Search

A facile method is proposed in this work to prepare a carbon paper (CP) with outstanding properties by doping boron to catalyze graphitization at lower temperature. Boron was introduced into CP by impregnating carbon fiber preform into a boron/phenolic resin/ethanol solution, and then CP was obtained after the consecutive procedures of hot pressing, carbonization, and graphitization. Morphology, microstructure, composition, and physical properties of the doped and undoped CPs were thoroughly investigated via various techniques to exam the effects of boron concentration and graphitization temperature. Furthermore, the boron doped CP was fabricated into fuel cell gas diffusion layer (GDL) and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to evaluate its performance through the single cell performance. The findings indicated CP doping with 2 wt% boron could lower the graphitization temperature by at least 200 °C. The B-doped GDL had a higher power density in comparison with the undoped GDLs made in our lab or from the commercial brands. • The innovative preparation method for carbon paper with high conductivity. • The effect of boron concentration and graphitization temperature on carbon paper. • The single cell performance of B-doped gas diffusion layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have exemplary electrochemical properties; however, widespread use of high-quality BDD has previously been limited by material cost and availability. In the present article, we report the use of a BDD paste electrode (BDDPE) coupled with microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) to create a low-cost, high-performance electrochemical sensor. The BDDPEs are easy to prepare from a mixture of BDD powder and mineral oil and can be easily stencil-printed into a variety of electrode geometries. We demonstrate the utility and applicability of BDDPEs through measurements of biological species (norepinephrine and serotonin) and heavy metals (Pb and Cd) using μPADs. Compared to traditional carbon paste electrodes (CPE), BDDPEs exhibit a wider potential window, lower capacitive current, and are able to circumvent the fouling of serotonin. These results demonstrate the capability of BDDPEs as point-of-care sensors when coupled with μPADs.

A novel paper-based analytical device (PAD) coupled with a silver nanoparticle-modified boron-doped diamond (AgNP/BDD) electrode was first developed as a cholesterol sensor. The AgNP/BDD electrode was used as working electrode after modification by AgNPs using an electrodeposition method. Wax printing was used to define the hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas on filter paper, and then counter and reference electrodes were fabricated on the hydrophilic area by screen-printing in house. For the amperometric detection, cholesterol and cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) were directly drop-cast onto the hydrophilic area, and H2O2 produced from the enzymatic reaction was monitored. The fabricated device demonstrated a good linearity (0.39 mg dL(-1) to 270.69 mg dL(-1)), low detection limit (0.25 mg dL(-1)), and high sensitivity (49.61 μA mM(-1) cm(-2)). The precision value for ten replicates was 3.76% RSD for 1 mM H2O2. In addition, this biosensor exhibited very high selectivity for cholesterol detection and excellent recoveries for bovine serum analysis (in the range of 99.6-100.8%). The results showed that this new sensing platform will be an alternative tool for cholesterol detection in routine diagnosis and offers the advantages of low sample/reagent consumption, low cost, portability, and short analysis time., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Boron was introduced into carbon papers (CPs) to catalyze their graphitization in this paper. The results showed the graphitization of CPs was moved from 2400 °C to 2100 °C. At 2100 °C, boron substituted carbon atoms in the hexagonal carbon lattices to form a solid solution, and the catalytic mechanism was dissolution and precipitation. CPs with excellent electrical conductivity and good permeability were prepared at lower temperature. Thus, the boron-doping method provides a new way to prepare high performance CPs at lower costs.

Paper mill wastes are a mixture of by-products from pulp production and on-site energy production, consisting of paper mill sludge, ash and cinders. Landfilling of these highly boron (B) and heavy metal laden waste products carries environmental risks. Poplars have been successfully employed in the phytomanagement and hydraulic control of B contaminated sites. Here, we assess the performance of hybrid poplars on a paper-mill waste landfill, investigate the accumulation of B by the trees and explore the relationship between local-scale root growth and substrate properties. Leaf and root tissue samples were collected on three plots and analyzed for their chemical properties and root traits. Additionally, we sampled four soil cores in the vicinity of each of the trees and determined chemical and physical properties. Using a principal component analysis followed by a cluster analysis, we identified three substrate types. This method delineated the soil effects on tree survival and growth, although correlations with individual soil element concentrations were weak. Despite signs of B toxicity in some leaves, B was not the key limiting factor for poplar growth. Instead, Ca deficiency caused by a Mg:Ca imbalance was the primary reason for the poor performance of some trees. Root growth was not limited by toxicity effects of soil contaminants. Our results show that hybrid poplars perform well under the harsh growing conditions on a multi-contaminated, B-laden substrate in a hemiboreal climate. Exploiting the differences in the performance of the four clones in relation to the soil types, could increase the success of revegetation on this and other landfills., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Herein, the boron and nitrogen co-doped 0-dimensional graphene quantum dots (B,N-GQDs) with high quantum yield (QY) were synthesized via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method at 170 °C for 20 min using fresh passion fruit juice and boric acid as the starting materials. The 3–6 layers of B,N-GQDs with mean particle size of 9 ± 1 nm were then used for ultra-sensitive and selective detection of tetracycline in aqueous and biological media. The hybridization of boron and nitrogen atoms into the GQD structures increases the intensity of electronegative, resulting in the enhancement of QY to 50 ± 1%. The B,N-GQDs show their excellent analytical performance on tetracycline determination after 2 min of reaction under an optimal condition at pH 5. The linear range of 0.04–70 µM and with limits of detection (LOD) of 1 nM in phosphate buffer saline (PBS), 1.9 nM in urine and 2.2 nM in human serum are obtained. Moreover, the high selectivity of tetracycline by B,N-GQDs over the other 23 interferences is observed. The π-π interaction and electron donor-acceptor principle play pivotal roles in enhancing the ultra-sensitivity and selectivity of B,N-GQDs toward TC detection. Moreover, the B, N-GQD based paper nanosensor exhibits an excellent analytical performance on visual detection of 0.1–30 µM TC in human serum. Results of this study clearly indicate the feasibility of synthesis of B,N-GQDs derived from passion fruit juice for ultrasensitive tetracycline detection, which can open an avenue to use natural products for the preparation of environmentally benign and biocompatible carbon nanomaterials for highly sensitive detection of drugs, antibiotics, organic compounds and biomarkers.

