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Although, different plant species were utilized for the fabrication of polymorphic, hexagonal, spherical, and nanoflower ZnO NPs with various diameters, few studies succeeded in synthesizing small diameter ZnO nanorods from plant extract at ambient temperature. This work sought to pioneer the ZnO NPs fabrication from the aqueous extract of a Mediterranean salt marsh plant species Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. and assess the role of temperature in the fabrication process. Various techniques have been used to evaluate the quality and physicochemical characteristics of ZnO NPs. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–VIS) was used as the primary test for formation confirmation. TEM analysis confirmed the formation of two different shapes of ZnO NPs, nano-rods and near hexagonal NPs at varying reaction temperatures. The nano-rods were about 25.3 and 297.9 nm in diameter and in length, respectively while hexagonal NPs were about 29.3 nm. The UV–VIS absorption spectra of the two forms of ZnO NPs produced were 370 and 365 nm for nano-rods and hexagonal NPs, respectively. FT-IR analysis showed Zn–O stretching at 642 cm−1 and XRD confirmed the crystalline structure of the produced ZnO NPs. Thermogravimetric analysis; TGA was also used to confirm the thermal stability of ZnO NPs. The anti-tumor activities of the two prepared ZnO NPs forms were investigated by the MTT assay, which revealed an effective dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on A-431 cell lines. Both forms displayed considerable antioxidant potential, particularly the rod-shaped ZnO NPs, with an IC50 of 148.43 µg mL−1. The rod-shaped ZnO NPs were superior candidates for destroying skin cancer, with IC50 of 93.88 ± 1 µg mL−1 ZnO NPs. Thus, rod-shaped ZnO NPs are promising, highly biocompatible candidate for biological and biomedical applications. Furthermore, both shapes of phyto-synthesized NPs demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. The outcomes highlight the potential of phyto-synthesized ZnO NPs as an eco-friendly alternative for water and wastewater disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of current study was to prepared zinc oxide nanofertilzers by ecofriendly friendly, economically feasible, free of chemical contamination and safe for biological use. The study focused on crude extract of Withania coagulans as reducing agent for the green synthesis of ZnO nano-particles. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR and GC–MS analysis. However, zinc oxide as green Nano fertilizer was used to analyze responses induced by different doses of ZnO NPs [0, 25, 50,100, 200 mg/l and Zn acetate (100 mg/l)] in Triticum aestivum (wheat). The stimulatory and inhibitory effects of foliar application of ZnO NPs were studied on wheat (Triticum aestivum) with aspect of biomass accumulation, morphological attributes, biochemical parameters and anatomical modifications. Wheat plant showed significant (p < 0.01) enhancement of growth parameters upon exposure to ZnO NPs at specific concentrations. In addition, wheat plant showed significant increase in biochemical attributes, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, carbohydrate and protein contents. Antioxidant enzyme (POD, SOD, CAT) and total flavonoid content also confirmed nurturing impact on wheat plant. Increased stem, leaf and root anatomical parameters, all showed ZnO NPs mitigating capacity when applied to wheat. According to the current research, ZnO NPs application on wheat might be used to increase growth, yield, and Zn biofortification in wheat plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel heterogeneous catalyst Fe3O4@SB@Cu that contains a copper(II) Schiff base complex covalently immobilised on Fe3O4 nanoparticles was synthesised. The prepared catalyst is well characterised by FTIR spectroscopy, UV–Visible spectroscopy, FE-SEM, TEM, VSM analysis, EDX, XRD analysis, TGA, CV technique, XPS and PL studies to confirm its structural and morphological features. The high BET surface area (117.34 m2/g) was achieved for particles with size 25–30 nm and saturation magnetisation of 43.4 emu/g. The catalytic potential of the synthesised catalyst Fe3O4@SB@Cu was investigated by employing H2O2 as an oxidant for the oxidation of anthracene to anthraquinone. Various parameters like catalytic loading, temperature and solvents were varied to determine the optimal catalytic conditions, and 96% yield of the product is obtained within 36 min when the reaction was performed in the acetonitrile solvent with 1.8% loading of the catalyst. The catalytic reaction was monitored by UV–Visible spectroscopy. Using an external magnet, the modified nanoparticles were easily retrieved from the reaction mixture and can be utilised for five more reaction cycles without the significant loss of activity or copper leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assay that integrates histidine-rich peptides (HisRPs) with high-affinity aptamers was developed enabling the specific and sensitive determination of the target lysozyme. The enzyme-like activity of HisRP is inhibited by its interaction with a target recognized by an aptamer. In the presence of the target, lysozyme molecules progressively assemble on the surface of HisRP in a concentration-dependent manner, resulting in the gradual suppression of enzyme-like activity. This inhibition of HisRP's enzyme-like activity can be visually observed through color changes in the reaction product or quantified using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Under optimal conditions, the proposed colorimetric assay for lysozyme had a detection limit as low as 1 nM and exhibited excellent selectivity against other nonspecific interferents. Furthermore, subsequent research validated the practical applicability of the developed colorimetric approach to saliva samples, indicating that the assay holds significant potential for the detection of lysozymes in samples derived from humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dinuclear copper (II) complex, Cu2 (RCOO)4(L)2 (1) while [RCOO = benzoate, L = 2-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoro methyl pyridine], with square pyramidal geometry with four carboxylate bridged groups has been reported. This dinuclear copper (II) unit (with the most robust, frequently occurring paddle wheel structure) was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, UV, CV, TGA, and EPR studies. It exhibits catechol oxidase activity in methanol medium and the catecholase activity was monitored by the UV–Vis spectroscopy. The kinetic parameters have been determined by using Michaelis–Menten equation which shows that the complex is an efficient catalyst with very high turnover number. Preliminary mechanistic investigation of the catalytic behavior was established with the help of ESI–MS spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium has many beneficial bioactive properties yet has a narrow therapeutic window. This problem can be addressed by selenium in nanoform or selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). There are several chemical and physical approaches that can be employed for the synthesis of SeNPs. However, the biological route for SeNP synthesis is known to be more eco-friendly, economical, and biocompatible when assessing bioactivities. The present study demonstrates a biological approach that effectively facilitates the synthesis and stabilization of SeNPs with the help of secondary metabolites derived from endophytic fungi N. guilinensis i.e., NL(C)-SeNPs. The nanoparticles formed were characterized via various techniques i.e., UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, DLS, and TEM. The synthesized NL(C)-SeNPs were spherical with a size of 55 ± 7.0 nm. These capped SeNPs (NL(C)-SeNPs) show prominent bioactivity in terms of in-vitro anti-oxidant properties and anti-microbial activity on Escherichia coli, Enterobacter faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity on Aspergillus niger and Fusarium laterium. The results indicated NL(C)-SeNPs portray increased potential anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, their anti-cancer activity on the HepG2 cell line was also observed in a dose-dependent manner. However, additional studies related to the toxicity and synergistic effects of SeNPs, are required before their therapeutic applications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work's central focus is synthesizing a novel hybrid compound, formulated as [C6H9N2]2Sb2Cl8. This compound was prepared using the slow evaporation method and