Surfactant Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide Research Articles

Fabrication and characterization of carvacrol encapsulated gelatin/chitosan composite nanofiber membrane as active packaging material

In this study, carvacrol was effectively encapsulated in gelatin/chitosan composite nanofiber membrane using the electrospinning method with the help of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The effects of CTAB (0.0 %, 1 %, w/w) and bioactive carvacrol (0.0 %, 1.0 %, 3.0 %, 5.0 %, 7.0 %, 10 %, w/w) on the structural, physicomechanical, antibacterial, and antioxidant characteristics of the nanofiber membranes were investigated. The results demonstrated that the antibacterial and antioxidant characteristics of the gelatin/chitosan composite nanofiber membrane (GC) and GC-CAR membrane (with the addition of 1.0 % carvacrol) were unsatisfactory. As carvacrol and CTAB were both added, the elongation at break, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of the nanofiber membranes significantly improved (p < 0.05), while the water vapor permeability (WVP) significantly decreased (p < 0.05). When the added amount of carvacrol was 5 % (w/w), the nanofiber membrane (GC-CAR5-CTAB) exhibited the best antioxidant and antibacterial performance. Finally, the GC-CAR5-CTAB membrane was applied to the preservation of strawberries and Erjingtiao chilies, and their shelf life was effectively extended. The above results indicate that the nanofiber membrane prepared in this study has great potential for application in food-active packaging.

Investigation of the synergistic effects of SiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles with SDS and CTAB surfactants on the stability and improving phase behavior of water-oil emulsions

The stability of emulsions is a significant challenge across various industries, including food, pharmaceutical, and petroleum. Surface-active agents utilized for enhanced oil recovery often exhibit inadequate performance under high salinity reservoir conditions, presenting a critical barrier to effective emulsion stabilization. Furthermore, due to the extreme hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of nanoparticles (NPs), they are not effective in stabilizing emulsions on their own. To address this limitation, a minimal quantity of surfactant was introduced into the NPs to improve their wettability and achieve dual wettability. This research has examined the synergistic effects of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ NPs combined with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactants on water-oil emulsion stability. This approach enhanced emulsion stability by combining the stabilizing effects of both the NPs and the surfactants, an aspect that has not been previously addressed in phase behavior studies through the examination of the interactions and surface behavior of surfactant-nanoparticle complexes at the oil-water interface. Several experiments, including phase behavior, FT-IR, zeta potential, contact angle, and interfacial tension (IFT) tests, were performed to evaluate the interaction of surfactants with NPs. The results demonstrate that combining NPs with surfactants, especially those with opposite charges, significantly reduces IFT to the order of 10−6 mN/m, which can overcome capillary pressure, and enhances optimal salinity levels even up to 75000 ppm. Interactions between CTAB-SiO₂ and SDS-Al₂O₃ notably improve the hydrophobicity of NPs, resulting in IFT reductions of 11.4 and 7 mN/m, respectively, compared to NPs alone.

In-situ solvothermal synthesis of free-binder NiCo2S4/nickel foam electrode for supercapacitor application: Effects of CTAB surfactant

The free-binder NiCo2S4/nickel foam electrode was prepared using a two-step solvothermal method: double-layered hydroxide formation and sulfurization. The effects of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on the structural, microstructural, and electrochemical properties throughout the sulfurization process were investigated using various characterization techniques. By adding the CTAB surfactant, the sheetlike morphology of NiCo2S4 material was transformed to a fine particular morphology. Using one mmol CTAB surfactant, the specific capacitance of NiCo2S4/nickel foam increased from 578 to 835 C g−1 due to the downsizing of particles, inducing the higher electroactive sites for redox reactions. An asymmetric capacitor of NiCo2S4 as positive and CuCo2S4 as negative electrodes demonstrated an energy density of 23.2 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 5040 W kg−1.

