Emerging cold plasma treatment and machine learning prospects for seed priming: a step towards sustainable food production.

Seeds are vulnerable to physical and biological stresses during the germination process. Seed priming strategies can alleviate such stresses. Seed priming is a technique of treating and drying seeds prior to germination in order to accelerate the metabolic process of germination.

Polyaniline-wrapped MnMoO as an active catalyst for hydrogen production by electrochemical water splitting.

Developing efficient, low-cost, and environment-friendly electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation is critical for lowering energy usage in electrochemical water splitting. Moreover, for commercialization, fabricating cost-efficient, earth-abundant electrocatalysts with superior characteristics is of urgent need. Towards this endeavor, we report the synthesis of PANI-MnMoO nanocomposites using a hydrothermal approach and an polymerization method with various concentrations of MnMoO.

Erbium(III) ion-doped borate-based glasses for 1.53 μm broad band applications.

Novel erbium(III) ion-doped borate-based glasses (Er :BCNF) by conventional melt-quenching technique were designed and synthesized. The glasses were characterized for their structural, vibrational and spectroscopic properties. The nephelauxetic ratio, bonding parameters, and Judd-Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters (Ω λ = 2, 4 and 6) were determined by using absorption spectrum of 1 mol% Er O doped glass.

Nanostructured gold in ancient Ayurvedic calcined drug 'swarnabhasma'.

Background: Swarnabhasma (calcined gold) is a famous ancient Ayurvedic medicine. However, its detail characteristic investigations are very limited.

Objective: Herein, investigation of swarnabhasma is demonstrated using ancient and ultramodern techniques to understand the physicochemical nature of this drug, and to understand whether the mercury [Parada] used during preparation method marks its presence in swarnabhasma.

Ionic Conductivity of NaAlPO Glass Electrolytes-Role of Charge Compensators.

In glasses, a sodium ion (Na) is a significant mobile cation that takes up a dual role, that is, as a charge compensator and also as a network modifier. As a network modifier, Na cations modify the structural distributions and create nonbridging oxygens. As a charge compensator, Na cations provide imbalanced charge for oxygen that is linked between two network-forming tetrahedra.

MoS and CdMoS nanostructure-based UV light photodetectors.

We have developed MoS nanosheets and CdMoS hierarchical nanostructures based on a UV light photodetector. The surface morphologies of the as-prepared samples were investigated field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The performance parameters for the present photodetectors are investigated under the illumination of UV light having a wavelength of ∼385 nm.

Synergetic Strategy for the Fabrication of Self-Standing Distorted Carbon Nanofibers with Heteroatom Doping for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Currently, the limited availability of lithium sources is escalating the cost of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Considering the fluctuating economics of LIBs, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have now drawn attention because sodium is an earth-abundant, low-cost element that exhibits similar chemistry to that of LIBs. Despite developments in different anode materials, there still remain several challenges in SIBs, including lighter cell design for SIBs.

Terrestrial snail-mucus mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and in vitro investigations on their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

Over the past few years, biogenic methods for designing silver nanocomposites are in limelight due to their ability to generate semi-healthcare and para-pharmaceutical consumer goods. The present study reports the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles from the hitherto unexplored mucus of territorial snail Achatina fulica by the facile, clean and easily scalable method. The detailed characterization of the resultant samples by UV-Visible Spectroscopy, FESEM-EDS, XRD and FTIR Spectroscopy techniques corroborated the formation of silver nanoparticles in snail mucus matrix.

Breast tumor parameter estimation and interactive 3D thermal tomography using discrete thermal sensor data.

This work uses a simple low-cost wearable device embedded with discrete thermal sensors to map the breast skin surface temperature. A methodology has been developed to estimate diameter, blood perfusion, metabolic heat generation and location in X, Y, Z coordinate of tumor from this discrete set of data. An interactive 3D thermal tomography was developed which provides a detailed 3D thermal view of the breast anatomy.