confirmed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 293 K. It crystallizes in the triclinic system with the centrosymmetric space group P 1 ¯ symmetry, and its unit cell (Z = 2). The intermolecular interactions have been studied using Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots, revealing that the Cl–H contacts contribute the most to the surface area (63.6%). Computational studies that include geometry optimization and harmonic vibrational frequencies were performed using B3LYP method with GENECP set. Acceptable consistency was observed between calculated and experimental results. The assignment of wavenumbers was based on potential energy distribution (PED) using Vibrational Energy Distribution Analysis (VEDA) software. The optical band gap determined by UV–Visible spectroscopy is 3.48 eV for a direct allowed transition. Impedance spectroscopy was performed over a temperature range of 313 K to 413 K and a frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz. The Nyquist plots indicated the presence of grain contributions. The conductivity study revealed that the synthesized material exhibits semiconductor behavior. A thermally activated conduction process was identified through the study of alternating conductivity, with a calculated activation energy of 1.104 eV. Additionally, the title compound exhibits a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) with value of − 13%, suggesting the suitability of the sample for IR radiation detection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a significant focus has been on producing green nanomaterials as an environmentally sustainable to various environmental issues. These nanomaterials have shown promise in addressing problems, such as reducing harmful microorganisms. A potential strategy for their creation involves using bio-polysaccharides, which are cost-effective and readily available ingredients. In a recent study, researchers utilized bio-polysaccharides strychnos potatorum to synthesize iron nanoparticles through an in-situ bio-reduction process. Bio-polysaccharides acted as effective reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents during the production of iron nanoparticles (SP-FeNPs). Different characterization techniques, such as UV-Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, DLS, XPS, and TEM were employed to analyze the SP-FeNPs. As indicated by TEM micrographs, the uniform and spherical-shaped NPs with an average mean diameter of 31.51 nm were observed. The antibacterial properties of biopolymer-based iron nanoparticles (SP-FeNPs) were investigated against Salmonella and Bacillus species. This approach demonstrates a positive environmental impact and offers a rapid and green synthesis route, making it an attractive and efficient method for FeNP production. This synthesis pathway meets all the criteria for a fully green chemical reaction, as it utilizes a polysaccharide that is energy-efficient, cost-effective, non-harmful to human health and the environment, yields reliable products, and generates minimal waste. This environmentally friendly technology has the potential to compete with conventional physical and chemical methods employed for FeNPs synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite different works deals with the synthesis of Zn2SnO4 and Zn2TiO4 spinels, no aspect of their thermal and structural evolution upon heating has been reported yet. Herein, Zn2SnO4 and Zn2TiO4 spinels were synthesized by modified-Pechini method and the dependence of heating temperature and the lattice former (Sn and Ti) on the materials properties were investigated. Thermal analysis (TG/DTA), in situ high temperature and conventional X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD and XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and Photoluminescence (PL) analysis were used for such objectives. HT-XRD and TG/DTA reveal that intermediate phases are formed during the precursor powders heating prior final crystallization of the spinels in Fd-3 m cubic phase that occurred at different temperatures. Direct calcinations at pre-determined temperature led to single-phase materials as indicated by conventional XRD patterns and Raman spectra. FE-SEM analysis indicate the presence microaggregates formed by smaller nanoparticles, whose diameter is interfered significantly by the lattice former Ti4+ and Sn4+ cation. The change in the morphological characteristics according to the temperature and to the lattice former is consistent with the structural analysis. As established by UV–Vis and PL, optical and electronic properties of the spinels were strongly influenced by simultaneous changes in short- and middle-range structural disorder (associated with the exchange cations in coordination sites and with the elimination of electronic defects) and long-range structural order (attributed to the changes in crystallinity). Our work demonstrate that the characterization techniques are complementary in understanding structural, microstructural, and optical/luminescent properties of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid (CA) is an effective ingredient that can strengthen immunity during following the COVID-19 era. The current cost of CA is high owing to its complex purification process and low yield (approximately 2%). In this study, a one-step path orthogonal experiment was designed based on the results from Gauss calculation, which consisted of acidity, coordination, and hydrolysis in molecules. The optimized extraction conditions were 60 ℃, 60 min, 1:20 liquid ratio, and 40% ethanol in a nitrogen atmosphere controlled using a device of our own design, which led to CA yields of up to 6.35% from potato leaves. The purified CA was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and molecular fluorescence. This accurate and reproducible method can not only be used to obtain high yields of CA but can also be used for the quality control of active plant products and their isomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A naphthylidene-diimine L2 was newly designed, and its structure was identified by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods. The effect of temperature, acid–base and light on enol–keto tautomerism in this Schiff base was evaluated by colorimetry, UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Under irradiation 365 nm, L2 emitted yellow, orange and strong green emission in pure, basic and aqueous DMSO media (v/v, 1/1), respectively. Its ionochromic behavior against various cations (Fe3+, Al3+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Ba2+ and Ag+) and anions (F−, Cl−, CH3COO−, SO32–, S2O32−, HSO4−, H2PO4−, NO3−, CN−, and OH−) was investigated in aqueous DMSO media (v/v, 1/1) by UV–Vis and fluorescence experiments. Dark yellow color of L2 changed to colorless for Fe3+, Cr3+ and HSO4− ions, and turned to light yellow for Al3+ and Cu2+ ions, and to orange for CN− and OH− ions. According to UV–Vis data, the chemosensor displayed selective recognition towards Fe3+, Al3+, Cu2+, HSO4−, CN− and OH− with a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. At the excitation wavelength of 365 nm, L2 gave strong yellowish white emission (λem = 445 and 539 nm) in the presence of Al3+, and the intensity increased about 12.5 times. On the other hand, the chemosensor displayed one emission band at 452 nm and 450 nm in the presence of CN− and OH− with 1.9 fold and 2.3 fold fluorescence enhancement, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we have approached the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) Schiff base (5-trifluoromethoxy-2-(((2chloro-5-(methyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenol)). The synthesized CuNPs were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, PL, FTIR, powder XRD, and TEM analysis. From the UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, an absorption peak was observed at 585 nm. As a result of the powder XRD and TEM studies, spherical particle sizes ranged between 4 and 10 nm. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups ‒OH, C=C, -C=N-, and C‒H triggers the synthesis of CuNPs. Further, the catalytic property of the CuNPs were revealed by the degradation of pharmaceutical drugs such as Capecitabine (CAP) and Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in 90 min of reaction time in the presence of NaBH4. The reaction kinetics followed pseudo-first-order with k-values (rate constant) 0.248 min-1 and 0.307 min−1. In addition, the synthesized CuNPs have exhibited selective sensing detection of Cd2+ metal ions in different range of concentration (10-100 µM) by spectrofluorometrically with the limit of detection (LOD) is 0.0284 nM and limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.0586 nM. The CuNPs revealed significant antioxidant activities against DPPH as a common free radical at 50 µg/mL with 71.24% of scavenging activity. The maximum antimicrobial potential and zone of inhibition of P. Aeruginosa is 17.25±0.8 mm and A. niger is 12.1 mm by using CuNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we reported new two coordination polymers, {[Ag(L)](CH3PhSO3)](CH3CN)4}n (cp-1) and {[Hg(L)](Cl2)](CH3CN)2}n(cp-2), were synthesized from hexapodal benzimidazole substituted cyclotriphosphazene, (L). L was characterised by 1H NMR, 31P NMR and mass analysis. Structure of each isolated compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. In cp-1, L has a κ3N coordination mode by connecting three Ag(I) ions to constitute a 2D coordination polymer whereas the ligand in cp-2 displays κ2N coordination mode via linking two Hg(II) ions together to create a 1D coordination polymer. Topologically, cp-1 has a 3-connected uninodal net having the point symbol {4.82}. Dye adsorption studies of coordination polymers was performed out using UV–Vis. absorption spectroscopy. Adsorption experiments show that cp-1 and cp-2 removes the cationic methylene blue (MB) from water but shows no adsorption behaviour toward the anionic methyl orange (MO) and tartrazine (E102). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on preparing and investigating CeO2 dopant concentration on the optical properties of lithium-calcium borate glasses through systematic studies using XRD, RAMAN, UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence and decay measurements. The optical absorption spectral results show that the absorption edge shifted towards the lower energy side as the concentration of CeO2 increased, resulting in a decreased optical band gap. Various excitations (285, 328, 338, and 348 nm) induced luminescence emission in the prepared glasses are studied systematically. It was observed that among all the samples, 0.05 mol% CeO2 doped glass exhibits a bright blue emission under 328 nm excitation compared to other excitations. In particular, the excitation and emission spectra revealed the presence of at least two different emission centres (5d → 2F7/2 and 2F5/2) originating from the Ce3+ ions in the host glass matrix. Furthermore, the non-exponential decay kinetics of the optimised sample (0.05 mol% CeO2) showed a maximum lifetime of 37.6 ns. Furthermore, the CIE colour chromaticity diagram demonstrated 87% purity of the emission. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the structural and optical properties of cerium-doped lithium-calcium-borate glasses, which can be helpful in the development of new materials for optical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we employed L-methionine (L-M) as the functionalized reagent of AuNPs for the colorimetric and UV–vis dual-mode detection of As3+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ ions with excellent selectivity and anti-interference. After adding the target ions, the functionalized AuNPs can be cross-linked together due to the As3+/Cd2+/Hg2+ ions reacting with amino N, carbonyl or hydroxyl O of L-methionine to form the coordination bonds, resulting in the aggregation of functionalized AuNPs and cause the different red-shifts of the SPR absorption peak and color changes of functionalized AuNPs solutions. The LODs of the colorimetric sensor are 10 ppb/13 ppb/4 ppb by naked eyes and 2.35 ppb/1.68 ppb/0.32 ppb by UV–vis spectroscopy with good linear relationships between the absorbance ratios (A633nm/A519nm, A645nm/A519nm and A665nm/A519nm) and As3+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ concentrations, which can be successfully applied to sense and detect As3+/Cd2+/Hg2+ pollutants in tap water, pond water, well water, and other domestic water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles, mostly because of the evident limitations associated with chemical and physical methods. Green synthesis, commonly referred to as "biogenic synthesis," is seen as an alternative approach to produce AgNPs (silver nanoparticles). The current work focuses on the use of Asterarcys sp. (microalga) for biological reduction of AgNO3 to produce AgNPs. The optimal parameters for the reduction of AgNPs were determined as molarity of 3 mM for AgNO3 and an incubation duration of 24 h at pH 9, using a 20:80 ratio of algal extract to AgNO3. The biosynthesized Ast-AgNPs were characterised using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns. The nanoparticles exhibited their highest absorption in the UV–visible spectra at 425 nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation indicated the presence of characteristic peaks at certain angles: 38.30° (1 1 1), 44.40° (2 0 0), 64.64° (2 2 0), and 77.59° (3 1 1) according to the JCPDS file No. 04-0783. Based on SEM and TEM, the Ast-AgNPs had an average size of 35 nm and 52 nm, respectively. The zeta potential was determined to be − 20.8 mV, indicating their stability. The highest antibacterial effectiveness is shown against Staphylococcus aureus, with a zone of inhibition of 25.66 ± 1.52 mm at 250 μL/mL conc. of Ast-AgNPs. Likewise, Ast-AgNPs significantly suppressed the growth of Fusarium sp. and Curvularia sp. by 78.22% and 85.05%, respectively, at 150 μL/mL conc. of Ast-AgNPs. In addition, the Ast-AgNPs exhibited significant photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue (MB), achieving an 88.59% degradation in 120 min, revealing multiple downstream applications of Ast-AgNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in traditional medicinal practices such as Ayurveda, which emphasizes the use of natural ingredients for various therapeutic purposes. Vegetable oils are an integral part of our diet and have several applications in the cosmetics and healthcare industries. These oils have also been prescribed in ancient Ayurveda texts to treat various health problems. Ayurveda prescribes a processing technique called 'Murchana' to improve the therapeutic nature of the oils. Spectroscopic techniques have been used for quality assessment in many fields. High sensitivity and a low detection rate make spectroscopy a formidable analytical technique. This study focusses on the spectroscopic analysis of sesame and mustard oils prepared using the ayurvedic processing method 'Murchana'. Spectroscopic analysis techniques including UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy were employed to study the oils. Origin software was used to plot graphs of the spectra. The results indicated that the murchana process may reduce the components of the oil responsible for its oxidation, thereby increasing the shelf life of the oils. However, further investigations, including other spectroscopy and chromatography techniques, will prove beneficial in ascertaining the effects of the murchana process on vegetable oils. The study's findings also suggest that spectroscopic techniques can be used to supplement chemical techniques to investigate the characteristics of vegetable oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study involved the production of 20 biochar samples derived from secondary medicinal residues of Snow Lotus Oral Liquid, processed within the temperature range of 200–600 °C. Additionally, four medicinal residues, including dissolved organic matter (DOM), from 24 samples obtained using the shaking method, served as the primary source material. The investigation focused on two key factors: the modifier and preparation temperature. These factors were examined to elucidate the spectral characteristics and chemical properties of the pharmaceutical residues, biochar, and DOM. To analyze the alterations in the spectral attributes of biochar and medicinal residues, we employed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) in conjunction with Fourier-infrared one-dimensional and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy. These findings revealed that modifiers enhanced the aromaticity of biochar, and the influence of preparation temperature on biochar was diminished. This observation indicates the stability of the aromatic functional group structure. Comparative analysis indicated that Na2CO3 had a more pronounced structural effect on biochar, which is consistent with its adsorption properties. Furthermore, we utilized the fluorescence indices from UV–visible spectroscopy and excitation-emission-matrix spectra with the PARAFAC model to elucidate the characteristics of the fluorescence components in the DOM released from the samples. The results demonstrated that the DOM released from biochar primarily originated externally. Aromaticity reduction and increased decay will enhance the