Search

Background: A comparison of the clinical course and symptom profile of unipolar (UP) and bipolar (BP) depression reveals many similarities as well as subtle differences between the two syndromes. Phenomenological and clinical features that would distinguish BP from UP depression can help in appropriate and early treatment. This could, in turn, influence the choice of treatment, clinical course, and outcomes. Misdiagnosing BP depression as a major depressive disorder early may result in manic switch and/or rapid cycling. Most of the published literature in this area is from the Western world. We, therefore, aimed to study phenomenology, clinical factors, and substance use among patients with BP and UP depression. This study would potentially contribute to the existing literature and help in better diagnosis and treatment. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical profile and substance use among patients with UP and BP depression and to determine the predictors of bipolarity. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with BP and 50 with UP depression who satisfied the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition criteria were included in our study. We assessed our participants using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, and a self-designed, semi-structured pro forma for obtaining sociodemographic, clinical, and substance use profiles. Results: Younger males with a greater number of episodes, earlier onset of illness, greater number of hospitalizations, and higher psychotic symptoms were found in our BP depression group. Logistic regression identified male gender, family history of substance use, history of alcohol dependence, ideas of guilt, forgetfulness, psychomotor agitation, deliberate self-harm, delusion, and hallucinations as predictors of bipolarity (odds ratio = 2.97; 2.25; 9.06; 2.45; 2.43; 16.97; 7.11; 9.33; and 11.46, respectively). Conclusions: Young male individuals with a history of substance use, psychotic symptoms, and psychomotor agitation should be carefully evaluated for bipolarity. We need prospective studies with a large sample size to identify early clinical markers of bipolarity.

The reuse of waste materials has recently become appealing due to pollution and cost reduction factors. Using waste materials can reduce environmental pollution and product costs, thus promoting sustainability. Approximately 95% of calcium carbonate-containing waste eggshells end up in landfills, unused. These eggshells, a form of bio-waste, can be repurposed as catalytic electrode material for various applications, including supercapacitors, after being converted into CaO. Similarly, used waste battery electrode materials pose environmental hazards if not properly recycled. Various types of batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, are extensively used worldwide. The recycling of used lithium-ion batteries has become less important considering its low economic benefits. This necessitates finding alternative methods to recover and reuse the graphite rods of spent batteries. Therefore, this study reports the conversion of waste eggshell into calcium oxide by high-temperature calcination and extraction of nanographite from spent batteries for application in energy storage fields. Both CaO and CaO/graphite were characterized for their structural, morphological, and chemical compositions using XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS techniques. The prepared CaO/graphite nanocomposite material was evaluated for its efficiency in electrochemical supercapacitor applications. CaO and its composite with graphite powder obtained from used lithium-ion batteries demonstrated improved performance compared to CaO alone for energy storage applications. Using these waste materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices results in cheaper, greener, and sustainable processes. This approach not only aids in energy storage but also promotes sustainability through waste management by reducing landfills.

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is an interesting polymer employed in various applications due to its outstanding properties. However, its electrical and mechanical properties can be further improved by incorporating nanoparticles, and in particular, PMMA nanocomposite with nanoparticles provides various multifunctional properties. This work reports PMMA nanocomposite preparation and structural and optical characterizations incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs), TiO2 nanoparticles, and carbon quantum dots (CQDs). CNT/PMMA, TiO2/PMMA, and CQD/PMMA nanocomposite freestanding films were prepared using a simple solution method. Various properties of the prepared composite films were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, Fourier transform infrared, and UV–Vis and Raman spectroscopy. Optical parameters and photocatalytic dye degradation for the films are reported, focusing on the properties of the materials. The CNT/PMMA, TiO2/PMMA, and CQD/PMMA films achieved, respectively, good electrical conductivity, photodegradation, and fluorescence compared with other composite films.

This paper introduces a facile solution route to fabricate MoTe2 grain nano-domains for hybrid polymer heterojunction solar cells and photodetectors. Fabricated MoTe2 structures were investigated using Raman and XRD, and surface morphologies characterized using FE-SEM and TEM. We subsequently assembled a non-fullerene polymer heterojunction device using the PBDB-T:ITIC active layer for ITO/HTL/active-layer/LiF/Al architype solar cells and photodetectors. We also investigated effects from different MoTe2 nanostructure proportions embedded in the PBDB-T:ITIC polymer matrix as active layers to assemble solar cell and photodetector devices. Maximum power conversion efficiency ≈8.94% with improved carrier mobility ≈9.23 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 was achieved for 10 vol% MoTe2 nanostructure inclusion with PBDB-T:ITIC active layer. A fabricated photodetector using 10 vol%-MoTe2@PBDB-T:ITIC film achieved maximum detectivity ≈2.62 × 1010 Jones with 0.706 A W−1 responsivity at 755 μW cm−2 light density under 656 nm laser source. The proposed facile approach to fabricate 2D MoTe2 atomic layer infusion with polymer heterojunction offers a credible mechanism to progress interfacial characteristics for future organic semiconducting devices.