Groundwater quality in Wadi Fatimah is evaluated and demarcated for agriculture utilities using comprehensive approaches namely, international standards, agricultural water quality (AWQ) indices, irrigation water quality index (IWQI), and trace metals. Groundwater samples were collected (n = 59) and analysed for EC, pH, major and minor ions and trace metals. According to FAO recommendations, 42% of samples (EC > 3000 µS/cm) are inappropriate for agricultural uses. AWQ indices including salinity hazard, Kelly's ratio and Na% show that 50%, 19% and 37% of samples, respectively, are unsuitable for agricultural uses. USSL classification reveals that groundwater is preferable only for high-permeability soils and salt-tolerant crops. IWQI suggests that 88% of samples are moderately usable for agriculture. The interrelationship between water salinity and crop yield justified that 73%, 59%, 51% and 25% of samples are desirable to yield 90% in date palm trees, sorghum, rice and citrus fruits, respectively. Groundwater is appropriate for date palm trees except in downstream regions. Boron concentration suggests that 52%, 81% and 92% of samples are suitable for sensitive, semi-tolerant and tolerant crops, respectively. Groundwater in the central part (suitable for sensitive crops), central and upstream regions (semi-tolerant crops) and all regions except downstream (tolerant crops) are suitable for cultivation. Trace metals contents illustrate that 36%, 34%, 22%, 8%, 5% and 100% of samples are inappropriate for agriculture due to high concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Mn and Mo, respectively in the groundwater. Further, AWQ indices, IWQI, USSL classifications and trace metals ensure that groundwater in the downstream, and a few pockets in the upstream are unfit for agricultural uses. This study recommends that groundwater in this basin is more suitable for tolerant crops (ie. date palm, sorghum) followed by semi-tolerant and sensitive crops., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Boron was introduced into carbon papers (CPs) to catalyze their graphitization in this paper. The results showed the graphitization of CPs was moved from 2400 °C to 2100 °C. At 2100 °C, boron substituted carbon atoms in the hexagonal carbon lattices to form a solid solution, and the catalytic mechanism was dissolution and precipitation. CPs with excellent electrical conductivity and good permeability were prepared at lower temperature. Thus, the boron-doping method provides a new way to prepare high performance CPs at lower costs. [Display omitted] • The graphitization degree of 88.1% for CPs is reached at 2100 °C by boron-doping, whereas the value for the undoped CPs 2100 °C is only 34.3%; • The highly conductive CPs are achieved at lower graphitization temperatures without scarifying their gas permeability. • The graphitization temperature of CPs can be lowered as much as 300 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of carbon-based nanohoops with other functional organic molecular structures should lead to the design of new molecular configurations with interesting properties. Here, necklace-like nanohoops embedded with carborane were synthesized for the first time. The unique deboronization of o-carborane has led to the facile preparation of ionic nanohoop compounds. Nanohoops functionalized by nido-o-carborane show excellent fluorescence emission, with a solution quantum yield of up to 90.0 % in THF and a solid-state quantum efficiency of 87.3 %, which opens an avenue for the applications of the nanohoops in OLEDs and bioimaging., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Heteroatom (boron) doped reduced graphene oxide (B-rGO) papers were prepared by the simple self-assembly process of graphene oxide through the deoxygenation in argon atmosphere at 400 °C. The phase purity and crystallinity of the B-rGO paper were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The wrinkled paper-like morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the homogeneity by the elemental mapping. The binding energy states of the B-rGO were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The shift in zeta potential values also confirms the heteroatom doping in the rGO paper. From the Raman spectra it was observed that the incorporation of boron into the rGO paper exhibits an improved conductivity and mobility. The current-voltage (J-V) characteristics revealed that the B-rGO paper can be effectively used as a hole transport material (HTM) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The largest conversion efficiency of 8.96% was achieved for the FTO/TiO 2 /CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 /B-rGO/FTO sandwich structure with an active area of 1 cm 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sterically encumbered aminoborane sensor is introduced and used for quantitative stereochemical analysis of monoalcohols, diols and amino alcohols. The small-molecule probe exhibits a rigid ortho-substituted arene scaffold with a proximate boron binding site and a triarylamine circular dichroism (CD) reporter unit which proved to be crucial for the observed chiroptical signal induction. Coordination of the chiral target molecule produces strong Cotton effects and UV changes that are readily correlated to its absolute configuration, enantiomeric composition and concentration to achieve comprehensive stereochemical analysis within a 5 % absolute error margin. The sensing method was successfully applied in the chromatography-free analysis of less than one milligram of a crude asymmetric reaction mixture and the advantages of this chiroptical sensing approach, which is amenable to high-throughput experimentation equipment and automation, over traditional methods is