Empowering Sustainable Energy: Lead-Coated Plastic Chip Electrodes for Effective CO Reduction.

Electrochemical CO reduction is crucial in combatting climate change and advancing sustainable energy practices by converting CO into valuable chemicals and fuels, thereby reducing atmospheric CO levels and enabling the storage and utilization of renewable energy from intermittent sources like solar and wind. The selection of electrode materials and platform design plays a critical role in enhancing reaction efficiency and product selectivity during CO reduction. Various metals, both in their solid forms and coated over substrates, have been used in electrochemical CORR.

Access to Bis-Silylene-Stabilized Group 13 Cations.

Herein, we report the isolation of pyridine moiety-functionalized SiNSi pincer-based bis-silylene ligand () and its reactivity toward various halide precursors (X = Br and I) of group 13 elements (M = Al, Ga, and In). This gave us straightforward access to the SiNSi pincer-coordinated group 13 cations (-). These complexes are duly characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H, C, and Si), and high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques.

Hydrogeochemical investigation and water quality assessment of the Indus River in the semiarid region of Ladakh, India.

The decline in water quality, particularly in river water, is a significant concern, especially in semi-arid areas and tourist destinations such as Ladakh. Periodic assessment of water quality could be a crucial step for ensuring its potability and serve as a foundation for formulating effective policies for sustainable water resource management. Consequently, this research aimed to analyze the periodic variations in the water quality of Indus River for domestic and agricultural use, focusing on the impact of geochemical processes within the basin.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Regioselective C8-H Sulfoxamination of 1-Naphthylamine Derivatives with NH-Sulfoximines.

A simple cobalt-catalyzed, picolinamide-directed C8-H sulfoxamination of 1-naphthalamides with NH-sulfoximines has been developed. This cross-dehydrogenative C-H/N-H coupling reaction offers a facile route to N-arylated sulfoximines, exhibiting high yields, a broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group tolerance and scalability.

Microplastic contamination in Indian rice: A comprehensive characterization and health risk assessment.

In this study, we investigate, for the first time, the abundance, distribution, chemical composition, and exposure of microplastics (MPs) in Indian rice and their impact on human health. The physical and chemical characteristics of MPs were measured using a stereomicroscope, μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and μ-Raman spectroscopy. MPs were identified in all samples, with an average abundance of 30.

Unprecedented C-F bond cleavage in perfluoronaphthalene during cobaltocene reduction.

The C-F bond activation of perfluoronaphthalene by 5-SIDipp led to the formation of dicationic salts with two fluorides (3·2HF2 ) or heptafluorodiborate (3·2B2F7) as counter-anions. The anion exchange reaction of 3·2B2F7 with NBuPF afforded a highly luminescent 3·2PF6. The addition of cobaltocene in the reaction mixture of 5-SIDipp and perfluoronaphthalene led to a distinct Co(I) species.

Isolation and purification of esterase enzyme from marine bacteria associated with biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third most produced synthetic plastic and releases the most harmful and lethal environmental component after incineration and landfilling. Few studies on microbial degradation of PVC have been reported but very little knowledge about the enzymes. In the present study, esterase enzyme was isolated and partially purified from marine bacterial isolates (T-1.

Agarose Degrading Potential and Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of Marine Bacterium Aliagarivorans sp. Strain DM1 Isolated from the Arabian Sea.

In recent years, agar-degrading bacteria have gained significant interest due to their biotechnological, environmental, microbiological, and industrial applications. Agar poses challenges such as marine waste accumulation, difficult industrial processing, limited natural degradability, and sustainability concerns due to high demand and overharvesting of red algae. The present study addresses the need for efficient agar-degrading microorganisms by isolating Aliagarivorans sp.

Low Fouling Molecular Selective Channels through Self-assembly of Cross-linked Block Copolymer Micelles for Selective Separation of Dye and Salt.

We report the solvent-evaporation and ionic cross-linking mediated self-assembly of the shell cross-linked micelles of the amphiphilic triblock copolymer containing middle poly(methyl methacrylate) block (hydrophobic) and poly(2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate end blocks (hydrophilic) on the membrane substrate to create molecular selective channels. The formation of selective channels on the substrate is attributed to the local increase of micelle concentration upon solvent evaporation, which leads to the core-core hydrophobic interaction. The post-ionic cross-linking of the shell part further reduces the intermicelle distance, thereby creating interstices for selective separation.

