Silk and its composites for humidity and gas sensing applications.

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein largely used in the textile industry with applications in bio-medicine, catalysis as well as in sensing materials. SF is a fiber material which is bio-compatible, biodegradable, and possesses high tensile strength. The incorporation of nanosized particles into SF allows the development of a variety of composites with tailored properties and functions.

Immobilized ZnO nano film impelled bacterial disintegration of dairy sludge to enrich anaerobic digestion for profitable bioenergy production: Energetic and economic analysis.

Proper treatment and disposal of sludge is a substantial task around the biosphere. To address this issue, sludge deflocculation using photocatalyst was opted to enhance bacterial disintegration which in turn accelerate sludge digestion anaerobically. During this investigation, Direct current (DC) sputtering together with annealing process was used to immobilize Zinc oxide (ZnO).

Evaluation of photocatalytic thin film pretreatment on anaerobic degradability of exopolymer extracted biosolids for biofuel generation.

This study reports the result of sodium citrate induced exopolymer extraction on the photocatalytic thin film (TiO) pretreatment efficiency of waste activated sludge (WAS). TiO is immobilized through DC spluttering method followed by annealing process. The exopolymer removal of 94.

Kinetics of monodisperse iron oxide nanocrystal formation by "heating-up" process.

We studied the kinetics of the formation of iron oxide nanocrystals obtained from the solution-phase thermal decomposition of iron-oleate complex via the "heating-up" process. To obtain detailed information on the thermal decomposition process and the formation of iron oxide nanocrystals in the solution, we performed a thermogravimetric-mass spectrometric analysis (TG-MS) and in-situ magnetic measurements using SQUID. The TG-MS results showed that iron-oleate complex was decomposed at around 320 degrees C.

Pyramidal nanostructures of zinc oxide.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition of the oxide onto Si(100) substrate at 600 degrees C. An examination of the morphology using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy reveals well formed pyramidal structures consistent with the growth habit of ZnO. A domain matched epitaxy across the interface makes the ZnO pyramids orient along the axes of Si(100) surface.