Indium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were coated onto glass and silicon substrates at different indium concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7%) using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Furthermore, crystalline structural, morphological, and elemental properties of indium-doped ZnO thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and EDAX techniques. Moreover, the optical properties were analyzed using UV–vis optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and Raman spectroscopy techniques. XRD analysis confirmed the growth of ZnO films with perfect inclusion of indium ions into the ZnO lattice of the hexagonal wurtzite structure. Moreover, the optical studies showed improved transmittance and band gap with the indium doping of up to 2.5%. The photosensor fabricated using the ZnO film doped with 2.5% indium concentration exhibited maximum response regarding sensing properties. A p–n heterojunction device fabricated by coating the 2.5% indium-doped ZnO on p-Si substrate showed good rectifying property with photovoltaic nature, and it responded well for UV region.

Highly efficient three-dimensional (3D) lead-free halide perovskites that produce blue light emission with outstanding stability have attracted global research attention. In order to increase the light emission efficiency of Rb2LiBiBr6 perovskites, band structure engineering can be performed by doping Cu2+ ions. In this work, the structural, chemical and optical characteristics of pure Rb2LiBiBr6 (RLBB) and Cu2+-doped Rb2LiBiBr6 (RLBBC) phosphors produced through conventional wet chemical processes are reported. A narrow and comparatively unique blue emission was exhibited by Cu2+-doped Rb2LiBiBr6 double perovskites (DPs) as a result of electron–phonon interactions. The phase purity and microstructure of the Rb2LiBiBr6:Cu2+ DP were assessed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. All the synthesized samples showed a orthorhombic crystal structure, and B sites had a substantial impact on the Pnma space group in the Rb2LiBiBr6 DP framework. The Bi3+ ions at the B′ sites were replaced by the doped Cu2+ ions, which distributed themselves to an equilibrium valence state and showed minimal variation in the ionic radius. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra were used to explore the corresponding mechanism of the Cu2+ → Bi3+ energy-transfer process. The Cu2+-doped Rb2LiBiBr6 (RLBBC) phosphors exhibited a blue emission at 469 nm when excited at 367 nm. It showed an optical bandgap of 2.87 eV at room temperature. This as-prepared perovskite showed outstanding stable chromaticity with (x,y) coordinate values of (0.1367, 0.0596) under a continuous irradiation of 367 nm UV light. This lead-free and highly effective Cu2+-Rb2LiBiBr6 DP has a wide range of applications in the rarest blue photonic and optoelectronic domains as it demonstrates the potential to overcome the obstacles of extreme toxicity and inadequate stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reuse of waste materials has recently become appealing due to pollution and cost reduction factors. Using waste materials can reduce environmental pollution and product costs, thus promoting sustainability. Approximately 95% of calcium carbonate-containing waste eggshells end up in landfills, unused. These eggshells, a form of bio-waste, can be repurposed as catalytic electrode material for various applications, including supercapacitors, after being converted into CaO. Similarly, used waste battery electrode materials pose environmental hazards if not properly recycled. Various types of batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, are extensively used worldwide. The recycling of used lithium-ion batteries has become less important considering its low economic benefits. This necessitates finding alternative methods to recover and reuse the graphite rods of spent batteries. Therefore, this study reports the conversion of waste eggshell into calcium oxide by high-temperature calcination and extraction of nanographite from spent batteries for application in energy storage fields. Both CaO and CaO/graphite were characterized for their structural, morphological, and chemical compositions using XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS techniques. The prepared CaO/graphite nanocomposite material was evaluated for its efficiency in electrochemical supercapacitor applications. CaO and its composite with graphite powder obtained from used lithium-ion batteries demonstrated improved performance compared to CaO alone for energy storage applications. Using these waste materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices results in cheaper, greener, and sustainable processes. This approach not only aids in energy storage but also promotes sustainability through waste management by reducing landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing interest and applications for graphene and carbon-based films emphasize the need for economical synthesizing techniques. We report a facile and novel synthesis method to prepare graphene, graphitic carbon, graphitic carbon nitride composite layers depending upon the spin-coated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer layer and substrate used. Few and multilayer graphene sheets were formed on SiO2 covered Si substrate using a simple rapid thermal annealing process. We examined hot plate and rapid thermal annealing using a nickel capping layer and found that the rapid thermal process converted PMMA into graphene efficiently. The resultant graphitic films were characterized using FESEM, HRTEM, XRD and Laser Raman. Current–voltage response of the prepared graphene layers was analyzed fabricating as two terminal devices. The thickness of the formed layer depended on PMMA layer thickness, and the metal capping layer was crucial for converting PMMA into graphene. This polymer conversion method to fabricate graphene layers will be attractive for many graphene applications due to its versatility. Keywords: Graphene, Graphitic carbon, Graphitic carbon nitride, Poly(methyl methacrylate), Polymer, Rapid thermal annealing