3D Conducting Polymeric Membrane and Scaffold Biofilms to Enhance Energy Conversion in Microbial Fuel Cells.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can spontaneously convert chemical energy into electricity using biocatalytic microorganisms and organic matter as fuel feedstocks. Three-dimensional cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol)-based membranes were produced by a sol-gel method under homogeneous catalysis and used as the electrolyte to facilitate effective proton conduction. Under dry conditions, these polymeric membranes showed high water uptake (120%) and ionic conductivity (2.

Electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells to demonstrate China's renewable energy renewable portfolio standards within the framework of the 13th five-year plan.

A unified treatment of the renewable portfolio standards is given concerning direct methanol fuel. The current mechanism of electrocatalysis of methanol oxidation on platinum and non-platinum-containing alloys is summarized for the systematic improvement of the rate of electro-oxidation of methanol are discussed. Policy realignment under the five-year plan is discussed in length to demonstrate how policy, markets, and engineering designs contribute towards the development of model direct methanol fuel cells operational enhancement, and factors that affect critical performance parameters for commercial exploitation are summarized for catalytic formulations and cell design within the context of why this investment in technology, education, and finances is required within the global context of sustainable energy and energy independence as exposed by thirteenth the five-year plan.

Conversion of extracted titanium tailing and waste glass to value-added porous glass ceramic with improved performances.

One of the major advances of this research is to produce porous glass ceramics (PGCs) via a feasible and cost-effective powder forming chemistry to convert solid wastes, extracted titanium tailing (ETT) and waste glass (WG) into the value-added PGCs. The maximum handling amount of ETT (30%) is determined from systematic experiments, based on the end use of these PGCs, which are manifested as controlled-crystalline porous structures of hybrid matrices. These multiscale porous networks are composed of a tunable pore size, high surface area and accessibility.

Effect of metal surfaces on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization analyte peak intensities.

Different metal surfaces in the form of transmission electron microscope grids were examined as support surfaces in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry with a view towards enhancement of peptide signal intensity. The observed enhancement between 5-fold and 20-fold relative to the normal stainless steel slide was investigated by applying the thermal desorption model for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization. A simple model evaluates the impact that the thermal properties of the metals have on the ion yield of the analyte.

SN-38-cyclodextrin complexation and its influence on the solubility, stability, and in vitro anticancer activity against ovarian cancer.

SN-38, an active metabolite of irinotecan, is up to 1,000-fold more potent than irinotecan. But the clinical use of SN-38 is limited by its extreme hydrophobicity and instability at physiological pH. To enhance solubility and stability, SN-38 was complexed with different cyclodextrins (CDs), namely, sodium sulfobutylether β-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD), hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin, randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin, and methyl β-cyclodextrin, and their influence on SN-38 solubility, stability, and in vitro cytotoxicity was studied against ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 and 2008).

Hyaluronic acid-decorated PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for targeted delivery of SN-38 to ovarian cancer.

Background: Extreme hydrophobicity and poor stability of SN-38, a highly potent topoisomerase I inhibitor, has prevented its clinical use. Its encapsulation into nanoparticles may be a way to overcome these problems. Here we report the use of SN-38-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA)-decorated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethylene glycol (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted ovarian cancer therapy.

Use of natural products as green reducing agents to fabricate highly effective nanodisinfectants.

Disinfection of water using nanoparticles (NPs) can be achieved through selection of either metals (M) or transition metal oxides (TMO). In this research, 64 formulations of silver-titania nanocomposites (Ag/TiO2) were prepared via a feasible wet-chemistry technique using different natural products as reducing agents. Four selected products successfully reduced Ag(+) ions to Ag, allowing Ag/TiO2 composite to efficiently inactivate microbes found in the activated sludge.

A progressive approach on inactivation of bacteria using silver-titania nanoparticles.

A silver inserted metal oxide (Ag-TiO) has been demonstrated to be an effective biocidal agent against prokaryotic microbes found in water. Transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy indicated cellular damage after co-incubation with the nanocomposite, showing concomitant leakage of ions, which are critical for cell survival.

Facile design and nanostructural evaluation of silver-modified titania used as disinfectant.

Fundamental research has been carried out to define optimal "green" synthesis conditions for the production of titania (TiO(2)) and silver (Ag) nanocomposites (TANCs) ranging from 12.7-22.8 nm in diameter.

Nanostructure characterization and performance evaluation of perovskite sensor composed of multi-elements.

A multi-element perovskite nanoscale film composed of Li(+) cation incorporated into Ca(2+)-doped PbTiO(3) (LCPT) was derived via colloidal chemistry, sol-gel (SG) method followed by heat-treatment. The morphology, chemical composition and structure of the LCPT nanofilms were investigated by advanced instrumentation (microscopy and spectroscopy) techniques. The characterization indicates formation of a tetragonal crystalline ceramic after sintering.

Green synthesis and characterization of polymer-stabilized silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized using a facile green chemistry synthetic route. The reaction occurred at ambient temperature with four reducing agents introduced to obtain nanoscale Ag-NPs. The variables of the green synthetic route, such as acidity, concentration of starting materials, and molar ratio of reactants were optimized.