Microwave-assisted Synthesis Research Articles

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel Ti/BTB-MOFs as porous anticancer and antibacterial agents

Nano compounds, especially metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have significant properties. Among the most important properties of these compounds, which depend on their specific surface area and porosity, are biological properties, such as anticancer and antibacterial properties. In this study, a new titanium/BTB metal-organic framework (Ti/BTB-MOF) was synthesized by using titanium nitrate and 1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (BTB) under microwave radiation. The structure of the synthesized Ti/BTB-MOF was characterized and confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis mapping, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The in vitro anticancer properties of Ti/BTB-MOF were evaluated using the MTT method against MG-63/bone cancer cells and A-431/skin cancer cells. The in vitro antibacterial activity was tested using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. In the anticancer activity, IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values of 152 μg/mL and 201 μg/mL for MG-63/bone cancer cells and A-431/skin cancer cells, respectively, were observed. In the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2–64 μg/mL were observed against studied pathogenic strains. The antimicrobial activity of Ti/BTB-MOF was higher than that of penicillin and gentamicin. Therefore, the synthesized Ti/BTB-MOF could be introduced as a suitable bioactive candidate.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Few-Layer Ti3C2Tx Loaded with Ni0.5Co0.5Se2 Nanospheres for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Transition metal selenides have high theoretical capacities, making them attractive candidates for energy storage applications. Here, using the microwave-absorbing properties of the materials, we designed a simple and efficient microwave-assisted synthesis method to produce a composite made of nanospheres Ni0.5Co0.5Se2 (NCSe) and highly conductive, stable Ti3C2Tx MXene. The Ni0.5Co0.5Se2/Ti3C2Tx composites are characterized via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The findings indicate that 3D Ni0.5Co0.5Se2 bimetallic selenide nanospheres were uniformly loaded within the few-layer Ti3C2Tx MXene wrapper in a short period. The optimal NCSe/Ti3C2Tx−2 electrode can demonstrate a specific capacitance of 752.4 F g–1 at 1 A g–1. Furthermore, the asymmetric supercapacitor combined with activated carbon maintains a capacitance retention of 110% even after 5000 cycles. The method of directly growing active substances on few-layer Ti3C2Tx MXene will provide inspiration for the manufacture of high-pseudocapacitance supercapacitors.

Microwave-assisted green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and chitosan nanocomposites for the removal of reactive blue-19

Microwave-assisted green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and chitosan nanocomposites for the removal of reactive blue-19

N-Butylpyrrolidinone is an equally good solvent as N,N-dimethylformamide for microwave assisted solid phase peptide synthesis.

Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) is the prevailing method for synthesizing research peptides today. However, SPPS is associated with a significant environmental concern due to the utilization of hazardous solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or N-methylpyrrolidone, which generate substantial waste. In light of this, our research endeavors to identify more environmentally friendly solvents for SPPS. In this study, we have assessed the suitability of five green solvents as alternatives to DMF in microwave assisted SPPS. The solvents evaluated include Cyrene, ethyl acetate, 1,3-dioxolane, tetrahydro-2-methylfuran, and N-Butylpyrrolidinone (NBP). Our investigation encompassed all stages of the synthesis process, from resin swelling, dissolution of reagents, culminating in the successful synthesis of five diverse peptides, including the challenging ACP 65-74, Peptide 18A, Thymosin α1, and Jung-Redemann peptide. Our findings indicate that NBP emerged as a strong contender, performing on par with DMF in all tested syntheses. Furthermore, we observed that combinations of NBP with either ethyl acetate or tetrahydro-2-methylfuran demonstrated excellent results. This research contributes to the pursuit of more sustainable and environmentally conscious practices in peptide synthesis.

Tb-doped strontium aluminate nanophosphor: cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity, and bioimaging in plant cells

This study explores the novel application of terbium-doped strontium aluminate nanoparticles for fluorescence imaging in plant cells. The study encompasses microwave assisted solid state synthesis as well as the structural and optical characterization of terbium-doped strontium aluminate nanophosphors, their toxicity studies in plant and animal cells and their use as a fluorescent dye for plant imaging. The X-ray diffraction pattern analysis, along with Rietveld refinement studies, show the formation of SrAl2O4 as a dominant crystalline phase. Photoluminescence investigations demonstrate green emission from Tb3+ transition levels. In vitro biocompatibility of terbium-doped strontium aluminate nanophosphors was studied using L929 fibroblast cells. The plant Clitoria ternatea was used to examine phytotoxicity. The samples' potential for bioimaging was further investigated. Our findings reveal improved growth of seedlings, positioning these nanoparticles as promising tools in plant-related research. This study advances our understanding of nanoparticle-plant interactions and holds potential for transformative applications in agriculture.

Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of Zinc-tin Based Nanoflower for the Adsorptive Removal of Cadmium from Synthetic Wastewater

The present study utilized zinc-tin nanoflowers (ZT-NFs) in a batch adsorption treatment process to effectively remove cadmium from synthetic wastewater. The batch adsorption strategy was optimized using the univariate approach to enhance the efficiency of the adsorption process. The dominant parameters examined in the optimization experiments were pH/volume of buffer solution, nanoflower amount, and sample agitation type/period. After determining the optimal batch adsorption conditions, equilibrium studies were performed by adding cadmium to synthetic wastewater at concentrations in the range of 1.0 – 40 mg/L. The quantification accuracy for cadmium was improved by developing the calibration plot with spiked sample matrix. The equilibrium data were subjected to mathematical modelling utilizing the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The calculated isotherm constants indicated a well-fitted isotherm model to the experimental data. The reported ZT-NFs-based adsorptive removal strategy was effectively employed to remove cadmium from synthetic wastewater.

Low-temperature microwave-assisted synthesis of Bi2WO6/Bi2S3 heterojunction for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in industrial wastewater

Cr(VI) pollution has become a worldwide environmental issue due to its toxicity and non-biodegradability in wastewater. Herein, a Bi2S3/Bi2WO6 (BWS) Z-scheme heterojunction was successfully fabricated via a low-temperature in situ sulfurization process assisted by microwave irradiation and applied to the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in industrial electroplating wastewater. The effects of Bi2S3 loading, catalyst dosage, light source, and synthesis method on the catalytic performance of the heterojunctions were investigated. Remarkably, the optimized BWS-6 heterojunction achieved 100% Cr(VI) removal within 50min under LED light irradiation and 30min under sunlight irradiation, which greatly exceeded the pure Bi2S3 and Bi2WO6. In addition, BWS-6 exhibited high photostability, and it still sustained preferable photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction activity under sunlight irradiation when the experiment was scaled up 20 times. The high photocatalytic activity of BWS photocatalysts can be ascribed to enlarged surface area, active centers, and intimate interfacial contact of Z-scheme heterojunction, which greatly improve visible-light harvesting, surface adsorption, and the transport efficiency of interfacial charge. Experimental and theoretical calculation results further evidenced a built-in electric field forming at the interface of the Z-scheme heterojunction and unveiled a possible photocatalytic reduction pathway. This work provides valuable information for large-scale applications in the removal of Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater by Z-scheme heterojunctions.

Natural carbon incorporated ZnO/C and ZnO: Sustainable nanomaterials for antioxidant, toxicity and cytotoxicity investigations

The innovative synthesis of ZnO/C nanocomposites and pristine ZnO nanoparticles using an ethanol extract of Anodendron parviflorum through various environmentally mediated approaches has been reported for the first time. The oil bath and blue LED mediated synthesis led to the synthesis of O–ZnO/C and B–ZnO/C nanocomposites, whereas the microwave-assisted synthesis yielded pristine M − ZnO nanoparticles. The biosynthesized nanomaterials were analyzed through UV, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, EDX, XRD, AFM, TGA, FTIR, XPS, Raman and zeta potential. The sizes of the O–ZnO/C, B–ZnO/C, and M − ZnO nanomaterials were 14.8, 24.49 and 16.39 nm in XRD. FE-SEM images revealed the spherical morphology of the nanomaterials. XRD, EDX, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of carbon derived from the plant in B–ZnO/C and O–ZnO/C, and its absence in M − ZnO nanoparticles. The O–ZnO/C and B–ZnO/C nanocomposites exhibited better antioxidant properties than M-ZnO. Biocompatibility studies revealed that the nanocomposites were more biocompatible than the M-ZnO. Furthermore, the cytotoxic studies showed potent anticancer properties of B–ZnO/C and O–ZnO/C compared to M − ZnO nanomaterials with IC50 values of 28.1 ± 1.3, 39.7 ± 2.5, and 69 ± 2.6 μg/mL for HeLa cell lines and 23.6 ± 2, 30.5 ± 1.9, and 39.3 ± 2.2 μg/mL against A549 cell lines. Therefore, novel nanocomposites are potential pharmaceutical agents for various cancer therapeutics.

Microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization and in vitro biomedical applications of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.-mediated carbon quantum dots

In recent years, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have garnered considerable attention as a promising material for biomedical applications because of their unique optical and biological properties. In this study, CQDs were derived from the leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. via microwave-assisted technique and characterized using different techniques such as ultraviolet–visible, Fourier transform infrared, fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Subsequently, their potential for biomedical applications was investigated through in vitro assays assessing scratch healing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity properties. It was found that the CQDs were fluorescent, polycrystalline, quasi-spherical, ~ 12 nm in size with presence of –OH and –COOH groups on their negatively charged surfaces, and demonstrated good anti-inflammatory by inhibiting protein denaturation, cyclooxygenase-2 and regulating inflammatory cytokines. The CQDs also exhibited antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus cereus, good biocompatibility, along with excellent promotion of cell proliferation in vitro, indicating their potential as a anti-inflammatory and wound healing material. The properties were more enhanced than their precursor, H. rosa-sinensis leaf extract. Hence, the CQDs synthesized from the leaves of H. rosa-sinensis can serve as a potential biomedical agent.

Gram-scale microwave-assisted synthesis of high-quality CsPbBr3 nanocrystals for optoelectronic applications

Fully inorganic halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are promising candidates for optoelectronic applications due to their beneficial properties such as their amenability to solution processing, high absorption coefficients, and high quantum yields. Various methods have been developed to prepare perovskite CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I) NCs; however, large-scale synthesis with high-quality CsPbX3 NCs remains challenging. In the study, we report an advanced method for the gram-scale synthesis of all-inorganic perovskite NCs via specially designed microwave-assisted synthesis, which offers uniform reaction energy transfer, excellent reproducibility, and flexible parameter tuning. The composition, size and uniformity of the CsPbBr3 NCs have been optimized by controlling the surfactant ratio, precursor ratio, and reaction time. This systematic optimization leads to the production of gram-scale (> 0.165 g per a 100 ml reaction mixture for a single synthesis cycle) high-quality, phase-pure CsPbBr3 NCs with a uniform size of ∼ 10 nm. These optimized NCs exhibit a sharp photoluminescence peak centered at 515 nm with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 94 % and produce excellent radioluminescence under X-ray irradiation. To test the feasibility of these NCs for use in real optoelectronic devices, a photodetector consisting of CsPbBr3 NCs and monolayer MoS2 was fabricated, demonstrating enhanced photosensitivity and a faster response time compared with a pure MoS2-based photodetector. The proposed gram-scale microwave-assisted synthesis method thus has the potential to promote the commercialization of metal halide perovskite NCs through cost-effective mass production for use in many optoelectronic applications.

Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of Ru-doped Mn3O4 Nanoflowers for Biomedical Applications

Ruthenium-doped manganese oxide nanoflowers (denoted as Ru-Mn3O4 NFs) were synthesized via microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MW-HT) method. The prepared NFs were evaluated for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and hemolytic assays. Because of their unique physicochemical features, low cytotoxicity, excellent stability, exceptional antibacterial action, and significant interest in biomedical field. Various analytical techniques were used to assess the related phase constitution, elemental content, and surface morphology. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) micrographs revealed that the Ru-Mn3O4 NFs had a tetragonal phase with a nanoflowers-like shape and Ru mainly existed as the metallic state. It has been found that Ru-Mn3O4 NFs hold higher microbial activities against various pathogens, making them ideal options for fighting bacterial infections.

Microwave-assisted Fast Synthesis of a Donor-Acceptor Covalent Organic Framework towards Photooxidative Amidation Catalysis.

The synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) at bulkscalerequire robust, straightforward, andcost-effective techniques. However, the traditional solvothermal synthetic methods of COFs suffer low scalability as well as requirement of sensitive reaction environment and multiday reaction time (2-10 days) which greatly restricts their practical application. Here, we report microwave assisted rapid and optimized synthesis of a donor-acceptor (D-A) based highly crystalline COF, TzPm-COF in second (10 sec) to minute (10 min) time scale. With the increasing of the time from seconds to minutes crystallinity, porosity and morphological changes are also observed for TzPm-COF. Owing to visible range light absorption, suitable band alignment, and low exciton binding energy (Eb=64.6meV),TzPm-COF canefficaciously produce superoxide radical anion (O2•-) after activating molecular oxygen (O2) which eventually drives aerobic photooxidative amidation reaction with high recyclability. This photocatalytic approach works well with a variety of substituted aromatic aldehydes having electron-withdrawing or donating groups and cyclic, acyclic, primary or secondary amines with moderate to high yield. Furthermore, catalytic mechanism was established by monitoring the real-time reaction progress through in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopic (DRIFTS) study.

Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Performance of α-Bi2Mo3O12 in the Selective Oxidation of Propene

Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Performance of α-Bi2Mo3O12 in the Selective Oxidation of Propene

NNO donor Schiff base metal complexes: Enzyme mimicking, DNA binding and biological insights

The present work focuses on the microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization and biological applications of a novel tridentate NNO donor Schiff base ligand derived from the condensation of 4-(Diethylamino)salicylaldehyde and 4,5-Dimethyl-1,2-phenylenediamine, along with its transition metal complexes of Cu(II) and Co(II) in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios each respectively. A theoretical basis for comprehending the electronic framework and characteristics of the complexes has been studied through the use of a computational approach. Further, the distorted octahedral geometry of the Schiff base metal complexes is confirmed by using analytical methods such as elemental analysis, molar conductance, ESI-MS, UV–Vis, FTIR, TGA and NMR spectra, which confirmed that NNO donor site of the ligand is coordinated with the metal ions. The complexes have been screened for their potential application as a catalyst for the catalytic conversion of 3,5-di‑tert‑butyl‑catechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di‑tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ) and the turnover numbers (Kcat) have been found in the range 36.46–43.05 h−1 in methanol. Absorption spectroscopic technique has been employed to examine the possible modalities of interactions with the synthesized complexes using CT-DNA and the related binding constants exhibited in the range 2.58 × 104 M−1 to 1.98 × 105 M−1 thus depicting appreciable binding affinity. To evaluate the bioactivities, in-vitro assays for anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity have also been implemented. The Cu(II) complex (CuL) has significant anti-oxidant activity and the Co(II) complex (CoL) has superior anti-inflammatory activity compared to all other complexes with IC50 values of 238.78 µM and 140.25 µM respectively. To better understand the molecular-level interactions and identify probable binding energies of inhibitors, molecular docking simulations have been performed.

Scaling-Up Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Highly Defective Pd@UiO-66-NH2 Catalysts for Selective Olefin Hydrogenation under Ambient Conditions.

The need to develop green and cost-effective industrial catalytic processes has led to growing interest in preparing more robust, efficient, and selective heterogeneous catalysts at a large scale. In this regard, microwave-assisted synthesis is a fast method for fabricating heterogeneous catalysts (including metal oxides, zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, and supported metal nanoparticles) with enhanced catalytic properties, enabling synthesis scale-up. Herein, the synthesis of nanosized UiO-66-NH2 was optimized via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method to obtain defective matrices essential for the stabilization of metal nanoparticles, promoting catalytically active sites for hydrogenation reactions (760 kg·m-3·day-1 space time yield, STY). Then, this protocol was scaled up in a multimodal microwave reactor, reaching 86% yield (ca. 1 g, 1450 kg·m-3·day-1 STY) in only 30 min. Afterward, Pd nanoparticles were formed in situ decorating the nanoMOF by an effective and fast microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, resulting in the formation of Pd@UiO-66-NH2 composites. Both the localization and oxidation states of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) in the MOF were achieved using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The optimal composite, loaded with 1.7 wt % Pd, exhibited an extraordinary catalytic activity (>95% yield, 100% selectivity) under mild conditions (1 bar H2, 25 °C, 1 h reaction time), not only in the selective hydrogenation of a variety of single alkenes (1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-tridecene, cyclohexene, and tetraphenyl ethylene) but also in the conversion of a complex mixture of alkenes (i.e., 1-hexene, 1-tridecene, and anethole). The results showed a powerful interaction and synergy between the active phase (Pd NPs) and the catalytic porous scaffold (UiO-66-NH2), which are essential for the selectivity and recyclability.

Unveiling the Untapped Potential of Bertagnini's Salts in Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Quinazolinones.

