Crystal Morphology Research Articles

Properties of soybean oil oleogels produced from sophorolipid‐derived hydroxy fatty acids, methyl esters and hydrogenated Lesquerella seed oil

AbstractSophorolipids (SL) are glycolipids composed of a sophorose head‐group linked to a hydroxy‐fatty acid tail which makes them a potential source of structurally unique biobased hydroxy fatty acids. Furthermore, Lesquerella is a native southwestern plant that has been commercially cultivated as a replacement for castor seed oil due to high seed oil concentrations of 14‐hydroxy‐eicosenoic acid (14‐OH‐C20:1c11). In this study, SL‐derived hydroxy fatty acids and methyl esters containing 15‐hydroxy‐palmitic acid (15‐OH‐C16), 17‐hydroxy‐stearic acid (17‐OH‐C18), 15‐hydroxy‐palmitic acid methyl ester (15‐OH‐C16ME), 17‐hydroxy‐stearic acid methyl ester (17‐OH‐C18ME), and 13‐hydroxy‐behenic acid methyl ester (13OH‐C22ME) were obtained from the SL produced by two yeast strains. In addition, hydrogenated Lesquerella oil (HLO) was made with ~62% 14‐OH‐eicosanoic (C20) acid (14‐OH‐C20). These materials, along with 12‐hydroxy‐stearic acid (12‐OH‐C18) as a standard for comparison were used to make soybean oil oleogels, and their properties determined. The minimum gelation concentration (MGC) of 12‐OH‐C18 was 1% (wt/wt), while the MGC of 15‐OH‐C16 and 17‐OH‐C18 were 5% and 10%, respectively. The MGC for 15‐OH‐C16ME was 5%, but 17‐OH‐C18ME was unable to form a stable gel at concentrations up to 10%. HLO formed a viscous solution rather than an oleogel, but its crystal morphology underwent a large transformation during storage over a 2.5‐month period, after which it was able to form a stable gel. SL‐based hydroxy fatty acids were able to form oleogels in soybean oil and have the potential to be considered as a new source of low‐molecular weight oleogelators as well as biobased hydroxy fatty acids.

Structural and Functional Analysis of the Amorphous Calcium Carbonate-Binding Protein Paramyosin in the Shell of the Pearl Oyster, Pinctada fucata.

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is an important precursor phase for the formation of aragonite crystals in the shells of Pinctada fucata. To identify the ACC-binding protein in the inner aragonite layer of the shell, extracts from the shell were used in the ACC-binding experiments. Semiquantitative analyses using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that paramyosin was strongly associated with ACC in the shell. We discovered that paramyosin, a major component of the adductor muscle, was included in the myostracum, which is the microstructure of the shell attached to the adductor muscle. Purified paramyosin accumulates calcium carbonate and induces the prism structure of aragonite crystals, which is related to the morphology of prism aragonite crystals in the myostracum. Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements revealed that the Glu-rich region was bound to ACC. Activity of the Glu-rich region was stronger than that of the Asp-rich region. These results suggest that paramyosin in the adductor muscle is involved in the formation of aragonite prisms in the myostracum.

Controlled Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Ag3PO4 Polyhedra Photocatalysts

Ag3PO4 is an effective green photocatalyst that exhibits higher visible light photocatalytic performance for the degradation of various organic pollutants. The photocatalytic performance of Ag3PO4 is affected by the exposed high‐energy crystal facets. Herein, Ag3PO4 with different morphologies and specific surfaces is synthesized via a direct precipitation method in the presence of triethanolamine (TEA). The Ag(TEA)n complex, which served as an intermediate medium, plays a critical role during the morphological transformation. When the molar ratio of Ag+ to TEA is set as 1:12, 18‐facet polyhedral morphology of Ag3PO4 crystals is obtained. The spherical and dodecahedral samples are also obtained by adjusting the molar ratio of Ag+ to TEA as 1:1 and 1:14. The photocatalytic activity of the samples for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) is tested under visible light irradiation. It is demonstrated when the molar ratio of Ag+/TEA is 1:12, Ag3PO4 polyhedra with 18‐facet are fabricated. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results indicate that the 18‐facet polyhedron, with six {100} facets and twelve {110} facets, enjoys the most exposed high‐energy crystal facets. Photocatalytic experiments show that the 18‐facet polyhedron has the best performance, and the degradation of MB by Ag3PO4 polyhedron with 18‐facet morphology reaches 90% within 70 min.