ability of the biochar to bind pollutants. Those results confirmed the link between the substantial increase in the adsorption performance of the high-temperature modified charcoal in the previous study and the structural changes in the biochar. We investigated the structural changes of biochar and derivative DOM in the presence of two perturbing factors, modifier and preparation temperature. Suitable modifiers were selected. Preparation for the study of adsorption properties of snow lotus medicinal residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient separation of electron–hole pairs remains pivotal in optimizing photogenerated carrier functionality across diverse catalytic and optoelectronic systems. This study presents the fabrication of a novel hollow direct Z-scheme photocatalyst, ZnO/TiO2. A thorough analysis encompassing various techniques such as Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) provided detailed insights into the complex material characteristics of the ZnO/TiO2 heterojunction catalyst. The findings revealed coexisting anatase TiO2 and wurtzite ZnO phases, each retaining distinct attributes within the nanocomposites (NCs) structure. The study showcased the photocatalytic efficacy of ZnO/TiO2-NCs in decomposing Methylene Blue and Acridine Orange under UV irradiation, correlated with their underlying structures. Enhanced degradation of these dyes resulted from the establishment of a direct Z-scheme heterojunction between ZnO and TiO2. Employing Density Functional Theory (DFT) using Quantum ESPRESSO, this research analyzed phase diagrams and band structures, elucidating electronic properties and structural correlations. The study characterized a ZnO/TiO2 composite, revealing a band gap of 3.1–3.3 eV through UV–Visible spectroscopy and confirming its formation without impurity phases via XRD analysis. TEM and EDX showed uniform element dispersion (Zn: 27%, Ti: 29.62%, C: 5.03%, O: 38.35%). Computational analysis using DFT indicated a reduction in stable phases with increasing temperature. Enhanced dye degradation was observed (MB: 88.9%, AO: 84%), alongside significant antibacterial activity. In the future we predict that research will focus on development of scaled up production and photocatalytic activity through surface modification, while unveiling mechanistic insights and environmental applicability for multifunctional use in water treatment and antibacterial applications, leading to further advancement of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, lead-modified bismuth borovanadate glasses were synthesized using the conventional melt-quench technique, maintaining a fixed composition of (50 − x)V2O5–40B2O3–10Bi2O3–xPbO, where x ranged from 5 to 25 mol% in 5 mol% increments. To confirm the amorphous nature of the samples, X-ray diffraction was utilized. Several physical properties, including density (ρg) (3.55 to 4.41 g/cm3), molar volume (Vm) (47.21 to 39.83 cm3/mol), crystalline volume (Vc) (42.09 to 35.94 cm3/mol), and oxygen packing density (OPD) (80.49 to 75.32 g-atom/l), were examined and found to exhibit composition-dependent variations. Additionally, various other parameters were determined, including interionic distance (Ri) (1.16 to 0.65 cm−1), lead yield field (F) (0.38 to 1.21 cm−2), concentrations of Pb2+ ions (N) (ranging from 0.64 to 3.78 ions/cm3), and Polaron radius (Rp) (ranging from 4.68 to 2.60 cm−1). The analysis of DSC thermograms revealed a positive correlation between the concentration of lead oxide and the glass transition temperature (Tg), which varied from 254 to 295 ºC. This suggests an improvement in the thermal stability of the glass system with increasing lead oxide content. Structural investigations using infrared and Raman spectroscopy indicated that V2O5 served a dual role as a network former (with VO5 units) and as a modifier (with VO4 units). The presence of PbO and Bi2O3 as modifiers facilitated the transformation of BO3 units into BO4 units and the formation of diborovanadate ([B2V2O9]2−) groups and strong B–O–V linkages. The optical energy band gap (Eopt), determined through UV–visible spectroscopy, showed a consistent increase with the progressive incorporation of PbO. Both direct allowed (1.986 to 2.392 eV) and indirect allowed (1.582 to 2.087 eV) band gaps exhibited this rising trend. Furthermore, the prepared glasses demonstrated a high level of optical basicity (1.182 to 1.168), electronic polarizability (3.419 to 3.327) of oxide ions, third-order non-linear optical susceptibility (0.141 to 0.063 × 10–10 esu), and metallization criterion (0.281 to 0.323). These results suggest that the glasses prepared in this study have the potential for use in non-linear optical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroscopy is a scientific topic at the interface between Chemistry and Physics, which is taught at high school level in relation with its fundamental applications in Analytical Chemistry. In the first part of the paper, the topic of spectroscopy is analyzed having in mind the well-known Johnstone's triangle of chemistry education, putting in evidence the way spectroscopy is usually taught at the three levels of chemical knowledge: macroscopic/phenomenological, sub-microscopic/molecular and symbolic ones. Among these three levels, following Johnstone's recommendations the macroscopic one is the most useful for high school students who learn spectroscopy for the first time. Starting from these premises, in the second part of the paper, we propose a didactic sequence which is inspired by the historical evolution of spectroscopic instruments from the first spectroscopes invented by Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen in 1860 to the UV–vis spectrophotometers which became common since the 1960s. The idea behind our research is to analyze the conceptual advancements through the history of spectroscopy and to identify the key episodes/experiments and spectroscopic instruments. For each of them, a didactic activity, typically an experiment, is then proposed underlining the relevant aspects from the chemistry education point of view. The present paper is the occasion to reflect on the potentialities of an historical approach combined with a laboratorial one, and to discuss the role of historical instruments and related technological improvements to teach spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CPX) with two mixed micellar systems comprising nonionic amphiphilic surfactant (Pluronic F127) and either anionic (SDS) or cationic surfactant (CTAB) in an aqueous medium was studied using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as conductivity, dynamic light scattering, and ζ-potential measurements. An increase in absorbance values for both the mixed micellar—CPX systems compared to that of the single micelle—CPX system indicated better encapsulation efficiency of the former. The conductance properties of both micellar systems based on the ionic surfactants did not change after encapsulation of CPX. There was intermediate value of ζ-potential and diameters of the mixed micelles compared to both the single micelles as seen from the ζ-potential and DLS measurements. Successful entrapment of CPX is confirmed by an increase in the mixed micellar diameter from 3.13 to 3.31 nm for the SDS—F127 system and from 2.68 to 4.27 nm for the CTAB—F127 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cecropin A (1–7) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide which contain lots of basic amino acids. To understand the effect of basic amino acids on cecropin A (1–7), analogues CA2, CA3 and CA4 which have more arginine or lysine at the N-terminal or C-terminal were designed and synthesized. The interaction of cecropin A (1–7) and its analogs with DNA was studied using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Multispectral analysis showed that basic amino acids improved the interaction between the analogues and DNA. The interaction between CA4 and DNA is most pronounced. Fluorescence spectrum indicated that Ksv value of CA4 is 1.19 × 105 L mol−1 compared to original peptide cecropin A (1–7) of 3.73 × 104 L mol−1. The results of antimicrobial experiments with cecropin A (1–7) and its analogues showed that basic amino acids enhanced the antimicrobial effect of the analogues. The antimicrobial activity of CA4 against E. coli was eightfold higher than that of cecropin A (1–7). The importance of basic amino acid in peptides is revealed and provides useful information for subsequent studies of antimicrobial peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 is a widely studied semiconductor with high photocatalytic activity, with various applications across many