Morphological Stability Research Articles

Polyurea/Aminopropyl Isobutyl Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane-Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelet Nanocomposites for Force Protection Applications.

Herein, the development of new nanocomposite systems is reported based on one-part polyurea (PU) and aminopropyl isobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (GNP-POSS) as compatible nanoreinforcements with the PU resin. GNP-POSS was effectively synthesized via a two-step synthesis protocol, including ultrasonication-assisted reaction and precipitation, and carefully characterized with respect to its chemical and crystalline structure, morphology, and thermal stability. FTIR and XPS spectroscopy analyses revealed that POSS interacts with the residual oxygen moieties of the GNPs through both covalent and noncovalent bonding. The X-ray diffraction pattern of GNP-POSS further revealed that the crystallinity of the GNPs was not altered after their functionalization with POSS. GNP-POSS was successfully incorporated in PU at contents of 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt % to yield PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films. An ATR-FTIR analysis of these films confirmed the presence of strong interfacial interactions between the urea groups of PU and the GNP-POSS functionalities. Moreover, the PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films exhibited enhanced thermal stability and mechanical properties compared to those of the neat PU film. The quasi-static tensile testing of the PU/GNP-POSS samples revealed remarkable enhancements in the tensile strength (from 7.9 for the neat PU to 25.1 MPa for PU/GNP-POSS) and Young's modulus (238-617 MPa), while elongation at break and toughness also showed 14 and 125% improvements, respectively. Finally, the effects of GNP-POSS content on the morphological, quasistatic tensile, and high-strain-rate dynamic behavior of the PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films were also investigated. Overall, the tests performed using a split-Hopkinson pressure bar setup revealed a large increase in the film strength (from 147.6 for the neat PU film to 199 MPa for the PU/GNP-POSS film) and a marginal increase in the energy density of the film (38.1-40.8 kJ/m3). These findings support the suitability of the PU/GNP-POSS nanocomposite films for force protection applications.

Optimizing the preparation parameters of eco‐friendly flexible polyurethane foams derived from a corn‐based bio‐polyol

AbstractCorn‐based bio‐polyol is employed as an alternative for petroleum‐based polyol to prepare an eco‐friendly polyurethane (PU) foam via a one‐shot method. By varying ratio of gelling catalyst, blowing catalyst, and surfactant during the preparation process, the compression performance, cell morphology, and thermal stability of the PU foam are analyzed. The results obtained indicate that an increase in surfactant content yielded improved foam stability, whereas increased amounts of blowing and gelling catalysts resulted in enhanced compression performance. An optimized foaming process is determined with an NCO/OH ratio of 1.2, 0.2 parts per hundred polyols (pphp) of gelling catalyst, 0.1 pphp of blowing catalyst, and 0.1 pphp of surfactant. Under these specific conditions, the PU foam exhibits a uniform cell structure, exceptional compression performance, and good thermal stability, comparable to those of a reference foam derived from petroleum‐based polyol.

CTAC-assisted monoclinic BiVO4 with oxygen defects for efficient photocatalytic performances: A combined experimental and DFT study

Developing a photocatalyst with high photocatalytic efficiency, chemical stability, and self-degradation capability is essential for optimizing photodegradation processes in environmental applications. In this study, we synthesized a monoclinic BiVO4 photocatalyst whose surface morphology was modulated by hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) using a facile hydrothermal method. Experimental results demonstrated a substantial increase in the degradation rate (99%) for the CTAC-modified monoclinic BV/CT25 photocatalyst (with an initial CTAC concentration of 25 g/L) compared to the CTAC-free tetragonal BiVO4 photocatalyst (73%). This highlights the effective enhancement of photocatalytic degradation performance through CTAC modification. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the band gap of BV/CT25 remained unchanged, suggesting that changes in oxygen vacancies (OVs) and density of states, along with the porous lattice structure, contributed to the improved performance. These findings were further supported by FESEM, as well as EPR and XPS characterizations. In addition, photodegradation tests at various pH conditions and cyclic tests suggested that the modification enhanced the morphological stability and reusability of the modified BiVO4 photocatalysts. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the design of next-generation photocatalysts, leveraging surfactants to control surface properties and emphasizing the key attributes of high photocatalytic efficiency, chemical stability, and improved reusability.