Efficient Selective Carbon Dioxide Separation via Task-Specific Ionic Liquids Incorporated in ZIF-8.

Owing to the rapid increase in anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, which has resulted in a number of global climate challenges, a decrease in CO2 emissions is urgently needed in the current scenario. This study focuses on the development and characterization of composites for carbon dioxide (CO2) separation. The composites consist of two task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs), namely, tetramethylgunidinium imidazole [TMGHIM] and tetramethylgunidinium phenol [TMGHPhO], impregnated in ZIF-8. The performance of CO2 separation, including sorption capacity and selectivity, was evaluated for pristine ZIF-8 and composites of TMGHIM@ZIF-8 and TMGHPhO@ZIF-8. To demonstrate the thermal stability of the material, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed. Additionally, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to showcase the crystal structures and morphology. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and BET were also utilized to confirm the successful incorporation of TSILs into ZIF-8. The composite synthesized with TMGHIM@ZIF-8 demonstrated superior CO2 sorption performance as compared with TMGHPhO@ZIF-8. This is attributed to its strong attraction toward CO2, resulting in a higher CO2/CH4 selectivity of 110 while pristine MOFs showed 12 that is 9 times higher than that of the pristine ZIF-8. These TSILs@ZIF-8 composites have significant potential in designing sorbent materials for efficient acid gas separation applications.

Photocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde under visible light using BiVO4-TiO2 synthesized via ultrasonic blending.

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is one of the primary indoor air pollutants, and efficiently eliminating it, especially at low concentrations, remains challenging. In this study, BiVO4-TiO2 catalyst was developed using ultrasonic blending technology for the photocatalytic oxidation of low-level indoor HCHO. The crystal structure, surface morphology, element distribution, and active oxidation species of the catalyst were examined using XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis, EDS, and ESR techniques. Our results demonstrated that the BiVO4-TiO2 catalyst, prepared by ultrasonic blending, exhibited good oxidation performance and stability. The HCHO concentration reduced from 1.050 to 0.030mg/m3 within 48h, achieving a removal rate of 97.1%. The synergy between BiVO4 and TiO2 enhanced the efficiency of separating photogenerated carriers and minimized the likelihood of recombination between photogenerated electrons and holes. Additionally, this synergy significantly enhanced the presence of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) on the catalyst, resulting in an oxidation performance superior to that of either BiVO4 or TiO2. Our research offers valuable insights for the development of new photocatalysts to address HCHO pollution.

Multi‐Scale Ice Inhibition Platform Enables Full‐Cycle Cryogenic Protection for Mouse Oocyte

AbstractCryopreservation of metaphase II (MII) oocytes is crucial to preserve female fertility. However, the existing vitrification technology just provides partial cryogenic protection for oocytes and must use high concentrations of toxic penetrating cryoprotective agents (CPAs, up to 4.8 M). Here, a multi‐scale ice inhibition platform is proposed, which effectively suppresses ice crystal morphology, ice recrystallization (IR), temperature gradient, and devitrification. This platform achieves mouse oocyte survival rate of 98.6% using the low concentration of CPA (3.1 M) while also possessing batch oocyte cryopreservation ability. In contrast, recovered oocytes show a much more modest variation of genes compared with the conventional method (85 vs. 1396 genes), retaining normal fertilization, embryonic development, and birth to healthy offspring. Diverging from the conventional vitrification method with partial cryogenic protection capability, this platform introduces full‐cycle ice inhibition, offering promising prospects for achieving high‐quality and scalable fertility preservation.

Highly Efficient and Reproducible Sonochemical Synthesis of ZnO Nanocrystals.

Sonochemical synthesis can be a facile, fast, efficient, versatile and economical way to prepare a large variety of conventional or novel nanostructured materials (metallic, magnetic, semiconducting, polymeric, etc.). In this work, zinc oxide nanocrystals were synthesized by irradiating and heating at 90 °C in a commercial ultrasonic bath a water solution of zinc nitrate hexahydrate and ammonia solution or hexamethylenetetramine as base catalysts. The evolution of the powder morphology and its crystalline structure were investigated at different times of ultrasonic irradiation (0-9 hours) and compared with those of samples obtained by only heating the solutions in a muffle furnace in order to enlighten the growth mechanism. It resulted that: i) the crystal morphology depends on the selected base, ii) for samples obtained by using ultrasounds, the homogeneity of the powders depends on the irradiation time, iii) by comparing all samples obtained at 7 hours of heating, the aspect ratio of the crystals is higher for those that also underwent to ultrasounds.

