The current study presents a simple and cost-competitive method for the development of high-performance superhydrophobic and superoleophilic cotton fabrics coated with cadmium oxide/cerotic acid (CdO/CE)-polycaprolactone (PCL)- and cadmium oxide/stearic acid (CdO/ST)-polycaprolactone-grafted hybrid composites. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are used to characterize the CdO/CE-PCL and CdO/ST-PCL and polycaprolactone-modified cotton fabrics. Using an optical contact angle meter, the wetting behavior of corrosive liquids such as coffee, milk, tea, water dyed with methylene blue, strong acids (HCl), strong alkali (NaOH), and saturated salt solution (NaCl) on the CdO-CE/ST/PCL-modified cotton fabrics is assessed as well as the durability of CdO-CE/ST/PCL-modified cotton fabrics in corrosive liquids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarbon nanomaterials derived from agricultural waste streams present an exciting material platform that hits multiple sustainability targets by reducing waste entering landfill, and enabling clean energy and environmental remediation technologies. In this work, the energy and photocatalytic properties of reduced graphene oxide fabricated from coconut coir using a simple reduction method using ferrocene are substantially improved by introducing metallic oxides flakes. A series of cobalt ferrite rGO/CoFeO nanocomposites were assembled using a simple soft bubble self-templating assembly, and their potential for clean energy applications confirmed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis present study reports the development of novel catalyst support of amine terminated cyclophosphazene/cyclophosphazene/hexafluoroisopropylidenedianiline-carbon nanotube (ATCP/CP/HFPA-CNT) composite. The ATCP/CP/HFPA-CNT composite has been used as a catalyst support for platinum (Pt) and platinum-gold (Pt-Au) nanoparticles towards electrooxidation of methanol in alkaline medium. The obtained anode materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe synthesis and characterization of catalysts based on nanomaterials, supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) for ethylene glycol (EG) oxidation is investigated. Platinum (Pt) and platinum-ruthenium (Pt-Ru) nanoparticles are deposited on surface-oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes [Pt/CNT; Pt-Ru/CNT] by the aqueous solution reduction of the corresponding metal salts with glycerol. The electrocatalytic properties of the modified electrodes for oxidation of ethylene glycol in acidic solution have been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and excellent activity is observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA novel supporting material containing polythiophene (PTh) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (PTh-CNTs) is prepared by in situ polymerization of thiophene on carbon nanotubes using FeCl(3) as oxidizing agent under sonication. The prepared polythiophene/CNT composites are further decorated with Pt and Pt-Ru nanoparticles by chemical reduction of the corresponding metal salts using HCHO as reducing agent at pH = 11 (Pt/PTh-CNT and Pt-Ru/PTh-CNT). The fabricated composite films decorated with nanoparticles were investigated towards the electrochemical oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGold nanoparticles are reported and evaluated as probes for the detection of anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU). The nature of binding between 5FU and gold nanoparticles via complexation is investigated using ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The bound antileukemic drug is fluorescent and the quenching property of gold nanoparticles could be exploited for biological investigations.
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