Investigation of pivalic acid-derived organotin(IV) carboxylates: Synthesis, structural insights, interaction with biomolecules, and computational studies

Herein, six homoleptic and heteroleptic tri-organotin(IV) complexes (1–6) of pivalic acid (HL) were synthesized using 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) and organotin(IV) chlorides, with a general formula of R3SnL/R3SnLbipy, where R = CH3, C4H9, and C6H5. The structure of the complexes was established in the solid phase via FT-IR spectroscopy and in solution through multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The variety of coordination modes was implemented by the carboxylate group of pivalic acid, which is reflected in the FT-IR data and also supported by the single crystal XRD analysis for complex 5. The single crystal data revealed the presence of a five-coordinated distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry for complex 5. The structural and electronic details of the complexes were also evaluated by the application of density functional theory through the Lanl2DZ basis set. The ability of complexes to inhibit the AChE and BChE was assessed in vitro as well as theoretically through molecular docking studies and the results were promising. The complexes 4 and 5 showed high inhibitory potency and could be a potential drug candidate. The DNA binding mode of the complexes was studied using UV–Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The findings revealed that these complexes readily intercalate into DNA via a spontaneous process. Additionally, an effective binding of the complexes with surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) through a spontaneous process also proved them valuable in pharmacology.

Tailoring polypyrrole morphology and electronic properties through CTAB-SDS self-assembly

This study explores the polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) within a self-assembled catanionic surfactant composed of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) - sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), aiming to control its morphology and electronic properties. The research systematically investigates how varying the compositions of CTAB and SDS surfactants influence the structural and electronic characteristics of PPy. Our findings indicate that the surfactant composition predominantly impacts the shape of PPy rather than its crystallinity. Despite the absence of significant crystallinity, variations in surfactant composition notably alter the electronic properties of PPy. Specifically, an increase in CTAB content results in electrical conductivity increasing from 0.34 to 0.01 S/m. Conversely, higher SDS content enhances the bipolaron-to-polaron ratio, particularly in the C−H deformation region, contributing to improved electronic characteristics. Additionally, packing density analysis reveals that the ordered or disordered acyl chain arrangement within the catanionic surfactant system varies significantly with surfactant composition, further influencing the morphology and electronic properties of PPy. These findings provide valuable pave for designing conductive polymers with tailored electronic properties by a catanionic surfactant, where precise control over such properties is crucial.

Engineering Interfacial Molecular Interactions on Ag Hollow Fibre Gas Diffusion Electrodes for High Efficiency in CO2 Conversion to CO.

The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) occurs at the nanoscale interface of the electrode-electrolyte. Therefore, tailoring the interfacial properties in the interface microenvironment provides a powerful strategy to optimise the activity and selectivity of electrocatalysts towards the desired products. Here, the microenvironment at the electrode-electrolyte interface of the flow-through Ag-based hollow fibre gas diffusion electrode (Ag HFGDE) is modulated by introducing surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the electrolyte additive. The porous hollow fibre configuration and gas penetration mode facilitate the CO2 mass transfer and the formation of the triple-phase interface. Through the ordered arrangement of hydrophobic long-alkyl chains, CTAB molecules at the electrode/electrolyte interface promoted CO2 penetration to active sites and repelled water to reduce the activity of competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). By applying CTAB-containing catholyte, Ag HFGDE achieved a high CO Faradaic efficiency (FE) of over 95 % in a wide potential range and double the partial current density of CO. The enhancement of CO selectivity and suppression of hydrogen was attributed to the improvement of charge transfer and the CO2/H2O ratio enhancement. These findings highlight the importance of adjusting the local microenvironment to enhance the reaction kinetics and product selectivity in the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction CO2RR.