discussed., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Reported herein is the efficient synthesis of tetra- and tri-substituted (Z)-fluoro- and (Z)-chloro-borylalkenes by the Boron-Wittig reaction of ketones and aldehydes with bench-top stable halo-diborylmethanes. The substrate scope is broad and the Boron-Wittig reaction proceeds from a diverse range of ketones and aldehydes including biologically relevant molecules with fluoro- or chloro-diborylmethanes, providing tetra- and tri-substituted (Z)-fluoro- and (Z)-chloro-borylalkenes in good yields with high stereoselectivity. The utilities of the obtained (Z)-fluoro- and (Z)-chloro-borylalkenes are highlighted by further modifications to afford fluoroalkene derivatives or all-carbon substituted alkene., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A facile hydrothermal strategy to synthesize borate cross-linked reduced graphene oxide (B-RGO) sheets with good optical and electrical properties is proposed by using graphene oxide (GO) sheets, boric acid and sodium hydroxide as precursors in one pot without any polymer or surfactant. The resulting B-RGO sheets can be assembled into a highly conductive B-RGO paper by simple filtration. Moreover, the atomic percentage of boron (B) in the B-RGO sheet can be readily controlled, as when it reaches to a maximum of 3.33 at%, about 30.0 mA current passes through the resulting single-layer B-RGO sheet and B-RGO paper at an applied bias of 2.0 V. This current value is much higher than that of the annealed GO paper (∼1.2 mA) and very close to that of the single-layer graphene sheet (∼60.0 mA) synthesized by a chemical vapour deposition method under the same test conditions. The resulting highly conductive B-RGO sheet and B-RGO paper offer a promising transparent conductive material for electronic or optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. It includes the ISSN, cover image, and inside cover image for the current issue. The contents list also provides information on various articles and papers featured in the journal, covering topics such as atomic spectrometry updates, in situ online detection of atmospheric particulate matter, high-sensitivity analysis of trace elements in water, and other related subjects. The journal aims to connect the world with the chemical sciences and is published by The Royal Society of Chemistry. [Extracted from the article]

The document is a contents list for the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. It includes the ISSN, cover artwork, and a list of articles and papers featured in the issue. Topics covered in this issue include advances in the analysis of clinical and biological materials, foods and beverages, as well as the detection of tritium using ultrafast laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The journal is published by The Royal Society of Chemistry, a leading chemistry community. [Extracted from the article]

Narrowband, full‐color, and quenching‐resistant emitters are urgently needed for the next generation high‐resolution displays. Though the flourishment of narrowband multiple resonance (MR) emitters in blue region, these materials still face thorny challenges such as effective light‐color regulation strategies and concentration‐induced spectral broadening/emission quenching. Herein, we highlight the research status of an effective "decoration strategy for para B position". On one hand, the introduction of an electron donor or acceptor could induce a hypochromatic‐ or bathochromic‐shift emission respectively without undesirable FWHM broadening. On the other hand, a more advanced molecular motif is further proposed through adopting a peripheral benzene ring on the para position of the B‐substituted phenyl in MR core to construct the high‐purity, highefficiency, quenching‐resistant and stable MR emitters. Such concept is expected to provide a possible way for the modification, optimization and expansion of MR emitters to meet more possible applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-vertex [(PPh3)4ClPd4B16H17(PPh3)] (1),1 from the thermolysis of [(PPh3)2PdB8H12] (2)1 in refluxing toluene solution, followed by CH2Cl2 extraction, has a core nido five-vertex {Pd2B3} unit that has opposing triangular faces in common with an arachno ten-vertex {Pd2B8} unit and a nido eleven-vertex {Pd3B8} unit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Boron forms a rich variety of low-dimensional nanosystems, including the newly discovered helix Be 6 B 10 2- (1) and Be 6 B 11 - (2) clusters. We report herein on the elucidation of chemical bonding in clusters 1/2, using the modern quantum chemistry tools of canonical molecular orbital analyses and adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP). It is shown that clusters 1/2 contain a chiral helix Be 2 B 10 Be 2 or Be 2 B 11 Be 2 skeleton with a total of 11 and 12 segments, respectively, which effectively curve into "helical pseudo rings" and chemically consist of two "quasicircles" as defined by their anchoring Be centers. The helix skeleton is connected via Lewis-type B-B and Be-B-Be σ bonds, being further stabilized by island π/σ bonds and a loose π bond at the junction. The Be 6 component in 1/2 assumes a distorted prism shape only physically, and it is fragmented into four parts: two terminal Be 2 dimers and two isolated Be centers. A Be 2 dimer at the far end manages to bend over and cap a quasicircle from one side of B plane. Consequently, each quasicircle of a helical pseudo ring is capped from opposite sides by two Be 2 /Be units, facilitating intramolecular charge-transfers of 5 electrons from Be to B. Overall, the folding of B helix involves as many as 10 electrons. The enormous electrostatics offers the ultimate driving forces for B helix formation., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly employed as energy providers for portable electronic gadgets due to their notable characteristics, which encompass a substantial energy storage capacity, exceptional efficiency, and lightweight design. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that current commercially available LIBs continue to confront challenges, such as comparatively lower power density and a shorter overall cycle life when compared to other significant electrochemical energy storage alternatives. This research describes the method of making graphene derived from graphite and making anodes used in lithium-ion battery applications. The process of making graphene is that graphite is weighed as much as 7 grams, then mixed into a solution of H2SO4 and H3PO4 in a ratio (9:1) of 840 mL H2SO4 and 93.8 mL H3PO4. The next process is stirring using magnetic stirrer for 6 hours at 1000 rpm and added slowly KMnO4 42 grams to solution. The resulting solution was then mixed using ice cubes added with H2O2 (2800 mL and 21 mL), then the solution was filtrated using filter paper. The next process is washing, the solution that has been filtered is then washed using deionized water (1400 mL), ethanol (1400 mL). The sample was then dried by allowing it to stand at room temperature for 12 hours. After that, the process of making battery anodes by mixing 5 grams of graphene with boron acid solutions (0.5 M and 1 M) as much as 100 ml and then given hydrothermal treatment to the sample. Anodes of GO, BrGO 0.5 M, BrGO 1 M has the potential to enhance the perform of lithium-ion batteries. In the FTIR test results, it is known that B-C bond is found at a peak of 1222 cm-1 and the B-O bond at a peak of 1454 cm-1. XRD testing shows the crystal size of GO is 4.55 nm, BrGO 0.5 is 3.89 nm, and BrGO 1 shows a sample size of 3.19 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the boron and nitrogen co-doped 0-dimensional graphene quantum dots (B,N-GQDs) with high quantum yield (QY) were synthesized via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method at 170 °C for 20 min using fresh passion fruit juice and boric acid as the starting materials. The 3–6 layers of B,N-GQDs with mean particle size of 9 ± 1 nm were then used for ultra-sensitive and selective detection of tetracycline in aqueous and biological media. The hybridization of boron and nitrogen atoms into the GQD structures increases the intensity of electronegative, resulting in the enhancement of QY to 50 ± 1%. The B,N-GQDs show their excellent analytical performance on tetracycline determination after 2 min of reaction under an optimal condition at pH 5. The linear range of 0.04–70 µM and with limits of detection (LOD) of 1 nM in phosphate buffer saline (PBS), 1.9 nM in urine and 2.2 nM in human serum are obtained. Moreover, the high selectivity of tetracycline by B,N-GQDs over the other 23 interferences is observed. The π-π interaction and electron donor-acceptor principle play pivotal roles in enhancing the ultra-sensitivity and selectivity of B,N-GQDs toward TC detection. Moreover, the B, N-GQD based paper nanosensor exhibits an excellent analytical performance on visual detection of 0.1–30 µM TC in human serum. Results of this study clearly indicate the feasibility of synthesis of B,N-GQDs derived from passion fruit juice for ultrasensitive tetracycline detection, which can open an avenue to use natural products for the preparation of environmentally benign and biocompatible carbon nanomaterials for highly sensitive detection of drugs, antibiotics, organic compounds and biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work reports on the combination of paper-based analytical devices (PADs) and information technology (IT) equipment for non-instrumental determination of boron. PADs prepared with curcumin as a receptor and ethanolic extracts of Curcuma longa L. powder were evaluated for sensing. The colorimetric assay is based on a two step-strategy involving initially the formation of rosocyanin in the PAD under acidic conditions, with subsequent color change (from red to blue-green) at alkaline pH. The color change produced in the PAD is then exploited for determination of boron by digitization and image processing with IT devices (scanner and tablet camera) and an image analysis program, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the proposed assay showed limits of detection in the range 0.2–0.8 mg/L depending on the PADs and IT devices used for colorimetric reaction and digitization, respectively. In addition, the repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, was found to be below 5% (5 mg/L, N = 10). PADs prepared with curcumin and ethanolic extracts of Curcuma longa L. powder showed excellent lifetime and successful applicability to the analysis of water samples of different complexity with recoveries in the range 93–105%. Image 1 • PADs and IT equipment enable the colorimetric determination of boron. • Curcuma longa L. is successfully implemented in PADs for analytical purposes. • PADs containing curcumin show excellent lifetime for boron determination. • A wide variety of water samples can be analyzed in a fast and easy way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report boron based deep blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) material and its hyperfluorescence devices. Our synthesized TADF materials show EQEs of 30~39% and long device lifetime (LT90) of over 40 hrs at initial luminance of 1,000 cd/m2 with consideration of the bond dissociation energy and host engineering. The hyperfluorescence device with these TADF hosts shows the high EQE of 39.3% and 19 nm of narrow full width at half medium (FWHM) with maximum peak at 473 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of