Dissolution of cellulose in imidazolium-based double salt ionic liquids

The dissolution of cellulose in double salt ionic liquids (DSILs) was studied in detail and compared with the dissolution in individual constituent ionic liquids (ILs). The DSILs, [C4mim](CH3CO2)xCl1-x (x is the mole fraction of the single component ILs), were synthesized using acetate and chloride salts of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium. These DSILs were then used for the investigation of the solubility of cellulose in the whole mole fraction range. Commercial cellulose (CC) powder, kraft pulp (KP), and prehydrolysis kraft pulp (PHKP) of jute were chosen as cellulose sources. The solubility of cellulose increased with an increasing temperature for [C4mim](CH3CO2)0.6Cl0.4 and with increasing amount of [C4mim]Cl in DSILs. The maximum solubility of CC powder was 32.8 wt% in [C4mim](CH3CO2)0.6Cl0.4 at 100 °C, while for KP and PHKP, solubilities were 30.1 and 30.5 wt%, respectively under the identical condition. Cellulose could be regenerated from the DSILs using water as an antisolvent. Structure, morphology, and thermal stability of the regenerated cellulosic materials were analyzed. DSILs could be recycled >99 % without a discernible change in structure. This work demonstrates that DSILs display enhanced solubility over ILs system and have potential as a chemical processing methodology.

Chemical and Microbiological Changes of Expired Platelet Concentrate.

Platelets are a commonly used blood component to prevent or treat bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction. They are stored at room temperature (22-24°C) for five days unless specific measures are taken to extend the shelf life to seven days or more. After five days, this study evaluated platelet units' biochemical changes and bacterial growth. Platelet concentrate was collected from 30 random donors: 8 females and 22 males. The collected samples were then placed on an agitator at room temperature and tested for their pH, protein content, and glucose levels using Roche Combur 100 Test® Strips. The Haemonetics eBDS™ System was used for bacterial detection. The measurements were taken on day five as the control and then repeated on days 7, 9, and 11 to observe any changes. On days 5 and 7, all parameters remained unchanged. However, glucose levels significantly changed (p=<0.0001) on days 9 and 11. Regarding pH, a significant change was observed on day 9 (p=0.033) and day 11 (p=0.0002). There were no significant changes in all parameters on days 5 and 7. However, glucose was substantially changed (p=<0.0001) on days 9 and 11. For pH, there was a significant change in pH on day 9 (p=0.033) and day 11 (p=0.0002). Our study found that platelet concentrate extension is possible for up to seven days. However, further studies are needed to evaluate platelet function during expiry time and to assess the stability of platelet morphology and function.

Novel sulfonated calixarenes derived crosslinker for reinforcing and toughening collagen: Relevance between structure and properties

AbstractCollagen is widely used in the development of new functional materials due to its high structural stability, good biocompatibility, and excellent hydrophilicity, but the collagen protein denatures easily, which makes its thermal stability and mechanical strength difficult to reach some of the parameters required in the application. To solve this, protein crosslinking is an effective way to better use collagen. In this paper, we compared the thermal stability and morphological stability of three kinds of sulfonated calixarenes crosslinked collagen before and after the treatment. The results showed that sulfonated calixarenes could significantly improve the thermal stability and morphological stability of dermal collagen. The reinforcing and toughening mechanism of the sulfonated calixarenes was revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), ultraviolet–visible–near‐infrared (UV–vis–NIR) spectrometer, X‐ray diffraction detection (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and circular dichroism (CD) detection. The results showed that sulfonated calixarenes were evenly distributed in collagen fibers and formed hydrogen bonds or electrovalent bonds with amino groups, peptide groups, or amide groups in collagen to improve the thermal stability of the collagen. Three kinds of sulfonated calixarenes enter collagen fiber to support the collagen, increase the three‐dimensional weave angle of collagen, and improve the physical and mechanical properties of collagen, thereby toughening and enhancing the collagen. Based on the above studies, the reinforcing and toughening mechanism of the sulfonated calixarenes crosslinked collagen was established. Confirmed the existence of hydrogen bonds between the three sulfonated calixarenes and collagen, and the nonchemical bond energy of the system was proportional to the molecular size of sulfonated calixarenes.

