Solid State Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitor Based on Carbon Fiber Supported Hierarchical Co(OH)xCO3 and Ni(OH)2.

Conducting flexible carbon fiber (CF) cloth was used as a substrate for the hydrothermal growth of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) and cobalt hydroxy carbonate [Co(OH)xCO3] with unique hierarchical flowery architecture and then was used as a flexible supercapacitor electrode. In a three-electrode configuration in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte, the CF-Ni(OH)2 and CF-Co(OH)xCO3 electrode showed the maximum specific capacitance of 789 F/g and 550 F/g, respectively, at 2A/g current accompanied by outstanding cycle stability by retaining 99.9% and 99.

Ab initio study on the stability of Ng(n)Be₂N₂, Ng(n)Be₃N₂ and NgBeSiN₂ clusters.

The global minima of Be2N2, Be3N2 and BeSiN2 clusters are identified using a modified stochastic kick methodology. The structure, stability and bonding nature of these clusters bound to noble gas (Ng) atoms are studied at the MP2/def2-QZVPPD level of theory. Positive Be-Ng bond dissociation energy, which gradually increases down Group 18 from He to Rn, indicates the bound nature of Ng atoms.

1-Acetylpyrene-salicylic acid: photoresponsive fluorescent organic nanoparticles for the regulated release of a natural antimicrobial compound, salicylic acid.

Photoresponsive 1-acetylpyrene-salicylic acid (AcPy-SA) nanoparticles (NPs) were developed for the regulated release of a natural antimicrobial compound, salicylic acid. The strong fluorescent properties of AcPy-SA NPs have been extensively used for potential in vitro cell imaging. The phototrigger capability of our newly prepared AcPy-SA NPs was utilized for the efficient release of an antimicrobial compound, salicylic acid.

Thermally tailored gradient topography surface on elastomeric thin films.

We report a simple method for creating a nanopatterned surface with continuous variation in feature height on an elastomeric thin film. The technique is based on imprinting the surface of a film of thermo-curable elastomer (Sylgard 184), which has continuous variation in cross-linking density introduced by means of differential heating. This results in variation of viscoelasticity across the length of the surface and the film exhibits differential partial relaxation after imprinting with a flexible stamp and subjecting it to an externally applied stress for a transient duration.

Poly(3-methylthiophene)/graphene composite: in-situ synthesis and its electrochemical characterization.

Poly(3-methylthiophene)/Graphene composites (G-PMT) and poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMT) were synthesized by in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization and investigated as electrode material for supercapacitors. The interaction between graphene and polymer chains was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The morphology of the nanocomposites was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

Spatially uniform microflows induced by thermoviscous expansion along a traveling temperature wave: analogies with electro-osmotic transport.

We discover that thermoviscous expansion along a traveling wave in a microfluidic channel may be capable of generating a spatially uniform flow profile in a time-averaged sense. We further delineate that the resultant complex flow characteristics, realized by virtue of an intricate interplay between thermal compression-expansion waves and temperature-dependent viscosity variations and controlled by an external heating, may be remarkably characterized by a unique thermal penetration depth scale (analogous to Debye length in electro-osmosis) and a velocity scale (analogous to the Helmholtz Smulochowski velocity in electro-osmosis) that in turn depends on the considerations of "thin" and "thick" microchannel limits, as dictated by the thermal penetration depth as compared to the lateral extent of the microfluidic channel. We show that, when the thermal penetration depth is small as compared to the channel height, a uniform velocity profile is generated in the channel in a time-averaged sense.

Wastewater utilization for poly-β-hydroxybutyrate production by the cyanobacterium Aulosira fertilissima in a recirculatory aquaculture system.

Intensive aquaculture releases large quantities of nutrients into aquatic bodies, which can lead to eutrophication. The objective of this study was the development of a biological recirculatory wastewater treatment system with a diazotrophic cyanobacterium, Aulosira fertilissima, and simultaneous production of valuable product in the form of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). To investigate this possible synergy, batch scale tests were conducted under a recirculatory aquaculture system in fiber-reinforced plastic tanks enhanced by several manageable parameters (e.

Structural and optical properties of germanium nanostructures on Si(100) and embedded in high-k oxides.

The structural and optical properties of Ge quantum dots (QDs) grown on Si(001) for mid-infrared photodetector and Ge nanocrystals embedded in oxide matrices for floating gate memory devices are presented. The infrared photoluminescence (PL) signal from Ge islands has been studied at a low temperature. The temperature- and bias-dependent photocurrent spectra of a capped Si/SiGe/Si(001) QDs infrared photodetector device are presented.

Development of suitable photobioreactors for CO2 sequestration addressing global warming using green algae and cyanobacteria.

CO(2) sequestration by cyanobacteria and green algae are receiving increased attention in alleviating the impact of increasing CO(2) in the atmosphere. They, in addition to CO(2) capture, can produce renewable energy carriers such as carbon free energy hydrogen, bioethanol, biodiesel and other valuable biomolecules. Biological fixation of CO(2) are greatly affected by the characteristics of the microbial strains, their tolerance to temperature and the CO(2) present in the flue gas including SO(X), NO(X).

Surface treatment of pure and PEG-4000 blended fibroin films and their characterizations as matrices for in vitro fibroblast culture.

This study reports the effects of treatment with various concentrations of organic solvents for varying time points on matrices of fibroin, a silk protein isolated from the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori, which in native form has been extensively used in tissue engineering. Treatment of pure fibroin as well as polyethylene glycol- blended films with 90% organic solvent for 60 min induces optimal surface hydrophobicity and maximum conversion of the secondary structure from random coil to beta sheet. Long-term cell viability studies reveal that methanol and isopropanol-treated pure and blended films support cell adhesion, proliferation, and viability.