near UV‐emitting materials will be presented. A novel ladder‐like multiresonant thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) compound was studied in the solid state. The compound shows narrow near UV‐emission centered at 395 nm of optical excitation and at 410 nm in an OLED; however, the efficiency remains low. Photophysical studies reveal the presence of aggregate or excimer‐like species that seem to provide an additional loss channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surfactant-free synthesis of mesoporous and hollow silica nanoparticles is reported in which boron acts as the templating agent. Using such a simple and mild procedure as a treatment with water, the boron-rich phase is selectively removed, affording mesoporous pure silica nanoparticles with wormhole-like pores or, depending on the synthetic conditions, silica nanoshells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron-contained molecular capsules triggered by amines are described for the first time; when Et3N was employed as a chemical stimulus the Lewis acid Et3NH+, produced by solvolysis reaction on the boron, was found to be encapsulated in the internal cavity, whereas use of nBu3N led to the related dynamic capsule capable of accommodating several guest species including Cs+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel application of a nanocrystalline boron-doped diamond electrode (B-NCDE) for the construction of an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) for various bioanalytical applications. Surface characterization of the transducer surface (prior and after the fabrication of negatively charged O-terminated surface - O-B-NCDE) was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) that was further used for the voltammetric determination, scan rate dependence investigation, and repeatability examination of dsDNA electrochemical oxidation at the O-B-NCDE. The fabrication of a dsDNA/O-B-NCDE biosensor via electrostatic adsorption of dsDNA involved a thorough optimization process of deposition potential (E dep ), deposition time (t dep ), and optimal saturation concentration (c g(satur) ) with optimal values of 0.3 V, 3 min, and 10 mg/mL. The bioanalytical applicability of the fabricated dsDNA/O-B-NCDE biosensor was verified by examining the nature of the interaction between dsDNA and five selected DNA intercalators - namely thioridazine hydrochloride (TR), trimipramine maleate (TRIM), levomepromazine maleate (LEV), imipramine hydrochloride (IMI), and prochlorperazine maleate (PER) - where intercalation was proven for all of the five tested compounds. Moreover, the proposed novel bioanalytical test offers the possibility to selectively distinguish between the phenothiazine representatives (TR, LEV, and PER) and representatives of tricyclic antidepressants group (TRIM and IMI)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Boron doped diamond has been considered as a fouling-resistive electrode material for in vitro and in vivo detection of neurotransmitters. In this study, its performance in electrochemical detection of dopamine and serotonin in neuron cultivation media Neurobasal™ before and after cultivation of rat neurons was investigated. For differential pulse voltammetry the limits of detection in neat Neurobasal™ medium of 2 µM and 0.2 µM for dopamine and serotonin, respectively, were achieved on the polished surface, which is comparable with physiological values. On oxidized surface twofold higher values, but increased repeatabilities of the signals were obtained. However, in Neurobasal™ media with peptides-containing supplements necessary for cell cultivation, the voltammograms were notably worse shaped due to biofouling, especially in the medium isolated after neuron growth. In these complex media, the amperometric detection mode at +0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) allowed to detect portion-wise additions of dopamine and serotonin (as low as 1-2 µM), mimicking neurotransmitter release from vesicles despite the lower sensitivity in comparison with neat Neurobasal TM . The results indicate substantial differences in detection on boron doped diamond electrode in the presence and absence of proteins, and the necessity of studies in real media for successful implementation to neuron-electrode interfaces., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Chemical oxo-precipitation (COP) is an enhanced precipitation method for boron removal with the conversion of boric acid to perborate anions. When using barium-based precipitant, the boron can be effectively precipitated as barium perborates (BaPBs). The phase transformation of BaPBs from amorphous (A-BaPB, Ba(B(OH) 3 OOH) 2 ) to crystalline (C-BaPB, BaB 2 (OO) 2 (OH) 4 ) form is crucial for effective boron removal. However, scaling up this phase transformation of BaPBs is hindered by poor diffusion. This study aims to promote the growth of C-BaPB through seed-induced crystal growth, eliminating the need for phase transformation. By examining the relationship between crystal growth rate and supersaturation, surface spiral growth was identified as the rate-limiting step of the growth of micron-sized seeds near pH pzc . To enable continuous crystal growth, granular seeds of C-BaPB were prepared and employed as the medium for fluidized-bed crystallization (FBC). The system reached steady state 3 hydraulic retention times, achieving 90% boron removal. The effect of surface loading, ionic strength, and dosages on steady-state crystal growth rate was studied, revealing a shift of the rate-limiting step in FBC to diffusion. Lastly, the system that constituted of two FBCs in-series for sequential crystallization of A-BaPB and C-BaPB was demonstrated. The integrated system provided 97.8% of boron