Novel nanoformulation for enhanced amphotericin B efficacy and sustained release using vetiver root cellulose nanofibers against Candida albicans.

The formidable antifungal agent, Amphotericin B, is well-known for its potency; however, its clinical application has been significantly limited due to toxicity and poor solubility. This study aims to address these challenges by developing and evaluating a novel nano-cellulose-based formulation of Amphotericin B to enhance its efficacy. Amphotericin B was encapsulated within cellulose nanofibers at varying ratios to optimize formulation parameters, including drug concentration, particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency.

2D organic nanosheets of self-assembled guanidinium derivative for efficient single sodium-ion conduction: rationalizing morphology editing and ion conduction.

The resurgence of interest in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is largely driven by their natural abundance and favourable cost, apart from their comparable electrochemical performance when compared with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The uneven geographic distribution of the raw materials required for LIBs has also contributed to this. The solid-state electrolyte (SSE) is typically one of the vital components for energy storage in SIBs and for achieving high electrochemical performances.

Sustainable preparation of AuAg alloy@AgBr Janus nanoparticles dissipative self-assembly for photocatalysis.

We report a facile synthesis of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) templated AuAg alloy@AgBr Janus-nanoparticles (JNPs) using a non-conventional top-down approach with precise control over symmetry breaking. The addition of AgNO to a micellar solution of CTAB results in micelle-stabilized AgBr colloids having excess Ag at the interstitial sites of AgBr. AgBr colloids undergo weak self-assembly supported by inter-micellar interactions.

Exploring Cyclopentannulation as an Effective Synthetic Tool to Design Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon AIEgens for Bioimaging.

Synthesis of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cyclocondensation reaction is reported herein. The design strategy consisted of reacting the sterically hindered 1,2-bis(3,5-di-butylphenyl)acetylene with myriad brominated anthracene and pyrene surrogates, resulting in the formation of target molecules and , which exhibited excellent solubility in commonly used organic solvents and unveiled prominent aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics in tetrahydrofuran and water solvent mixtures. Calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were utilized to validate both the contorted structures of the target molecules and their electronic conjugation featuring HOMO-LUMO band gaps (Δ) in the range of ∼2.

Nonpreferential Solvent Transport through an Intrinsic Cyclodextrin Pore in a Polyester Film.

We performed equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to study the transport of water and hexane solvents through cyclodextrin(CD)-based membranes (α-/β-/γ-CD/TMC). Although it is known that water and hexane can permeate through the macrocyclic cavity, surprisingly, when it is present in the CD-based membrane (α-/β-/γ-CD/TMC), these solvents are not permeating through the CD cavity. Interactions between membrane functional group atoms with the water and hexane suggest that these solvents primarily permeate through the polar aggregate pores formed via ester-linkage rather than the CD cavity.

Silylene-Copper-Amide Emitters: From Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence to Dual Emission.

Herein, we report the inaugural instance of N-heterocyclic silylene (NHSi)-coordinated copper amide emitters (2-5). These complexes exhibit thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and singlet-triplet dual emission in anaerobic conditions. The NHSi-Cu-diphenylamide (2) complex demonstrates TADF with a very small ΔE gap (0.

Conjugated Coordination Nanosheets with Molecular Rotors for Pseudocapacitors: Nanoarchitectonics and Enhanced Performance.

High-level pseudocapacitive materials require incorporations of significant redox regions into conductive and penetrable skeletons to enable the creation of devices capable of delivering high power for extended periods. Coordination nanosheets (CNs) are appealing materials for their high natural electrical conductivities, huge explicit surface regions, and semi-one-layered adjusted pore clusters. Thus, rational design of ligands and topological networks with desired electronic structure is required for the advancement in this field.