Unraveling Morphology and Chemistry Dynamics in Fluoroethylene Carbonate Generated Silicon Anode Solid Electrolyte Interphase Across Delithiated and Lithiated States: Relative Cycling Stability Enabled by an Elastomeric Polymer Matrix

The silicon solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) faces cyclical cracking and reconstruction due to the ∼350% volume expansion. Understanding the SEI dynamic morphology and chemistry evolution from delithiated to lithiated states is thereby paramount to engineering a stable Si anode. Fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) is a preferred additive with widely demonstrated enhancement of the Si cycling. Thus, insights into the dynamics of the FEC-SEI may provide hints toward engineering the Si interface. Herein, complementary ATR-FTIR, AFM, tip IR, and XPS probing reveal the presence of an elastomeric polycarbonate-like matrix in the FEC-generated SEI which is absent from the FEC-free SEI. Adding FEC to the baseline 1 M LiPF6 in EC:EMC (1:1) electrolyte promotes formation of a thinner and more conformal SEI, and subdues morphology and chemistry changes between consecutive half-cycles. From AFM, morphological stabilization of the FEC-SEI occurs earlier. Furthermore, conventional SEI biproducts such as Li2CO3 and LiEDC appear in reduced quantities in the FEC-SEI implying a reduced quantity of Li-consuming species. The thin polymeric FEC-SEI enables deeper (de)lithiation of silicon. In conclusion, the enhanced mechanical compliance, chemical invariance, and reduced Li inventory consumption of the FEC-SEI are logically the key features underlying the Si cycling enhancement by FEC.

Study on improvement of weld defect in oscillating laser welding of aluminum alloy T-joints assisted by solder patch

During oscillating laser welding of aluminum alloy T-joints assisted by solder patch, it is found that the pore defect can be reduced and the high quality welded T-joints are obtained. To understand the effect of oscillating laser on the formation process of T-joint welds, a dynamic model for laser welding of aluminum alloy T-joints assisted by solder patch is developed in this paper to analyze the dynamic behaviors of keyhole and molten pool. Based on the dynamic model, the morphology characteristics of keyhole and the evolution processes of molten pool temperature and flow fields during conventional laser welding and oscillating laser welding are calculated and compared. The simulation results are found to be kept consistent with the experimental results. It is demonstrated that the keyhole is characterized with better morphology and higher stability and the degassing condition of molten pool is improved during oscillating laser welding compared with conventional laser welding. The molten pool temperature and flow fields are much more uniform during oscillating laser welding. The obtained results are efficient for suppressing weld defects and achieving high quality welding of aluminum alloy T-joints.

Reducing fuel consumption of a light-duty vehicle by incorporating CuO nanoparticles in compressor lubricant of air-conditioning system

