Fabrication of a free-standing TiCT -PTh counter electrode interfacial polymerization for dye-sensitized solar cells.

The current work involves the fabrication of a MXene-Polythiophene (TiCT -PTh) composite interfacial polymerization, alongside its deployment as a counter electrode (CE) or photocathode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The structural properties of the synthesized materials were investigated through a comprehensive array of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance, assessed cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), revealed that the TiCT -PTh CE exhibits superior electro-catalytic activity, and reduction in charge transfer resistance compared to other individual CEs.

Investigation and development of photocathodes using polyaniline Encapsulated TiCT MXene nanosheets for dye-sensitized solar cells.

In the current study, polyaniline (PANI) modified two-dimensional TiCT MXene composites (PANI-TiCT) are exploited as photocathodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The study revealed that incorporating PANI into TiCT improved the material's electrochemical properties, owing to the presence of amino groups in PANI that enhanced the material's electrical conductivity and thereby facilitated more rapid ion transport. In addition, PANI enhanced the surface wettability of TiCT, resulting in an increase in the number of electroactive sites.

Cu/CuO/C nanoparticles and MXene based composite for non-enzymatic glucose sensors.

Copper/Cuprous oxide/Carbon nanoparticles decorated MXene composite was prepared and subsequently examined for its potential application as a non-enzymatic glucose sensor. To carry out this, initially the Cu MOF/MXene composite was synthesised by the hydrothermal method and was annealed in an unreacted environment at different time intervals. During this process, petal like Cu MOF on MXene loses the organic ligands to form a Cu/CuO/C based nanoparticles on MXene.

The dawn of MXene duo: revolutionizing perovskite solar cells with MXenes through computational and experimental methods.

Integrating MXene into perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has heralded a new era of efficient and stable photovoltaic devices owing to their supreme electrical conductivity, excellent carrier mobility, adjustable surface functional groups, excellent transparency and superior mechanical properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the experimental and computational techniques employed in the synthesis, characterization, coating techniques and performance optimization of MXene additive in electrodes, hole transport layer (HTL), electron transport layer (ETL) and perovskite photoactive layer of the perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Experimentally, the synthesis of MXene involves various methods, such as selective etching of MAX phases and subsequent delamination.

MXene-Embedded Porous Carbon-Based CuO Nanocomposites for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensors.

This work explores the use of MXene-embedded porous carbon-based CuO nanocomposite (CuO/M/AC) as a sensing material for the electrochemical sensing of glucose. The composite was prepared using the coprecipitation method and further analyzed for its morphological and structural characteristics. The highly porous scaffold of activated (porous) carbon facilitated the incorporation of MXene and copper oxide inside the pores and also acted as a medium for charge transfer.

Experimental and computational DFT, drift-diffusion studies of cobalt-based hybrid perovskite crystals as absorbers in perovskite solar cells.

The optimised designs of dimethyl ammonium cobalt formate-based perovskite crystals [(CH)NH]Co(HCOO) were experimentally synthesized and computationally utilized as absorbers for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Crystals were grown using solvothermal synthesis. Additive materials (Fe, Ni) are responsible for the growth and suppression of crystals in the micrometre range.

Editorial: Focus on green nanomaterials for a sustainable internet of things.

In the dynamic landscape of the Internet of Things (IoT), where smart devices are reshaping our world, nanomaterials can play a pivotal role in ensuring the IoT's sustainability. These materials are poised to redefine the development of smart devices, not only enabling cost-effective fabrication but also unlocking novel functionalities. As the IoT is set to encompass an astounding number of interconnected devices, the demand for environmentally friendly nanomaterials takes center stage.

Reduced graphene oxide supported MXene based metal oxide ternary composite electrodes for non-enzymatic glucose sensor applications.

Diagnosis and monitoring of glucose level in human blood has become a prime necessity to avoid health risk and to cater this, a sensor's performance with wide linearity range and high sensitivity is required. This work reports the use of ternary composite viz. MG-CuO (rGO supported MXene sheet with CuO) for non-enzymatic sensing of glucose.

Photoelectrochemical performance of a spin coated TiO protected BiVO-CuO thin film tandem cell for unassisted solar water splitting.

A tandem cell consisting of a Mo-BiVO/TiO/FeOOH photoanode-CuO/TiO/MoS photocathode was prepared for unassisted solar water splitting. The protective TiO layer was prepared by a cost-effective spin coating technique. The individual Mo-BiVO/TiO/FeOOH photoanode and the CuO/TiO/MoS photocathode yielded a current density of ∼0.

Nanocellulose-based aerogel electrodes for supercapacitors: A review.

Recently, in response to the challenges related to energy development and environmental issues, extensive efforts are being made towards the development of supercapacitors based on green and sustainable resources. Aerogel electrodes offer high energy/power autonomy, fast charge-discharge rates, and long charge/discharge cycles over composite film electrodes due to their unique structure, ultra-lightness, high porosity, and large specific surface area. Nanocellulose (NC), a sustainable nanomaterial, has gained popularity as a supercapacitor electrode material owing to its remarkable properties such as biodegradability, tunable surface chemistry, ability to develop 3D aerogel structures, etc.

