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Two series based on poly(propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)-block-poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PPF-b-F-PTMO) containing carbon and mineral nanofillers that differ in shape (1D and 2D) were synthesized via in situ polymerization. The influence of the addition of the 1D-type nanoparticle, i.e., carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), and the so-called 2D-type, i.e., graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and organoclay (C20A), on the properties of a biobased block copolymer was analyzed. The dispersion of nanoadditives in the nanocomposites was determined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The thermal properties were studied employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The introduction of nanoparticles increased the crystallinity (Xc) and the mean values of tensile modulus (E) of the bionanocomposites. In turn, one observed that the decrease in the limited viscosity number (LVN) was visible along with incorporating nanoadditives. The synthesized polymer bionanocomposites reveal the mechanical properties of elastomers during mechanical testing. Moreover, the good processability of the obtained materials by injection molding combined with the comprehensive ability to change mechanical and thermal properties of PPF-b-F-PTMO by tailoring the type and content of the nanofillers can indicate their possible applications in packaging, automotive, sports, construction, and many other industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the inherent rheological property of transparent gel, laponite has been proposed for soil densification to withstand seismic events. Since the swelling behaviors of laponite could affect the soil-nanoparticle structure, one of the most important research topics is the swelling capacity of nanoparticles, particularly laponite. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate the swelling properties of fresh laponite and sand treated with different contents of laponite. The swelling characteristics of compacted laponite hydrogel were investigated using a one-dimensional consolidation test setup. Results showed that the swelling strain of compacted laponite increased with time and as the concentration of laponite increased in specimens. The initial swelling of fresh laponite took around 4 weeks to attain equilibrium, while in the reswelling tests, laponite reached equilibrium within 60 h. The reswelling strain of laponite was higher than the initial swelling of fresh laponite, with a distinct reswelling behavior compared to other clay minerals. This swelling strain of laponite was found to be consistent with other clay minerals in which the swelling strain is caused by interlayer and double-layer forces. Scanning Electron Microscope images revealed that the structures of swollen laponite are continuous sheet-like irregular structures with pore size. Moreover, the swelling strain of the sand-laponite mixture with 3% laponite reached equilibrium after 40 h, whereas the swelling strain of sand-laponite with 5% laponite specimen did not reach equilibrium even after 50 h. In this study, the water retention ratio and changes in laponite hydrogel characteristics due to repeated drying and wetting processes were also investigated. In addition, the swelling pressure of compacted laponite hydrogel was also estimated, which varied in a range of 5.6–8.6 kPa throughout the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) were prepared by the green synthesis method and loaded inside niosomes as a drug release system and their physicochemical and biological properties were determined. Zn-NPs were prepared by the eco-friendly green strategy, the structure, and morphological properties were studied and loaded into niosomes. Subsequently, different formulations of niosomes containing Zn-NPs were prepared and the optimal formulation was used for biological studies. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to investigate the morphology and size of nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV–Vis were used to confirm the synthesis of Zn-NPs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) determined the elemental analysis of the Zn-NPs synthesis solution and the crystalline structure of Zn-NPs was analysed by XRD (X-Ray diffraction). Furthermore, Zn-NPs were loaded inside the niosomes, and their structural characteristics, entrapment efficiency (EE%), the release profile of Zn-NPs, and their stability also were assessed. Moreover, its antimicrobial properties against some microbial pathogens, its effect on the expression of biofilm genes, and its anticancer activity on the breast cancer cell lines were also determined. To study the cytocompatibility, exposure of niosomes against normal HEK-293 cells was carried out. In addition, the impact of niosomes on the expression of genes involved in the apoptosis (Bcl2, Casp3, Casp9, Bax) at the mRNA level was measured. Our findings revealed that the Zn-NPs have a round shape and an average size of 27.60 nm. Meanwhile, UV–Vis, FTIR, and XRD results confirmed the synthesis of Zn-NPs. Also, the EE% and the size of the optimized niosomal formulation were 31.26% and 256.6 ± 12 nm, respectively. The release profile showed that within 24 h, 26% of Zn-NPs were released from niosomes, while in the same period, 99% of free Zn-NPs were released, which indicates the slow release of Zn-NPs from niosomes. Antimicrobial effects exhibited that niosomes containing Zn-NPs had more significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects than Zn-NPs alone, the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects increased 2 to 4 times. Cytotoxic effects indicated that when Zn-NPs are loaded into niosomes, the anticancer activity increases compared to Zn-NPs alone and has low cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Niosomes containing ZnNPs increased the apoptosis-related gene expression level and reduced the Bcl2 genes. In general, the results show that niosomes can increase the biological effects of free Zn-NPs and therefore can be a suitable carrier for targeted delivery of Zn-NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately, children's daily consumption of some products, such as cereals and candies, has been rising, which provides a compelling rationale for determining any metallic substances that may be present. Monitoring the concentration of certain metals, like nickel, in these products is necessary due to medical issues in humans when consumed regularly. So, in this work, a novel and highly selective carbon paste as a Ni(II) ion-selective sensor was prepared and investigated using ceramic magnesium aluminum spinel nanoparticles as the ionophore and tritolyl phosphate (TOCP) as a plasticizer. A modified co-precipitation method was used to synthesize the spinel nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with EDAX, transmission electron microscope, and BET surface area were used to determine the phase composition, microstructure, pores size, particle size, and surface area of the synthesized nanoparticles. The spinel nanoparticle was found to have a nano crystallite size with a cubic crystal system, a particle size ranging from 17.2 to 51.52 nm, mesoporous nature (average pore size = 8.72 nm), and a large surface area (61.75 m2/g). The composition ratio of graphite carbon as a base: TOCP as binder: spinal as ionophore was 67.3:30.0:2.7 (wt%) based on potentiometric detections over concentrations from 5.0 × 10−8 to 1.0 × 10−2 mol L−1 with LOD of 5.0 × 10−8 mol L−1. A measurement of 29.22 ± 0.12 mV decade−1 over pH 2.0–7.0 was made for the Nernstian slope. This sensor demonstrated good repeatability over nine weeks and a rapid response of 8 s. A good selectivity was shown for Ni(II) ions across many interferents, tri-, di-, and monovalent cations. The Ni(II) content in spiked real samples, including cocaine, sweets, coca, chocolate, carbonated drinks, cereals, and packages, were measured. The results obtained indicated no significant difference between the proposed potentiometric method and the officially reported ICP method according to the F- and t-test data. In addition to utilizing ANOVA statistical analysis, validation procedures have been implemented, and the results exceed the ICP-MS methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a comparison is made between the Taguchi and the GRA strategy for enhancing the machinability of AA7178 metal matrix composites that are reinforced with SiC and TiO2 nanoparticles. The composites were produced using a stir casting method, and their machinability was studied using a lathe. The investigation that was carried out with the assistance of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that the reinforcement particles were dispersed uniformly over the surface of the aluminum matrix. The machining behavior of the composites was extensively investigated using the Taguchi approach and gray relational analysis. The feed had the greatest effect on the surface roughness of AA7178 + 3wt.