Microwave-assisted organic synthesis (MAOS) has emerged as a transformative technique in organic chemistry, significantly enhancing the speed, efficiency, and selectivity of chemical reactions. In our research, we have employed microwave irradiation to expedite the synthesis of quinazolinones, using water as an eco-friendly solvent and thereby adhering to the principles of green chemistry. Notably, the purification of the product was achieved without the need for column chromatography, thus streamlining the process. A key innovation in our approach is using aldehyde bisulfite adducts (Bertagnini's salts) as solid surrogates of aldehydes. Bertagnini's salts offer several advantages over free aldehydes, including enhanced stability, easier purification, and improved reactivity. Green metrics and Eco-Scale score calculations confirmed the sustainability of this approach, indicating a reduction in waste generation and enhanced sustainability outcomes. This methodology facilitates the synthesis of a diverse array of compounds, offering substantial contributions to the field, with potential for widespread applications in pharmaceutical research and beyond.

Green synthesis, structure-activity relationships, in silico molecular docking, and antifungal activities of novel prenylated chalcones.

A series of 16 novel prenylated chalcones (5A-5P) was synthesized by microwave-assisted green synthesis using 5-prenyloxy-2-hydroxyacetophenone and different benzaldehydes. Comparisons were also performed between the microwave and conventional methods in terms of the reaction times and yields of all compounds, where the reaction times in the microwave and conventional methods were 1-4min and 12-48h, respectively. The synthesized compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques, including IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and LC-HRMS. The antifungal activities of all compounds were evaluated against Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum under in vitro conditions and were additionally supported by structure-activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking studies. Out of the 16 compounds screened, 2'-hydroxy-4-benzyloxy-5'-O-prenylchalcone (5P) showed the highest activity against both S. rolfsii and F. oxysporum, with ED50 of 25.02 and 31.87mg/L, respectively. The molecular docking studies of the prenylated chalcones within the active sites of the EF1α and RPB2 gene sequences and FoCut5a sequence as the respective receptors for S. rolfsii and F. oxysporum revealed the importance of the compounds, where the binding energies of the docked molecules ranged from -38.3538 to -26.6837 kcal/mol for S. rolfsii and -43.400 to -23.839kcal/mol for F. oxysporum. Additional docking parameters showed that these compounds formed stable complexes with the protein molecules.

Rapid construction of nickel phyllosilicate with ultrathin layers and high performance for CO2 methanation

The traditional techniques for the synthesis of nickel phyllosilicates usually time-consuming and energy-intensive, which often lead to the formation of layers with excessive thickness due to uncontrolled crystal growth. In order to overcome these challenges, this work introduces a microwave-assisted synthesis strategy to facilitate the synthesis of Ni-phyllosilicate-based catalysts within an exceptionally short duration of only five minutes, attaining a peak temperature of merely 102 °C. To enhance the specific surface area and to increase the exposure of active sites, an investigation was conducted involving three surfactants. The employment of hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) has yielded remarkable results, with an ultrahigh specific surface area reaching 535 m2 g−1 and an ultrathin lamellar thickness of 1.43 nm. The catalyst exhibited an impressive CO2 conversion of 81.7 % at 400 °C, 60 L g−1 h−1, 0.1 MPa. It also demonstrated a substantial turnover frequency for CO2 (TOFCO2) of 5.4 ± 0.1 × 10−2 s−1, alongside a relatively low activation energy (Ea) of 80.74 kJ·mol−1. Moreover, the catalyst maintained its high stability over a period of 100 h and displayed high resistance to sintering. To further elucidate growth temperature gradient of the catalyst and concentration gradient of the materials involved, COMSOL Multiphysics (COMSOL) simulations were effectively utilized. In conclusion, this work breaks the limitation associated with traditional, laborious synthesis methods for Ni-phyllosilicates, which can produce materials with high surface area and thin-layer characteristics.

Toward Self-Driven Autonomous Material and Device Acceleration Platforms (AMADAP) for Emerging Photovoltaics Technologies.