removal from synthetic wastewater containing 500 mg-B/L, with 92.3% of boron crystallized on the granular seeds of BaPBs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Excessive pesticide use can harm human health, making it essential to develop new techniques to monitor hazardous pesticides in food. Our study focuses on detecting mesotrione (MST) using an unmodified boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. This was the first application of cathodically pretreated BDD electrode for the detection of MST, based on its oxidation at a high potential value of +1.4 V. We theoretically examined the oxidation mechanism of MST trough the utilization of density functional theory (DFT) methodology. The utilized DPV method achieved a detection limit of 0.45 μM and showed satisfactory selectivity. The practical application of this method was demonstrated by examining corn-based food products. To ensure practical application of the method, MST was deliberately added to the samples to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method. The effectiveness of the method was confirmed by using HPLC method. This environmentally-friendly approach can establish a solid foundation for future use in food analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Due to that the higher activity of nanozymes would bring outstanding performance for the nanozyme-based biosensing strategies, great efforts have been made by researchers to improve the catalytic activity of nanozymes, and novel nanozymes with high catalytic activity are desired. Considering the crucial role in controlling blood glucose level, strategies like colorimetric and chemiluminescence to monitor α-glucosidase are developed. However, multi-mode detection with higher sensitivity was insufficient. Therefore, developing triple-mode detection method for α-glucosidase based on great performance nanozyme is of great importance., Results: In this work, a novel nanozyme Cu-BCN was synthesized by loading Cu on boron doped carbon substrate g-C 3 N 4 and applied to the colorimetric-fluorescent-smartphone triple-mode detection of α-glucosidase. In the presence of H 2 O 2 , Cu-BCN catalyzed the generation of 1 O 2 from H 2 O 2 , 1 O 2 subsequently oxidized TMB to blue colored oxTMB. In the presence of hydroquinone (HQ), the ROS produced from H 2 O 2 was consumed, inhibiting the oxidation of TMB, which endows the possibility of colorimetric and visual on-site detection of HQ. Further, due to that the fluorescence of Mg-CQDs at 444 nm could be quenched by oxTMB, HQ could also be quantified through fluorescent mode. Since α-glucosidase could efficiently hydrolyze α-arbutin into HQ, the sensitive detection of α-glucosidase was realized. Further, colorimetric paper-based device (c-PAD) was fabricated for on-site α-glucosidase detection. The LODs for α-glucosidase via three modes were 2.20, 1.62 and 2.83 U/L respectively, high sensitivities were realized., Significance: The nanozyme Cu-BCN possesses higher peroxidase-like activity by doping boron to the substrate than non-doped Cu-CN. The proposed triple-mode detection of α-glucosidase is more sensitive than most previous reports, and is reliable when applied to practical sample. Further, the smartphone-based colorimetric paper-based analytical device (c-PAD) made of simple materials could also detect α-glucosidase sensitively. The smartphone-based on-site detection provided a convenient, instrument-free and sensitive sensing method for α-glucosidase., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study presents a baseline evaluation of the distribution, human and ecotoxicological risk, and the potential interactions of fluoride and boron in the water-sediment interface in 25 locations from incredible Red Sea tourist destinations. Results showed comparable levels of B and F in the water and sediments with previous literature. Significant positive correlation was found between B and F (r = 0.57; P<0.01). Based on the sediment/liquid partition coefficient (K d ), F is more likely to be released from the sediment into seawater (logK d < 3) than B (3< logK d < 4). pH and alkalinity may affect water-sediment interactions of B and F, respectively, while SO 4 2- and Cl - ions had no significant effect on adsorption ability of F and B. The majority of minerals had average saturation Index (SI) > 1 referring to the over saturation of seawater with these minerals and their inability to dissolve. The formation of CF, FAP, and CFAP may be related to the high correlation between F w (r = 0.928, P< 0.01; r = 0.527, P< 0.01; r = 0.608, P< 0.01) and B w (r = 0.38, P< 0.05; r = 0.38, P< 0.05; r = 0.397, P< 0.05). Total hazard quotient (THQ) for children and adults were <1, revealing no health risks from exposure to B and F through ingestion and skin contact while swimming. The risk characterization ratio; RCR mix(MEC/PNEC) showed high short-term risks to aquatic organisms. Further investigations might emphasis on emerging mitigation strategies to address these concerns., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Electrodes with superior stability and sensitivity are highly desirable in advancing the toxicity detection efficiency of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, boron-doped reduced graphene oxide (B-rGO) was synthesized and utilized as an efficient cathode candidate in an MFCs system for sensitive sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) detection. Boron doping introduces additional defects and improves the dispersibility and oxygen permeability, thereby enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency. The B-rGO-based cathode has demonstrated significantly improved output voltage and power density, marking improvements of 75 % and 58 % over their undoped