Multi-scale evaluation of surfactant effects on asphalt desorption behavior from oil sand surfaces

This study created a hydrophobic oil sand model to investigate the impact of surfactants on the desorption behavior of asphalt from solid surface. Cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) were used to soak the model to observe the effect of surfactants on asphalt desorption. The effect of surfactant pretreatment on the wettability of the substrate was evaluated by measuring the contact angle of ultrapure water on the substrate and observing the morphological changes of the solid surface by atomic force microscopy. The results show that the contact angle of the model treated with SDBS decreases to 10° after 3 days, which significantly improves the wettability of the substrate surface and promotes the desorption of asphalt. However, CTAB has no obvious effect on asphalt desorption. The standard deviation of the gray value of the sand surface image is significantly reduced to 38.693 after the SDBS treatment, which can be seen by binarizing the image. This suggests that the asphalt and solution are evenly distributed and that there is hardly any discernible boundary. Nevertheless, neither of the two surfactants can improve the water-based extraction efficiency of oil sands after soaking treatment. The asphalt yield is less than 5% after 30 days of pretreatment with CTAB solution, while only 45% asphalt yield is obtained after 30 days of pretreatment with SDBS solution. Despite these variations, the quality of asphalt foam remains relatively the same. This may be related to the failure of surfactants to improve the surface wettability of hydrophobic sand. Therefore, the surface wettability of the sand is considered to be a key factor affecting the asphalt desorption and final yield. This study can provide a scientific basis for oil sand recovery to a certain extent.

Effect of surface charge on laser-produced silver nanoparticles for dye reduction and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are widely used in biological, chemical, and physical fields due to their distinct properties. However, the effect of surfactants with different polarities on the catalytic and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) performance of Ag NPs has not been thoroughly studied. Here, we tailor the surface charge of laser-synthesized Ag NP without changing their morphology and investigate their catalytic and SERS capabilities. The surfactant-free silver nanoparticles (NPBare), synthesized via pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL), are subsequently coated with ionic surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (NPSDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (NPCTAB). The synthesis and morphology of Ag NPs are confirmed using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The surface charge of fabricated NPs is determined using zeta potential (ZP) measurements. The ZP values of NPBare, NPSDS, and NPCTAB are determined to be -17 mV, 28.7 mV, and 5.58 mV, respectively. The catalytic activity of bare and coated Ag NPs was tested against the cationic and anionic dyes, Methylene blue (MB) and Methyl orange (MO) respectively. The reduction rate of both dyes was highest when using NPBare. However, in the case of coated nanoparticles, the rate of MB and MO reduction depends on the difference between the ZP of the dye and nanoparticles: the rate of reduction increases with the difference between the zeta potentials of the dye and coated nanoparticles increases. The SERS capability of bare and coated NPs was evaluated for anionic (MO) and cationic (MB, Rhodamine B, and Crystal Violet) dyes. The SERS intensity of dyes strongly enhanced with the increase in ZP difference between the dye molecules and NPs. Surface charge modified NPs shown excellent SERS sensitivity with detection limit up to nanomolar for dye molecules as well as the homogeneity of NPs demonstrated in Raman mapping results with relative standard deviation of 17%. The results suggest that the electrostatic interaction between the nanoparticles and dye molecules plays a dominant role in SERS enhancement. These findings highlight the significance of surface charge in improving the catalytic and sensing properties of noble metal nanoparticles.

Wet-chemical preparation and physicochemical characterization of nanostructured Zn-Bi2O3/CeO2 composite: A visible-light-driven catalyst for the annihilation of pharmaceutical pollutant