Hydrothermal Generation of 3-Dimensional WO₃ Nanocubes, Nanobars and Nanobricks, Their Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties.

In our current endeavor, 3-dimensional (3D) tungsten oxide (WO₃) nanostructures (nanocubes, nanobars and nanobricks) have been swiftly generated via hydrothermal route at 160 °C for 24 h. Physico-chemical characterization of the resultant powder revealed formation of WO₃ nanostructures with predominantly faceted cube, brick and rectangular bar-like morphology. The present study was also aimed at exploring the antimicrobial and anticancer potential of WO₃ nanostructures.

RGO/WO hierarchical architectures for improved HS sensing and highly efficient solar-driving photo-degradation of RhB dye.

Surface area and surface active sites are two important key parameters in enhancing the gas sensing as well as photocatalytic properties of the parent material. With this motivation, herein, we report a facile synthesis of Reduced Graphene Oxide/Tungsten Oxide RGO/WO hierarchical nanostructures via simple hydrothermal route, and their validation in accomplishment of improved HS sensing and highly efficient solar driven photo-degradation of RhB Dye. The self-made RGO using modified Hummer's method, is utilized to develop the RGO/WO nanocomposites with 0.

Highly crystalline anatase TiO nanocuboids as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen generation.

Highly crystalline anatase titanium dioxide (TiO) nanocuboids were synthesized a hydrothermal method using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid as a capping agent. The structural study revealed the nanocrystalline nature of anatase TiO nanocuboids. Morphological study indicates the formation of cuboid shaped particles with thickness of ∼5 nm and size in the range of 10-40 nm.

Investigation of lanthanum-sensitized CaZrO blue nanophosphors for white light-emitting diode applications.

In the present study, CaZrO nanophosphors were sensitized with lanthanum (La) at different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.

Combinatorial Large-Area MoS/Anatase-TiO Interface: A Pathway to Emergent Optical and Optoelectronic Functionalities.

The interface of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and high- dielectric transition-metal oxides (TMOs) had triggered umpteen discourses because of the indubitable impact of TMOs in reducing the contact resistances and restraining the Fermi-level pinning for the metal-TMDC contacts. In the present work, we focus on the unresolved tumults of large-area TMDC/TMO interfaces, grown by adopting different techniques. Here, on a pulsed laser-deposited MoS thin film, a layer of TiO is grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD).

Nanostructured N doped TiO efficient stable catalyst for Kabachnik-Fields reaction under microwave irradiation.

Herein, we report nitrogen-doped TiO (N-TiO) solid-acid nanocatalysts with heterogeneous structure employed for the solvent-free synthesis of α-aminophosphonates through Kabachnik-Fields reaction. N-TiO were synthesized by direct amination using triethylamine as a source of nitrogen at low temperature and optimized by varying the volume ratios of TiCl, methanol, water, and triethylamine, under identical conditions. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) study showed the formation of a rutile phase and the crystalline size is 10 nm.

Intriguing electronic and optical prospects of FCC bimetallic two-dimensional heterostructures: epsilon near-zero behavior in UV-Vis range.

A higher superconducting critical temperature and large-area epsilon-near-zero systems are two long-standing goals of the scientific community, having an explicit relationship with the correlated electrons in localized orbitals. Motivated by the recent experimental findings of the strongly correlated phenomena in nanostructures of simple Drude metallic systems, we have theoretically investigated some potential bimetallic FCC combinations having close resemblance with the experimental systems. The explored systems include the large-area interface to the embedded and doped two-dimensional (2D) combinatorial nanostructures.

Selective antifungal and antibacterial activities of Ag-Cu and Cu-Ag core-shell nanostructures synthesized in-situ PVA.

A simple chemical reduction method was employed to synthesize Cu-Ag and Ag-Cu core-shell nanostructures inside polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix at room temperature. The core-shell nanostructures have been synthesized by varying the two different concentrations (i.e.

