Surface tailored PS/TiO2 composite nanofiber membrane for copper removal from water.

Polystyrene (PS)/TiO2 composite nanofiber membranes have been fabricated by electrospinning process for Cu(2+) ions removal from water. The surface properties of the polystyrene nanofibers were modulated by introducing TiO2 nanoparticles. The contact angle of the PS nanofiber membrane was found to be decreased with increasing concentration of TiO2, depicted enhanced hydrophilicity.

Production of copolymer, poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) by Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027 using agro-wastes.

For cost effective production of PHA, agro-wastes like fruit peels, bagasse and deoiled cakes were screened as a sole source of carbon. Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027, which was isolated from one of the extreme environment, i.e.

Laser synthesized super-hydrophobic conducting carbon with broccoli-type morphology as a counter-electrode for dye sensitized solar cells.

A laser photochemical process is introduced to realize superhydrophobic conducting carbon coatings with broccoli-type hierarchical morphology for use as a metal-free counter electrode in a dye sensitized solar cell. The process involves pulsed excimer laser irradiation of a thin layer of liquid haloaromatic organic solvent o-dichlorobenzene (DCB). The coating reflects a carbon nanoparticle-self assembled and process-controlled morphology that yields solar to electric power conversion efficiency of 5.

A quasi-liquid iontronic-electronic light-harvesting hybrid photodetector with giant response.

A heterostructure formed by a layer of agarose gel drop-cast on a hydrothermally grown layer of ZnO nanorods on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass is examined for photoresponse with a top platinum tip contact. This ionic-gel-based hybrid device shows three orders of magnitude higher photocurrent as compared to the case of bare ZnO nanorods film.

Enhanced piezoresponse of electrospun PVDF mats with a touch of nickel chloride hexahydrate salt.

PVDF nanofibers are prepared using electrospinning. The effect of addition of a hydrated salt, nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl(2)·6H(2)O), on the phase formation is examined. Addition of the hydrated salt (NC) is found to enhance the polar β phase by about 30%.

Strong photo-response in a flip-chip nanowire p-Cu2O/n-ZnO junction.

Cu(2)O nanoneedles are synthesized on a copper substrate by a simple anodization and reducing ambient annealing protocol. ZnO nanorods are grown on ITO coated glass by a low temperature chemical route. The electronic and photo-response properties of the p-Cu(2)O/n-ZnO flip-chip heterojunction are then studied and analyzed.

Characterisation of copolymer, poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-co-PHV) produced by Halomonas campisalis (MCM B-1027), its biodegradability and potential application.

Characterisation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) film produced by haloalkalitolerant Halomonas campisalis (MCM B-1027) in 14L SS fermenter revealed it to have composition of monomer units, HB:HV as 96:4 as analysed by (1)H NMR indicating the PHA as a co-polymer of PHB-co-PHV, molecular weight by gel permeation chromatography as 2.08 × 10(6), melting temperature 166.51°C, tensile strength 18.

Magnetite/CdTe magnetic-fluorescent composite nanosystem for magnetic separation and bio-imaging.

A new synthesis protocol is described to obtain a CdTe decorated magnetite bifunctional nanosystem via dodecylamine (DDA) as cross linker. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and fluorescence microscopy are used to characterize the constitution, size, composition and physical properties of these superparamagnetic-fluorescent nanoparticles. These CdTe decorated magnetite nanoparticles were then functionalized with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody to specifically target cells expressing this receptor.

Production and characterization of a biodegradable poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-co-PHV) copolymer by moderately haloalkalitolerant Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027 isolated from Lonar Lake, India.

Several microorganisms produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). They are accumulated intracellularly as energy storage compounds. The PHAs are of interest because of their potential in biomedical applications.

Biocompatibility assessment of polytetrafluoroethylene/wollastonite composites using endothelial cells and macrophages.

The aim of the study was to prepare a composite of polytetrafluoroethylene/wollastonite (PTFE/W) and evaluate its biocompatibility with endothelial cells. A composite of PTFE with wollastonite in the proportion 90/10 w/w was prepared. The dynamic storage modulus of composite is found to increase from 260 to about 453 MPa at room temperature while a marginal increase is observed in the compressive modulus.

Preparation, characterization and in vitro biocompatibility evaluation of poly(butylene terephthalate)/wollastonite composites.

The aim of the study was to prepare composites of poly(butylene terepthalate)/wollastonite (PBT/W), evaluate their properties and in vitro biocompatibility. Composites of PBT with wollastonite in two different proportions, viz. 70/30 (PW-30), 50/50 (PW-50) were prepared.