A modified co-precipitation technique assisted with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant was used to synthesize a nanostructured and zinc-doped mixed metal oxide (Zn-Bi2O3/CeO2) composite. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD), the synthesized nanocomposite was studied in terms of its crystal structure, grain size, percentage crystallinity, and percentage porosity. Energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis (EDX) was used to ascertain the chemical composition, SEM to confirm the creation of nanostructure material, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to extract the existing functional groups. Investigation of light harvesting properties (UV/Vis) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveals that the doped composite exhibits a band gap driven by visible light and remarkable thermal stability at high temperatures. The pH value at which a material's net charge is zero, known as pHpzc, is 7.93 for the doped mixed metal oxide composite. The Zn-Bi2O3/CeO2 nanocomposite effectively eliminates 98.4 percent of the quinolone antibiotic (levofloxacin) via a mechanism that integrates sorption and photocatalytic degradation induced by visible light. To determine the optimal circumstances for the efficient operation of a photocatalyst, we experimented with different time intervals, beginning drug concentrations, catalyst dosages, operating temperatures, and pH levels. Reusability tests and post-activity FTIR analysis were used to investigate the long-term usability and structural stability of the newly developed doped composite photocatalyst. The scavenging tests revealed a potential photocatalytic mechanism to explain the annihilation of the levofloxacin drug on the synthesized catalyst. The physicochemical and photocatalytic evaluations recommend that the assembled integrated material has excellent potential for mineralizing medicinal products in pharmaceutical wastes.

Effects of liquid-phase carbon combining surfactant coatings on the performance of LiMn0.2Fe0.8PO4 cathode materials

Efforts to reduce the particle size of LiFexMn1-xPO4 materials and apply conductive carbon coatings have yielded substantial benefits in terms of obtaining lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with enhanced electrochemical performance. However, LiFexMn1-xPO4 materials with small particle sizes and uniform carbon layers cannot be obtained by the conventional high-temperature solid-phase method, which is the most convenient and applicable method for the industrial-scale preparation of the cathode materials used in commercial LIBs. The present work addresses this issue by applying the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in conjunction with LiMn0.2Fe0.8PO4 (LMFP) particles, and obtaining a carbon layer by replacing the conventional in-situ solid-phase carbon coating process with a secondary liquid-phase coating process using sucrose as the carbon source. The CTAB surfactant is observed to be uniformly adsorbed on the surface of LMFP particles, and maintains small LMFP particle sizes by operating as a dispersant preventing their agglomeration. Additionally, the carbon network formed by CTAB pyrolysis acts as an intermediate medium ensuring that the conductive carbon layer is uniformly and firmly adhered to the LMFP particle surfaces at a high preparation temperature of 680°C. This composite carbon layer is demonstrated to enhance lithium-ion transport, while concurrently acting as a barrier interfering with manganese diffusion within the electrolyte during charge-discharge cycling. As a result, the optimal LMFP-based cathode material achieves reversible specific capacities of 160 mAh g−1 and 120 mAh g−1 at charge-discharge rates of 0.1 C and 5 C, respectively, and the capacity retention is 88 % after 500 cycles at 1 C. Hence, the results verify that the proposed surfactant-mediated liquid-phase carbon coating process is an effective method for enhancing the overall electrochemical performance of LMFP-based cathode materials.

Enhancing electrical insulation and thermal conductivity in polydimethylsiloxane polymer nanocomposites through silica coating on carbon fibers

Mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers (MPCFs) exhibit high thermal conductivity (∼900Wm−1K−1) and are considered to be an important candidate for future thermal management. However, MPCFs lead to an increase in the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites due to the low volume electrical resistivity (∼10−3 Ω cm). The development of MPCFs nanocomposites with high thermal conductivity and good electrical insulation remains a challenging problem. In order to solve the problem, we utilized the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as an anchor for hydrolysis, and employed a sol-gel method to deposit a silica coating on MPCFs (silica@MPCFs). Silica@MPCFs was used as the filler for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The nanocomposites exhibit commendable thermal conductivity (achieving 1.52 Wm−1K−1) and excellent volume electrical insulation (exceeding 1013 Ω cm) at a 30 vol% concentration. Notably, both the thermal conductivity and volume electrical insulation exceed MPCFs/PDMS. This approach to electrical insulation treatment holds substantial potential for the future preparation of high-performance nanocomposites of electronic devices.