% SiC(S1) and AA7178 + 3wt.% TiO2(T1) nanocomposites, respectively, as determined by ANOVA. In contrast, the cutting force for S1 and T1 nanocomposite was most affected by the depth of cut and the cutting speed. An examination of the variance of gray relationship grade revealed that cutting speed had a significant effect on both surface roughness and cutting force for S1 and T1, i.e., 59.76% and 71.40%, respectively. Abrasion and built-up edge were the primary causes of tool wear for both materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-doped anatase-TiO2 nanoparticles (LixTi1-xO2 NPs, x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) could be synthesized by a simple sol–gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results displayed the tetragonal (space group: I41/amd) of polycrystalline TiO2 anatase phase. The spectroscopy results of Raman and FT-IR confirmed the anatase phase of TiO2 through the specific modes of metal oxides vibration in the crystalline TiO2. Surfaces micrographs by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of agglomerated LixTi1-xO2 NPs showed a spongy like morphology. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) illustrated a cuboidal shape of dispersed NPs with particle size distributed in a narrow range 5–10 nm. Bruanauer Emmett-Teller (BET) results showed the increased surface area of LixTi1−xO2 NPs with increasing Li content. LixTi1-xO2 NPs (x = 0.05–0.20) working electrodes illustrated a pseudocapacitive behavior with excellent electrochemical properties through the whole cycles of GCD test. Interestingly, Li0.1Ti0.9O2 NPs electrode illustrated a high performance in terms of maximum specific capacitance 822 F g−1 at 1.5 A g−1 in 0.5 M Li2SO4 electrolyte, with excellent capacitive retention 92.6% after 5000 cycles GCD test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesised by the co-precipitation method and the nanocrystals were found in the range 30–50 nm in size. Silicone rubber (SiR) nanocomposite samples were prepared using different concentrations (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles through mechanical mixing and hot press moulding. The surface morphology of prepared silicone elastomer nanocomposites was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to investigate the smooth dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles inside the matrix and at higher concentration (7 wt%) agglomerates were formed. With increasing ZnO concentration, the mechanical properties of silicone rubber nanocomposite exhibited an increase in tensile strength, modulus, and decrease in elongation at break, which can be attributed to good distribution and reinforcing activity of nanoparticle in the elastomer matrix. At higher concentration (7 wt%), the rate of increase of mechanical properties was nominal due to the agglomeration of nanoparticles. The effect of ZnO nanoparticle concentration on the rheological properties of silicone rubber nanocomposites such as loss modulus, storage modulus, and complex viscosity was studied as a function of temperature and at different frequency 1, 10, and 100 Hz. The effect of ZnO nanoparticle concentration on the rheological properties showed an increase in loss modulus, storage modulus, and complex viscosity due to increase in volume fraction of nanofiller and reinforcement. The loss factor of silicone elastomer nanocomposites decreased with ZnO concentration which can be attributed towards better polymer–nanoparticle interactions. The addition of ZnO nanoparticles up to 5 wt% concentration level provided better rheological properties beyond which the rate of increase was marginal. Based on the results of morphology, mechanical and rheological properties of silicone rubber nanocomposites, 5 wt% ZnO nanoparticles may be considered as the percolation limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisetin (FIS) is a natural flavonoid compound with promising anti-cancer, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Despite these benefits, the low aqueous solubility of fisetin prevents its delivery through intravenous administration resulting in poor bioavailability. Hence, it is important to develop suitable delivery approaches to boost the overall performance of FIS and make it suitable for various medical applications. In this study, we formulated FIS-loaded polymannose (PM) nanoparticles (FIS-PM NPs) to increase their solubility and therapeutic efficacy. In addition, we have nanotized the FIS (Nano FIS) using the antisolvent precipitation method and compared its efficacy with the FIS. The nanoformulations FIS-PM NPs and nanotized FIS were characterized using different techniques such as Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the anticancer effect of FIS and its nanoformulations were tested in breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231). The apoptotic potential of the nanoformulations was examined using different staining techniques and Annexin-V apoptosis assay using flow cytometry. The cell cycle analysis was performed to check the exact mechanism of cell death. The FIS-PM NPs revealed an average size of 250 nm, while Nano FIS showed an average size of 139 nm. FIS-loaded PM NPs showed an encapsulation efficiency of 88% and a drug content of 37%. In vitro drug release studies of the FIS-PM NPs showed a concentration-dependent controlled release of the FIS followed by an initial burst release of ≈ 40 % in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at different pH. FIS-PM NPs treated cells showed more cytotoxicity in comparison with nanotized FIS and FIS. We observed more apoptosis in FIS-PM NPs and Nano FIS treated cells compared to FIS and control cells as early as 24 h after the treatment. The cell cycle arrest was seen in the G1 phase of the cells treated with FIS-PM NPs and Nano FIS. In conclusion, the anticancer potential of FIS-PM NPs and Nano FIS has improved in MDA-MB-231 compared to raw FIS which can be attributed to the enhanced solubility of FIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, nanoparticle (NP)-based drugs have been developed to increase the efficiency of existing cancer treatment approaches; however, how NPs interact with cellular systems is still uncertain. In this study, we have examined the ability of Se–FA NPs to enhance the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in human AGS gastric cancer cells as well as their ability alone and in combination with 5-FU to modulate autophagy. The prepared NPs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscope. Cytotoxicity and autophagy-modulating activity of NPs were determined using MTT, q-PCR, and western blot methods. The size and surface charge of NPs were determined to be ~ 90.4 nm and − 53.8 mV, respectively. Se–FA NPs enhance the cytotoxicity of 5-FU (up to 4.1-fold) and consequently inhibit autophagy flux in AGS cells. These findings confirm the therapeutic potential of combining Se–FA NPs with 5-FU in an in vitro gastric cancer model and may suggest an approach to overcome chemotherapy resistance in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile dyes have a major issue of the contamination of water and are hazardous to aquatic environments. This work reports the development of an efficient process for iron oxide nanoparticle synthesis by a modified co-precipitation technique. The ultrasonic energy was used to enhance the synthesis of maghemite nanoparticles. A comprehensive study of vital process factors was carried out to develop the optimum conditions for synthesising pure Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The effect of process variables was modelled and analysed with Box–Behnken statistical design and response surface methodology using Design-Expert software. The best outcome with 25-nm size was achieved with optimum processing conditions at a pH level of 12, a temperature of 70 °C, and a time of 60 min. The end products were confirmed with X-ray diffraction. Further, the nanoparticles were characterised with a scanning electron microscope, BET, UV–visible spectrophotometer, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The method described here offers significant advantages over other techniques for the large-scale production of Fe2O3 nanoparticles in a short time compared to other procedures. The prepared maghemite nanoparticles were successfully employed for methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption from water. Further, different adsorption process parameters were examined thoroughly. The data was analysed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, whereas the adsorption kinetics of dye were investigated by employing the pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order