Promoting Visible Light Generation of Hydrogen Using a Sol-Gel-Prepared MnCoO@g-CN p-n Heterojunction Photocatalyst.

The production of hydrogen using a new type of heterogeneous photocatalyst under visible light is considered a remarkable essential pathway for sustainable, pure energy not only on the laboratory scale but also on a bigger scale. Hence, a new nanocomposite of mesoporous MnCoO, g-CN, and MnCoO@g-CN was produced utilizing a sol-gel method with variable MnCoO contents. The crystal structure of MnCoO was effectively confirmed by the X-ray diffraction pattern and integrated onto the g-CN structure.

Fabrication of Mesoporous PtO-ZnO Nanocomposites with Promoted Photocatalytic Performance for Degradation of Tetracycline.

Herein, we report a simple incorporation of PtO NPs at diverse percentages (0.2-0.8 wt %) onto a highly crystalline and mesoporous ZnO matrix by the wet-impregnation approach for degradation of tetracycline (TC) upon visible light exposure.

Generation of Hydrogen Gas Using CuCrO-g-CN Nanocomposites under Illumination by Visible Light.

In this research, nanocomposites made of CuCrO-g-CN accommodating distinct contents of CuCrO (1-4 wt %) nanoparticles (NPs) were endorsed for hydrogen gas production after illumination by visible light in the presence of aqueous glycerol solution. The ultrasonication-mixture method was applied to assure the homogeneous distribution of CuCrO NPs over synthesized mesoporous g-CN. Such nanocomposites possess suppressed recombination between the photoinduced charges.

Optical, magnetic and electrical properties of new ceramics/lead silicate glass composites recycled from lead crystal wastes.

Nowadays, the disposal of industrial wastes is an ablaze issue worldwide, especially those containing hazardous materials. Lead silicate glass waste (LSG) produced during lead crystal glass manufacturing, which contains about 30% of toxic lead compounds, belongs to this category. This work aims to adopt an innovative clean method to convert this waste into novel advanced ceramic materials via an environmental friendly method.

Biodegradation of di-n-octyl phthalate by sp. Lff and its application in soil.

A previous isolated sp. (Lff) was used to degrade di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP) contamination in both aqueous solution and soil. The influence of temperature, pH, inoculum size, salt content and initial concentration of DOP on DOP degradation by Lff were analysed.

Multifunctional Hydroxyapatite/Silver Nanoparticles/Cotton Gauze for Antimicrobial and Biomedical Applications.

Medical textiles have played an increasingly important protection role in the healthcare industry. This study was aimed at improving the conventional cotton gauze for achieving advanced biomedical specifications (coloration, UV-protection, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial activities). These features were obtained by modifying the cotton gauze fabrics via in-situ precipitation of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAp NP), followed by in-situ photosynthesis of silver (Ag) NPs with ginger oil as a green reductant with anti-inflammation properties.

Microwave-assisted preparation of a silver nanoparticles/N-doped carbon dots nanocomposite and its application for catalytic reduction of rhodamine B, methyl red and 4-nitrophenol dyes.

In the current work, a silver nanoparticles/nitrogen-doped carbon dots (AgNPs/NCDs) nanocomposite was prepared by a microwave-assisted method that does not require additional reducing or stabilizing agents. Multiple analytical techniques were used to characterize the prepared nanocomposite. The nanocomposite exhibited a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption peak at 420 nm, indicating the development of AgNPs with NCDs.

Facile Synthesis of Mesoporous AgO-ZnO Heterojunctions for Efficient Promotion of Visible Light Photodegradation of Tetracycline.

Fabrication of 3D mesoporous AgO-ZnO heterojunctions at varying AgO contents has been achieved through poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(propylene glycol)--poly(ethylene glycol) (Pluronic F-108) as the structure-directing agent for the first time. The mesoporous AgO-ZnO nanocomposites exhibited a mesoporous structure, which revealed a large pore volume and high surface area. The photocatalytic efficiency over mesoporous AgO-ZnO nanocomposites for tetracycline (TC) compared with that over commercial P-25 and pristine ZnO NPs through the visible light exposure was studied.

Adsorption and photocatalytic scavenging of 2-chlorophenol using carbon nitride-titania nanotubes based nanocomposite: Experimental data, kinetics and mechanism.