Understanding the Dynamics of Matrix-Fracture Interaction: The First Step Toward Modeling Chemical EOR and Selecting Suitable Fracturing Fluid in Unconventional Oil/Gas Recovery

Summary The effects of chemical additives on mitigating water blocking and improving oil recovery were experimentally examined for gas-water and oil-water systems in spontaneous imbibition cells. In these attempts, two factors are critically important: (1) understanding the physics of the interaction, whether it is co- or countercurrent, and (2) characteristics of the chemical additives to suitably orient the interaction for specific purposes (accelerate/decelerate matrix-fracture interactions). Co- and countercurrent imbibition experiments were conducted on sandstone rock samples using various oil samples (viscosities between 1.37 cp and 54.61 cp) as well as gas (air). The selected new-generation chemical additives included deep eutectic solvents, cationic/anionic/nonionic surfactants, and inorganic and organic alkalis. We observed that the functionality of the chemicals varied depending on the fluid type, interaction type (co- or countercurrent), and application purposes. For instance, chemicals such as the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) significantly reduced water invasion into the gas-saturated sandstone cores during fracturing, while chemicals such as the nonionic surfactant Tween® 80 provided considerable oil recovery improvement in the oil-saturated sandstone cores. The surface tension and wettability of the rock surface are crucial factors in determining the suitability of chemicals for mitigating water blockage. In terms of oil recovery, certain chemical additives, such as O342 and Tween 80, may result in a lower recovery rate in the early stage because of their strong ability in interfacial tension (IFT) reduction but could lead to a higher ultimate recovery factor by altering the wettability. Additionally, the introduction of chemicals resulted in notable spontaneous emulsification, especially in countercurrent imbibition, thereby enhancing oil recovery. The spontaneous emulsification and its stability are influenced by factors such as oil drop size, boundary condition, interaction type, IFT, wettability, as well as rock surface charges. The results have implications for understanding the physics and dynamics of matrix-fracture interactions in co- and countercurrent conditions. In addition, they serve as the first step toward selecting appropriate chemical additives in hydraulic fracturing fluid design and enhancing oil recovery in unconventional reservoirs.

Ibuprofen removal by modified natural zeolite: characterization, modeling, and adsorption mechanisms

AbstractBACKGROUNDDeveloping robust technologies to remove emerging pollutants from water is urgent since conventional treatments are not technically prepared to remove them. This paper investigated the ibuprofen (IBU) adsorption capacity onto natural zeolite (NZ) and hydrothermally modified zeolite in an acidic medium followed by impregnation with the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (MZHT‐CTAB). The materials characterization included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm (BET), Zeta Potential (ZP), and Point of Zero Charge (pHPZC). The adsorptive capacity studies were carried out by varying the pH solution, a kinetic study at three concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg L−1), and the contaminant concentration influence (5–100 mg L−1).RESULTSThe results showed that the MZHT‐CTAB obtained both the highest removal efficiency (~ 37%) and the highest adsorption capacity (~ 14 mg g−1) at pH 5.0. The Pseudo Second‐Order (PSO) model, which showed the best fit to the experimental data, is significant as it indicates the reliability of our results. The maximum adsorption capacity for the concentration of 100 mg L−1 was 11.93 mg g−1. According to Giles's classification, the isotherm was classified as S‐3 type, indicating the competition between the adsorbate and water molecules for the active sites on the adsorbent surface.CONCLUSIONThe adsorption studies demonstrate that the novel adsorbent (MZHT‐CTAB) is highly effective in removing IBU, presenting a significant removal capacity and feasibility. This promising result contributes to the ongoing search for alternative materials for water treatment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Molecular interactional study of SDS and CTAB in aqueous medium of anti-HIV drugs (Emtricitabine and Lamivudine) at different temperatures: A physicochemical investigation

The present study deals with the interactions of Emtricitabine and Lamivudine (anti-HIV drugs) with anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at (298.15–313.15) K temperature range by volumetry, compressibility and viscometric approach. The experimental values of sound velocity and density are used to compute various parameters such as apparent molar volume (φv), isentropic compressibility (κs), and apparent molar adiabatic compression (φκ) by employing cosphere overlap model. Relative viscosity parameter (ηr) evaluated from viscosity data also helps to understand various interactions prevalent in surfactant-drug-water ternary system. This attempt of extracting information about various physicochemical interactions of anti-HIV drugs with surfactants can prove beneficial to develop novel anti-HIV agents with better viral resistance activity.