models. Higher values of R2 showed better fitness of the experimental data on dye removal to the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacity of maghemite nanoparticles was observed to be 96.52 mg g−1. The adsorbent maghemite nanoparticles can be easily restored and reused. The combination of facile desorption and effective regeneration positions the prepared maghemite nanoparticles as a compelling candidate for industrial wastewater treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth based metal oxides are regarded as potential candidates for fabricating photoelectrodes due to their cost-effectiveness, high stability, and significant light absorbing capability. Hence, our present study focuses on rendering an extensive evaluation of nano-sized bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting activity. Bismuth tungstate nanoparticles have been prepared by a facile solvothermal route, and their structural, morphological, elemental composition, and optical properties have been characterized by employing powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD), high-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) technique. For Bi2WO6 sample, the onset potential obtained for OER under dark and light conditions are ηdark = 0.83 V and ηlight = 0.71 V vs. Ag/AgCl respectively. The magnitude of photocurrent density at 1.23 V vs. RHE has been measured as 0.17 µA/cm2. From the Mott–Schottky plot, the flat band potential (Efb) for Bi2WO6 photocatalyst has been obtained as − 0.38 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Nanosized Bi2WO6 exhibited low onset potential, good photocatalytic stability, and suitable band edge potentials facilitating them to act as an efficient photoanode under stimulated solar light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) with high purity, stability, and small sizes for biomedical applications is in high demand. The research on Fe3O4 NPs has been rapidly expanding and holds considerable promise for advancing new technologies and enhancing existing ones. Herein, Fe3O4 was synthesized from iron ferrous chloride (II) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on air, and then coated with gum Arabic (GA) in a single step. The characterizations were investigated using UV–Vis absorption, ultra-high-resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Compared to bare Fe3O4, GA-coated magnetite nanoparticles (GA-Fe3O4) showed a uniform cubic morphology with a mean size of 8.61 ± 1.31 nm. Stability studies were performed via dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, zeta (ζ) potential, and observing the precipitation of NPs over 5 weeks. GA-Fe3O4 showed higher stability of -34.5 mV compared to -23.1 mV for bare Fe3O4. Further, GA-Fe3O4 NPs demonstrate interesting magnetic properties that can be efficiently separated from the reaction medium with the aid of an external magnet. The magnetic properties of GA-Fe3O4 were confirmed through VSM analysis, revealing a significantly high saturation magnetism of approximately 226 emu/g. GA-Fe3O4 NPs are promising magnetic NPS that can offer several benefits in biomedical applications, such as increased biocompatibility, improved stability, and enhanced functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles were prepared by green synthesis process using extract of leaf from buckthorn and tin (IV) chloride pentahydrate (SnCl4·5H2O). The materials calcined at 400 °C for 3 h to produce of SnO2 NPs. SnO2 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, optical microscope, and optical spectroscopy techniques.The result of XRD showed formation tin oxide nanoparticles with tetragonal crystal structure. The optical properties were enhanced with rising concentration from 1.25gm/100 ml to 5gm/100 ml. The optical absorbance (A) enhanced of 42.3% at λ = 340 nm (UV-spectrum), 55.8% at λ = 540 nm (VIS-spectrum) and 53.3% at λ = 840 nm (NIR-spectrum). The energy gap is reduced from 3.31 eV to 3.16 eV while the SnO2 concentration increases from 1.25gm/100 ml to 5gm/100 ml. The obtained results showed that SnO2 thin film are appropriate for numerous electronic, photocatalytic and photonics fields. The SnO2 thin film employed for self cleaning against organic dyes. The results indicate that the SnO2 NPs are very important to apply as a coating nanolayer for self cleaning to obtain on cleaning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A CeO2-doped plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) composite coating was prepared on the surface of Cu–Zn alloys by adding CeO2 nanoparticles into the mixed electrolytes of Na2SiO3·9H2O and sodium hydroxide. Surface microstructure and element composition of PEO coatings were studied by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructure analysis showed that CeO2 nanoparticles were uniformly deposited on the sample surface, and most of the particles were embedded into PEO coatings. Ce element found in the EDS and XRD analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of CeO2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, with the addition of CeO2 nanoparticles, the coating porosity decreased gradually, while the thickness and surface roughness of PEO coatings decreased and then increased. Corrosion resistance of PEO coatings was investigated by using a potentiodynamic polarization test. The results show that the addition of CeO2 nanoparticles has significantly improved the corrosion resistance of PEO coatings. Especially, the corrosion current density of the PEO coating with 4 g/L CeO2 concentration is 3 orders of magnitude more than that of the bare alloy substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect that stir casting has on a TiO2 and SiC nanoparticles reinforced aluminium matrix composite. In order to study the development of ceramic particle reinforced aluminium matrix composite, density, tensile strength, hardness, and fracture analyses were carried out. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation showed that the reinforcement particles were distributed consistently throughout the aluminium matrix. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) study revealed the grain refinement of composites on inclusion of nanoparticles. The results of the experiments revealed that addition of 3 weight percent TiO2 and SiC particles to AA7178 alloy led to an increase in both the maximum strength and the hardness properties but, the elongation percentage of the manufactured composites progressively deteriorated. From the fractured surface of tensile samples, a microstructural study showed that AA7178, AA7178/TiO2, and AA7178/SiC nanocomposites were showing both ductile and brittle behaviour because of micro-cutting and micro-voids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present the first comprehensive investigation of the temperature-dependent band gap energy of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, utilizing transmission measurements in the range of 10–300 K. X-ray diffraction pattern exhibited nine peaks related to tetragonal crystal structure. Scanning electron microscope image showed that the nanoparticles with the dimensions of 25–50 nm were found as micrometer sized agglomerated. When the spectrum obtained as a result of the transmission measurements was analyzed, it was seen that the band gap energy decreased from 3.29(5) to 3.26(6) eV as the temperature was increased from 10 to 300 K. Temperature-band gap dependence was analyzed using Varshni and O'Donnell-Chen optical models and optical parameters of the TiO2 nanoparticles like absolute zero band gap energy, rate of change of band gap with temperature and average phonon energy were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO and cadmium (Cd)-doped ZnO (Zn1-xCdxO) nanoparticles with various compositions (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) were synthesized by sol-gel method. Structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties as well as blood compatibilities of Zn1-xCdxO nanoparticles were investigated. While X-ray diffraction (XRD) applying the Rietveld refinement method was used to characterize the structural properties, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to investigate the surface morphology. It was found that the nanoparticles up to x < 0.03 Cd concentration had single phase of ZnO hexagonal wurtzite structure. Above x ≥ 0.03 Cd concentration, two phases (ZnO and cadmium oxide (CdO)) were observed. SEM images with different magnifications revealed the dense, quasi-spherical, and agglomerated morphology of Zn1-xCdxO nanoparticles. The elemental compositions of Zn1-xCdxO nanoparticles have also been studied by EDX analysis. The photocatalytic activities and blood compatibilities of Zn1-xCdxO nanoparticles were studied by the photocatalytic degradation tests of crystal violet (CV) and hemolysis tests and respectively. In the