Unveiling the organic acids with auxiliary functional groups effect on α‐hemihydrate gypsum: Ab initio calculations

AbstractRegulating the crystal morphology of low aspect ratio, short columnar α‐hemihydrate gypsum (α‐HH) is crucial due to its distinctive physical and chemical properties, which make it widely applicable. In this work, succinic acid, malic acid, and maleic acid were selected as the research objects, among which the number and spacing of carboxyl groups were the same, while the auxiliary functional groups were different. The adsorption energy, Mulliken charge population, electronic state density, and charge density difference of the three organic acids on the surfaces of α‐HH were calculated by well‐defined ab initio calculations. The results showed that the synergistic effect of ‐COOH groups is necessary for the effective crystallization of α‐HH. Organic acids interact with the Ca atoms on the crystal surface, as evidenced by their preferential adsorption on the top surface of α‐HH crystals (002). This interaction occurs through a double‐dentate chelation between the carboxyl oxygen atoms at both ends of the organic acid and the Ca atoms on the crystal surface, resulting in the formation of a six‐membered cyclic organic acid calcium complex. This complex hinders ion diffusion and the stacking of crystal surfaces, leading to a decrease in the growth rate along the c‐axis and promoting more extensive crystal development and larger crystal sizes. The work provides insight into the preparation of short prismatic α‐HH using organic acid crystallizing agents.

Photo‐responsive Hydrogen‐Bonded Molecular Networks Capable of Retaining Crystalline Periodicity after Isomerization

The molecular conformation, crystalline morphology, and properties of photochromic organic crystals can be controlled through photoirradiation, making them promising candidates for functional organic materials. However, photochromic porous molecular crystals with a networked framework structure are rare due to the difficulty in maintaining space that allows for photo‐induced molecular motion in the crystalline state. This study describes a photo‐responsive single crystal based on hydrogen‐bonded (H‐bonded) network of dihydrodimethylbenzo[e]pyrene derivative 4BDHP. A crystal composed of H‐bonded undulate layers, 4BDHP‐2, underwent photoisomerization in the crystalline state due to loose stacking of the layers, resulting loss of crystallinity. Enantio‐pure crystal (S,S)‐4BDHP‐2, on the other hand, allowed to reveal the structure of the photoisomerized crystal, in which the closed form (4BDHP) and open form (4CPD) were arranged alternately with keeping crystalline periodicity, although side reactions were also implied. The present proof‐of‐concept system of a photochromic framework that retains crystalline periodicity after photoisomerization may provide new light‐driven porous functional materials.

Electrochemical studies on chromium doped SrTiO3 for supercapacitor applications

Perovskite oxides have garnered significant attention as potential active materials for supercapacitor applications. Recently, metal-doped perovskite oxides have gained prominence due to their potential to provide a synergistic blend of electrical conductivity, substantial electrochemical active surface area, and robust electrochemical activity. In this study, we systematically investigate the electrochemical properties of strontium titanate oxide (SrTiO3, STO) and chromium-doped strontium titanate oxide (Cr-STO), synthesized via the solid-state reaction method. Various material characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), are employed to examine the crystal structure, morphology, and chemical composition of these samples. Notably, Cr-STO demonstrates an approximately twentyfold increase in electrochemical surface area compared to pristine STO, resulting in enhanced anion storage capabilities when employed in alkaline 3 M KOH aqueous electrolytes. Detailed electrochemical kinetic studies reveal an augmented pseudocapacitive behavior in Cr-STO, with a more pronounced diffusive nature compared to pristine STO. Furthermore, symmetric supercapacitors fabricated with Cr-STO electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance, maintaining over 93 % of their initial capacity after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1. These findings highlight the significant potential of chromium-doped strontium titanate oxide as a valuable contribution to the ongoing pursuit of novel material for supercapacitors.