Microwave-Epoxide-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of the CuO/ZnO Heterojunction: a Highly Versatile Route to Develop HS Gas Sensors.

A robust synthesis approach to develop CuO/ZnO nanocomposites using microwave-epoxide-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and their proficiency toward HS gas-sensing application are reported. The low-cost metal salts (Cu and Zn) as precursors in aqueous media and epoxide (propylene oxide) as a proton scavenger/gelation agent are used for the formation of mixed metal hydroxides. The obtained sol was treated using the microwave hydrothermal process to yield the high-surface area (34.

Unique N doped SnO nanosheets as an efficient and stable photocatalyst for hydrogen generation under sunlight.

Unique N doped SnO nanosheets have been demonstrated successfully using a facile hydrothermal method. Investigations of the triclinic phase and the impurities were performed using powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The morphological analysis demonstrated a rectangular intra- and inter-connected nanosheet-like structure.

Highly sensitive label-free bio-interfacial colorimetric sensor based on silk fibroin-gold nanocomposite for facile detection of chlorpyrifos pesticide.

Herein, the preparation of gold nanoparticles-silk fibroin (SF-AuNPs) dispersion and its label-free colorimetric detection of the organophosphate pesticide, namely chlorpyrifos, at ppb level are reported. The silk fibroin solution was extracted from B. mori silk after performing degumming, dissolving and dialysis steps.

Degradation of Metaldehyde in Aqueous Solution by Nano-Sized Photocatalysts and Granular Activated Carbon.

Metaldehyde has been detected in drinking water system in relatively high concentration exceeding European water quality standard. In order to address this problem, the aim of this project was to treat metaldehyde aqueous solution by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and granular activated carbon (GAC) column. Ten novel materials were tested for degradation rates of metaldehyde under ultraviolet light irradiation (UVC).

Synergic effects of the decoration of nickel oxide nanoparticles on silicon for enhanced electrochemical performance in LIBs.

Significant efforts continue to be directed toward the construction of anode materials with high specific capacity and long cycling stability for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this context, silicon is preferred due to its high capacity even though it has a problem of excessive volume expansion during electrochemical reactions as well as poor cyclability due to a reduction in conductivity. Hence, the hybridization of silicon with suitable materials could be a promising approach to overcome the abovementioned problems.

N-Enriched carbon nanofibers for high energy density supercapacitors and Li-ion batteries.

Nitrogen enriched carbon nanofibers have been obtained by one-step carbonization/activation of PAN-based nanofibers with various concentrations of melamine at 800 °C under a N atmosphere. As synthesised carbon nanofibers were directly used as electrodes for symmetric supercapacitors. The obtained PAN-MEL fibers with 5% melamine stabilised at 280 °C and carbonized at 800 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere showed excellent electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance of up to 166 F g at a current density of 1A g using 6 M KOH electrolyte and a capacity retention of 109.

A greener approach towards the development of graphene-Ag loaded ZnO nanocomposites for acetone sensing applications.

We report a facile, green synthesis of graphene/Ag/ZnO nanocomposites and their use as acetone sensors a medicinal plant extraction assisted precipitation process. The choice of plant extract in combination with metal nitrates led to self-sustaining colloid chemistry. Along with the green synthesis strategy, structural, morphological and gas sensing properties are described.

ZnCl loaded TiO nanomaterial: an efficient green catalyst to one-pot solvent-free synthesis of propargylamines.

One-pot green synthesis of propargylamines using ZnCl loaded TiO nanomaterial under solvent-free conditions has been effectively accomplished. The aromatic aldehydes, amines, and phenylacetylene were reacted at 100 °C in the presence of the resultant catalyst to form propargylamines. The nanocrystalline TiO was initially synthesized by a sol-gel method from titanium(iv) isopropoxide (TTIP) and further subjected to ZnCl loading by a wet impregnation method.