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Multicomponent hybrid nanostructures exhibit multifunctional properties and synergistic performance which make them attractive materials for environmental applications. We have fabricated magnetic Au@CoFe2O4-ZnO hybrid plasmonic nanostructures using simple wet chemical route combined with photodeposition and studied their photocatalytic performance towards decomposition of synthetic dyes. XRD, FESEM and Raman were used to examine the structure and morphology of the prepared nanostructures and UV–visible spectroscopy was used for photocatalytic measurements. The solar-responsive photocatalytic decomposition of synthetic dyes MB and MO was examined and results displayed the outstanding performance of Au loaded CoFe2O4-ZnO nanostructures over CoFe2O4-ZnO photocatalysts. The prepared Au@CoFe2O4-ZnO hybrid nanostructures with higher Au loading, the sample CU3, effectively decolorized MB dye in only 20 min of sunlight exposure, achieving an apparent rate constant of 0.062 min−1. For MO dye, the sample CU3 achieved 96.6% degradation in 60 min with an apparent rate constant of 0.022 min−1. Mechanistic studies related to radicals responsible for the photodecomposition were discussed and results revealed that ⋅OH radicals and hot holes play major roles in photodecomposition of pollutants. Overall, Au decorated CoFe2O4-ZnO nanostructures prepared using facile photodecomposition route with excellent recyclability and effortless magnetic recovery represent a promising photocatalyst material and is highly suitable photocatalyst for environmental remediation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work outlines the synthesis of mesoporous tin oxide (m-SnO2) with enhanced Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) gas sensing performance by making use of Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) as the soft template. Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy have been used to study the structural characteristics of mesoporous tin oxide. The average crystallite size calculated from the XRD technique was found to be 4.8 nm which is in corroboration with TEM analysis (4.9 nm). The FESEM indicated the porous morphology of the prepared sample which was also confirmed by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The surface area and the average pore size of the sample were calculated from Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) studies and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) method and were found to be 154.4 m2 g−1 and 3.2 nm, respectively confirming the mesoporosity of the prepared tin oxide. The sensor was prepared by deposition of m-SnO2 thin film on Inter Digited Electrodes (IDE's) of platinum decorated on a glass substrate. 10 parts per million concentration of oxidizing gas NO2 was tested on the fabricated sensor in the temperature range, 30 °C to 160 °C. Upon interacting with the gas, the sensor exhibited a response of 8635 with response time of 1s and recovery time of 165 s at 80 °C. The efficient sensor performance at 80 °C as observed in the present study is at much lower temperature in comparison with those reported earlier. The sensor has further shown good repeatability in terms of response and recovery at 80 °C. The sensor also exhibited good reproducibility and selectivity for NO2 gas. The enhanced sensor response of mesoporous tin oxide sensor is mainly because of large surface area (154.4 m2 g−1), mesoporous structure and small crystallite size (4.8 nm). The present study therefore establishes m-SnO2 as a potential candidate for efficient sensing of NO2 gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising geriatric population is expected to increase the demand for drugs treating neurodegenerative diseases. The present work is aimed to discover acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors from Cissampelos pareira Linn. aerial parts (Family: Menispermaceae). Bioassay-guided isolation, AChE inhibition study and estimation of the therapeutic marker in different parts of raw herbs were conducted. The structure of the compound (1) was elucidated as N-methylneolitsine by using NMR (1D and 2D) and ESI-MS/MS spectral data, which is a new natural analogue of neolitsine. It showed good AChE inhibition with an IC50 value of 12.32 µg/mL. It was densitometrically estimated to be 0.074 − 0.33% in aerial parts of C. pareira, collected from various locations. The alkaloid reported here could be potentially useful for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases and the aerial part of C. pareira could be used as a promising ingredient for various preparations treating neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]