Effect of acidic polymers on the morphology of non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation of potassium bromide

Non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation (NPLIN) in supersaturated potassium bromide (KBr) solutions with the addition of acidic polymers is reported here for the first time. Upon absorbing the incident laser, crystallites are immediately induced along the laser pathway in the solution, eventually growing into needle-shaped crystals of varying sizes. When comparing induction time, nucleation probability, and crystal habits with spontaneous nucleation, the results suggest that NPLIN creates a distinct morphological pathway, transforming cubic crystals into needle-like structures. Additionally, it improves crystallization probability and growth rate. This paper aims to realize control from crystal nucleation to crystal growth by adding acidic polymers to the process of laser-induced nucleation, potentially influencing crystal morphology modification in NPLIN. With 19 wt% acidic polymers added to the solution as additives, control over both crystal growth and morphological modifications was observed: cubic KBr crystals with square patterns were produced through laser irradiation, and there was a varying reduction in both the number and growth rate of the crystals. The influence of acidic polymers on the solution environment was analyzed to determine the reasons for the variations in crystal quantity and growth speed. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the changes in crystal shape were also discussed.

Temperature sensing materials based on the fluorescence intensity ratio in Li2Ba5W3O15:Dy3+ phosphors

One of the interesting uses of phosphors is the development of non-contact thermometers apart from their usage as visible photonic devices. A series of Dy3+-doped Li2Ba5W3O15 (LBW) phosphors were successfully synthesized using high temperature solid-state reaction process. The crystal structure and morphology of LBW:xDy3+ phosphors were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinements and field effect scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis. The XRD and photoluminescence (PL) analyses validated the effective substitution of Ba2+ ions with Dy3+ ions. Two prominent emission peaks were found at 493 and 583 nm corresponding to 4F9/2→6H15/2 and 4F9/2→6H13/2 transitions respectively under 368 nm excitation wavelength. A comprehensive analysis has been carried out on the usage of the Dy3+ doped LBW phosphors in fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) thermometry. The optical temperature measurement performance of the LBW:xDy3+ phosphor was achieved by utilizing distinct thermal quenching transitions, specifically on 4F9/2→6H15/2,13/2, at temperatures ranging from 293 to 443 K. The as-prepared phosphors demonstrate excellent performance as optical thermometers, with a maximum relative sensitivity (Sr) of 0.7% K−1 at 293 K, an absolute sensitivity (Sa) of 4.68 K−1 at 443 K and a temperature resolution of ∼0.51 at 443 K. These values indicate that the phosphors are highly responsive to changes in temperature, making them suitable for non-contact thermometry applications.

Comprehensive study of Ti and Ta co-doping in Ni-rich cathode material LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 towards improving the electrochemical performance.

Layered Ni-rich oxides (LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2) cathode materials are of current interest in high-energy-demanding applications, such as electric vehicles because of high discharge capacity and high intercalation potential. Here, the effect of co-doping a small amount of Ti and Ta on the crystal structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of high Ni-rich cathode material LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1-x-yTixTayO2 (0.0 ≤ x+y ≤ 0.2) was systematically investigated. This work demonstrates that an optimum level of Ti and Ta doping is beneficial towards enhancing electrochemical performance. The optimal Ti4+ and Ta5+ co-doped cathode LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.09Ti0.005Ta0.005O2 exhibits a superior initial discharge capacity of 161.1 mAh g-1 at 1C, and excellent capacity retention of 87.1% after 250 cycles, compared to the pristine sample that exhibits only 59.8% capacity retention. Moreover, the lithium-ion diffusion coefficients for the co-doped cathode after the 3rd and 50th cycles are 9.9×10-10 cm2 s-1 and 9.3×10-10 cm2 s-1 respectively, which is higher than that of the pristine cathode (3.3×10-10 cm2 s-1 and 2.5×10-10 cm2 s-1 respectively). Based on these studies, we conclude that Ti and Ta co-doping enhances structural stability by mitigating irreversible phase transformation, improving Li-ion kinetics by expanding interlayer spacing, and nanosizing primary particles, thereby stabilizing high-nickel cathode materials and significantly enhancing cyclability.

Influences of Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastic on the Hygrothermal and Mechanical Performance of Plasterboard with Polymethylhydrosiloxane Content.

New composites produced with recycled waste are needed to manufacture more sustainable construction materials. This paper aimed to analyze the hygrothermal and mechanical performance of plasterboard with a polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) content, incorporating recycled PET microplastic waste and varying factors such as PMHS dose, homogenization time, and drying temperature after setting. A cube-centered experimental design matrix was performed. The crystal morphology, porosity, fluidity, water absorption, flexural strength, and thermal conductivity of plasterboards were measured. The results showed that incorporating recycled PET microplastics does not produce a significant difference in the absorption and flexural strength of plasterboards. However, the addition of recycled PET reduced the thermal conductivity of plasterboards by around 10%.