photocatalytic activity tests, two samples Zn0.90Cd0.10O and Zn0.80Cd0.80O stood out with photodegradation percentages of 69.9% and 72.8%. Among the Cd-doped nanoparticles, the Zn0.40Cd0.60O sample showed the highest blood compatibility with the weakest photocatalytic performance (degradation percentage; 32.2%). Structural properties, photocatalytic performance, and hemolytic potential of Zn1-xCdxO nanoparticles were investigated and compared with those of pure ZnO nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying objective of this study was to synthesize [gum ghatti-cl-poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/CoFe2O4] nanocomposite hydrogels using free radical polymerization method. Gum ghatti (Gg) as a biopolymer, N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPA) and acrylic acid (AA) as a monomer, ammonium persulphate (APS) and N,N-methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA) were used as initiator and cross-linking agents, respectively. The characterization of as prepared gels was performed by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction techniques. The present study focuses on the swelling behaviour and rheological investigations of the hydrogels. Different tests were performed on nanocomposite prepared particle gels to investigate the effect of CoFe2O4 nanoparticle content (0–60 mg) concentration on network structure, swelling, and mechanical behaviour of the gels. The Gg‑cl‑P(NIPA-co-AA)/CoFe2O4 with 30 mg CoFe2O4 exhibited a superior swelling ratio. Loading of 30 mg CoFe2O4 into Gg‑cl‑P(NIPA-co-AA matrix resulted in capable mechanical stability. All the experiments illustrate that the Gg‑cl‑P(NIPA-co-AA)/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite hydrogel is the best candidate for its use as flocculants and absorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa pod shells are the byproducts of the cocoa industry. These pod shells were explored for the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized, and studies were carried out to assess the catalytic and antifungal activities. UV–Vis spectral analysis recorded the surface plasmon resonance at 438 nm. Spherical-shaped particles with a diameter ranging from 48.83 to 55.24 nm were determined by scanning electron microscope. The presence of silver was confirmed through Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis. FTIR analysis was carried out to determine the functional groups capped on the surface of the nanoparticles. XRD patterns substantiated the crystalline nature with the sharp peak of 33.16° indicating (101) fcc plane and crystallite size were calculated to be 59.65 nm. Amylase activity was found to be sevenfold higher with a significant amount of 16.05 mg/ml/min in the presence of silver nanoparticles as compared to the control. Methylene blue dye degradation in the presence of silver nanoparticles followed a pseudo-first-order reaction with a degradation constant of 0.1889 min−1 and R2 of 0.9869. In addition, an inhibition activity of 34% against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense fungi was exhibited by the synthesized silver nanoparticles. The outcome of the investigation has revealed the potential scope of silver nanoparticles as nanocatalysts in starch hydrolysis, dye degradation as well as the antifungal potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the production of cobalt disulfide nanoparticles by hydrothermal and solvothermal methods with new raw materials and solvents has been investigated. Then, nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscope. Since the crystalline structure of synthesized nanostructures effectively increases the power of thermal batteries, the effects of such types of reactive salts, the ratio of reactive salts, solvents, and reaction temperature on the production process and its crystalline structure have been investigated. The results showed that changing the type of salts and the molar ratio of salts (1:2 and 2:1), and the type of solvent has no effect on its crystal structure. But, increasing reaction temperature and reaction time leads to an increase in the degree of crystallinity and increasing the size of the particles. In this study, optimum conditions for the synthesis of disulfide cobalt were the salts of cobalt acetate and sodium thiosulfate with ethylene glycol as solvent at 170 °C and 4 h. The amount of material in the reaction temperature was 9.31 g. The synthesized nanoparticles in optimal conditions were in the range of 40–90 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, mixing laponite with sand to reduce the development of pore water pressure in the fully saturated conditions has been studied to evaluate the strength properties of sand. The study investigated the effect of laponite concentration and resting time in a series of triaxial tests. The results show that even a little amount of laponite can significantly decrease the pore water pressure generation in the sand–laponite specimens due to the good rheological property of transparent gel. The results show that the decrease in the pore water pressure generated in specimens with increasing laponite contents [i.e., 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% (mass/mass)] was 17, 22.5, 25, and 27 kPa, respectively. It was also found that the modulus of elasticity of the sand–laponite specimens is almost double than that of the pure sand. In addition, changes in the friction angle and cohesion of the sand–laponite specimens with the four laponite concentrations were examined using direct shear box tests for three different temperatures. It was found that the effect of temperature was more prominent at the lower laponite contents as compared with the higher laponite contents. Microstructural imaging with scanning electron microscope was assessed in conjunction with the pore pressure generation mechanism. This study provides an elaborate explanation of the non-homogeneity of the sand–laponite mixture and novel insight into the improvement and modification of the sand strength properties in the presence of laponite under static loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on investigating the possibility of using different ratios (5, 10, 15 mass%) of recycled alum sludge (RAS) as partial replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), to contribute to solving the problems encountered by cement production as well as stockpiling of large quantities of water-treated sludge waste. MnFe2O4 spinel nanoparticles (NMFs) were used to elaborate the mechanical characteristics and durability of different OPC-RAS blends. The outcomes of compressive strength, bulk density, water absorption, and stability against firing tests fastened the suitability of utilization of RAS waste for replacing OPC (maximum limit 10%). The inclusion of different doses of NMFs nanoparticles (0.5, 1 and 2 mass %) within OPC–RAS pastes, motivates the configuration of hardened nanocomposites with improved physico-mechanical characteristics and stability against firing. Composite made from 90% OPC–10% RAS–0.5% NMFs presented the best characteristics and consider the optimal choice for general construction applications. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. affirmed the positive impact of NMFs particles, as they demonstrated the formation of enormous phases as ilvaite (CFSH), calcium silicate hydrates (CSHs), MnCSH, Nchwaningite [Mn2 SiO3(OH)2 H2O], [(Mn, Ca) Mn4O9⋅3H2O], calcium aluminosilicate hydrates (CASH), Glaucochroite [(Ca, Mn)2SiO4, and calcium ferrite hydrate (CFH). These hydrates boosted the robustness and degradation resistance of the hardened nanocomposites upon firing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) supported on a flower spherical Mg(OH)2 with different Mg/Fe ration were successfully synthesized. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that S-nZVI particles were well dispersed on the petals of the flower spherical Mg(OH)2. The influence of factors, including the initial solution pH, Mg/Fe, S/Fe were studied. The trichloroethylene (TCE) adsorption data on Mg(OH)2 and S-nZVI @Mg(OH)2 fit well to a Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption of S-nZVI @Mg(OH)2 was 253.55 mg/g, which was 2.6-fold of S-nZVI. Meanwhile, the S-nZVI @Mg(OH)2 composite expanded the pH selection range of S-nZVI from 2 to 11. Cycling experiments showed that removal rate was 58.3% for the 5th cycle. TCE removal was due to synergistic action of reduction coupled with adsorption. During this process, 65.43% of total remove TCE from ion chromatography data was reduced and 34.57% of total remove TCE was adsorbed finally. At the same time, adsorption favors reduction. These observations indicated that the S-nZVI @Mg(OH)2 can be considered as potential adsorbents to remove TCE for environment remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu-doped WO3 (WO3:Eu3+) nanoparticles were prepared by the Pechini method. Tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT) was used to prepare TiO2-encapsulated WO3:Eu3+ nanoparticles (TiO2@WO3:Eu3+). Microstructure and morphology of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results show that the mean diameter of the TiO2@WO3: Eu3+ nano powder prepared at pH = 10 is the smallest, up to 50 nm. The tribological properties of the TiO2@WO3:Eu3+ as extreme pressure and wear resistance agents in water-based lubricant were investigated by a four-ball machine. The results showed that TiO2@WO3:Eu3+ exhibits excellent load-carrying capacity, anti-wear, and anti-friction properties in water-based lubricant, especially when the concentration of TiO2@WO3:Eu3+ was 0.4 wt%. The average wear scar diameter (WSD) was decreased from 0.62 to 0.34 mm and the coefficient of friction (COF) was reduced from 0.0721 to 0.053. This is mainly because of the formation of tens of nanometers thick tribofilm, the actual contact between metals is prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern chemistry, great interest has been paid to introducing outstanding photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants. Herein, a highly efficient binary AgI/Ag2WO4 photocatalyst was prepared from AgI and Ag2WO4 nanoparticles (NPs) and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques. In the Scherrer model, the average crystallite sizes of 34.9, 42.0, and 24.1 nm were estimated for the AgI, Ag2WO4, and the binary catalyst, while the values were 91, 13, and 85 nm by the Williamson-Hall model. FTIR confirmed the presence of W–O–W, O–W–O, Ag-I, and O–Ag–O bonds in the coupled material. DRS results showed absorption edge wavelengths of 451, 462, and 495 nm (corresponding to the band gap values of 2.75, 2.68, and 2.51 eV) for Ag2WO4, AgI, and AgI/Ag2WO4 catalyst, respectively. Synergistic photocatalytic activity of the coupled system was achieved towards ceftriaxone (CTX) in an aqueous solution (about 33% 10 ppm CTX solution was degraded without any optimization in the initial conditions of catal dose 0.3 g/L (Ag2WO4:AgI with mole ratio 1:2 and 30 min abrasion time), and irrad. time 45 min, CCTX). This boosted effect depended on the AgI:Ag2WO4 mole ratio and grinding time for the mechanical preparation of the binary catalyst (optimums: mole ratio of 4:1 and time 30 min). The photodegradation kinetics obeyed the Hinshelwood model with the apparent first-order rate constant (k) of 0.013 min−1 (t1/2 = 53.30 min). Performing the COD on the photodegraded CTX solutions got a Hinshelwood plot with a slope of 0.019 min−1 (t1/2 = 36.5 min). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a two-step method involving hydrothermal and electrostatic self-assembly processes for synthesising an amine-functionalised magnetic ligand graphene oxide–based nanocomposite (EDTA@Fe3O4@GO). The amine groups were successfully attached to the surface of iron (II, III) oxide (Fe3O4), which were embedded on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) (Fe3O4@GO). This EDTA@ Fe3O4@GO nanocomposite was used as a chelating agent to bind the toxic heavy metal ions. EDTA@Fe3O4@GO demonstrated the synergistic effect between the large surface area and magnetic behaviour of Fe3O4@GO and the chelating effect of EDTA, and it showed higher efficiency than the individual GO and Fe3O4. The possible structural and compositional characteristics were proposed based on Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Raman spectroscopy analysis. The outcomes revealed the mechanism behind the excellent As(V) adsorption onto EDTA@Fe3O4@GO. The adsorption process was studied by fitting the experimental data obtained into various kinetic and isotherm models. The pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model (FIM) were found to be the best fit models for the removal of As(V) by EDTA@Fe3O4@GO. EDTA@Fe3O4@GO has the utmost adsorption capacity of 178.4 mg/g. Furthermore, the EDTA@Fe3O4@GO nanocomposite is reusable, and it showed excellent adsorption capacity up to 5 cycles. This study has provided insight into the potential of EDTA@Fe3O4@GO and its applications in large-scale wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, AlN nanoparticles were prepared by arc discharge method and transformer oil-based nanofluids containing different concentrations of these nanostructures were prepared and their thermal conductivities and stabilities were investigated at various temperatures. Two aluminum rods were used as the electrodes and nitrogen gas was used as the arc atmosphere. To investigate the factors that influence the size and purity of the nanoparticles, the nitrogen gas pressure and the current flowing through the electrodes were changed. Based on XRD measurements, it was observed that at the pressure of 2 atm. and current of 100 A, the highest purity phase was achieved. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicated that the smallest samples were the ones that were made at a pressure of 3 atm. and arc current of 400 A and had an average particle size of about 67 nm. The band gap of nanoparticles was obtained at 5.6 eV using the Tauc method. Then, transformer oil-based nanofluids with concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 wt.% of AlN were prepared and their thermal conductivities and stabilities were investigated. The nanofluid with 4 wt.% of AlN nanoparticles at 60 °C showed a maximum thermal conductivity enhancement of 9.4%. Nanofluids were completely stable for up to a week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, binary (Cu9S5 and SnS2) and ternary (Cu2SnS3—CTS) have been prepared by a one-pot thermal decomposition of copper(II) bis (N-methyl-N-paramethoxyphenyl) dithiocarbamate, dimethyltin(IV) bis (N-methyl-N-paramethoxyphenyl) dithiocarbamate, and the co-thermal decomposition of both complexes in oleylamine, respectively. The crystallinity and structural properties of the semiconductor nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffraction analyses, which confirmed the purity of the Cu9S5, SnS2, and Cu2SnS3 nanoparticles. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed hexagonal plate-like particles of the SnS2, quasi-spherical shapes for both Cu9S5 and Cu2SnS3 in the SEM images. These morphologies were also corroborated by the transmission electron microscopic analysis. Optical analysis by absorption spectroscopy showed absorption in the visible to near infra-red region, and an estimated band gap energy that were greater than their respective bulk. The visible-light photocatalytic evaluation of these nanomaterials showed good activities for the photo-enhanced degradation of methyl orange (MO), with the SnS2 and Cu2SnS3 exhibiting comparable properties (> 90% removal efficiency) and better than the Cu9S5 nanoparticles with < 90% efficiency. The high activity of SnS2 and Cu2SnS3 could be attributed to morphology as well as their structural properties. The method of synthesis showed a facile approach to obtaining these binary and ternary nanomaterials by simple use of precursor compounds, which may also be extended to other metal sulphides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano core–shell drug carriers with high stability, low toxicity, and targeted drug delivery are significance for the delivery of anti-tumor drugs. In this study, Albumin from bovine serum (BSA), serving as a capping agent, was conjugated to MSNs via a cleavable disulfide bond to generate a redox-responsive nanocarrier (MSNs@BSA). Subsequently, cRGD peptide, as a targeting ligand, was modified on the particle surface by a protein cross-linker to obtain nanoparticles with tumor cell-targeting properties (RGD-MSNs@BSA). The construction of RGD-MSNs@BSA was confirmed by DLS analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. It was displayed that the model anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was efficiently and stably encapsulated in RGD-MSNs@BSA in the absence of glutathione (GSH), and an outbreak of DOX was observed when the particles were exposed to a GSH-containing environment. It demonstrated that disulfide-linked BSA capping can increase the drug loading stability, while enduing it redox sensitivity. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscope tests displayed that cellular uptake of RGD-MSNs@BSA was much higher than that of particles without cRGD and free DOX. These results indicated that RGD-MSNs@BSA can increase drug tumor-targeting and drug cellular uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure and tin-doped magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized successfully by co-precipitate method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-rays (EDX) specified quantitative evidence for synthesized NPs. The pure and tin-doped magnetite NPs have average particle size of 30 nm and 200 nm, respectively. The magnetite NPs indicate well-defined magnetic behavior and doping of non-magnetic tin decrease its magnetization. The EDX graph indicated doping of Sn+2 ions, whereas XRD results were very effective in structural analysis. The rietveld refinement was helpful for determination of material's structure. The doping of tin in magnetite structure was also specified by FTIR peak at ∼ 546 cm - 1 . The pure and tin-doped magnetite NPs showed almost same antimicrobial behavior against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas tin-doped magnetite NPs showed more antimicrobial behavior against Escherichia coli. These NPs are biocompatible and show effective antimicrobial behavior; therefore, these NPs are potent candidates for biomedical application. These NPs also showed incredible adulticidal behavior against Aedes aegypti, which have been characterized for the first time in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn-doped CuFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were eco-friendly synthesized using plant extract. These nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM image showed spherical NPs with size range less than 30 nm. In the EDS diagram, the elements of zinc, copper, iron, and oxygen are shown. The cytotoxicity and anticancer properties of Zn-doped CuFe2O4 NPs were evaluated on macrophage normal cells and A549 lung cancer cells. The cytotoxic effects of Zn-doped CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 NPs on A549 cancer cell lines were analyzed. The Zn-doped CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 NPs demonstrated IC50 values 95.8 and 278.4 µg/mL on A549 cancer cell, respectively. Additionally, Zn-doped CuFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 NPs had IC80 values of 8.31 and 16.1 µg/mL on A549 cancer cell, respectively. Notably, doping Zn on CuFe2O4 NPs displayed better cytotoxic effects on A549 cancer cells compared with the CuFe2O4 NPs alone. Also spinel nanocrystals of Zn-doped CuFe2O4 (~ 13 nm) had a minimum toxicity (CC50 = 136.6 µg/mL) on macrophages J774 Cell Line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) nanostructures are systems with many fascinating novel properties that can be used to study new science and have significant promise for applications. In this study, graphene oxide was prepared using the modified Hummer's method. In addition, potassium ferrite is a good candidate for biomedical application, as iron and potassium are biocompatible and non-toxic materials. Mg0.85K0.3Fe2O4/GO nanocomposites were prepared by the citrate auto-combustion method. The effect of adding GO to Mg0.85K0.3Fe2O4 on structure, morphology, electrical, and magnetic properties was discussed. Samples under investigation were characterized using XRD, infrared spectroscopy (IR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The crystallite size of prepared samples was decreased from 28.098 to18.148 nm by increasing GO content. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirms the successful adhesion of Mg0.85K0.3Fe2O4 nanoparticles on graphene oxide sheets, which are dispersed in a metal oxide matrix. EDAX analysis confirms the existence of C, O, K, Mg, and Fe elements present in the samples. Magnetic properties were studied by VSM and Faraday's method. GO has a significant effect on the magnetic properties of nanocomposites. For instance, the saturation magnetization and Curie temperature have diverse values, which will be appropriate for numerous applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two different kinds of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) (brown colour and greenish colour) were synthesised by using simple solution route and applied by exhaust method to achieve multidimensional functionalization on one of the most popular cellulose materials e.g., cotton fabric. The synthesised CuNPs imparted different colours to the said textile due to different conditions of synthesis and localized surface plasmon resonance. Physico-chemical characterizations of the synthesized nanoparticles were performed by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis whereas the optical properties of the nanoparticles were studied using UV–visible spectroscopy. The prepared CuNPs of both the types demonstrated very good antimicrobial activity up to 97%. In addition, cotton fabric treated with CuNPs showed very high catalytic activity for reduction of 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) in presence of sodium borohydride to phenylene diamine (4-PD). Washing durability and rubbing fastness of the treated fabric have also been measured by following standard testing methods and found to be very good with a rating 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles of tin oxide (SnO2) doped with iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) and Europium oxide (Eu2O3) were synthesized through the solid-state synthesis method. The phase analysis confirms the tetragonal rutile phase for all samples using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The luminescence intensity and expansion of lattice depend on doping percentage, which validates the successful blending of Fe and Eu in SnO2 lattice. The lattice dislocation and strain are calculated using the Williamson–Hall (WH) parcel, which also supports the development of the grain boundary in the doped samples. An increase in a large number of recombination centers leads to quenching in optical spectra by using the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, and the shift in the band gap estimated from UV–visible absorption spectra confirms the impact of the grain boundary. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) under the physical properties measurement system (PPMS) confirms room temperature ferromagnetism RTFM, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed clear images of grain boundaries. Conductivity studies show an increase in resistance to Fe/Eu doping. Among all the tailored samples, Sn(1−x)Fex/EuO2, for x = 0.04 wt. % and 0.02 wt. % proved as a potential candidate for magneto-opto-electronic, i.e., spintronics device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanoparticles show great potential for photodegradation applications due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. Finding a greener approach to producing nanoparticles is of the utmost importance for multidimensional application purposes. In the present study, the ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple combustion method at 400 °C, using jackfruit extract. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern revealed a crystalline structure of the nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, BET surface area were used to further characterize the synthesized nanoparticles. Further, it has been used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of one of the organic pollutant methylene blue dye. In general, the method employed here is a greener approach to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles with good photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort for efficient solar energy harvesting, carbon-doped zinc oxide (C-ZnO) nanoparticles with intriguing properties were synthesized by sonicated sol–gel technique with the aid of activated charcoal. Compared to pure ZnO, the incorporation of carbon has drastically promoted the photocatalytic activity of C-ZnO towards the degradation of phenanthrene under illumination of both UV and sunlight. The characterization of the as-synthesized nanoparticles by scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV–vis spectra, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the carbon doping of C-ZnO. The highest degradation rate of phenanthrene was obtained at pH 7 and C-ZnO loading of 0.5 g L−1. Finally, the kinetic studies of the photocatalytic degradation of phenanthrene by using C-ZnO were well-fitted with the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model and followed the pseudo-first-order rate expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel matrix was electrodeposited on a conducting substrate from nickel Watts's bath having priorly dispersed graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) to produce GNPs-Ni composite coatings. It was found, by atomic force microscopy, that addition of GNPs improved the hardness as well as the roughness of the coatings in proportion to the GNPs addition. While observing the torn surfaces under scanning electron microscope, pure nickel coatings showed a pure ductile behavior but as the volume of GNPs is increased, the torn surfaces showed nearly brittle behavior as for the 0.4 wt.% GNPs composites. The electrochemical and thermo-mechanical analysis showed 0.2 wt.% GNPs' addition as optimum concentration with highest corrosion resistance and strain recovery in comparison to other compositions. The corrosion rate of nickel matrix was best inhibited by 0.2 wt.