This experimental study aims to investigate the effects of copper (II) oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (~50 nm, 99.9% trace metal basis) incorporation in polyalkylene glycol (PAG) lubricant of a compressor included in air-conditioning (AC) system of a light duty passenger car. Observations on fuel consumption in real-world driving tests while the AC system is fully running were conducted. In order to determine the impacts of CuO nanoparticle incorporation in PAG oil, friction (pin-on-disc tribotester) and wear tests were carried out along with surface visualization analyses of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) on the disc samples laser-cut from the spare AC compressor vanes. Morphology and thermal stability of the CuO nanoparticles were also investigated via SEM and thermal gravimetric (TG) analyses, respectively. Wear rate (WR), average coefficient of friction (µa) and surface roughness analyses on the specimen surfaces were conducted to procure a comprehensive knowledge about the tribological improvement of CuO nanoparticles. All analyses were repeated on the identical metal samples in PAG lubricant bath (PL) and CuO nanolubricant (NL) separately under the same conditions and average of the test results were taken into account to minimize error. The results demonstrate that reductions of 15.5% in average coefficient of friction, 33% in wear rate and 9% in average surface roughness were achieved resulting in a decrease of 7.7% in fuel consumption at designated driving conditions.

The Stabilizing Effect of Chitosan‐Modified Biochar (β‐CD/C‐BC) on Agricultural Soil Contaminated by the Cd‐Pyr Complex

AbstractThe composite pollution of heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in agricultural soil is increasingly severe. HMs can undergo surface adsorption, complexation, or chemical reactions to transform from bioavailable species to residual species, achieving chemical morphological stability. However, these processes have no effect on PAHs. Biochar (BC), due to its inherent characteristics, can significantly enhance the stability of PAHs and is recommended as a potential co‐stabilizing material for both heavy metals and PAHs. In this study, rice husk biochar modified with β‐cyclodextrin and chitosan (β‐CD/C‐BC) was utilized to stabilize agricultural soil contaminated by Cd and Pyrene (Pyr). One‐way tests were conducted on the dosage and curing time of biochar after a complete cycle of treatment. The results demonstrated that the optimal effect was achieved when the dosage of β‐CD/C‐BC was 7.5 % or the curing time was 21 days. The removal efficiencies for Cd and Pyr were found to be 84.62 %, 64.22 % or 85.90 %, 65.78 %, respectively. Additionally, BCR testing revealed that β‐CD/C‐BC could convert HMs in soil into a residual state (from 32 % to 82 %) with the highest stabilization rate, thereby reducing their migration ability and ecological risk.

Influencing the morphological stability of MOVPE-grown β-Ga2O3 films by O2/Ga ratio

The morphology evolution of (100) β-Ga2O3 films grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) is studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). In particular, when grown under a high O2/Ga ratio (O2/Ga = 1250) and above a thickness of 350 nm, these films exhibit striking morphological instabilities, including step meandering and bunching, which contribute significantly to surface roughening. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) measurements reveal a morphological transition on the growing surface with a coexistence of step-flow and step-bunching growth modes resulting from these instabilities. In contrast, growth conditions with low O2/Ga ratios (O2/Ga = 350) effectively suppress meandering and bunching instabilities, resulting in films with excellent electrical properties. These observations are rationalized through the Burton-Cabrera-Frank (BCF) theory and Bales-Zangwill (BZ) instability (Gibbs-Thompson effect and Mullins-Sekerka instability) , thus bridging theoretical models and the experimental results.

Synthesis of polymeric ferrite composites (Ni-CoFe2O4/Chitosan, Zn-NiFe2O4/Starch, Co-NiZnFe2O4/Polyaniline, Ni doped CrZnFe2O4/Alginate, and Cr doped ZnCoFe2O4/PVA) for the removal of reactive golden yellow-160 dye from wastewater

One of the most significant environmental problems facing the entire planet today is water contamination, which is caused by the increasing industry and urbanization. The present study involves the synthesis of polymeric ferrite composites Ni-CoFe2O4/Chitosan, Zn-NiFe2O4/Starch, Co-NiZnFe2O4/Polyaniline, Ni doped CrZnFe2O4/Alginate, and Cr doped ZnCoFe2O4/PVA for the removal of Golden Yellow-160 dye. The polymeric ferrite composites were characterized using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) which showed the surface morphology, crystallinity, chemical structure and thermal stability of the composites. To get the optimal removal, different parameters like pH, composite dose, contact time, temperature and initial dye concentration were optimized. Different equilibrium and kinetic models were used to check the nature of process and reaction rate of sorption. Thermodynamic were studied to check the feasibility of reaction. The effect of presence of various electrolytes NaCl, CaCl2.2 H2O and AlCl3.6 H2O was also studied. Effect of presence of different metals and surfactants was also studied which cause reduction in adsorption of dyes. For large scale, the effects of bed height, flow rate, and initial dye concentration were examined in column study. Different eluents were used for the desorption study of reactive dyes to check the reusability of process.

