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Low power, high sensitivity, and selectivity chemiresistive gas sensors are in urgent demand for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) detection to protect human health and the world's ecosystem. In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and copper oxide (CuO) submicrometer size particles' compositions were utilized to fabricate low-temperature H2S gas sensors, which were prepared using a screen-printing technique on inter-digited patterned SiO2/Si substrates. The heterostructure of MWCNT@CuO was confirmed through high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis and x-ray diffraction patterns. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveals the chemical states, binding energies, and oxygen vacancy (Ov). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis of nitrogen physisorption analysis was conducted on the samples to analyze sensor surface areas and pore size distribution. The as-fabricated MWCNT@CuO sensor shows a relative response (ΔR/R%) of 73% toward 10 ppm H2S at 50 °C temperature in a selective manner, which is 1.6 times higher than that of devices based on bare CuO. The MWCNT@CuO interface modifies the morphology and also constructs a p–p heterojunction. This leads to the reforming of the band structure and results in a low resistance of the matrix, as well as a high chemisorbed oxygen content. The use of metal oxide semiconductors with MWCNTs offers a promising approach for the development of high-performance gas sensors that are energy-efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linker-assisted Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite (NC)-based photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized using thioglycolic acid (TGA) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as bifunctional linker molecules (LMs). The Ag–LMs–TiO2 composites showed greatly improved photocatalytic performance for the degradation of an organic dye mixture under direct sunlight over bare Ag–TiO2 NCs. The efficiencies estimated from the degradation curves for Ag–TiO2, Ag–MPA–TiO2, and Ag–TGA–TiO2 are found to be 82.9%, 90.2%, and 96.1%, respectively. Compared to Ag–MPA–TiO2, Ag–TGA–TiO2 NCs exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic activity, which can be attributed to the TGA molecule's shorter chain length and, hence, faster and more charge transfer, which is duly confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) quenching and TRPL decay curves. Furthermore, higher Stern–Volmer quenching constant values (Ksv) have been obtained for Ag–TGA–TiO2 NCs compared to the bare Ag–TiO2 and Ag–MPA–TiO2 NCs from the PL quenching and estimated Ksv values for Ag–TiO2, Ag–MPA–TiO2, and Ag–TGA–TiO2 are 1400, 1950, and 2560 l−1, respectively. Interestingly, the Ag–TGA–TiO2 recycling analysis confirmed high stability and fast photodegradation up to 40 cycles. From the obtained results, it is concluded that the interfacial electron transfer kinetics in Ag–LM–TiO2 assemblies rely on the length of the alkyl-containing molecular linkers; the shorter the length, the more the charge transfer will be, thereby improving the photocatalytic behavior of the NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss bioinspired pumping mechanism in a microfluidic configuration, consistent with the newly formulated propagative rhythmic contraction–expansion of a membrane attached to the channel wall. We aptly demonstrate the kinematics of the proposed membrane function and describe the wall profile developed due to the propagative expansion–contraction phases of the actuation cycle. The transport equations governing the flow dynamics are solved analytically in the purview of the lubrication theory. An analysis of the proposed model establishes that the fluidic functionality of a channel equipped with a single elastic membrane that operates following the propagation expansion-contraction modes can produce a unidirectional flow, and acts as a micropump in the process. By depicting the flow velocity, velocity contours, and streamlines patterns in the flow pathway, we discuss and demonstrate the eventual consequence of these flow parameters to the net throughput during both the compression and expansion phases of the process. We establish the efficacy of the novel membrane function by demonstrating augmented net throughput obtained from the proposed configuration. The membrane function developed in this endeavor will provide greater flexibility to the researchers to carry out further research in the field and will make the underlying analysis even easier in systems that utilize electromagnetic fields in the flow system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We here discuss a novel bioinspired pumping mechanism of non-Newtonian fluids in a microfluidic configuration, consistent with the propagative rhythmic contraction–expansion of a membrane attached to the wall of the fluidic channel. We consider the Rabinowitsch model to represent the rheology of non-Newtonian fluids. By employing lubrication theory and approximating the underlying flow to be in the creeping regime, the transport equations governing the pumping process are framed pertaining to the chosen setup. The transport equations are then evaluated by employing a well-established perturbation technique. By depicting the flow velocity components, streamline patterns, and velocity contours graphically, we aptly discuss the flow structure developed in the flow pathway and demonstrate the eventual consequence of these flow parameters to the net throughput during both compression and expansion phases of the pumping process. Finally, by demonstrating a phase-space diagram, we also discuss the impact of fluid rheology and membrane kinematics on the pumping capacity. The results obtained from the proposed model establish that the net flow owing to propagative rhythmic membrane contraction strongly relies on exponent parameter M and rheological parameter β. These consequences are expected to be of substantial practical relevance in designing micropumps intended to yield unidirectional flow of the complex fluids with improved efficiency, commonly used in biochemical/biomicrofluidic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]