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Electrolyte is one of the main components of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) preparation. Electrolyte is an ionic charge transfer medium between charge and discharge. In order to improve and study the performance of electrolyte in the DSSC, different sized iodide salts have been applied. In this review, the effect of different type of iodide salts in the performance of electrolyte and DSSC were presented. Single and binary salt systems usage in DSSC with iodide salt for solar conversion efficiency, ionic conductivity and properties were presented. Single salt which is in large/bulky sized able to enhance the ionic conductivity while for the small sized iodide salt, it give higher solar conversion efficiency. As both small and large sized iodide salt combine, it will reveal a better result in ionic conductivity and solar conversion efficiency in DSSC. Furthermore, DSSC was discovered by Hermann Wilhelm Vogel in 1873 which related to the color of photography. He found out that addition of green dye will make the photographic films more sensitive to the light at longer wavelength. About 118 years later, DSSC was first carried out by O'regan and Gratzel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oil has been extensively investigated as a precursor to the eco-friendly coating as an alternative to petrochemical-based resources due to its lower carbon footprint properties. In view of this, jatropha oil (JO), a type of non-edible oil, has received significant attention in this field. The present study was undertaken to utilize acrylated epoxidized jatropha oil (AEJO) resin and to evaluate the anti-corrosion performance with the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). AEJO-GNP nanocomposites coatings were obtained after three passes of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The corrosion protection of all nanocomposites coatings was investigated by electrochemical measurements. The results showed that the corrosion performance of AEJO-GNP nanocomposites coatings improved from the blank coating. Among all coatings tested, AEJO-0.5 wt% GNP exhibited the strongest barrier property and maximum performance in corrosion protection. The result was supported by water contact angle and pull-off adhesion tests. In addition, the highest pull-off adhesion strength for GNP fillers added coatings was established at 0.5 wt% of GNP. High hydrophobicity and pull-off adhesion strength coatings provided a physical barrier that created a tortuosity pathway for corrosive electrolytes to reach the metal surface and thus showed better anti-corrosion resistance. Thus, nanocomposites coatings with 0.5 wt% GNP exhibited the best anti-corrosive efficacy and surface coating property. Process of AEJO–GNP with UV curing. [Display omitted] • The AEJO-0.5 wt% GNP exhibited the strongest barrier property and maximum performance in corrosion protection. • The highest pull-off adhesion strength for GNP fillers added coatings was established at 0.5 wt% of GNP. • Nanocomposites coatings with 0.5 wt% GNP exhibited the best anti-corrosive efficacy and surface coating property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensile rice straw (ENRS), a combination of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum , L. buchneri and Pediococcus acidilactici at a ratio of 2:1:1 was added to rice straw (RS), and stored for 42 days at room temperature. We examined: 1) the nutritive quality of ENRS; 2) in vitro rumen fermentation parameters and microbiota composition with ENRS as substrate; and, 3) serum metabolites and average daily gain (ADG) of growing Hu lambs consuming ENRS. Ensiling of rice straw increased in vitro neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) degradabilities (both P < 0.05), and total gas production (P < 0.05) but decreased (P < 0.05) methane (CH4) production. In addition, ensiling increased bacterial diversity and reduced the relative abundance of the methanogen Methanobrevibacter. Twelve male Hu lambs (initial live body weight = 25.2 ± 0.47 kg), aged 70 (± 6) days, were assigned randomly to one of two groups (n = 6) and offered a total mixed ration (TMR) that included 400 g/kg DM of either RS or ENRS for 4 weeks. Ensiling ruptured the physical structure of the RS, decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter and hemicellulose contents, and increased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of lactate, acetate and organic acids. Feeding ENRS up-regulated purine metabolism and improved ADG and gain to feed ratio of Hu lambs when compared to RS. In summary, ensiling was effective in improving both the nutritive quality of the feed and ADG of the lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jatropha-oil based polyurethane is one of the initiative for replacing conventional petroleum based polyurethane. The vegetable oil-based polyurethane is more cost-effective and synthesize from renewable resources. Polyurethane was synthesized through prepolymerization method between jatropha oil-based polyol and diphenylmethane 4, 4’diisocyanate, (MDI) in inert condition. Then, lithium perchloride ion (LiClO 4 ) was added to the polyurethane system to form electrolyte film via solution casting technique. The polymer electrolytes were prepared by varying the amount of LiClO 4 ion 10 wt.% to 30 wt. %. The highest conductivity is achieved at 25 wt.% of LiClO 4 salt content, which is 1.29 × 10 −4 S/cm at room temperature 30 °C. The FTIR results showed the shifting of carbonyl group (C O) (1750 cm −1 – 1730 cm −1 ), ether and ester group (C-O-C) (1300 cm −1 –1000 cm −1 ) and amine functional groups (N-H) (1650 cm −1 –1500 cm −1 ) in polyurethane electrolytes from the blank polyurethane shows that oxygen and nitrogen atom acts as electron donor in the electrolytes system. It also confirmed that the intermolecular reaction had occurred in the electrolytes system. While, the XRD analysis showed the semi-crystalline properties of polyurethane have been reduced to amorphous phase upon the increasing addition of lithium ion. SEM results revealed the morphology analysis of the polyurethane electrolytes. There is homogenous and smooth surface in polyurethane and the dissociation of salt was observed after the addition of salt indicates there was interaction between salt and the polymer host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a novel family of acrylate-functional monomers/oligomers derived from epoxidized jatropha oil using acrylic acid. Acrylated epoxy jatropha oil-based polymer was synthesized in two steps reaction. Oligomers were coated on glass substrate and cross-linked afterwards by UV