counterparts, respectively. Furthermore, it also exhibited remarkable linear sensitivity to SDBS concentrations across a broad range (0.2-15 mg/L). Notably, the cathode maintained excellent stability within the test range and showed significant reversibility for SDBS concentrations between 0.2 and 3 mg/L. The highly sensitive and stable B-rGO-based cathode is inspiring for developing more practical and cost-effective toxicant sensing devices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Extensive global dependency on rice and wheat crops has necessitated the adoption of intensive cultivation practices, thereby compelling to closely monitor the potential yield-limiting factors, among which, boron (B) deficiency stands out to be a prime concern. The present study explores the effects of B fertilization strategies within the Rice-Wheat Cropping System (RWCS) in the Tarai region of North-West India. A comprehensive six-year field experiment was conducted (2013-2019) at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, India. The experiment tested graded B doses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 kg ha -1 ) at varied frequencies (single, alternate, and annual) in a factorial design. The study revealed significant impacts of alternate B application at 1.5 kg ha -1 on crop yields and the Sustainable Yield Index (SYI). The System Rice Equivalent Yield (SREY) exhibited an increase of 6.7% with B supplementation over B-deprived plots, highlighting the pivotal role of B fertilizer in enhancing productivity within the RWCS. The economic optimum B dose was found to be 1.422 kg ha -1 using a linear plus plateau model, resulting in a calculated annual SREY of 9.73 t ha -1 when applied alternately to the cropping system. Continuous application and higher B rates demonstrated substantial increases in various B fractions, while the mobility factor remained within 10%, depicting safe ecological limits. The distribution of fractions in B-treated plots on average followed the order: residual B > organically-bound B > oxide bound B > specifically adsorbed B > readily soluble B. Similarities in the distribution patterns of B fractions between B-treated plots and the control indicated potential influence of biotic or abiotic processes on B fraction dynamics, even in the absence of external B application. To sum up, B application in alternate years at 1.5 kg ha -1 was most sustainable in enhancing the SREY, SYI, available soil B, and B fractions and lowering the environmental hazards., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author(s) declared no potential conflict of interest that could have appeared to influence the work reported in the present paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nonlinear optical (NLO) response materials are among the smartest materials of the era and are employed to modulate the phase and frequency of the laser. The present study presents a quantum chemical framework for tailoring nitrogen/boron doped derivatives of Dihydrodibenzo [de,op]pentacene through terminal and central core modifications. The derivatives of these compounds have been designed by introducing various π-conjugated connectors as well as B/N heteroatoms in the phenalene rings. Density functional theory (DFT) methods are used to optimize the ground state molecular geometries of designed compounds, represented as 1 to 4 (phenalene derivatives) and 1-BN to 4-BN (B/N doped phenalene derivatives) at the M06-2X/6-311G* level of theory. The highest value of 116.9 × 10 -24  esu and 240.2 × 10 -24  esu for isotropic and anisotropic linear polarizability is shown by compound 4. Among the designed compounds, 4-BN has achieved the highest γ amplitude of 1858 × 10 -36  esu owing to its unique molecular structural design. Further analysis of electronic parameters, such as electron density difference (EDD) maps, the density of states, electrostatic potentials, transition density matrix (TDM) analysis, and frontier molecular orbitals analysis (FMOs), demonstrated the more effective intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) for the best compounds, resulting in a good NLO response. The compounds were also analyzed for their potential in photovoltaic applications based on factors such as open circuit voltage values determined to be between (0.14 eV and 1.82 eV), and light harvesting efficiency (0.425-0.909)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) is a critical thickener to increase viscosity and lubrication to improve the water-based hydraulic fracturing efficiency. However, current crosslinkers require a large amount of HPG (>0.3 wt%) to form gel with sufficient viscosity, and high concentrations of HPG may cause adverse effects to the production and the environment. In this study, a novel starch microsphere silica‑boron crosslinker (SMSB) was developed using starch microspheres as a carrier and γ-aminopropyl triethoxy silane (KH550) as a modifier with an in-house method. Both the rheology and surface reactions of the SMSB-HPG crosslinking system were studied using multiple laboratory experiments and molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that SMSB crosslinker caused multi-site cross-linking with low concentration (only 0.2 wt%) of HPG molecules, reducing the twisting of single molecular chain in the crosslinking system, enhancing the cross-linking strength between molecular chains, and making HPG molecular chains stretcher in the aqueous solution. The apparent viscosity and viscoelasticity of the HPG system were substantially higher than the organoboron crosslinker, and the temperature resistance of the SMSB-HPG crosslinking system was up to 140 °C. This study provides an alternative green crosslinker for more sustainable industrial applications and provides