Improvement of the Oxidative Desulfurization Performance Using MoO3/CuO‐Modified Hierarchical HY Zeolite

AbstractThe presence of sulfur compounds in the chemical industry poses significant environmental and economic problems, including endangering human and animal lives and damaging equipment. For this purpose, hierarchical HY zeolite (Hie‐Y) with a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio 10 was successfully synthesized through sequential desilication‐dealumination using NH4OH treatment. A weak alkaline media with surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) facilitates mesoporosity formation and preserves the zeolite structure. Metal oxide (CuO, MoO3) ‐ hierarchical HY zeolite nanocomposites have been prepared by one or a combination of 3 methods: 1) ion exchange, 2) precipitation, and 3) calcination. The obtained catalysts were characterized using XRD, FT‐IR, FESEM, UV‐Vis, EDS, and BET techniques. The formation of a hierarchical structure is associated with structure preservation, but partial destruction occurs based on the entering Cu in the zeolite pores. These catalysts have been studied in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) reaction. Several parameters, including temperature, catalyst amount, DBT concentration, and reaction time, were evaluated in ODS using the Taguchi Design of Experiments. Catalytic activity order was obtained as Y&lt;Hie‐Y&lt;Hie‐Y/CuO&lt;Hie‐Y/MoO3&lt;Hie‐Y/MoO3/CuO. Results indicate an activity increase for the Hie‐Y/MoO3/CuO hierarchical structure owing to synergistic effects of secondary mesoporosity and metal oxides. The catalyst was recoverable and reused for five consecutive runs with preservation of catalytic activity.

Effect of surfactants on the luminescence, bonding, and catalytic properties of CaWO4 spheres

BackgroundThis work focuses on improving the luminescence and catalytic properties of CaWO4 spheres by manipulating their electron density distribution. The goal is to enhance their suitability for optoelectronic applications and to increase their efficiency in degrading the industrial dye methylene blue (MB). The study utilizes a co-precipitation technique and the addition of three surfactants to synthesize phase-pure CaWO4 with a tetragonal crystal structure. MethodsThe synthesis involved a co-precipitation technique with simultaneous addition of three surfactants. Extensive characterization employed various analytical and spectroscopic methods to assess structural, morphological, luminescent, and catalytic properties. Particularly, the use of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant induced intense green emission around 500 nm attributed to luminescent center WO42−. Solar irradiation evaluated catalytic performance, with CaWO4: CTAB degrading methylene blue remarkably in just 40 min under natural sunlight. Significant FindingsThe research yielded a CaWO4 material, particularly when assisted by the CTAB surfactant, exhibiting intense green luminescence, making it promising for optoelectronic applications. Furthermore, this material demonstrated remarkable catalytic performance in degrading methylene blue under solar irradiation, suggesting its potential in environmental remediation. The study also delved into electron density distribution by examining differences in bond lengths and mid-bond electron density within a single unit cell, shedding light on the material's underlying properties.

Effect of Surfactants on 1,2-Dichloroethane-in-Water Droplet Impacts at Electrified Liquid-Liquid Interface

In this work, we used the electrified liquid-liquid interface (eLLI) to study the fusion of DCE-in-water organic droplets (soft particles) upon coming into contact with the soft interface. Our focus was to define the effect of the neutral (1-tetradodecanol) and ionic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecylsulfonate) surfactants that stabilize the colloidal solution on the electroanalytical output of the impact events. The electrochemically and interfacially active salt used in our work (tetramethylammonium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate) was always initially dissolved in the organic phase droplets. When the potential drop at the interface was set below the formal Galvani potential of the tetramethylammonium cation ion transfer, we observed ionic current events upon the fusion of the droplets at the eLLI, as studied by chronoamperometry. This phenomenon was found to be severely affected by the surfactants. Our system was investigated with several methods, including cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, interfacial tension measurements, and finally zeta potential and droplet size distribution measurements based on dynamic light scattering.

