Single-Layer GaInSe: Promising Water-Splitting Photocatalyst with Solar Conversion Efficiency over 30% from Theoretical Calculations.

Hydrogen energy from solar water-splitting is known as an ideal method with which to address the energy crisis and global environmental pollution. Herein, the first-principles calculations are carried out to study the photocatalytic water-splitting performance of single-layer GaInSe under biaxial strains from -2% to +2%. Calculations reveal that single-layer GaInSe under various biaxial strains has electronic bandgaps ranging from 1.

Comparative study of Janus BXY (X, Y = S, Se, Te) and F-BNBN-H monolayers for water splitting: revealing the positive and negative roles of the intrinsic dipole.

It is widely recognized that the intrinsic dipole in two-dimensional (2D) photocatalysts promotes hydrogen production during water splitting. Herein, we wonder whether the intrinsic dipole plays a negative role in water splitting. In this work, we make a comparative study of the structural, electronic, and photocatalytic properties of Janus BXY (X, Y = S, Se, Te) and F-BNBN-H monolayers using first principles.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-aryl-benzimidazole derivatives of dehydroabietic acid as novel tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

A series of novel 2-aryl-benzimidazole derivatives of dehydroabietic acid were synthesized and characterized by IR, H NMR, C NMR, MS and elemental analyses. All the target compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against SMMC-7721, MDA-MB-231, HeLa and CT-26 cancer cell lines and the normal hepatocyte cell line QSG-7701 through MTT assays. Among them, compound 6j displayed the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC values of 0.

Influence of different aluminum salts on the photocatalytic properties of Al doped TiO nanoparticles towards the degradation of AO7 dye.

Three kinds of Al-TiO samples and pure TiO samples were synthesized via a modified polyacrylamide gel route using different aluminum salts, including Al(SO)∙18HO, AlCl, and Al(NO)∙9HO under identical conditions. The influence of different aluminum salts on the phase purity, morphologies, thermal stability of anatase and photocatalytic properties of the as-prepared Al-TiO nanoparticles were studied. The energy gap (Eg) of Al-TiO nanoparticles decreases due to Al ion doping into TiO.

Design, synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of novel quinoline and oxadiazole derivatives of ursolic acid.

A series of new quinoline derivatives of ursolic acid were designed and synthesized in an attempt to develop potential anticancer agents. The structures of these compounds were identified by H NMR, C NMR, IR and ESI-MS spectra analysis. The target compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, Hela and SMMC-7721).

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic evaluation of new 1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives of dehydroabietic acid.

A series of new 1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives of dehydroabietic acid were designed and synthesized as potent antitumor agents. Structures of the target molecules were characterized using MS, IR, H NMR, C NMR and elemental analyses. In the in vitro cytotoxic assay, most compounds showed significant cytotoxic activities against two hepatocarcinoma cells (SMMC-7721 and HepG2) and reduced cytotoxicity against noncancerous human hepatocyte (LO2).

A comparative study of ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles synthesized from different aluminum salts for use as fluorescence materials.

Three ZnAl2O4 samples were prepared via a modified polyacrylamide gel method using a citric acid solution with different aluminum salt starting materials, including AlCl3 ∙ 6H2O, Al2(SO4)3 ∙ 18H2O, and Al(NO3)3 ∙ 9H2O under identical conditions. The influence of different aluminum salts on the morphologies, phase purity, and optical and fluorescence properties of the as-prepared ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles were studied. The experimental results demonstrate that the phase purity, particle size, morphology, and optical and fluorescence properties of ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles can be manipulated by the use of different aluminum salts as starting materials.

Synthesis, in vitro antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of new carbazole derivatives of ursolic acid.

A series of new carbazole derivatives of ursolic acid were designed and synthesized in an attempt to develop potent antimicrobial or antitumor agents. Their structures were confirmed by using IR, HRMS and (1)H NMR analysis. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against four bacterial and three fungal strains using serial dilution method.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel N-substituted 1H-dibenzo[a,c]carbazole derivatives of dehydroabietic acid as potential antimicrobial agents.

A series of new N-substituted 1H-dibenzo[a,c]carbazole derivatives were synthesized from dehydroabietic acid, and their structures were characterized by IR, (1)H NMR and HRMS spectral data. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against four bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens) and three fungi (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Aspergillus niger) by serial dilution technique. Some of the synthesized compounds displayed pronounced antimicrobial activity against tested strains with low MIC values ranging from 0.

Properties of novel polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystals/silver nanoparticles blend membranes.

Novel polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend membranes containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared via a simple method. CNs were prepared by sulfuric acid treatment of microcrystalline cellulose. AgNO3 aqueous solution mixed with the CNs aqueous suspension and was reduced by NaBH4 at room temperature.