Adsorption and interaction of pollutant species on surface of the catalyst materials play an important role on the photocatalysis process. Herein, experimental data on the adsorption behavior of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) onto graphitic pure carbon nitride (CN), titania nanotubes (TiO-NTs) and carbon nitride/titania nanotubes nanocomposite (CN/TiO-NTs) from synthetic wastewater has been summarized. The data on photocatalytic degradation of the 2-CP under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation is also presented.

Innovative bactericidal adsorbents containing modified xanthan gum/montmorillonite nanocomposites for wastewater treatment.

Herein, we reported the preparation of novel antibacterial nanocomposites based on biodegradable polymers. The nanocomposites were applied as capable adsorbent for removing of malachite green (MG) dye, as well as inhibiting of E. coli and S.

Stabilization and improved properties of Salipaludibacillus agaradhaerens alkaline protease by immobilization onto double mesoporous core-shell nanospheres.

In this study, serine alkaline protease from halotolerant alkaliphilic Salipaludibacillus agaradhaerens strain AK-R was purified and immobilized onto double mesoporous core-shell silica (DMCSS) nanospheres. Covalent immobilization of AK-R protease onto activated DMCSS-NH nanospheres was more efficient than physical adsorption and was applied in further studies. DMCSS-NH nanospheres showed high loading capacity of 103.

A novel nano copper complex: potentiometry, DFT and application as a cancer prostatic biomarker for the ultrasensitive detection of human PSA.

Worldwide, prostate cancer is considered to be one of the three most commonly occurring cancers amongst the male population. Clinically, early detection of diverse forms of cancer before they spread and become incurable plays an important role in treatment strategy. Therefore, the development of fast, accurate, sensitive, and low-cost analytical methodologies and techniques for the detection of cancer biomarkers is an attractive research area for scientists globally.

Biological evaluation of preceramic organosilicon polymers for various healthcare and biomedical engineering applications: A review.

Preceramic organosilicon materials combining the properties of a polymer and an inorganic ceramic phase are of great interest to scientists working in biomedical sciences. The interdisciplinary nature of organosilicon polymers and their molecular structures, as well as their diversity of applications have resulted in an unprecedented range of devices and synergies cutting across unrelated fields in medicine and engineering. Organosilicon materials, especially the polysiloxanes, have a long history of industrial and medical uses in many versatile aspects as they can be easily fabricated into complex-shaped products using a wide variety of computer-aided or polymer manufacturing techniques.

Self-doping synthesis of trivalent NiO as a hole transport layer for high fill factor and efficient inverted perovskite solar cells.

Nickel oxide (NiOx) as a hole transport layer has been vastly investigated in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to the nature of p-type doping, highly transparent materials, and deep-lying valence bands. In this paper, a new phase based on trivalent Ni2O3 is synthesized by low temperature solution processing of mixed nickel (acetate/nitrate). In comparison, high-temperature solution-processing of divalent NiOx resulted in novel Ni2O3 thin films that display better consistency and superior energy compatibility with perovskite thin films.

Synthesis of Vanadium Carbide by Mechanical Activation Assisted Carbothermic Reduction.

Vanadium carbide is known, for its hardness and other unique properties, as a refractory material. The synthesis of vanadium carbide is always associated with the utilization of expensive active metals, such as aluminum, calcium and magnesium, as a reducing agent to extract the vanadium metal from its corresponding oxide, followed by carbidization. The carbidization of reduced vanadium requires a complicated process and elevated temperature.

An Ore Image Segmentation Method Based on RDU-Net Model.

The ore fragment size on the conveyor belt of concentrators is not only the main index to verify the crushing process, but also affects the production efficiency, operation cost and even production safety of the mine. In order to get the size of ore fragments on the conveyor belt, the image segmentation method is a convenient and fast choice. However, due to the influence of dust, light and uneven color and texture, the traditional ore image segmentation methods are prone to oversegmentation and undersegmentation.

Direct Analysis of Rare Circulating Tumor Cells in Whole Blood Based on Their Controlled Capture and Release on Electrode Surface.