sectors. TiO2 oxidative reactions are only driven under ultraviolet radiation, and expanding the absorption properties towards to the visible range could enhance the photocatalytic applications, reducing its UV light source reliance. In this context, this study reports the titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) coating with Malpighia emarginata (acerola) extract to shift the band gap and be applied against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by photocatalysis. The acerola peel hydroethanolic extract (AcE) was obtained by ultrasound, evaluating its total flavonoid and phenolic compound contents, scavenging free radical ability, and antimicrobial capacity. AcE coating of TiO2-NPs was obtained under magnetic stirring (AcE-TiO2-ms) and ultrasound bath (AcE-TiO2-us) methods. Nanoparticles (NPs) physicochemical properties were characterized by UV-visible DRS spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopic (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The NPs antimicrobial activity was assessed through photocatalysis under dark, visible, and UV light conditions for 30–180 min. The AcE exhibited high phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial potential against P. aeruginosa. The AcE coating TiO2-NPs resulted in an average particle size of 20–35 nm, confirmed by FTIR and TEM analyses. Notably, an enhancement in the photocatalytic performance of AcE-coated TiO2 was observed under the visible light spectrum, particularly in the AcE-TiO2-ms case. This nanoparticle exhibited high antimicrobial activity under visible irradiation at 120 and 180 min, confirming its catalytic performance under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melt-quenching method was used to manufacture newly synthesized glasses with a nominal composition of 60B2O3 – 20CaO – 15ZnO – 5Li2O – xEu2O3: 0 (Eu-0.0) ≤ x ≤ 0.5 (Eu-0.5) mol%. The structural, physical, FTIR, UV–visible spectra, and mechanical properties of the synthesized Eu-x glasses are examined. XRD results verified the amorphous condition of proposed glasses. The density (ρ) of the prepared glasses increased from 3.231 to 3.338 g cm−3, but in contrast, the molar volume (VM) decreased from 20.643 to 20.506 cm3 mol−1 with increasing Eu3+ ions. FTIR spectroscopy illustrated absorbance peaks appear around 393 and 464 nm, which indicates the presence of electronic states in the wide band gap of glass matrix. These peaks are attributed to the 5L6 and 5D2 electronic states of Eu3+ ions. UV–visible measurements showed an improvement in optical absorbance and a decrease in optical energy gap. The Eu3+ ions mol% doping into the proposed glasses results in generating photoluminescence glasses, which is attributed to the 5D0 → 7F1, 5D0 → 7F2, 5D0 → 7F3, and 5D0 → 7F4 electronic transitions of Eu3+ ions. Thus, the emission spectra due to the 393 nm excitation results in the appearance of emission peaks at 593 (orange), 617 (strong red), 653 (red), and 698 (red) nm. The Poisson's ratio (σ) of Eu-x glasses is decreased from 0.3927 to 0.3903 as the molar fraction of Eu3+ ions is increased from 0.0 to 0.5 mol%. The thermodynamic properties of the glassy network are hidden in the Gibbs free energy (G) which started at 33.56 and ended at 33.72 kJ.cm−3 at low and high Eu3+ ions content mol%. Furthermore, all elastic moduli increased linearly with molar increment of Eu3+ ions in the molecular structure of the proposed glassy network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles supported over mesoporous ceria (Au/CeO2), titania (Au/TiO2) and iron oxide (Au/Fe2O3) were prepared by deposition-precipitation with urea and used for toluene oxidation. The mesoporous CeO2, Fe2O3, andTiO2 were synthesized employing a hard-template approach using SBA-15 as the template. The catalysts were characterized by BET, X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy (DR/UV-Vis), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Based on the temperature required to achieve 50% toluene conversion in the oxidation reaction (T50%), the activity sequence was Au/CeO2 > Au/Fe2O3 > Au/TiO2. The Au/CeO2 catalyst was the most active catalyst, achieving 50% toluene conversion at 240°C and full toluene conversion at 295°C demonstrating high stability over successive catalytic runs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis, morphology, and physical characterization of neat epoxy and DGEBA epoxy doped liquid crystal organic polymeric systems (EDLCPSs) have been investigated. Morphological properties of both systems were examined by SEM techniques. The small size of the LC droplets (0.224 μm) is also consistent with the presence of nitrile groups. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectra of the EDLCPSs detect a vibration band at 2229 cm−1 is attributed to C≡N stretching vibrational band. The optical band gap and refractive index have been studied using UV–visible spectroscopy. The calculated optical band gap of the EDLCP system shows a red shift as compared to neat epoxy. Our optical parameters were found to increase in the EDLCPSs. In the UV region, the systems block UV light up to a wavelength of about 380 nm which is an efficiency of UV light shielding devices. The photoluminescence (PL) is measured as a function of temperature for both systems. The integrated PL intensity decreases below 300 °C for the neat epoxy and lower than 220 °C for the EDLCPSs when increasing temperature is an effect related to the phonon diffusion (i.e., the photo-created pairs electron–hole). After 320°C, the neat epoxy system shows a completely inverted behavior when increasing temperature. On the other hand, the EDLCPSs revealed this comportment after 240 °C. The rise in thermal PL intensity was assigned to the variation in energy band gap transition and exchanges of the N1 and N2 deep levels nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed soxhlet and ultrasonic methods to extract novel natural dyes from Rhamnus tinctoria seed, Rubia fruticosa fruits, and Pinus pinea bark, which were then used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). XRD data showed that TiO2 in the photoanode layer was in the anatase phase. The produced DSSCs were assessed for photovoltaic performance and electrochemical charge transfer while sensitizing dyes were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy and FTIR. Natural dyes leached with different extraction methods showed different absorption behaviors in the UV–vis region. FTIR results revealed the presence of both carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, which enhanced the interaction between the extracted dyes and the TiO2 thin film. All cells using sensitizers obtained by the Soxhlet method showed higher efficiency compared to the ultrasonic method. The highest cell performance (ɳ = 0.47%) was obtained with 0.71 V Voc, 0.92 mA/cm2 Jsc, and 0.72 FF for the sensitizer extracted from Rhamnus tinctoria seeds by the soxhlet method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correct identification and authentication of medicinal plants material is a crucial task that ensures quality and prevent adulteration. The use of UV–Vis spectroscopy with principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) was proposed for identification/authentication of plant material form different genus and different geographical areas provenience. Hydroalcoholic extracts of samples from twelve genus collected from seven countries (Romania, North Macedonia, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Russia and Kazakhstan) were used. The UV–Vis spectra of the extracts were acquired in the 200–800 nm spectral range, and signal smoothing was used for pre-processing the spectral data. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) with 1-Pearson r distance measurement was used to classify the samples based on the original spectra and different-order derivative spectra, respectively. Data from original spectra and from different-order derivative spectra were evaluated by PCA method. Using the PCA with varimax rotation approach, the spectral ranges with significant contribution for samples classification were revealed for the first time. When the PCA method coupled with DA was applied to the data obtained from the original spectra and the fourth-order derivative spectra, the samples were correctly classified to the respective groups with a 98.04% accuracy. The proposed method can be a useful tool for rapid authentication of plant material derived from different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levulinic acid is a promising building block chemical with various applications, such as in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The key parameters used for assessing the environmental fate, risk assessment and toxicity of a compound in these applications include partition and distribution behavior of the compound. The partition and distribution coefficients can be measured from the ratio of the compound concentration in 1-octanol to the concentration in water at equilibrium. In this study, the distribution and partition behavior of levulinic acid in octanol-water system were determined experimentally using a simple and inexpensive shake flask approach according to OECD 107 via UV–Vis spectroscopy at 298.15 K. The neat and mutually saturated solvents were applied in the determination of distribution and partition behavior. The distribution coefficient (log D) using neat solvents (octanol-water) and saturated solvents (octanol(water−saturated)-water(octanol−saturated)) were determined, and the partition coefficient (log P) was calculated accordingly based on the relationship between log D and log P for weakly acidic compounds. In octanol-water and octanol(water−saturated)-water(octanol−saturated) system, the log D of levulinic acid were determined to be − 0.574 and − 0.816, while the log P were − 0.554 and − 0.790, respectively. The precision of the method was established with variation in the measurement less than 0.03 for both log D and log P. The negative value of log P indicates the preference of levulinic acid for the water phase over the octanol phase. The results from this study can be comprehended in product formulation and design related to levulinic acid as well as assessing the environmental fate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary, bioactive component of Cordyceps militaris, known as cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), has been utilized extensively as a traditional medicinal ingredient and a nutritious diet in Asian nations. To determine the amount of cordycepin in the C. militaris, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is shown to be an effective, sensitive, and straightforward analytical technique. Other methods for estimating cordycepin include near infrared spectroscopy and capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry. The UV-Vis spectroscopy approach was used to quantify cordycepin, and the results were statistically confirmed and compared with an HPLC method. For linearity, repeatability, precision, reproducibility, limit of detection and limit of quantification, the method was verified. The established approach can be utilized for routine, quality control analysis of cordycepin, as it is easy to use, sensitive, accurate, precise, repeatable, and most importantly, cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new carbazole-coupled tetrakis-(1 H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde) anion receptor 1 has been designed and synthesized. Anion binding studies in organic media using fluorescence and UV-vis spectroscopy revealed that receptor 1 is capable of sensing HP2O73- with high selectivity. Addition of HP2O73- to THF solution of 1 resulted in the emergence of a new broad band at longer wavelength along with quenching of the original emission band forming a ratiometric response. Based on dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiment and fluorescence lifetime measurement, we propose that the emergence of new emission band in the presence of HP2O73- ion is due to the aggregation-induced excimer formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZrN films were irradiated with 2 MeV proton and 91.3 MeV Xe ion. Our aim is to demonstrate the radiation damage tolerance of nanostructured ZrN. Uv–visible spectroscopy revealed localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band at 650 nm of ZrN nanoparticles. After irradiation the LSPR band intensity increases and become larger. The band gap decreases, while Urbach energy increases indicating defect formation. It is found a better crystallinity and no swelling or contraction in the studied fluence range. Therefore, nanostructured ZrN can be used in harsh irradiation environments such as neutron reactors and aerospace without altering its structural and plasmonic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of high-color intensity blue pigments and using less amount of cobalt is intended in many papers. We also tried to study a highly intensified blue pigment using the least amount of cobalt in experimental and theoretical methods. In this work, the Zn(2−x)CoxSiO4 [x = 0, 0.056, and 0.167] structures were synthesized by the conventional ceramic method. Theoretical calculations were performed using DFT, DFT + U, and many-body Fxc kernel for the long-range correction (LRC) model. We studied the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the structures. A good match was observed between the experimental and theoretical results for all doped and undoped samples. The calculations of electronic properties revealed a decrease in the gap and Fermi energies of the theoretical samples as the doping concentration increased. The optical analysis, which utilizes UV–Vis spectroscopy and CIE L*a*b* calorimetric methods, showed a high blue color intensity (b* = − 49.3, − 46.71) obtained for pigments. Additionally, a comparison was made between the gap energy and color of the experimental and the theoretical samples. These findings highlight the capability of DFT, DFT + U, and Fxc kernel for the LRC model for ceramic pigments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionic radius of R3+ ion plays a significant role in enhancing the structural, electrical, and dielectric properties of rare-earth chromites RCrO3; In this present study, RCrO3 (R = La, Y, Gd) was synthesized using the solid-state route reaction method. The XRD pattern confirmed the formation of a single phase. Refined XRD data revealed an orthorhombic crystal structure with the space group Pbnm at room temperature, along with the corresponding lattice parameters. Further analysis using diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy showed absorption peaks and a dual direct band gap, suggesting a semiconducting nature for the samples. To investigate the electrical properties of RCrO3, dielectric and impedance spectroscopy measurements were conducted at room temperature. Notably, the variation of ionic radii R3+ plays a significant role in the structural, optical, and dielectric properties of the material. Furthermore, AC conductivity measurement conducted in the higher frequency range provides insights into the conduction mechanism of the sample, and M- H curve indicates ferromagnetic behavior, and this variation is attributed to the effect of ionic radii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blending of polymers can be utilized to improve the properties of the new hybrid system without sacrificing the individual characteristics of the components. A combination of biocompatible cellulose-based polymer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and synthetic biocompatible polymer polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) has been designed to modify the mechanical and thermal properties via blending strategy. This work investigates the modification of HPMC and PVP blends through plasticizing with polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000, a non-toxic plasticizer to improve the flexibility of the matrix. The optimized blend system has been embedding with nHA as a biocompatible multifunctional filler to reinforce the polymer matrix for improving the efficacy in biomedical applications. The characterization has been extended through the evaluation of FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, SEM and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The reinforced blend has been found to match the requirements for fabricating wound healing patches in the biosector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work has been done in three steps. First, the preparation of acrylate monomers; they are [dimethyl-1,3-dioxoylan-4-yl-methylacrylate (sol-ketal acrylate) (SKA)], [4-acetylphenyl acrylate (APHA)], and [4-formyl-2-methoxyphenylacrylate (VA)]. All monomers were evaluated using 1H, 13C-NMR, and FT-IR. In the next step, two kinds of polymers were prepared. Two series of copolymers and terpolymers were carried out via the free-radical polymerization; SKA with the photo-cross-linker for poly (SKA-co-DMIAm) photo-cross-linker polymer and VA and APHA with N-isopropylacrylamide for poly (NIPA-co-VA-co-APHA) functional-thermo-responsive terpolymer. All fabricated polymers were investigated by (1H-NMR, FT-IR, UV, GPC, and DSC). The phase separation temperature of polymer solutions has been measured