Prolonged faunal turnover in earliest ants revealed by North American Cretaceous amber

All ∼14,000 extant ant species descended from the same common ancestor, which lived ∼140-120 million years ago (Ma).1,2 While modern ants began to diversify in the Cretaceous, recent fossil evidence has demonstrated that older lineages concomitantly occupied the same ancient ecosystems.3 These early-diverging ant lineages, or stem ants, left no modern descendants; however, they dominated the fossil record throughout the Cretaceous until their ultimate extinction sometime around the K-Pg boundary. Even as stem ant lineages appear to be diverse and abundant throughout the Cretaceous, the extent of their longevity in the fossil record and circumstances contributing to their extinction remain unknown.3 Here we report the youngest stem ants, preserved in ∼77 Ma Cretaceous amber from North Carolina, which illustrate unexpected morphological stability and lineage persistence in this enigmatic group, rivaling the longevity of contemporary ants. Through phylogenetic reconstruction and morphometric analyses, we find evidence that total taxic turnover in ants was not accompanied by a fundamental morphological shift, in contrast to other analogous stem extinctions such as theropod dinosaurs. While stem taxa showed broad morphological variation, high-density ant morphospace remained relatively constant through the last 100 million years, detailing a parallel, but temporally staggered, evolutionary history of modern and stem ants.

Halka Şekilli Lateral Ventrikül Nodüllerinin Konvansiyonel ve Diffüzyon MR Görüntüleme Özellikleri

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the conventional and diffusion MRI findings of ring-shaped lateral ventricular nodules (RSLVN) along with clinical features.&#x0D; Methods: MR images of all patients who underwent contrast-enhanced brain MRI between 2019 and 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. The number, shape, maximal diameter, and signal intensity of RSLVNs on T1-weighted (T1W), T2-weighted (T2W), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and contrast-enhancement status were evaluated. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and normalized ADC ratios of nodules were also determined. If follow-up MRIs were performed, morphological changes of RSLVNs were evaluated. &#x0D; Results: RSLVN was observed in fifteen (0.51%) of 2920 patients. Multiple RSLVNs were observed in five patients and therefore a total of 23 RSLVNs were identified in fifteen patients. Nodules were located on the roof of the lateral ventricle in eight nodules (34.8%), in the frontal horn in twelve nodules (52.2%), and in the septum pellucidum in three. 6 of 23 RSLVNs (26.1%) were larger than 1 cm. All RSLVNs were isointense on T1W and T2W, while hyperintense on FLAIR. On DWI, 20 of 23 RSLVNs had isointense signal and the remaining 3 lesions were hyperintense. The mean ADC value and nADC ratio were 1.42 ± 0.29 x 10-3mm2 and 1.87 ± 0.31, respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion: RSLVNs may be more frequent than previously reported. Their uniform MRI appearance and typical localizations are distinctive, and they can reach relatively large sizes. Morphological stability during follow-up and the ADC values of these lesions suggest a possible benign nature.

