Incorporation of thermally induced shaped and phases of manganese oxide nanoparticles into zein/PVA fiber blends.

Incorporation of nanomaterials into polymers and their blend provide additional advantages to their use and structural support. Metals such as Ag, Cu, Ti, and Fe are often reported in their metallic or their oxide forms for applications in microbiological, water treatment, and biomedical fields. The integration of metal oxide nanoparticles into polymer fiber blends overcomes the mechanical instability and compatibility challenges of nanomaterials.

Influence of Fermentation on Functional Properties and Bioactivities of Different Cowpea Leaf Smoothies during In Vitro Digestion.

This study investigated the effects of 75 (LAB 75) fermentation at 37 °C for 48 h on the pH, total soluble solids (TSS), colour, total titratable acidity (TTA), carotenoids, and bioactivities of cowpea leaf smoothies from three cultivars (VOP 1, VOP 3, and VOP 4). Fermentation reduced the pH from 6.57 to 5.

Porphyrins developed for photoinactivation of microbes in wastewater.

Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) is extensively studied as a strategic method to inactivate pathogenic microbes in wastewater for addressing the limitations associated with chlorination, ozonation, and ultraviolet irradiation as disinfection methods, which generally promote the development of resistant genes and harmful by-products such as trihalomethanes. PACT is dependent on photons, oxygen, and a photosensitizer to induce cytotoxic effects on various microbes by generating reactive oxygen species. Photosensitizers such as porphyrins have demonstrated significant microbial inactivation through PACT, hence now explored for wastewater phototreatment.

Role of the amine and phosphine groups in oleylamine and trioctylphosphine in the synthesis of copper chalcogenide nanoparticles.

The effect of the functional groups of capping agents was investigated in the synthesis of copper selenide, copper sulphide and copper oxide nanoparticles using oleylamine (OLA) and trioctylphosphine (TOP). These capping molecules have demonstrated their ability to act as reducing agents, surfactants, solvents and enhancement of colloidal stabilization. They also offer electron donating abilities from the two group 5A elements, P and N.

Probing the stoichiometry dependent catalytic activity of nickel selenide counter electrodes in the redox reaction of iodide/triiodide electrolyte in dye sensitized solar cells.

Nickel selenide (Ni Se ) systems have received much attention in recent years as potential low cost counter electrodes (CEs) in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their electrocatalytic activities are comparable to that of the conventional platinum CE. Despite their achievements, the effect of stoichiometry on their catalytic performance as CEs in DSSCs still remains unclear, hence the motivation for this work.