Modulation of Interfacial Characteristics of Copper Electrode by Electrodeposited Cu@Ti for High-Performance Anode-Free Zinc Ion Batteries.

Preparation of the NC-Cu@Ti electrode involved electrochemical deposition of nanocrystalline copper on the surface of titanium foil using a constant potential method, intended for high stability anode-free zinc ion battery (ZIB) anode material applications. This paper examines the effect of Cu2+ concentration in the electrodeposition solution on the structure and morphology of copper crystals on the NC-Cu@Ti electrode surface. The study also assesses how the interfacial properties of the NC-Cu@Ti electrode affect the process of anodic zinc deposition without anodic ZIBs. Our data suggest that with a voltage setting of -0.95 V and a copper ion concentration of 0.5 M in the solution, the deposition rate of copper crystals on the NC-Cu@Ti-0.5 electrode remains consistent. The resultant crystal phase surface appears smooth with a fine grain size. The NC-Cu@Ti-0.5 electrodes have increased hydrogen potentials and superior corrosion resistance; noting zinc nucleation sites at a mere 21.4 mV, it can provide stable electrochemical conditions for the zinc deposition interface of ZIBs and accelerate the process of zinc desolvation and nucleation. The constructed Zn//NC-Cu@Ti-0.5 asymmetric cell displays swift zinc deposition/stripping kinetics, elevated Coulombic efficiency, and prolonged stability (maintaining nearly 99% after 200 cycles). This performance significantly extends the service life relative to the Zn//Zn symmetric cell, which operates stably for 400 h at 1 mA/cm2. Moreover, the NC-Cu@Ti-0.5//MnO2 ZIBs offer enhanced conductivity and magnification performance to the pure zinc anode ZIBs. This study presents a novel approach for the low-cost and rapid preparation of anode materials for high-performance free-anode ZIBs.

Tourmaline growth in the border and wall zones of the Emmons pegmatite (Maine, U.S.A.): Evidence for disequilibrium crystallization and boundary layer formation

Abstract The anisotropic textures, including unidirectional solidification textures and graphic intergrowths, characteristic for pegmatites, are interpreted to result from disequilibrium crystallization at high degrees of undercooling. Experimental studies have revealed the existence of thin boundary layers surrounding the rapidly growing crystals. Here, tourmaline-bearing samples from the outer zones of the Emmons pegmatite (Maine, U.S.A.) are used to examine if a boundary layer can also occur in natural samples. Crystal morphology is linked with geochemistry to understand the evolution of pegmatite melts and to constrain disequilibrium conditions at large degrees of undercooling. Petrographic studies and semiquantitative micro-X-ray fluorescence element mapping were conducted to identify crystal morphology and zonation, complemented with electron microprobe analyses to determine major and minor element compositions and LA-ICP-MS analyses of selected trace elements. Three textural groups were identified: comb-like tourmaline, quartz-tourmaline intergrowths, and radiating tourmaline. The intergrowths are optically coherent and are split into three different morphologies: central, second tier, and skeletal tourmaline. Most tourmaline is schorl, but chemical variation occurs on three different scales: between textural groups, between different morphologies, and intracrystalline. The largest scale geochemical variation is caused by the progressive evolution of the melt as it crystallized from the borders inwards, while the intracrystalline variations are attributed to sector zoning. A model is suggested where the systematic variation of Mg, Mn, and Fe within individual intergrowths is proposed to be the result of crystallization from a boundary layer, rich in water and other fluxing elements (e.g., Li, P, B), formed around the rapidly growing central tourmaline. Here, we show the first examples of boundary layers in natural pegmatites. Furthermore, the results bring into question whether boundary layer tourmaline can be used as a bulk melt indicator in pegmatitic melts.

Dry fractionation efficiency of milk fats from different sources and the characteristics of their fractions in chemical composition, thermal property, and crystal morphology

The physicochemical properties of anhydrous milk fats (AMF) often change according to different regions and seasons, inevitably affecting dry fractionation. This study analyzed the differences in the fraction yields and physicochemical characteristics of four AMFs from different sources. The results showed that single-stage dry fractionation conducted at 25 °C easily separated AMFs into liquid fractions (L25) and solid fractions (S25) via pressure filtration, both producing satisfactory yields. Moreover, all L25s exhibited few crystals with good fluidity at 25 °C, while S25s presented as semi-solids supported by β crystal networks with a certain hardness and plasticity. However, four AMFs displayed fractionation efficiency variation, while the thermal differences among them showed no obvious correlation with those among their fractions. Generally, more trisaturated triglycerides with 48 to 54 carbon atoms in the AMF increased the S25 yield and decreased the slip melting points (SMP) of both fractions.

Stratified control of chemical crystallization in a pellet fluidized bed for pH-Adjusted fluoride and phosphate reduction: An experimental study

Chemical crystallization granulation in a fluidized bed offers an environmentally friendly technology with significant promise for fluoride removal. This study investigates the impact of stratified pH control in a crystallization granulation fluidized bed for the removal of fluoride and phosphate on a pilot scale. The results indicate that using dolomite as a seed crystal, employing sodium dihydrogen phosphate (SDP) and calcium chloride as crystallizing agents, and controlling the molar ratio n(F):n(P):n(Ca) = 1:5:10 with an upflow velocity of 7.52 m/h, effectively removes fluoride and phosphate. Stratified pH control—maintaining weakly acidic conditions (pH = 6–7) at the bottom and weakly alkaline conditions (pH = 7–8) at the top—facilitates the induction of fluoroapatite (FAP) and calcium phosphate crystallization. This approach reduces groundwater fluoride levels from 9.5 mg/L to 0.2–0.6 mg/L and phosphate levels to 0.1–0.2 mg/L. Particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction physical characterizations reveal significant differences in crystal morphology between the top and bottom layers, with the lower layer primarily generating high-purity FAP crystals. Further analysis shows that dolomite-induced FAP crystallization offers distinct advantages. SDP not only dissolves on the dolomite surface to provide active sites for crystallization but also, under weakly acidic conditions, renders both dolomite and FAP surfaces negatively charged. This allows for the effective adsorption of PO43−, HPO42−, and F− anions onto the crystal surfaces. This study provides supporting data for the removal of fluoride from groundwater through induced FAP crystallization in a chemical crystallization pellet fluidized bed.

Physio-chemical and biological Characterizations of 4 Bromo – 4'Chloro Benzylidene Aniline μ-crystals for Engineering Utilities

4 Bromo—4’Chloro Benzylidene Aniline - as per suggestion it is named as 4B4CBA; Schiff based organic material has been synthesized and successfully grown by slow solvent evaporation technique. The orthorhombic crystal system of the grown crystal with space group Pccn is confirmed and cell parameters of the grown crystal of 4B4CBA is found by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The forming of the C-Cl and C-Br stretching vibrations at 719 cm−1 and 538 cm−1 in Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) study reveal the confirmation of 4B4CBA compound. The CHNSO analysis shows the presence of element in the 4B4CBA. The lower cutoff wavelength and wide optical absorption window of 4B4CBA exhibit the suitability of the present material for the projective opto-electronic applications. Nonlinear optical efficiency for different micro-crystalline of 4B4CBA is determined by second harmonic generation (SHG) experiment and is also compared with Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate - KDP material. The electrical studies confirm that the 4B4CBA crystal possess low dielectric constant values at high frequency region. The experiment of photo-conductivity confirms the nature of the photo-conductivity of 4B4CBA crystal. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals the morphology of 4B4CBA crystal.

Preparation and scale inhibition performance of modified polyaspartic acid (M-PASP)

Modified polyaspartic acid (M-PASP) was synthesized by modifying ammonia- polysuccinimide (ammonia-PSI) through a ring-opening reaction using a modifier derived from ethylenediamine, maleic anhydride, and NaOH. In addition to M-PASP, conventional polyaspartic acid (PASP) was also synthesized for comparison. The structure of conventional PASP and M-PASP were characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR. The influence of raw materials ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time on the intrinsic viscosity of M-PASP were investigated in detail. The static scale inhibition method was used to evaluate the scale inhibition performance. The results showed that M-PASP exhibited significantly superior scale inhibition performance against CaCO3 compared to conventional PASP. Additionally, it was observed that the scale inhibition rate of M-PASP on CaCO3 increased with increasing intrinsic viscosity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to examine the surface morphology and structure of CaCO3 crystals, respectively. The results revealed that the addition of M-PASP led to a reduction in the grain size of CaCO3 crystals and disruption of their surface morphology. In addition, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was utilized to analyze the interaction mechanism between the polymers and calcium carbonate crystals. Based on the findings, it was postulated that the scale inhibition mechanism of M-PASP against CaCO3 involves a comprehensive interplay of several factors, including chelation solubilization, dispersion aggregation and lattice distortion.