Heterostructural NiFeW disulfide and hydroxide dual‐trimetallic core‐shell nanosheets for synergistically effective water oxidation

AbstractA stable and highly active core‐shell heterostructure electrocatalyst is essential for catalyzing oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, a dual‐trimetallic core‐shell heterostructure OER electrocatalyst that consists of a NiFeWS2 inner core and an amorphous NiFeW(OH)z outer shell is designed and synthesized using in situ electrochemical tuning. The electrochemical measurements of different as‐synthesized catalysts with a similar mass loading suggest that the core‐shell Ni0.66Fe0.17W0.17S2@amorphous NiFeW(OH)z nanosheets exhibit the highest overall performance compared with that of other bimetallic reference catalysts for the OER. Additionally, the nanosheet arrays were in situ grown on hydrophilic‐treated carbon paper to fabricate an integrated three‐dimensional electrode that affords a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a small overpotential of 182 mV and a low Tafel slope of 35 mV decade−1 in basic media. The Faradaic efficiency of core‐shell Ni0.66Fe0.17W0.17S2@amorphous NiFeW(OH)z is as high as 99.5% for OER. The scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses confirm that this electrode has excellent stability in morphology and elementary composition after long‐term electrochemical measurements. Importantly, density functional theory calculations further indicate that the core‐shell heterojunction increased the conductivity of the catalyst, optimized the adsorption energy of the OER intermediates, and improved the OER activity. This study provides a universal strategy for designing more active core‐shell structure electrocatalysts based on the rule of coordinated regulation between electronic transport and active sites.

Fracture load in double keyhole notch PLA-Cu2O nanocomposites manufactured via compression molding and 3D printing: An experimental and numerical study

Polylactic acid (PLA) polymer has garnered significant attention due to its biocompatibility. The incorporation of copper oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles into this polymer is expected to enhance its antibacterial, electrical, and thermal properties. This modification can potentially improve the performance of PLA in the fields of prosthetics manufacturing or printed circuit fabrication. However, the current research is rather focused on the mechanical properties of the PLA-Cu2O nanocomposites. This research is thus aimed to analyze PLA-Cu2O (97-3 wt%) nanocomposites with a double keyhole notch configuration both experimentally and numerically. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray mapping of elemental distribution(X-map), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to explore the morphology, crystallinity, homogeneity, purity, and thermal stability of the nanocomposite. The specimens were fabricated through two different processes: the classical method of compression molding and the innovative method of 3D printing. The results revealed the superior mechanical performance of the 3D-printed nanocomposite at a 0° raster angle, while the mechanical properties gradually decreased for raster angles of 45° and 90°. The experimental test also indicated a decline in the maximum fracture load of specimens with a double keyhole notch and constant notch inclination angle by raising the notch radius. This behavior was also observed by increasing the notch inclination angle at constant notch radius. The numerical results were similar to the experimental findings. Moreover, the nanocomposite manufactured through the classical method exhibited higher critical fracture load compared to their 3D-printed counterparts with the same geometry.

Tuning polymer-backbone coplanarity and conformational order to achieve high-performance printed all-polymer solar cells

All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) offer improved morphological and mechanical stability compared with those containing small-molecule-acceptors (SMAs). They can be processed with a broader range of conditions, making them desirable for printing techniques. In this study, we report a high-performance polymer acceptor design based on bithiazole linker (PY-BTz) that are on par with SMAs. We demonstrate that bithiazole induces a more coplanar and ordered conformation compared to bithiophene due to the synergistic effect of non-covalent backbone planarization and reduced steric encumbrances. As a result, PY-BTz shows a significantly higher efficiency of 16.4% in comparison to the polymer acceptors based on commonly used thiophene-based linkers (i.e., PY-2T, 9.8%). Detailed analyses reveal that this improvement is associated with enhanced conjugation along the backbone and closer interchain π-stacking, resulting in higher charge mobilities, suppressed charge recombination, and reduced energetic disorder. Remarkably, an efficiency of 14.7% is realized for all-PSCs that are solution-sheared in ambient conditions, which is among the highest for devices prepared under conditions relevant to scalable printing techniques. This work uncovers a strategy for promoting backbone conjugation and planarization in emerging polymer acceptors that can lead to superior all-PSCs.

Diffusion‐Controlled Morphology Modification via Employing Host/Guest Acceptors to Improve the Stability of Organic Photovoltaics

AbstractTypical bulk‐heterojunction organic photovoltaics (OPV) suffer from instability due to the slowly diffusing small‐molecule acceptors (SMAs) under operational conditions. The originally well‐phase‐separated morphology will undergo SMA self‐aggregation to form over‐purified domains that will deteriorate the OPV performance. This issue can be partially alleviated in sequentially processed OPV cells with a planar‐mixed heterojunction absorber, which is intrinsically more robust due to larger domain sizes and a lower degree of mixing. To further enhance the morphological stability, a strategy is developed to inhibit the disordered molecular diffusion that leads to the loss of crystallinity of SMA domains. Two SMAs, C9‐4F and Y6‐OBO, are incorporated as guest acceptors to form an alloy‐like acceptor with the host acceptor BTP‐eC9. These alloy‐like acceptors improved the crystallinity of the acceptor phase by promoting more ordered molecular packing, effectively restraining the diffusion‐caused loss of SMA crystallinity upon illumination. This approach helps maintain favorable gradients and ultimately ensures OPV morphological stability. Consequently, the derived devices exhibited considerably enhanced stability, with the T80 lifetime of C9‐4F‐based devices reaching ≈790 h and a remarkable ≈1010 h for Y6‐OBO‐based devices, significantly surpassing the ≈450 h observed from binary devices.

The impact of pumpkin seed-derived silver nanoparticles on corrosion and cytotoxicity: a molecular docking study of the simulated AgNPs

ABSTRACT Green-synthesized nanoparticles from pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed extracts are economical and eco-friendly. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their selective cytotoxicity towards HCT116 and African Green Monkey Kidney, Vero cells were investigated. Chemical fingerprinting, heat stability, and 2D-images of nanoparticle size and morphology were determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) on AgNPs. UV-vis examination shows surface plasmons in the wide peak at 417 nm, indicating polydisperse nanoparticles. Small silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) below 2 µm demonstrated a rod-like form and a tendency to agglomerate. SEM-EDX element analysis and fingerprinting confirmed the material as AgNPs. TEM indicated that the nanoparticles were generally spherical or ellipsoidal, equally dispersed, and averaged 26.08 nm in diameter with negligible aggregation. The AgNPs are also stable at a temperature of 220°C, indicating that the green material is quite robust at 150°C to 400°C. According to cytotoxic studies, AgNPs are toxic to cancer cells (HCT 116 cells), however they have no effect on Vero cells. AgNPs and tubulin (TUB) domain active sites have a significant affinity, according to molecular docking analysis. In an electrochemical investigation, biogenic AgNPs effectively prevented mild steel from corroding in a 1.0 M HCl solution.

Structural Control Enables Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Activity of Porous Tetrametallic Nanorods.

Integrating more than one type of metal into a nanoparticle that has a well-defined morphology and composition expands the functionalities of nanocatalysts. For a metal core/porous multimetallic shell nanoparticle, the availability of catalytically active surface sites and molecular mass transport can be enhanced, and the multielemental synergy can facilitate intraparticle charge transport. In this work, a reliable and robust synthesis of such a functional tetrametallic nanoparticle type is presented, where a micro- and mesoporous PdPtIr shell is grown on Au nanorods. The effect of critical synthesis parameters, namely temperature and the addition of HCl are investigated on the hydrodynamic size of the micellar pore template as well as on the stability of the metal chloride complexes and various elemental analysis techniques prove composition of the porous multimetallic shell. Due to the synergistic properties, the tetrametallic nanorods possess extensive negative surface charge making them a promising catalyst in reduction reactions. Dye degradation as well as the conversion of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol is catalyzed by the supportless nanorods without light illumination. By depositing the particles onto conductive substrates, the nanostructured electrodes show promising electrocatalytic activity in ethanol oxidation reaction. The nanocatalyst presents excellent morphological stability during all the catalytic test reactions.