increase evaporation rates. When surfactants were added to produced water samples, up to a 27% increase in the rates of evaporation were observed. The quality of produced water varies from region to region and therefore some surfactants may have a greater effect in one type of water than another.