The development of a simple, sensitive, and effective method for the analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is essential for cancer diagnosis and metastasis prediction. In this work, we have proposed an enzyme-free electrochemical method for specific capture, sensitive quantification, and efficient release of CTCs. To achieve this, the specific interaction between CTCs and the corresponding aptamer designed to be located in the identification probe (IP) will unfold the hairpin structure of IP.

A facile synthesis of bismuth oxychloride-graphene oxide composite for visible light photocatalysis of aqueous diclofenac sodium.

In this study, bismuth oxychloride/graphene oxide (BiOCl-GO) composite was fabricated by facile one pot hydrothermal method. The pure BiOCl and BiOCl-GO composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The synthesized composite was then assessed for photocatalytic degradation of diclofenac sodium (DCF) in visible as well as direct solar light and UV irradiation.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Methyl Orange Uptake by Mn-Rich Synthetic Mica: Insights into Manganese Role in Adsorption and Selectivity.

Manganese-containing mica (Mn-mica) was synthesized at 200 °C/96 h using Mn-carbonate, Al-nitrate, silicic acid, and high KOH concentration under hydrothermal conditions. Mn-mica was characterized and tested as a new adsorbent for the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye from aqueous solutions. Compared to naturally occurring mica, the Mn-mica with manganese in the octahedral sheet resulted in enhanced MO uptake by four times at pH 3.

Exfoliated Clay Decorated with Magnetic Iron Nanoparticles for Crystal Violet Adsorption: Modeling and Physicochemical Interpretation.

Surfactant-modified exfoliated Fayum clay (CTAB-EC) obtained after chemical treatment with a CTAB/HO solution was further decorated with magnetic FeO nanoparticles (MNP). The final nanocomposite (MNP/CTAB-EC) was characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, TEM and its adsorptive capability against a model cationic dye, crystal violet (CV), was evaluated. A comparison of the adsorption performance of the raw clay and its modified counterparts using HO, CTAB, CTAB/HO or MNP indicated that the adsorption capacity of MNP/CTAB-EC was the highest for CV removal at pH 8.

Soft and hard templates assisted synthesis mesoporous CuO/g-CN heterostructures for highly enhanced and accelerated Hg(II) photoreduction under visible light.

Herein, triblock copolymer surfactant (F127) and mesoporous silica (MCM-41) as soft and hard templates were employed to synthesize of mesoporous CuO/g-CN heterostructures with large surface areas for Hg(II) photoreduction in existence of formic acid as a holes sacrificial. TEM image for mesoporous CuO/g-CN indicated that CuO NPs are homogeneously distributed with spherical shape in particle size ~5 nm onto the surface of g-CN. Mesoporous 2%CuO/g-CN heterostructure was achieved a high Hg(II) photoreduction rate of 628.

Anisotropic alignments of hierarchical LiSiO/TiO @nano-C anode//LiMnPO@nano-C cathode architectures for full-cell lithium-ion battery.

We report on low-cost fabrication and high-energy density of full-cell lithium-ion battery (LIB) models. Super-hierarchical electrode architectures of LiSiO/TiO@nano-carbon anode (LSO.TO@nano-C) and high-voltage olivine LiMnPO@nano-carbon cathode (LMPO@nano-C) are designed for half- and full-system LIB-CR2032 coin cell models.

Direct evidence of boosted oxygen evolution over perovskite by enhanced lattice oxygen participation.

The development of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts remains a major challenge that requires significant advances in both mechanistic understanding and material design. Recent studies show that oxygen from the perovskite oxide lattice could participate in the OER via a lattice oxygen-mediated mechanism, providing possibilities for the development of alternative electrocatalysts that could overcome the scaling relations-induced limitations found in conventional catalysts utilizing the adsorbate evolution mechanism. Here we distinguish the extent to which the participation of lattice oxygen can contribute to the OER through the rational design of a model system of silicon-incorporated strontium cobaltite perovskite electrocatalysts with similar surface transition metal properties yet different oxygen diffusion rates.

Enhanced In-Plane Thermal Conductance of Thin Films Composed of Coaxially Combined Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Boron Nitride Nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are one-dimensional materials with high thermal conductivity and similar crystal structures. Additionally, BNNTs feature higher thermal stability in air than CNTs. In this work, a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) film was used as a template to synthesize a BNNT coating by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to form a coaxial heterostructure.