CTAB-induced synthesis of two-dimensional copper oxalate particles: using l-ascorbic acid as the source of oxalate ligand.

Copper oxalate is typically synthesized through a precipitation reaction involving copper salts mixed with oxalic acid or oxalate solutions. However, in this study, we were successful in synthesizing well-formed square-like copper oxalate particles under liquid-phase conditions at ambient temperature and pressure using ascorbic acid as the source of the oxalic acid ligand. The addition of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) caused the morphology of copper oxalate particles to undergo a transition from three-dimensional to two-dimensional. And the inhibition of the assembly of primary copper oxalate nanocrystals along the [001] direction became stronger with the increase of CTAB concentration. The impact of CTAB on the crystallization, growth, and self-assembly processes of primary copper oxalate nanocrystals was analysed using various testing methods. Based on these analyses, the possible mechanism of CTAB-induced synthesis of two-dimensional copper oxalate particles was finally proposed.

Development of AgNPs-PVP/TPU based flexible strain sensors for structural health monitoring of composite structures

Real-time in-stu structural health monitoring (SHM) of composite structure developed through highly sensitive and flexible smart sensors based on colloidal solution of Silver Nano Particles (AgNPs). Synthesis of AgNPs through chemical reduction method by citrate and then in Haxen phase transferred by using surfactant Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Colloidal solution of AgNPs-Haxen and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) - Haxen has been followed by mixed, calcined and deposited that thick paste on flexible Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) film. These sensors become more sensitive than metallic foil made sensors and farther this sensor pasted on polymer composite for monotonic loading like tensile loading. The data extracted from sensors was monitored effectively by data acquisitioning technique using Keithley KUSB-3100. This research based on chemical synthesis of metallic nanoparticles like silver, its functionalization, protection of these nanoparticles from environment by capping agents and by creating inert atmosphere respectively. Then these functionalized capped nanoparticles are embedded on the surface of thermoplastic Urethane (TPU) film to make piezo resistive semi conductive strips which serve as flexible strain gauge/smart sensor. One other technique is also being used to make sensor is that colloidal solution of metallic Nanoparticles sprays over TPU substrate using Connective Self Assembly (CSA) method. The sensor then properly attached to Glass fabric reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite and calibrated using data acquisitioning (DAQ) under different mode of testing.

Enhanced removal of methylene blue and procion deep red H-EXL dyes from aqueous environments by modified-bentonite: Isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic

This study aims to enhance local bentonite's effectiveness in removing methylene blue and procion deep red dyes from aqueous media through organic modification with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactant. Raw and modified bentonites were analyzed using XRF, XRD, FTIR, BET/BJH, and DSC techniques. The modified bentonite showed a crystalline structure and mesoporous morphology with a heterogeneous surface. Optimal adsorption conditions for MB dye were 0.2 g adsorbent dose, 60 min contact time, 60 mg/L initial concentration, and pH 8, achieving a maximum sorption capacity of 6.418 mg/g. For PDR dye, optimal conditions were a 0.125 g adsorbent dose, 40 mg/L initial concentration, 30 min contact time, and acidic pH, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 8.503 mg/g. Isotherm analysis indicated the Langmuir model best fits the adsorption data, suggesting a mono-layer adsorption process. Kinetic investigations revealed that the adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order model, indicating a chemisorption mechanism. Thermodynamic results showed exothermic adsorption for MB and endothermic adsorption for PDR. This work highlights the potential of surfactant-modified bentonite as a cost-effective sorbent for treating polluted aqueous systems, effectively removing both cationic and anionic dyes.