% GNPs addition due to the uniform dispersion and dense structure overall. The thermomechanical analysis at 473 K temperature showed highest strain recovery rate for the 0.2 wt.% GNPs composites due to homogeneous dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on the electrochemical synthesis of polymer-inorganic semiconductor hybrid consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and titania nanoparticles (TiO2). The P3HT–TiO2 hybrid was prepared by electropolymerization of the 3HT monomer in a dichloromethane-tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (CH2Cl2/TBAP) solution containing titania nanoparticles (TiO2). The hybrid material was electrodeposited on indium-tin oxide (ITO) substrates via cyclic voltammetry method. It was illustrated from scanning electron microscope observation that the incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticle within P3HT matrix created an interconnected network structure, which has improved interfacial transport charges. Furthermore, the potentiodynamic results revealed that the electropolymerization process of P3HT in the presence of TiO2 was easier and occurred at an early value of 1 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) with a noticeable increase in current density. The impedance results showed lower charge-transfer resistance and higher capacitance values for the P3HT–TiO2 hybrid (Rct = 7 Ω cm−2, CPE = 5.196 μF cm–2) compared to pure P3HT (Rct = 37 Ω cm−2, CPE = 1.959 μF cm–2), demonstrating the better conductivity and charge storage capacity for the P3HT–TiO2 hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of undoped barium oxide (BaO) and neodymium (Nd)-doped BaO nanoparticles (NPs) was carried out through the co-precipitation technique. The synthesis of cubic structure BaO NPs was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystallite sizes calculated from X-rays diffractometric (XRD) results for undoped BaO and Nd-doped BaO were 10.50 nm and 10.04 nm, respectively. The morphological study and percent composition of synthesized NPs were investigated using a scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the decomposition of precursor to BaO after annealing at ~ 500 °C. The band gap energy calculated for undoped BaO was 3.7 eV. The substitution of Nd to BaO decreased this value to 3.4 eV. The activation energy calculated for the doped BaO and undoped BaO was 16.5 kJ/mol and 22.5 kJ/mol, respectively. The Nd-doped BaO degraded about 96.4% dye, while the undoped BaO NPs degraded about 86.6% dye within 120 min. The synthesized BaO NPs were used as novel catalysts for the photodegradation of malachite green (MG) dye by varying irradiation time, catalyst dose, pH, temperatures and dye initial concentration. The maximum degradation efficiency was achieved at pH 4, catalyst dose 10 mg, dye initial concentration 50 ppm, and at a temperature of 50 °C. The dye degradation was also studied using the recovered catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undoped and Sr-doped CdO nanoplatelets were efficiently synthesized via simple co-precipitation method. The prepared materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). XRD pattern confirms the synthesized nanomaterial was phase pure Sr-doped CdO. SEM images reveal the formation of nanoplatelets like morphology. Electrochemical supercapacitor characterization of CdO and Sr-doped CdO nanoplatelets were done using cyclic voltammetry, Galvanostatic charge–discharge, and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The estimated specific capacitance value for Sr-doped CdO and CdO at a current density of 1 Ag−1 was 752 and 250 Fg−1. The Sr-doped CdO nanoplatelets exhibits about three times higher specific capacitance than the pure CdO electrode material. Sr-doped CdO electrode retains 93% of initial specific capacitance after 2000 charge–discharge cycles whereas CdO retains only 85%. The solution resistance (Rs) value of Sr-doped CdO (2.95 Ω) is lower than the CdO (3.57 Ω). This high specific capacitance, long cycle life and low charge transfer resistance confirms the suitability of Sr-doped CdO nanoplatelets for supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sol–gel method successfully prepared homogeneous-structured TiO2/activated carbon (TiO2/AC). This study highlights the effect of post-annealing temperature on the properties and photocatalytic activity of composite TiO2/AC to remove methyl orange (MO). The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurement (BET), and thermogravimetric (TGA). The results confirmed that all prepared photocatalysts were TiO2 anatase. The removal of MO was obtained through a synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis. TiO2/AC-400 was the optimum photocatalyst to decompose MO up to 80% after 90 min under simulated UV irradiation. The remaining 1% AC after the annealing process at 500 °C had proved to be capable of decomposing MO mainly due to its serving as an electron trap. The potential photocatalyst formation and photocatalysis mechanism for TiO2/AC nanocomposite to support phenomena were proposed. The finding in this study provided important implications for further research on the preparation of composite TiO2 and carbon-based co-catalyst to enhance the adsorption–photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-lubricants offer improved tribological properties in many applications, such as machines and engines. The presence of nanoparticles in the lubricating oil affects its wear, friction, thermal, chemical and physical properties in many ways. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a promising lubricant additive for enhanced engine efficiency. This article reports the effect of 10 W-30 pure base engine oil suspended TiO2 nanoparticles. Four different volume concentrations (0.01%, 0.025%, 0.050% and 0.075%) of TiO2 nanoparticles in the base lubricating oil are used for the analysis. The tribological tests were performed at ambient temperature as well as at 75 °C using a four ball tribometer. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Alicona Inginite Focus G5 microscope were used to analyze the worn surface. The results show that the surface-modified TiO2 nanoparticles can remarkably improve the load-carrying capacity, the friction reducing, and anti-wear abilities of the additive oil. The diameter of the wear trace and the coefficient of friction are the tribological properties analyzed for the nano-lubricant prepared at different volume concentration (VC). It was found that the diameter of the wear scar and the coefficient of friction increase with increasing VC of TiO2 nanoparticles in the lubricating oil. The main objective of the paper is to present the recent progress and, consequently, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the tribological behavior of engine oil mixed with TiO2 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatase phase TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by sol–gel method using titanium(IV) butoxide as a starting material. The pH of solution was maintained by adding HNO3 and NaOH. The obtained powder was heat-treated at 350 °C for 2 h. The XRD study shows that the crystalline size and crystallinity of samples increase with pH of solution. Raman spectra confirm the dominance of anatase phase of TiO2. Morphology study of samples was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The size of prepared samples was calculated by XRD and confirmed by TEM analysis. The energy bandgap was calculated by optical absorption spectra and it was found to decrease by increasing pH of the solution. The photodegradation activity of Indigo Carmine (IC) dye under visible light irradiation was carried out by synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles. The removal of Indigo Carmine dye and degree of mineralization after photodegradation were studied using HPLC and TOC analysis respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general objective of this research was to study the effect of initial concentration of reactants and ultrasonic irradiation power impacts on the nanostructure of copper (II) coordination polymer of {[Cu3(L)(NO3)2(DMF)(H2O)].3(DMF)}n(1) [H4L = N2,N6-bis[(E)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide]. Different characterization methods utilized to determine the nanoparticles of compound 1 and thermal gravimetric (TGA) and differential thermal analyses (DTA) give us thermal stability of the nanoparticles. Reducing the concentration of initial reactants together with the increasing power of ultrasound irradiation can lead to obtaining nanoparticles of compound 1 with uniformed morphology and small particle size. Bandgap energy calculation revealed that as particles size decreases, nanoparticles of compound 1 shift to the blue light wavelengths. Thermal decomposition of the nanoparticles of compound 1 at 400 ºC under an air atmosphere led to the synthesis