Polymers (Basel)
Nanomaterials and Solar Energy Conversion Lab, Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli 620 015, India.
Published: December 2017
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have become a validated and economically credible competitor to the traditional solid-state junction photovoltaic devices. DSSCs based on biopolymer gel electrolyte systems offer the perspective of competitive conversion efficiencies with a very low-cost fabrication. In this paper, a new starch-based biopolymer gel electrolyte system is prepared by mixing lithium iodide and iodine with bare and citric acid cross-linked potato starches with glycerol as the plasticizing agent. The effect of the preparation methods on the starch cross-linking degree as well as the photoconversion efficiency of the resulting DSSC cells is carefully analyzed. Fourier transform spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology and conformational changes of starch in the electrolytes. The conductivity of the biopolymer electrolytes was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. DSSC based on the starch-gel polymer electrolytes were characterized by photovoltaic measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Results clearly show that the cross-linking increases the recombination resistance and open circuit voltage () of the DSSC, and thereby the photoconversion efficiency of the cell. In particular, electrolytes containing 1.4 g bare and cross-linked starches showed ionic conductivities of = 1.61, 0.59, 0.38, and 0.35 S cm, and the corresponding DSSCs showed efficiencies of 1.2, 1.4, 0.93, and 1.11%, respectively.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6418899 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym9120667 | DOI Listing |
Food Res Int
February 2025
Engineering Research Center of Grain and Oil Functionalized Processing in Universities of Shaanxi Province, College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China. Electronic address:
This study constructed a composite system with different ratios (100:0, 95:5, 90:10, and 80:20) of glutein compounded with various esterified starch (3 % and 6 %). The results demonstrated that the esterification process enhanced the viscosity of the starch gel system. Furthermore, the optimal esterification level (3 %) facilitated the formation of a dense composite gel network, as observed through microstructure observation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarbohydr Polym
March 2025
College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China. Electronic address:
To strengthen starch gel quality and improve the deterioration from freeze-thaw cycles, corn starch/whey protein isolate (WPI)/caffeic acid (CA) composite gels were rationally constructed in this study. The results showed that the introduction of WPI and CA significantly optimized the microstructure of the gels, an observation verified by SEM and CLSM. In addition, FT-IR and XRD analyses further revealed that the interaction mechanism within the composite gel was mainly due to the reinforcement of hydrogen bonds.
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March 2025
School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu Province, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, PR China. Electronic address:
The fractionation and reconstitution method was employed to investigate the impact of different proportions of A-type (AS) and B-type (BS) wheat starch on the quality of liangpi and its potential mechanism, with traditional gluten-removed liangpi (RGL) as a control. The results demonstrated that a higher AS/BS ratio led to an increase in hardness, resilience, and chewiness. Moreover, the sensory scores for BS-dominated liangpi were significantly lower than those for AS-dominated liangpi, and liangpi with 60 % AS had the highest sensory scores.
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March 2025
West China Women's and Children's Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address:
Achilles tendon rupture is a common and serious condition that remains a challenge in the restoration of tendon structure and function. The design and use of high-performance piezoelectric materials serve as an effective solution to enhance repair outcomes, shorten recovery times, and reduce the risk of recurrence. In this study, we prepared a chitosan piezoelectric gel (CSPG) as an organic polymer with excellent biocompatibility, stretchability, and piezoelectric properties as well as excellent antibacterial properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Oral Health
January 2025
Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Egyptian Russian University, Badr City, Egypt.
Background: Disinfection of the root canal system is a challenge to all clinicians, calcium hydroxide Ca(OH) one of the most popular intracanal medications used for this purpose, has some unwanted effects on dentine. This study aimed to investigate the antibiofilm effect of Nanochitosan (CSNPs) and Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH) intra canal medications and their effect on the microhardness and chemical structure of radicular dentine.
Methodology: A total of 52 extracted human mandibular premolars were used.
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