theoretical basis for the modification of biomaterials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: There is no conflict of financial interests and there is no personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Utilizing the Kubo-Greenwood formula, Tight Binding calculations were employed to examine the electronic and thermoelectric properties of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with carbon impurity instead of boron, nitrogen and pairs boron-nitrogen. The electronic properties of the pristine monolayer BN are markedly impacted by the introduction of carbon dopants and its band gap reduction is directly correlated with the concentration of carbon impurities. The electronic properties of doped h-BN are influenced by the presence of a magnetic field, leading to subband separation and band gap narrowing, independent of the impurity types. The thermal conductivity and magnetic susceptibility of the C BN -doped monolayer BN structure are higher than those of the B C and N C doped h-BN structures and for all structures, their properties have a strong dependence on the magnetic field. The Lorenz Number for all structures has peak at the T M temperature which shifts to a lower temperature as the impurity concentration decreases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tourmaline, a boron-bearing mineral, has been extensively applied as a geothermometer, provenance indicator, and fluid-composition recorder in geological studies. In this paper, the decomposition capability of an HF-HNO3–mannitol mixture for a tourmaline sample was investigated in detail for the first time, and a wet acid digestion method based on the boron–mannitol complex for accurate boron determination in tourmaline by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was proposed. With a digestion temperature of 140 °C, tourmaline samples of 25 mg (±0.5 mg) can be completely decomposed by a ternary mixture, which consisted of 0.6 mL of HF, 0.6 mL of HNO3, and 0.7 mL of 2% mannitol (wt.), via a continuous heating treatment of 36 h. Following gentle evaporation at 100 °C, the sample residues were re-dissolved using 2 mL of 40% HNO3 solution (wt.) and diluted to about 2.0 × 105-fold by a two-step method using 2% HNO3 solution (wt.). The boron contents in a batch of parallel tourmaline samples were then determined by ICP-MS, and results showed that the boron concentration levels were in a range of 3.20–3.44% with determination RSDs less than 4.0% (n = 5). It was found that the boron concentrations obtained at the mass of 10B were comparable with results from the measurements at the mass of 11B. This revealed that the usage of 2% mannitol with a quantity as high as 0.7 mL in this developed approach did not exhibit significant effect on the quantification accuracy of boron at the mass of 11B. It was also found that the processes including fluoride-forming prevention and fluoride decomposition deteriorated the boron-reserving efficiency of mannitol for tourmaline, causing the averaged boron contents to vary from 2.25% to 3.57% (n = 5). Furthermore, the stability of the boron–mannitol complex under 185 °C by applying the laboratory high pressure-closed digestion method was evaluated, which showed that there existed a 60.36% loss of boron compared to that under 140 °C by using this proposed approach. For this ternary mixture, the tourmaline decomposing efficiency was found to be weakened prominently using 100 °C as the digestion temperature, and tourmaline powders can be observed even after 72 h of continuous heating with B contents within 1.09–1.23% (n = 5). To assess the accuracy of this developed method, the boron recovery of anhydrous lithium tetraborate was studied. It was found that the boron recoveries were within 96.59–102.12% (RSD < 1%, n = 5), demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of this proposed method, which exhibits advantages of high B preserving efficiency, and giving concentration information of both B and trace elements simultaneously. By applying such a boron–mannitol complex-based wet acid digestion method, the chemical composition of boron and trace elements in three tourmaline samples from different pegmatites were quantified, which provided valuable information to distinguish regional deposits and the associated evolution stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite coatings have been successfully fabricated at the laboratory scale in many research centers around the world; however, it is still a major challenge to transfer the positive results of the work to the industrial scale. This paper presents the technology for the production of Ni-B and Ni-B/B composite coatings on a pilot experimental semi-technical line by chemical reduction. A process scheme for the fabrication of Ni-B layers and composite coatings with a nickel–boron matrix and a dispersive phase in the form of boron nanoparticles was developed. All stages of the fabrication process were described in detail. The dispersion phase of the boron particles was characterized, and the performance properties of the Ni-B and Ni-B/B composite coatings produced on a pilot electroplating line were studied. The structure and morphology of the Ni-B/B composite coatings were characterized for comparison with nickel–boron coatings. Their mechanical and tribological properties and adhesion to the substrate were studied. The influence of the dispersion phase of boron particles on the structure and functional properties of the composite coatings was evaluated. In order to improve the performance of the fabricated coatings, a heating process at 400 °C was carried out, and the performance of Ni-B and composite Ni-B/B coatings was studied after the heat treatment operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]