of phase-pure CuO nanoparticles that are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses. The CuO nanoparticles obtained in this research appear to be highly dispersed with a particle size of around 23 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles were synthesized using the eco-friendly green synthesis protocol. Gongronema Latifolium (GL) leaf extract as a potential reducing and capping agent to influence the properties of ZFNPs for effective hyperthermia application is emplaced in this work. Characterizations techniques such as X-rays diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer were used to determine the properties of the samples. The SEM showed spherical morphology of the samples, XRD spectra revealed the crystallinity with a maximum crystallite size of 30.6 nm, the absorbance surface plasmon resonance peak from the UV result falls within the visible range. The FTIR result showed the various functional group responsible for the reduction of the sample. The VSM confirmed the superparamagnetic nature of the sample. The saturation magnetization increases as the concentration of GL increases. The hyperthermia application properties investigated revealed good specific loss power, which decreases from 207.8 to 105.3 W/g as the concentration of GL increases. Notably, the synthesized nanoparticles have the potential for hyperthermia application in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt ferrite (CF) nanoparticles (CFNPs), prepared using citrate precursor method, were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Vibrating-sample Magnetometer (VSM) techniques to obtain their microstructural, morphological, and magnetic properties. The analysis of the obtained XRD data confirmed the spinel structure and phase purity of CFNPs with a crystallite size of ~ 26 nm. The SEM micrograph revealed the formation of nonuniform-sized grains, confirming the polycrystalline nature of the synthesized CFNPs. The VSM data revealed that the CFNPs exhibited moderate specific saturation magnetization (~ 59 emu/g), moderate specific remanent magnetization (~ 24 emu/g), and slightly higher coercivity (~ 601 Oe). A significant decrease in the specific saturation magnetization of the CFNPs was observed compared to bulk CF counterparts. This study correlates the observed decrease in the specific saturation magnetization to the presence of a degree of inversion (x) arising from less-than-ideal cation distribution for the inverse spinel CF system. This study also reports the existence of a nontrivial deviation of the magnetic order from the ideal, collinear, antiparallel spin structure of the prepared CFNP system. The presence of the Yafet-Kittel type of magnetic order, resulting from the nanoscale crystallite size, cation distribution, intra-sublattice exchange interactions, and spin reorientation, is established. The corresponding values of the Yafet-Kittel angles of the spin-canted magnetic order of the CFNP system have been empirically determined and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we produced a novel chemical cross-linked Guar gum/Poly(methylvinylether-alt-maleicacid) (GG/PMVE-MA) hydrogels with various blending weight ratio of GG, and PMVE-MAn (GG/P20, GG/P40, and GG/P70). These produced hydrogels were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), swelling degree, and mechanical characteristics. The results demonstrated that with increasing PMVE-MAn content, thermal stability, swelling degree, and mechanical characteristics of hydrogels were improved. As a result, the GG/P70 hydrogel was selected as an optimal hydrogel. Moreover, MTT analysis indicated that these hydrogels were non-toxic and any reduction or stop of cells growth wasn't observed over time. Additionally, encapsulation of cinnamaldehyde (CA)-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) into optimal hydrogel formulation significantly (P < 0.05) increased scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical about 60%. In addition, the inhibition capability of GG/P70/CA-loaded CSNPs hydrogel against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), demonstrating that the hydrogel had high antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The general results showed that this composite hydrogel (GG/P70/CA-loaded CSNPs) could be useful for various applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of magnetic nanocomposite of cefotax against MRSA. A total of 190 samples were collected from milk, farm personnel and different environmental components from the dairy farm under the study to isolate S. aureus. Cefotax based magnetic nanoparticles was synthetized by the adsorption method and marked using Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), then it was characterized using Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscope (SEM and TEM). The obtained results revealed that number of positive samples of S. aureus isolation were 63 (33.1%), mainly from feed manger followed by milk machine swabs (60.0 and 53.3%, respectively) at X2 = 48.83 and P < 0.001. Obtained isolates were identified biochemically and by using molecular assays (PCR), also mec A gene responsible for resistance to cefotax was detected. Testing the sensitivity of 63 isolates of S. aureus showed variable degree of resistance to different tested antibiotics and significant sensitivity to cefotax based magnetic nanoparticles at P < 0.05. It was concluded that dairy environment might act a potential source for transmission of MRSA between human and animal populations. In addition, cefotax based magnetic nanoparticles verified an extreme antimicrobial efficacy against MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia species have been used extensively in medicinal and food industries for years due to their significant secondary metabolites contents such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Silver nanoparticles capped and stabilized by Salvia aethiopis compounds are expected to reveal considerable biological effects. In this study, Salvia aethiopis L. was heated in distilled water for 2 h. After filtration, water extract was treated with silver nitrate for 2 h at 60 °C to yield the silver nanoparticles (Sa-AgNPs). The structure of silver nanoparticles was elucidated by spectroscopic methods such as Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and zeta potential analyses. The maximum absorption in UV–Vis spectrum was observed at 508 nm. XRD pattern (2θ) at 38.1°, 44.3°, 64.4°, and 77.4° degrees can be assigned to the (111), (200), (220) and (311) Bragg's reflections of the face-centered cubic crystalline structure. The average size of Sa-AgNPs was found as 74.09 nm by SEM analysis. The characteristic hydroxyl vibration signal appeared at 3222 cm−1. The zeta potential of Sa-AgNPs was found as − 20.3 mV displaying the stability of Sa-AgNPs. Antioxidant activity of extract and Sa-AgNPs were carried out using DPPH⋅, ABTS⋅+ FRAP assay. The Sa-AgNPs revealed a considerable ABTS⋅+ scavenging effect with the value of 4.93 (IC50, µg/mL) compared to BHT (IC50, µg/mL, 8.34). However, Sa-AgNPs displayed a lower DPPH⋅ activity (IC50, µg/mL, 24.37) than that of the standard BHT (IC50, µg/mL, 9.67). The reducing power activity of Sa-AgNPs was found as 4.52 (µmol TE/mg extract) while the standard BHT value was 488 (µmol TE/mg extract). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigated metal-metal composites were produced by the compocasting process using the standard zinc-aluminium alloy ZA-27 as a matrix and titanium microparticles (particle size approx. 10 μm) as a secondary phase. The amount of Ti microparticles was 1 and 2 wt%. Small amount (0.5 wt%) of alumina nanoparticles (particle size 20–30 nm) is also used, as reinforcement. The aim of the presented research was to evaluate the possibility of producing such composites, as well as to see the effect of the addition of Ti microparticles and/or alumina nanoparticles on their microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties. Microstructure and worn surfaces analysis were performed by scanning electron microscope, and mechanical properties were analysed through the Vickers microhardness values. Tribological properties were determined on tribometer with line contact, under mixed lubrication conditions. Microstructural analysis showed that the distribution of Ti microparticles has been improved due to the addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles. This better distribution did not show any significant influence on the microhardness values or coefficient of friction values of the composites, but it induced higher wear resistance of metal-metal composites reinforced with Al2O3 nanoparticles. Better distribution and higher amount of Ti particles increased the surface area of the matrix that was protected with Ti particles during sliding and reduced wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]