Nanofibrous PAN-PDMS Films-Based High-Performance Triboelectric Artificial Whisker for Self-Powered Obstacle Detection.

Avoiding collisions is a key necessity for any autonomous mobile robot, and obstacle mapping enables them to maneuver in an uncharted area. In this era of the Internet of Things, with the emerging need for a multitude of sensors, adopting self-powered technologies is more practically viable than batteries for powering the same. Herein, with the fabrication of a triboelectric artificial whisker (TAW), a self-powered obstacle detection is demonstrated via tactile perception.

Modulating the Morphological Features of Hydrothermally Derived Nickel Cobaltite for Supercapacitor Application: Role of Precursor Anions.

Morphologically engineered porous electrodes show great promise in energy applications as they exhibit improved electrochemical activity owing to increased electrical conductivity, increased surface area, and a shorter path length for ion transport. Herein, the role of precursors (chlorides, acetates and nitrates) on the crystallinity and textural features of Nickel Cobaltite, obtained by the controlled precipitation through hydrothermal synthesis, is studied. The synthesis yielded urchin like structures with morphological variations in substructures based on the precursor anion types.

High-Performance Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerator Based on Electrospun PVDF-BaTiO Nanofibers for Self-Powered Vibration Sensing Applications.

In the present era of intelligent electronics and Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for flexible and wearable devices is very high. Here, we have developed a high-output flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) based on electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-barium titanate (BaTiO) (ES PVDF-BT) composite nanofibers with an enhanced electroactive phase. On addition of 10 wt % BaTiO nanoparticles, the electroactive β-phase of the PVDF is found to be escalated to ∼91% as a result of the synergistic interfacial interaction between the tetragonal BaTiO nanoparticles and the ferroelectric host polymer matrix on electrospinning.

Surface modification induced enhanced CO sorption in cucurbit[6]uril, an organic porous material.

The CO adsorption properties of an organic macrocycle, cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]), have been evaluated through experimental and theoretical studies. Quantum mechanical calculations show that CB[6] is capable of adsorbing the CO molecule selectively within its cavity relative to nitrogen. Adsorption experiments at 298 K and at 1 bar pressure gave a CO adsorption value of 1.

Role of precursors on the photophysical properties of carbon nitride and its application for antibiotic degradation.

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) powders derived from the four different precursors melamine, cyanamide, thiourea, and urea for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) antibiotic under sunlight irradiation. The powders were synthesized by employing the conventional thermal decomposition method. The synthesized powders were examined using different characterization tools for evaluating the photophysical properties.

Graphene Oxide Sheathed ZIF-8 Microcrystals: Engineered Precursors of Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) Electrocatalysis.

Nitrogen containing mesoporous carbon obtained by the pyrolysis of graphene oxide (GO) wrapped ZIF-8 (Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks-8) micro crystals is demonstrated to be an efficient catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). ZIF-8 synthesis in the presence of GO sheets helped to realize layers of graphene oxide over ZIF-8 microcrystals and the sphere-like structures thus obtained, on heat treatment, transformed to highly porous carbon with a nitrogen content of about 6.12% and surface area of 502 m/g.

Hydrophobic and Metallophobic Surfaces: Highly Stable Non-wetting Inorganic Surfaces Based on Lanthanum Phosphate Nanorods.

Metal oxides, in general, are known to exhibit significant wettability towards water molecules because of the high feasibility of synergetic hydrogen-bonding interactions possible at the solid-water interface. Here we show that the nano sized phosphates of rare earth materials (Rare Earth Phosphates, REPs), LaPO4 in particular, exhibit without any chemical modification, unique combination of intrinsic properties including remarkable hydrophobicity that could be retained even after exposure to extreme temperatures and harsh hydrothermal conditions. Transparent nanocoatings of LaPO4 as well as mixture of other REPs on glass surfaces are shown to display notable hydrophobicity with water contact angle (WCA) value of 120° while sintered and polished monoliths manifested WCA greater than 105°.

Bifunctional lanthanum phosphate substrates as novel adsorbents and biocatalyst supports for perchlorate removal.

Porous lanthanum phosphate substrates, obtained by an environmentally benign colloidal forming process employing methyl cellulose, are reported here as excellent adsorbents of perchlorate with >98% efficiency and with 100% reusability. Additionally, the effectiveness of such substrates as biocatalyst supports that facilitate biofilm formation of perchlorate reducing microbes (Serratia marcescens NIIST 5) is also demonstrated for the first time. The adsorption of perchlorate ions is attributed to the pore structure of lanthanum phosphate substrate and the microbial attachment is primarily ascribed to its intrinsic hydrophobic property.