ConspectusIn the ever-increasing renewable-energy demand scenario, developing new photovoltaic technologies is important, even in the presence of established terawatt-scale silicon technology. Emerging photovoltaic technologies play a crucial role in diversifying material flows while expanding the photovoltaic product portfolio, thus enhancing security and competitiveness within the solar industry. They also serve as a valuable backup for silicon photovoltaic, providing resilience to the overall energy infrastructure. However, the development of functional solar materials poses intricate multiobjective optimization challenges in a large multidimensional composition and parameter space, in some cases with millions of potential candidates to be explored. Solving it necessitates reproducible, user-independent laboratory work and intelligent preselection of innovative experimental methods.Materials acceleration platforms (MAPs) seamlessly integrate robotic materials synthesis and characterization with AI-driven data analysis and experimental design, positioning them as enabling technologies for the discovery and exploration of new materials. They are proposed to revolutionize materials development away from the Edisonian trial-and-error approaches to ultrashort cycles of experiments with exceptional precision, generating a reliable and highly qualitative data situation that allows training machine learning algorithms with predictive power. MAPs are designed to assist the researcher in multidimensional aspects of materials discovery, such as material synthesis, precursor preparation, sample processing and characterization, and data analysis, and are drawing escalating attention in the field of energy materials. Device acceleration platforms (DAPs), however, are designed to optimize functional films and layer stacks. Unlike MAPs, which focus on material discovery, a central aspect of DAPs is the identification and refinement of ideal processing conditions for a predetermined set of materials. Such platforms prove especially invaluable when dealing with "disordered semiconductors," which depend heavily on the processing parameters that ultimately define the functional properties and functionality of thin film layers. By facilitating the fine-tuning of processing conditions, DAPs contribute significantly to the advancement and optimization of disordered semiconductor devices, such as emerging photovoltaics.In this Account, we review the recent advancements made by our group in automated and autonomous laboratories for advanced material discovery and device optimization with a strong focus on emerging photovoltaics, such as solution-processing perovskite solar cells and organic photovoltaics. We first introduce two MAPs and two DAPs developed in-house: a microwave-assisted high-throughput synthesis platform for the discovery of organic interface materials, a multipurpose robot-based pipetting platform for the synthesis of new semiconductors and the characterization of thin film semiconductor composites, the SPINBOT system, which is a spin-coating DAP with the potential to optimize complex device architectures, and finally, AMANDA, a fully integrated and autonomously operating DAP. Notably, we underscore the utilization of a robot-based high-throughput experimentation technique to address the common optimization challenges encountered in extensive multidimensional composition and parameter spaces pertaining to organic and perovskite photovoltaics materials. Finally, we briefly propose a holistic concept and technology, a self-driven autonomous material and device acceleration platform (AMADAP) laboratory, for autonomous functional solar materials discovery and development. We hope to discover how AMADAP can be further strengthened and universalized with advancing development of hardware and software infrastructures in the future.

Novel Schiff base derivatives containing 4,5-disubstituted thiazole as potential antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents: Green synthesis, molecular docking and ADME analysis

We report the microwave-assisted (MW) green synthesis of some novel 4,5 disubstituted thiazole-containing Schiff base derivatives (SBs) as antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents. Spectroscopic techniques were used to confirm the formation of synthesized compounds. In-vitro antibiofilm and antifungal activity of synthesized molecules were evaluated against the Candida albicans strain (MTCC 227) by broth dilution method. Among the tested molecules, 3a showed excellent inhibition of both biofilm formation and planktonic growth at much lower MIC50 values (5.56 μg/mL and 1.20 μg/mL respectively) than other derivatives. Moreover, the spot assay of compound 3a showed fungicidal activity (100% cell death) for biofilm formation and planktonic growth at the lowest MFC values (10 μg/mL and 3.12 μg/mL respectively) compared to the standard drug fluconazole. In addition, the biofilm inhibition was further confirmed by morphological study through FESEM analysis. The anti-inflammatory study of SBs by protein denaturation method indicates that compound 3a (63.19%) was the most active anti-inflammatory agent at a lower concentration of 100 μg/mL in the series than the standard ibuprofen (42.36%). Whereas, the antioxidant study of SBs by the DPPH scavenging method shows compound 3j (IC50 = 436.10 μg/mL) was the more potent antioxidant agent as compared to other tested compounds and standard drug ascorbic acid (IC50 = 626.99 μg/mL). Furthermore, the molecular docking study of SBs with the active sites of sterol 14-α demethylase CYP51 enzyme of (PDB:5TZ1) C. albicans shows strong binding properties, supporting the experimental results of inhibition of biofilm formation. Additionally, the ADME characteristic of SBs demonstrates their potential for development as oral medication candidates.