Decomposition Mechanism of Alkylidene Bridged Tetrazoles With Different Carbon Chain Lengths.

Nitrogen-rich heterocycles, particularly tetrazole-based high-energy density materials (HEDMs) offer high performance, low sensitivity, and are eco-friendly. Despite the diversity of nitrogen-rich energetic heterocycles, many are sensitive to external stimuli, and the introduction of a methylene, ethylene, or C-C linkage between nitrogen-rich heterocycles is a successful strategy to improve mechanical sensitivity and thermal stability. Understanding the potential anomalous thermal or kinetic behavior of such molecules is crucial for the design of new HEDMs and practical applications of these molecules.

Multivalency-induced structural variations of 2D selenium nanosheets: facile solution-phase synthesis and optical properties.

The structural stability of two-dimensional (2D) phases derived from bulk selenium (Se) is intrinsically rooted in the multivalent nature of the material. The emergence of 2D Se, as its morphology evolves from 1D to 2D, was initially inspired by theoretical predictions of various quasi-stable structural phases of 2D Se. Here, we report a facile liquid-phase synthesis of free-standing few-layer selenium nanosheets (SeNS) employing a simple magnetic stirring of their bulk counterpart in -methyl pyrrolidone (NMP).

Synthesis and performance of a cathode catalyst derived from Bauhinia accuminata seed pods in single and stacked microbial fuel cell.

The cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cell (MFC) plays a crucial role in scaling up. Activity of biomass-derived activated carbon catalysts with appropriate precursor selection in a natural clay membrane-based MFC of 250 mL was studied. The performance of scaled up MFC of 1.

ZnO/PDA/Mesoporous Cellular Foam Functionalized Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane towards Enhanced Nanofiltration Performance.

Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes are the third-generation membranes being explored for nanofiltration applications. Incorporating nanofillers in the dense selective polyamide (PA) layer improves the permeability-selectivity trade-off. The mesoporous cellular foam composite Zn-PDA-MCF-5 was used as a hydrophilic filler in this study to prepare TFN membranes.

Janus Distillation Membrane via Mussel-Inspired Inkjet Printing Modification for Anti-Oil Fouling Membrane Distillation.

In this work, inkjet printing technology was used to print a thin layer of a hydrophilic solution containing polydopamine as a binder and polyethyleneimine as a strong hydrophilic agent on a commercial hydrophobic membrane to produce a Janus membrane for membrane distillation. The pristine and modified membranes were tested in a direct-contact membrane distillation system with mineral oil-containing feedwater. The results revealed that an integrated and homogenous hydrophilic layer was printed on the membrane with small intrusions in the pores.

Specific ultralow level chemo-recognition using Graphene-fluorophore supramolecular assembly: Fine-tuning the fluorophore framework.

The non-covalent interactions between graphene and aromatic fluorophores have generated highly sensitive fluorimetric turn-on sensors for various significant analytes. Herein, the supramolecular interaction between reduced graphene oxide and 7-Hydroxy-4-Methyl-8-Amino Coumarin is made use of for tracing Cu at sub-zeptomole level with excellent selectivity among a collection of nineteen metal ions. The system enables quantification of the analyte in a commendably wide range, from micromolar to zeptomolar, a feature that almost all-optical sensors lack.

Recent developments in porous ceramic membranes for wastewater treatment and desalination: A review.

The development of membrane technology has proved vital in providing a sustainable and affordable supply of clean water to address the ever-increasing demand. Though liquid separation applications have been still dominated by polymeric membranes, porous ceramic membranes have gained a commercial foothold in microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) applications due to their hydrophilic nature, lower fouling, ease of cleaning, reliable performance, robust performance with harsh feeds, relative insensitivity to temperature and pH, and stable long-term flux. The enrichment of research and development on porous ceramic membranes extends its focus into advanced membrane separation technologies.

Facile synthesis of aqueous-dispersed luminescent nanosheets from non-layered lanthanum hexaboride.

Two-dimensional nanosheets of non-layered materials have been considered as inaccessible through exfoliation techniques, due to their intrinsic three-dimensional lattice structure. Herein we report the successful synthesis of nanosheets from non-layered, lanthanum hexaboride through a facile, solution-assisted, surfactant-free, sonication. The morphological studies clearly show the presence of nanosheets having thickness of a few nanometers, and having lateral dimensions of several hundreds of nanometres.