through the turbidity and the change in transmittance to the temperatures using UV–Vis spectroscopy. Eventually, the UV was used to form the gel layer after the deposition of the gold layer. The nonresponsive gel layer was grafted with poly (NIPA-co-VA-co-APHA) to optimize the upper layer to the thermo-responsive functional layer. SPR/OW measured the swelling properties of the gel layers. The active layer will immobilize biological molecules with the primary amine group. The schematic diagram shows the steps of gel formation: The cross-linking initiated by UV; SPR/OW for film thickness; grafting for gel optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical conversion of biobased intermediates offers an attractive and sustainable process for the production of green chemicals. One promising synthesis route is the production of the total vanillin-based polymer polyvanillin, which can be produced by electrochemical pinacolization of divanillin (5–5´bisvanillyl). Divanillin can be easily enzymatically generated from vanillin, a renewable intermediate accessible from lignin on an industrial scale. This study investigates systematically the electrochemical production of polyvanillin in a divided plane parallel flow reactor in recirculation mode. Several analytic methods, such as online UV–VIS spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), 2D-NMR (HSQC, 13C/1H), TGA and DSC were used to monitor the reaction progress and to characterize the reaction products under different galvanostatic reaction conditions revealing new insights into the reaction mechanism and structural features of the polymer. Further, by using an electrochemical engineering-based approach determining the limiting current densities, we readily achieved high current densities over 50 mA cm−2 for the polyvanillin synthesis and reached averaged molecular weights up to Mw = 4100 g mol−1 and Mn = 2700 g mol−1. The cathodic polymerization to polyvanillin offers an innovative approach for the electrochemical production of biobased polymers presented on flow cell level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports the solubilization of a cationic dye, methyl green (MG), in a single and cationic-binary micellar medium. The surfactants were cationic, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), non-ionic polymeric pluronic (P-123) and their binary system, of CTAB + P-123. The investigations were done through FT-IR, UV–visible spectroscopy, conductometry, and FE-SEM analysis at 300 K. There was shorter and stronger bonding between MG and mixed micelles than in single micellar systems. UV studies demonstrated higher solubilisation of the mixed micellar system than with the single micellar systems. The findings were corroborated with the conductivity studies. The counter-ion binding constants and thermodynamic parameters were calculated from the specific conductivity values. The free energy of micellization, ∆G0m, was -20.1 kJ mol−1 for MG + CTAB + P-123, and -18.38 kJ mol−1 for MG + CTAB systems. The higher negative free energy of micellization is suggestive of spontaneous and strong binding between MG dye and the binary micellar system CTAB + P-123. Generally, for dye-surfactant studies, oppositely charged dyes and surfactants are selected because there is expected repulsion between similarly charged molecules. From the above study, it is evident that it is possible to solubilize dyes in a similarly charged surfactant medium. This is probably the first report on the interaction of methyl green dye in mixed micellar medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust green synthesis method was employed using Jatropha podagrica (Buddha belly plant) leaf extract as a capping agent to prepare ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Several analytical techniques such as XRD, SEM, SEM-EDX, HR-TEM, FT-IR, and UV-visible spectroscopy were employed to characterize the green synthesized JP-ZnO NPs. The XRD, SEM, and HR-TEM images proved the presence of spherical nanoparticles having a wurtzite crystalline structure with a size of 12 to 18 nm. The characteristic vibration mode of the Zn-O bond was observed at 430 cm−1 in the FT-IR spectrum. The photocatalytic performance of these NPs was evaluated through the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), Fluorescein Sodium (FS), and Crystal Violet (CV) dyes in sunlight. Degradation rates of 90–95% were achieved in a time span of 1–2 h. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were efficient antimicrobial agents against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus coagulans) and gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli) bacterial strains. Using the well diffusion method, with 150 µL of JP-ZnO nanoparticles, inhibition zones measuring 17, 15, 11, and 10 mm were formed. The current study highlights the efficiency of synthesized JP-ZnO nanoparticles in removing the dyes from aqueous solutions and their efficient antimicrobial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugated polymers (CPs) having a backbone of alternating single and multiple bonds are well known for their technological applications. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of CPs; poly(o-chloroaniline) (POCA), poly(o-phenylenediamine) (POPD), and for the first time their copolymer poly(OPD-co-OCA) along with the evaluation of corrosion inhibition efficiency. The obtained materials were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA, and cyclic voltammetry measurements. The comparative analysis confirmed the satisfactory formation of homopolymers POCA, POPD and its copolymer poly(OPD-co-OCA). The homopolymer POPD and copolymer poly(OPD-co-OCA) are soluble in common organic solvents (acetone, methanol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and chloroform) while homopolymer POCA is insoluble. The novel copolymer poly(OPD-co-OCA) reveals good thermal stability than homopolymers POPD and POCA. The cyclic voltammetry studies show that copolymer poly(OPD-co-OCA) acquired redox behavior having an anodic peak at about 0.4 V, nevertheless corresponding homopolymer POPD act as an insulator with no obvious redox peak. The corrosion inhibition efficiency on a mild steel for copolymer poly(OPD-co-OCA) is found 70 to 80% which is reasonably higher than homopolymer POPD (68%), probably is due to donor–acceptor substituents involved in copolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to the completion of this work of art, palladium nanoparticles had been positioned on the surface of Fe3O4 by using the extract of the Carica papaya Leaf as a stabilizing as well as a suppressing agent. FT-IR, UV–Vis, TEM, XRD, VSM, FESEM, and EDS were used in order to classify the functionalized Pd/Fe3O4 matrix composites. The 4-nitrophenol was degraded with the help of an efficient catalyst provided by a Pd/Fe3O4 nanocomposite that was created (4-NP). In order to evaluate the catalytic activity of the Pd/Fe3O4 nanocomposite in the responses, UV–Vis spectroscopy was used. It is possible to recover it and put it to use six times before the catalytic performance of the substance is considerably affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber optic-based Raman and UV–Vis spectroscopy systems were commissioned for use in an inert atmosphere for in situ analysis of high temperature molten salts. The speciation of samarium chloride was studied in the LiCl–KCl eutectic system at 500 °C. Raman and electronic absorption spectra indicated trivalent samarium forms an octahedral SmCl63− complex with two detectable Raman features. Metallothermic and electrolytic reduction of Sm(III) to Sm(II) in the alkali halide solution was carried out to investigate the coordination of Sm(II) in the same eutectic salt. Formation of the Sm(II) was confirmed using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The resulting spectra are reported and discussed in terms of complex formation, inelastic scattering, and electronic absorption of the reduced Sm(II) ions. The Raman spectrum of metallothermically produced Sm(II) exhibited similar shift to the Raman spectrum of metallothermically reduced Nd(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-doped CQDs) were prepared using a one-step sintering technique, with ammonium citrate as the precursor. These were compared to carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized from citric acid. A range of characterization techniques, including x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopes (TEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis absorption spectra), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR spectra), were utilized to analyze the structures