Resilient and Reversible Phosphotungstic Acid Passivated Zinc Anode.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) present a compelling solution for grid-scale energy storage, which is crucial for integrating renewable energy resources into the electric infrastructure. The cycling stability of ZIBs hinges on the electrochemical reversibility of the zinc anode, which is often compromised by corrosion and dendritic zinc deposition. Here, we present a straightforward surface passivation strategy that significantly enhances the cycling stability of zinc anodes.

Assessment and characterization of solid and hazardous waste from inorganic chemical industry: Potential for energy recovery and environmental sustainability.

Rapid global urbanization and economic growth have significantly increased solid waste volumes, with hazardous waste posing substantial health and environmental risks. Co-processing strategies for industrial solid and hazardous waste as alternative fuels highlight the importance of integrated waste management for energy and material recovery. This study identifies and characterizes solid and hazardous industrial wastes with high calorific values from various industrial processes at Nirma Industries Limited.

Unraveling Anomalies in Preferential Liquid Transport through the Intrinsic Pores of Cyclodextrin in Polyester Nanofilms.

The precise manipulation of the porous structure of the nanofiltration membrane is critical for unlocking enhanced separation efficiencies across various liquids and solutes. Ultrathin films of crosslinked macrocycles, specifically cyclodextrins (CDs), have drawn considerable attention in this area owing to their ability to facilitate precise molecular separation with high liquid permeance for both polar and non-polar liquids, resembling Janus membranes. However, the functional role of the intrinsic cavity of CD in liquid transport remains inadequately understood, demanding immediate attention in designing nanofiltration membranes.

Self-healable, stimuli-responsive bio-ionic liquid and sodium alginate conjugated hydrogel with tunable Injectability and mechanical properties for the treatment of breast cancer.

Designing stimuli-responsive drug delivery vehicles with higher drug loading capacity, sustained and targeted release of anti-cancer drugs and able to mitigate the shortcomings of traditional systems is need of hour. Herein, we designed stimuli-responsive, self-healable, and adhesive hydrogel through synergetic interaction between [Cho][Gly] (Choline-Glycine) and sodium alginate (SA). The hydrogel was formed as a result of non-covalent interaction between the components of the mixture forming the fibre kind morphology; confirmed through FTIR/computational analysis and SEM/AFM images.

Rab7 GTPase-Mediated stress signaling enhances salinity tolerance in AlRabring7 tobacco transgenics by modulating physio-biochemical parameters.

The RING-type E3 ligases play a significant role in stress signaling, primarily through post-translational regulation. Ubiquitination is a crucial post-translational modification that regulates the turnover and activity of proteins. The overexpression of AlRabring7, RING-HC E3 Ub ligase in tobacco provides insights into the regulation of salinity and ABA signaling in transgenic tobacco.

Surface functionalized perovskite nanocrystals: a design strategy for organelle-specific fluorescence lifetime multiplexing.

Fluorescent molecules or materials with high photoluminescence quantum yields and stability towards photobleaching are ideally suited for multiplex imaging. Despite complying with such properties, perovskite nanocrystals (Pv-NCs) are rarely used for bioimaging owing to their toxicity and limited stability in aqueous media and towards human physiology. We aim to address these deficiencies by designing core-shell structures with Pv-NCs as the core and surface-engineered silica as the shell (SiO@Pv-NCs) since silica is recognized as a biologically benign carrier material and is known to be excreted through urine.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of Bi-doped TiO under sunlight and UV light: mechanistic insights and comparative analysis.

Bismuth-doped metal oxides exhibit favourable photocatalytic features when exposed to both sunlight and UV light. In this approach, Bi/TiO and Bi/TiO photocatalysts were prepared and their structural and optical properties are analysed using various characterization techniques. These developed photocatalysts were further tested for the photocatalytic elimination of Nitrobenzene in UV light and sunlight and compared with the performance of bare TiO.

Polyoxometalate-HKUST-1 composite derived nanostructured Na-Cu-MoC catalyst for efficient reverse water gas shift reaction.

Transforming CO to CO reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction is widely regarded as a promising technique for improving the efficiency and economics of CO utilization processes. Moreover, it is also considered as a pathway towards e-fuels. Cu-oxide catalysts are widely explored for low-temperature RWGS reactions; nevertheless, they tend to deactivate significantly under applied reaction conditions due to the agglomeration of copper particles at elevated temperatures.