PFOM fillers embedded PVDF/cellulose dual-layered membranes with hydrophobic-hydrophilic channels for desalination direct contact membrane distillation process.

In this research work, novel perfluorooctanoic acid-modified melamine (PFOM) was synthesized as a hydrophobic filler using a facile one-pot synthesis. PFOM incorporating polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solution was cast on a cellulose sheet to prepare a dual-layered membrane employing the phase-inversion technique for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) application. The influence of PFOM to tailor the dual-layered membrane performance was then investigated.

Influence of Ag Nanostructure Location on the Absorption Enhancement in Polymer Solar Cells.

The optical absorption enhancement in Ag nanocube (NC)- and nanosphere (NS)-embedded poly[ N-9'-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole- alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole)]:[6,6]-phenyl C-butyric acid methyl ester active layer was calculated using three-dimensional finite-difference time domain simulations. The simulations were carried out by incorporating Ag nanostructures as a two-dimensional array at various locations in the active layer matrix. High absorption enhancements of 53 and 61% were achieved with NSs and NCs, respectively, when they were incorporated at the top portion of the active layer.

White-Light-Emitting Carbon Dots Prepared by the Electrochemical Exfoliation of Graphite.

The single-step synthesis of white-light-emitting carbon dots (CDs) through a green, facile and cheap electrochemical route by using graphite rods as the carbon source is reported. Under UV excitation, the aqueous dispersion of as-synthesised CDs exhibit broad-band emission, which covers a significant fraction of the visible spectrum, owing to the heterogeneity in particle size and surface functional groups. The CDs were further explored for their potential as UV-to-visible colour convertors under remote-phosphor technology by capping a λ=365 nm UV light-emitting diode (LED) chip with CD-loaded poly(methyl methacrylate) to obtain the following colour parameters: Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates (0.

Molecular phylogenetics and anti-Pythium activity of endophytes from rhizomes of wild ginger congener, Zingiber zerumbet Smith.

Zingiber zerumbet, a perennial rhizomatous herb exhibits remarkable disease resistance as well as a wide range of pharmacological activities. Towards characterizing the endophytic population of Z. zerumbet rhizomes, experiments were carried out during two different growing seasons viz.

Sequence and Bioinformatic Analysis of Family 1 Glycoside Hydrolase (GH) 1 Gene from the Oomycete Pythium myriotylum Drechsler.

The oomycetous phytopathogen Pythium myriotylum secretes cellulases for growth/nutrition of the necrotroph. Cellulases are multi-enzyme system classified into different glycoside hydrolase (GH) families. The present study deals with identification and characterization of GH gene sequence from P.

Purification and characterization of secretory serine protease from necrotrophic oomycete, Pythium myriotylum Dreschler.

Progressive increase in extracellular proteolytic activity with respect to growth was detected in cultures of necrotrophic oomycete Pythium myriotylum Dreschler with maximum activity detected at stationary phase of growth. The secretory protease from P. myriotylum designated, spPm1 was purified to homogeneity giving a single band of 47 kDa molecular mass on non-reducing SDS-PAGE and exhibiting caseinolytic activity in the zymogram.

Purification and biochemical characterization of an extracellular endoglucanase from the necrotrophic oomycete, Pythium myriotylum Dreschler.

An extracellular endoglucanase (EG) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of carboxy-methyl cellulose (CMC) as substrate was purified to homogeneity from the soft-rot causing oomycete P. myriotylum with maximum EG production observed in presence of 1% (w/v) sucrose. The enzyme designated PmEG was observed to be monomeric with a molecular weight of 78 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).

Characterization of major hydrolytic enzymes secreted by Pythium myriotylum, causative agent for soft rot disease.

Pythium myriotylum, an oomycetous necrotroph is the causal agent of soft rot disease affecting several crops. Successful colonization by necrotrophs depends on their secretion of a diverse array of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs). The induction dynamics of CWDEs secreted by P.

Molecular characterization of ZzR1 resistance gene from Zingiber zerumbet with potential for imparting Pythium aphanidermatum resistance in ginger.

Soft rot disease caused by the oomycete Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzp. is the most economically significant disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) in tropical countries.