of two types of CQDs. The results revealed that nitrogen doping profoundly alters the carbon structure, promoting a shift from diamond-like carbon (sp3 C) to graphite carbon (sp2 C). This alteration greatly hastens the graphitization process of the CQDs, thereby broadening fluorescence emission specturm. Moreover, the fluorescenet properties of N-doped CQDs showed a pronounced sensitivity to pH variations. Specifically, the fluorescent properties of N-doped CQDs demonstrated notable sensitivity to pH variations. It was quantitatively represented by two distinct linear relationships: in acidic conditions, it follows y = 0.28 + 1.08 ∗ x , and in alkaline conditions, y = 15.06 - x . (where y is the normalized fluorescence intensity and x is the pH value). For original CQDs, the change is less pronounced, with a linear relationship of y = 6.62 - 0.022 ∗ x . Therefore, the N-doped CQDs exhibit a strong correlation between the fluorescence intensity and pH value in both acidic and alkaline environments, while also demonstrating the ability to change fluorescence color, indicating its potential applications in rapid response and convenient pH detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 60-nm-thick Ga2O3 films were deposited on c-plane sapphire substrates by atomic layer deposition process. The effect of annealing temperature on both Ga2O3 material and optical response characteristics was studied by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and semiconductor parameter analyzer. When the annealing temperature exceeds 700 ℃, the Ga2O3 films exhibits a nanocrystalline β-phase. The Ga2O3 photoconductive solar-blind photodetectors annealed at different temperature were fabricated. The photo-current and responsivity first increase slowly and then decrease when the annealing temperature changes from 400 to 1000 ℃. An ultra-high photoresponsivity of 142 A/W with detectivity of 3.77 × 1015 Jones under 254 nm illumination was achieved for the Ga2O3 film annealed at 600 ℃ for 60 min in N2/Air mixture atmosphere, which is at a very high level for ultraviolet photodetectors based on Ga2O3 thin films (< 100 nm). When the annealing temperature is 600 ℃, the material is in the transition stage from amorphous to crystalline state, which leads to a high degree of disorder, and further results in obvious band-tail absorption effect and improves the photoresponsivity. The results provide important guidance for the preparation of solar-blind ultraviolet detectors with ultra-high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the fabrication and characterization of plant extract-based gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as well as their anticancer activities have gained significant attention. Acorus calamus is a typical Chinese medicinal herb that has been utilized since a period of thousand years for treating rheumatism, asthma, tracheitis, etc. In the current study, the reaction parameters are optimized for managing the size of NPs as categorized by the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Various characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were carried out to confirm the fabrication of AuNPs mediated by the leaf extract of A. calamus. Further, the neuroprotective potential of fabricated AuNPs was studied by evaluating the cholinesterase inhibitory activity and antioxidant potential. The nanogold aqueous extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant and anti-acetyl cholinesterase activity, confirming that AuNPs can cross the blood-brain barrier and raise the level of acetyl cholinesterase, at the same time reduces the oxidative stress levels. The obtained results concluded their important potential for development of anti-Alzheimer drug having antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity against oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Cu2O particles was synthesis by using chemical reduction method. The XRD, FTIR, SEM and UV-Visible spectroscopy were utilised to characterise the synthesised Cu2O particles. The observed data matches previously reported XRD data of Cu2O particles (JCPDS File number 01-075-1531), confirming the fabrication of pure phase particles. The crystallite size of the synthesised Cu2O particles is 39.91 nm was calculating by using Scherrer formula. The band gap of synthesised Cu2O was measured at 1.91 eV using UV-Vis. Morphology and topography were identified using SEM investigation, illustrating development. FTIR analysis confirmed the functional group of particles. The experimental variables related to Cu2O particles photocatalytic methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. The measured MB degradation efficiency was 58.27%, at 10 ppm dye concentration, 60 min reaction duration, and 10 mg catalyst dosage. Effective adsorption and photocatalytic elimination of typical organic pollutants (MB) were proven by the Blue LED. The understanding of Cu2O-based photocatalyst design for organic pollutants degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the synthesis of novel organic/inorganic hybrid materials by combining the conductive polymer poly (m-aminophenol) (PMAP) with the metal oxide SnO2, with the primary aim of enhancing the electrical properties of the resulting nanocomposite polymer. The nanocomposite is intricately crafted through in situ polymerization of m-aminophenol in the presence of SnO2, incorporating various loading rates (1%, 3%, 10%). Comprehensive characterization of the synthesized materials is conducted using analytical techniques including infrared spectroscopy (IR), UV–Visible spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (DRX), confirming the structural integrity of the hybrid materials. Notably, XRD analyses distinctly illustrate the successful integration of SnO2 into the polymer matrix. Conducting an extensive study on the doping of PMAP samples with varying concentrations of SnO2 (1%, 3%, and 10%) reveals a nuanced relationship between dopant concentration and electrical conductivity. The doped polymers exhibit a significant enhancement in electrical conductivity, directly correlating with the concentration of SnO2. This comprehensive exploration offers valuable insights into customizing the electrical properties of hybrid materials for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium dioxide (B-VO2) nanowires were successfully prepared under soft conditions by hydrothermal treatment. Structural analysis and phase identification have been carried out by means of X-ray diffractraction (XRD). The morphological properties of the samples have been examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results revealed single phase oxide B-VO2 with considerable differences concerning to morphology and cristallinity as observed by SEM and XRD. Moreover, VO2(B) prepared for 96 h exhibited different morphology concerning to grain size and shape as well as dissimilar preference in crystal orientation, as a result of the processing conditions. The possible growth mechanism steps leading to nano-VO2(B) wires-like morphology was also proposed. The optical properties of the samples were evaluated by UV–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin films of varying Ag contents were synthesized successfully using simultaneous RF- and DC-magnetron sputterings on quartz substrates. The as-prepared nanocomposites were then annealed in a mixture of hydrogen plus argon environment (95%Ar+5%H2) at a temperature of 300 °C. The pristine and annealed films were then subjected to synchrotron XRD to study for any possible structural modifications induced in the films. The crystalline behavior of the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO, in the pristine and annealed samples of Ag-ZnO nanocomposites, was evident in samples prepared at low Ag content, but with increasing Ag content, the crystalline behavior of the hexagonal wurtzite structure was suppressed. FESEM utilized to study the formation of nanoparticles in the films revealed the non-uniform distribution and agglomeration of nanoparticles increases as the Ag content increases. A broad surface plasmon region in the range of 380–450 nm was observed for different compositions with remarkable blue and red shifts using UV-visible spectroscopy. These high-quality Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin films with tunable optical properties were then used as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates for the detection of rhodamine B (RhB) at low concentrations of 10−6 M. The detection of RhB in trace amounts is important in the current scenario as wastewater discharge is a serious threat to our ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]