irradiation. The coating properties such as gloss, scratch hardness and chemical resistance were evaluated via standard methods. A comparative study of jatropha and palm oil based acrylate UV coatings was conducted. The most important and economic method for the acrylation of epoxidized jatropha oil requires a 6-h reaction time compared to palm oil that requires a 20-h reaction time. The acrylated epoxidized jatropha oil exhibited improved glossiness, UV curing time and hardness over the acrylated epoxidized palm oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Epoxidized Jatropha oil was produced by solvent-free epoxidation process. [•] Epoxidation reaction utilizes hydrogen peroxide 50% and completed in 5h. [•] Jatropha-based polyol have hydroxyl number of 171–179mg/KOH with functionality 5.1–5.3. [•] Low viscosity Jatropha-based polyol of 0.98Pa.s. allows easier molding process. [•] Jatropha-based polyol is renewable and non-edible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Solid polymer electrolyte has been extensively studied as an alternative to liquid electrolyte that is often affected by the leakage, deformation and limited range of operating temperature issues. The present study was conducted in an attempt to synthesize polyurethane acrylate (PUA) as a host polymer to evaluate polymer performance supplemented with Li salt as polymer electrolytes. PUA was prepared by the reaction of jatropha oil polyol with toluene 2,4-diisocyanate and hydroxylethylmethylacrylate. Lithium perchlorate (LiClO 4) salt with different percentage of weight in the range of 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % was added to PUA to produce the PUA electrolyte. The mixtures were cured under UV radiation to obtain thin polymeric films with good thermal stability and ionic conductivity. PUA with 25 wt. % lithium salt has the highest conductivity of 6.40 × 10−5 S cm−1 at room temperature. The finding was supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Electrode polarization occurrence was interpreted by the complex dielectric constant (Ɛ r), dielectric loss (Ɛ i), real electrical modulus (M r), imaginary electrical modulus (M i) and tan σ. The effect of lithium salt addition was investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Additionally, the ionic transport properties, transference number measurement and electrochemical stability were presented. • Jatropha-based PUA solid polymer electrolyte with good conductivity. • Jatropha-based had comparable conductivity and good ion transport properties. • The resistance of physical and thermal properties are superior and comparable and significant. • The study leads to conclude that bio-based solid polymer electrolyte for potential electrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of UV-curable anticorrosive PUA coatings embedded with varying concentrations of inorganic ZnO fillers have been successfully prepared from jatropha-based polyol. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Tafel polarisation analysis revealed that increasing fillers composition lead to the improvement of the anticorrosive property of the hybrid coatings. Meanwhile, the salt spray test results were found to correlate with the EIS of C c (F cm−2) was 2.71 × 10−9, Bode plot - 106 Ω cm2 and Tafel polarisation results 7.56 × 10−6 MPY at 3 wt% of ZnO. Physical properties of 3 wt% loading of ZnO fillers in hardness test obtained 6H which was strongly attributed to the low interfacial interaction and poor dispersion of the fillers within the polymer matrix. • Bio-based PUA with ZnO coating showed significantly enhanced corrosion resistance. • The incorporation of ZnO filler particle in organic coating matrix has good performance in coating. • The morphology and XRD analysis was support for corrosion resistance and as well coating performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of waterborne polyurethane dispersions derived from jatropha oil-based polyol (JOL) with different OH numbers ranging from 138 to 217 mgKOH/g, were successfully prepared. Jatropha oil-based polyols were synthesized by epoxidation and oxirane ring opening using methanol. The JOLs produced were then used to prepare jatropha oil based waterborne polyurethane (JPU) dispersions by reaction with isophrene diisocyanate (IPDI). Dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) was used as an internal emulsifier to enable the dispersion of polyurethane in water. The influence of the OH number, DMPA content and hard segment content on the stability of the wet JPU dispersions, as well as the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the dry JPU films were investigated. The results reveal that with increasing OH number, the DMPA content and hard segment content significantly decrease the particle size from 1.1 μm to 53 nm, indicating increasing stability of the dispersions. JPU films exhibit the stress–strain behavior of an elastomeric polymer with a Young's modulus ranging from 1 to 28 MPa, a tensile strength of 1.8 to 4.0 MPa and elongation at break ranging from 85 to 325%. The polyurethane dispersions synthesized in this work possess good pendulum hardness, water repellence and thermal stability with promising application as a binder for wood and decorative coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myanmar is an endemic country for arboviruses, and outbreaks occur frequently. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted during the peak season of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreak in 2019. A total of 201 patients with acute febrile illness who were admitted to the 550-bedded Mandalay Children Hospital in Myanmar were enrolled in the study, and virus isolation, serological tests, and molecular tests for the dengue virus (DENV) and CHIKV were performed for all samples. Out of 201 patients, 71 (35.3%) were only DENV-infected, 30 (14.9%) were only CHIKV-infected and 59 (29.4%) were coinfected with DENV and CHIKV. The viremia levels of the DENV- and CHIKV- mono-infected groups were significantly higher than those of the group coinfected with DENV and CHIKV. Genotype I of DENV-1, genotypes I and III of DENV-3, genotype I of DENV-4 and the East/Central/South African genotype of CHIKV were co-circulating during the study period. Two novel epistatic mutations of CHIKV (E1:K211E and E2:V264A) were noted. This study highlighted that there were many coinfection cases during the outbreak and that the co-circulation of both viruses in DENV-endemic regions warrants effective monitoring of these emerging pathogens via comprehensive surveillance to facilitate the implementation of effective control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]