Effect of the Graphene- Ni/NiFeO Composite on Bacterial Inhibition Mediated by Protein Degradation.

Recent investigations have demonstrated that nickel ferrite nanoparticles and their derivatives have toxicity effects on bacterial cells. In this study, we have prepared nickel ferrite nanoparticles (Ni/NiFeO) and nickel/nickel ferrite graphene oxide (Ni/NiFeO-GO) nanocomposite and evaluated their toxic effects on cells ATCC 25922. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry techniques.

Development of CuN electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium.

A wide variety of electrocatalysts has been evolved for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and it is reasonable to carry out HER with low cost electrocatalyst and a good efficiency. In this study, CuN was synthesized by nitridation of CuO and further utilized as an electrocatalyst towards HER. The developed CuN electrocatalyst was tested and results showed a low overpotential and moderate Tafel slope value (overpotential: 149.

Zinc associated nanomaterials and their intervention in emerging respiratory viruses: Journey to the field of biomedicine and biomaterials.

Respiratory viruses represent a severe public health risk worldwide, and the research contribution to tackle the current pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 is one of the main targets among the scientific community. In this regard, experts from different fields have gathered to confront this catastrophic pandemic. This review illustrates how nanotechnology intervention could be valuable in solving this difficult situation, and the state of the art of Zn-based nanostructures are discussed in detail.

NH-MIL-125(Ti) doped CdS/Graphene composite as electro and photo catalyst in basic medium under light irradiation.

The development of active electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and for environmental remediation is a huge challenge. Research is still underway on the development of low-cost catalytic materials with appreciable efficiency for HER. In the present study, a composite of metal organic framework (MOF) with CdS and graphene (NH-MIL-125(Ti)/CdS-graphene) composites were developed with different loadings of graphene material via solvothermal technique.

Au integrated 2D ZnO heterostructures as robust visible light photocatalysts.

Integration of semiconducting nanostructures with noble metal nanoparticles are turning highly desirable for cost efficient energy and environmental related applications. From this viewpoint, we report on a facile aqueous synthesis of polymer capped gold (Au) nanoparticles on free standing 2D layered structures of zinc oxide (ZnO) to result with ZnO/Au nanocomposites. Concentration of Au nanoparticles were observed to promote the preferential growth of ZnO along the (002) wurtzite plane.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-based nanobiosensor for the detection of cadmium in water.

Industrial and agricultural processes have led to the prevalence of cadmium in the ecosystem. A successive build-up of cadmium in food and drinking water can result in inadvertent consumption of hazardous concentrations. Such environmental contamination of cadmium can pose a substantial threat to human and animal life.

Construction of magnetically recoverable ZnS-WO-CoFeO nanohybrid enriched photocatalyst for the degradation of MB dye under visible light irradiation.

Easily recyclable photocatalysts have received considerable attention for their practical application, in order to address the wastewater treatments. Here, we report efficient and magnetically recyclable ZnS-WO-CoFeO nanohybrid prepared through wet impregnation method. The photophysical and optical properties of as-prepared photocatalysts was investigated by different spectroscopic techniques.

Double transition metal MXene (TiTaC) 2D materials as anodes for Li-ion batteries.

A bi-metallic titanium-tantalum carbide MXene, TiTaC is successfully prepared via etching of Al atoms from parent TiTaAlC MAX phase for the first time. X-ray diffractometer and Raman spectroscopic analysis proved the crystalline phase evolution from the MAX phase to the lamellar MXene arrangements. Also, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study confirmed that the synthesized MXene is free from Al after hydro fluoric acid (HF) etching process as well as partial oxidation of Ti and Ta.

Synthesis and characterisation of starch/agar nanocomposite films for food packaging application.

In the present work cassava starch/agar Ag and ZnO nanocomposite films were prepared by the solution casting method. The structural, physical and antimicrobial properties of the nanocomposite films were studied as a function of the concentration of Ag and ZnO nanoparticles. The results of the thermogravimetric analysis showed 8-15% degradation of both the nanocomposite films at 150°C endorsing the thermal stability of the films.

Honokiol-camptothecin loaded graphene oxide nanoparticle towards combinatorial anti-cancer drug delivery.

Honokiol (HK) is a natural product isolated from the bark, cones, seeds and leaves of plants belonging to the genus Magnolia. It possesses anti-cancer activity which can efficiently impede the growth and bring about apoptosis of a diversity of cancer cells. The major concerns of using HK are its poor solubility and lack of targeted drug delivery.

Performance evaluation of a low-cost, novel vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) as a platinum-free electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells.

A vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) was synthesised by a simple and effective method of ammonialising a vanadium pentoxide xerogel at a higher temperature. Xerogel-structured materials possess salient features such as high surface area, tunable porosity and pore size that result in enhancing the catalytic activity by a fast electron-transport pathway and increase electrolyte diffusion channels. Metal nitrides are reported as promising alternate low-cost counter electrodes to replace the conventional and expensive platinum (Pt) counter electrode.

Leaf Extract Mediated Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Assessment of Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activity.

In this work, we present an ecofriendly, non-hazardous, green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) by leaf extract of (). Total phenolic content, total flavonoid and total protein contents of were determined. Further, synthesized ZnO NPs was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) Spectra, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis.