Search

In this study, a CoO–Fe2O3/SiO2/TiO2 (CIST) nanocomposite was synthesized and utilized as an adsorbent to remove methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), and copper (Cu) from aqueous environments. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Input parameters included pH (3–10), contact time (10–30 min), adsorbent amount (0.01–0.03 g), and pollutant concentration (20–60 mg L−1). The effects of these parameters on the removal process efficiency were modeled and optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box–Behnken design (BBD). The RSM-BBD method demonstrated the capability to develop a second-degree polynomial model with high validity (R2 ˃ 0.99) for the removal process. The optimization results using the RSM-BBD method revealed a removal efficiency of 98.01%, 93.06%, and 88.26% for MB, MG, and Cu, respectively, under optimal conditions. These conditions were a pH of 6, contact time of 10 min, adsorbent amount of 0.025 g, and concentration of 20 mg L−1. The synthesized adsorbent was recovered through five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles using hydrochloric acid. The results showed an approximately 12% reduction from the first to the seventh cycle. Also, MB, MG, and Cu removal from real water samples in optimal conditions was achieved in the range of 81.69–98.18%. This study demonstrates the potential use of CIST nanocomposite as an accessible and reusable option for removing MB, MG, and Cu pollutants from aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) nanocomposites were melt-blended with two types of Turkish halloysite nanotubes (HN). Naturally occurring HN samples were used to produce PBT-based composites at the HN compositions of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%. Findings of neat and silane-coated HN-containing composite samples were compared to investigate the interfacial adhesion between polymer matrix and reinforcement material. According to test results, a 1% amount of HN was found to be the most suitable option in the case of mechanical and thermal properties of composites. Additionally, silane-modified grade displayed highly indicative improvements compared to pristine HN clay due to better interfacial adhesion of halloysite nanotubes to the PBT matrix was accomplished. Property enhancements achieved for composite samples containing low contents of HN were confirmed by morphological examinations. As a result, the PBT/ 1% HN-S composite sample was bookmarked as the most suitable option to fabricate HN-reinforced PBT-based nanocomposites in terms of mechanical, thermo-mechanical, morphological, thermal, and physical performances based on the findings in this study. Silane-modified halloysite grades exhibited better results, and they were found to be more suitable in the case of applications of PBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a consequence of the regeneration of nanostructures and the development of a nanocomposite with excellent superhydrophobic properties, a simple flame treatment strategy was examined to increase surface roughness. Cotton soaked in ethanol was used as a flame source at temperatures (> 350 ∘ C) for 30 s. The flame treatment operation takes place after the titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanoparticles (NPs) have been treated with room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV-SR) liquid using a dip coating approach. X-ray diffraction (XRD), contact angle (CA) measurement, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to describe the superhydrophobic surface. Resulting surfaces demonstrated that the water contact angle (WCA) of the superhydrophobic surface was 168 ± 2 ∘ , sliding angle SA (4 ± 1 ∘ ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on developing a novel photocatalyst, N,S‐rGO/CuFe2O4, which can efficiently reduce nitroaromatic compounds to corresponding aminoaromatics under visible radiation. The synthesis of this photocatalyst involved simultaneous doping of nitrogen and sulfur elements into the carbon substrate of graphene oxide, its reduction, and coupling of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles in graphene oxide layers via a hydrothermal method. Various techniques such as XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman, FESEM, TEM, EDAX, map scanning, PL, EIS, BET, and DRS were used to characterize and identify the synthesized product. Hydrazine monohydrate was employed as a hydrogen source for the reaction under investigation. These investigations proved the prosperous doping of nitrogen and sulfur elements into the graphene oxide structure, successful coupling of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles in graphene oxide sheets, and partial reduction of graphene oxide. In addition, we evaluated the recyclability and reusability of the photocatalyst for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds over seven cycles and found no appreciable changes in reaction conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to synthesize and evaluate the biological effectiveness of cerium oxide (CeO2) against various bacterial and fungal strains. The chitosan‐CeO2 nanocomposite was comprehensively characterized. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra displayed a combination of bands that provided evidence for the existence of a composite complex between the chitosan (CS) structure and the Ce–O bands originating from CeO2 nanoparticles. SEM measurements showed uniform dispersion across the whole CS surface, and the morphological changes were clearly observed as the CeO2 nanoparticle content was increased. In contrast, CS‐CeO2 demonstrates enhanced antibacterial efficacy against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative pathogens. The MTT method was utilized to assess the cytotoxicity of the examined CS‐CeO2, with the aim of evaluating the cell viability of various cancer cell lines under varying ultraviolet (UV) exposures. The enhanced penetration of CS and CeO2 nanocomposites into cancer cells during their anticancer activity, even in the absence of UV light, led to an increased rate of cell death. The administration of greater dosages of CS and its CeO2 nanocomposites led to an increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was observed to be associated with an enhancement in the efficacy of anticancer activity. The impact was additionally amplified through exposure to UV radiation. The nanocomposite thin films demonstrated much higher antioxidant activity against the DPPH radical as compared to ordinary vitamin C. The aforementioned observation was derived from an evaluation of the antioxidant properties of the subject utilizing the DPPH free radical scavenging technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerning various materials in the engineering domain, magnesium alloy-based composites are found to have specific properties. They are prepared with ceramic particles via a liquid stirring process, and oxidation results in porousness. Due to this, this research aims to develop cast magnesium alloy (AZ80), nanocomposite and hybrid nanocomposites via a liquid state stir casting process with an argon atmosphere. It contains 0, 2, 4 and 6 wt% of silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC) and 6 wt% SiC with 3, 6 and 9 wt% of basalt fibre. The developed cast AZ80 alloy, nano and hybrid nanocomposites are subjected to physical, mechanical and wear behaviour studies, and their results are compared. The composite contained 6 wt% SiC, and 9 wt% BF showed low porosity (1.03%), superior tensile strength (359 ± 7 MPa), elastic modulus (23044.58 ± 230 MPa), strain (2.114 ± 0.01 mm), hardness (121 ± 1.02 HV), coefficient of friction (0.421 ± 0.02) and low impact strength (18.25 ± 0.34 J/mm2) and volumetric wear rate (5.36 ± 0.4 mm3/m) compared to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report a novel electrochemical sensor based on Barium titanate / reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (BaTiO3/rGO) for precise detection of 4-nitrophenol and Dopamine. The electrochemical characteristics of both analytes were studied using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a BaTiO3/rGO composite film. Incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets with BaTiO3 nanoparticles notably improved the electrochemical reactivity of these analytes. The modified electrochemical sensor exhibits a wide linear detection range of 5 to 50 µM for 4-nitrophenol, with a remarkably low detection limit of 0.44 µM. Similarly, dopamine detection demonstrates consistent linearity spanning from 2.5 to 50 µM, with an impressive detection limit of 0.08 µM. Real-world assessments using tap water and human urine samples underscore the exceptional recovery results, highlighting its practical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building up and an investigating the efficiency of the cost-effective modified graphite for hybrid supercapacitor application is fascinating due to an extraordinary performance of graphite in battery application in day-to-day life about past decades. The metal oxides (Fe, Co, Ni) embedded in graphite was synthesized through the facile ultrasonication-assisted technique. Fe–Co–Ni deposited on graphite (Fe–Co–Ni-G) was studied structurally and morphologically by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses. The electrochemical studies such as cyclic voltammetry, Galvanostatic charge–discharge analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis were revealed the supercapacitor performance of Fe–Co–Ni-G composite. The superior calculated areal capacitance of Fe–Co–Ni-G was 1355 mF cm−2 at 2 mA cm−2 which was higher than single metal deposited graphite (Fe-G 490 mF cm−2 at 2 mA cm−2) composite. EIS study supported the higher diffusion process of Fe–Co–Ni-G directed to higher supercapacitor performance that is possible for day-to-day life applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research is to create protective shields that can be used to protect healthy tissues from the harmful effects of gamma rays by adding lead nanoparticles (Pb-NPs) to styrene-butadiene rubber. The basic principle is to attenuate the gamma-ray photons emitted by a Cesium source (Cs137) with energies of 0.663, 1.173, and 1.462 MeV. The shielding properties after adding 50, 100, 200, and 300 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr) of lead nanoparticles were examined. The results showed that the increases in the mean free path parameter (MFP) at a source energy of 1.462 MeV were 83.51% and 76.19% for SBR1 (without Pb-NPs) and SBR5, respectively. In addition, with increasing thickness of the shielding materials and Pb-NP loading, the mass attenuation coefficient (µm) decreased, and the half-value layer (HVL) and tenth value layer (TVL) increased. At the same time, the half-value and tenth-value layers increased by 86.52% and 76.2%, respectively, for SBR1 and SBR5 at a source energy of 1.462 MeV. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images showed good dispersion and homogeneity of these particles in the rubber matrix, and few agglomerations occurred with increasing lead loading. The swelling ratio decreased by 199%, and the volume fraction of rubber and cross-link densities were increased by approximately 7.1% and 14%, respectively. The addition of lead nanoparticles led to improved the crystalline properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research efforts have been dedicated to developing electrode materials with high capacity to address the increasing complexities arising from the energy crisis. Herein, a new nanocomposite was synthesized via the sol–gel method by immobilizing K6ZnW12O40 within the surface of NiZn2O4. ZnW12O40@NiZn2O4 was characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, XRD, SEM, EDX, BET, and TGA-DTG methods. The electrochemical characteristics of the materials were examined using cyclic voltammogram (CV) and charge–discharge chronopotentiometry (CHP) techniques. Multiple factors affecting the hydrogen storage capacity, including current density (j), surface area of the copper foam, and the consequences of repeated cycles of hydrogen adsorption–desorption were evaluated. The initial cycle led to an impressive hydrogen discharge capability of 340 mAh/g, which subsequently increased to 900 mAh/g after 20 cycles with a current density of 2 mA in 6.0 M KOH medium. The surface area and the electrocatalytic characteristics of the nanoparticles contribute to facilitate the formation of electrons and provide good diffusion channels for the movement of electrolyte ions throughout the charge–discharge procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, silver nanoparticles doped polymethylmethacrylate (Ag/PMMA) nanocomposite was created not using any enzyme, checked for glucose detection. Firstly, chemical reduction method was employed to make the silver nanoparticles and secondly, the silver nanoparticles were mixed with PMMA via solution casting and sonication method to obtain the binary nanocomposite of Ag/PMMA. The morphology imaging and physical properties of Ag/PMMA nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In order to build an electrochemical sensor, a glassy carbon (GC) electrode was altered with Ag/PMMA, and our findings showed that the custom-made electrode displayed electrocatalytic performance for the detection of glucose (C6H12O6) in 0.1 M solution of phosphate buffer (PBS, pH = 7.0). Voltammetric and amperometric sensors for the electrochemical detection of glucose were created based on these altered electrodes. The range of the voltammetric sensor was linear (from 0.1 to 1 mM) and high sensitivity of 41 µA mM−1 cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an inherent lowest density and distinct solubility with enhanced mechanical behavior reason, the magnesium alloy composite is extensively used in the auto and aero sectors. The processing of magnesium alloy found micro‐cracks and voids between the oxidation spot, which fails properties. Through the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) atmosphere, the AZ91D alloy hybrid nanocomposites are synthesized with 10 wt% alumina (Al2O3) and 0, 3, 6, and 9 wt% of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles via a liquid state process with 400 rpm stir speed followed by vacuum die casting. The effect of SiC actions on physical behavior, microstructural formation, and mechanical properties of AZ91D/10 wt%Al2O3, AZ91D/10 wt%Al2O3/3 wt% SiC, AZ91D/10 wt% Al2O3/6 wt% SiC, and AZ91D/10 wt% Al2O3/9 wt% SiC composites are studied and its results compared with cast AZ91D alloy. Due to the actions of SiC in AZ91D/10 wt%Al2O3, the composite density conforms to the rule of mixture, and the void and micro‐cracks are limited (less than 1%) by the impact of the casting process, as evidenced in the microstructural illustration. An effect of 10 wt% Al2O3 and 9 wt% SiC contents in AZ91D facilitates maximum tensile strength of 181 MPa, improved elongation percentage of 2.2%, optimum hardness of 85HV, and superior impact toughness of 21.8 J/mm2, which is higher than the all other compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-fast humidity sensor is a useful sensing node in medical monitoring and industrial processing units. In this paper, epoxy-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites-based humidity sensors at various CNTs concentrations were fabricated by spin coating technique. The structural and morphological properties of the prepared samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to characterize the functional groups of the composites. Thin films of the synthesized nanocomposites were deposited onto the surface of interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) and humidity sensing properties were investigated at different working frequencies (0.1–1.5 kHz) in the humidity range 30–90% RH at room temperature. Additionally, response/recovery time and sensitivity of fabricated devices were also measured. The obtained experimental results revealed that CNTs concentration plays a key role in the sensing properties of the current sensors. The optimum CNTs concentration was found to be 1.0 wt % by virtue of its high sensitivity, quick capacitive response/recovery time (14 s/6 s) and resistive response/recovery time (10 s/5 s) as compared to the pristine epoxy and CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazoles are one of the keys of N‐heterocycle molecules that exist in the structure of many biomolecules. In this research project, we reported that Fe3O4@BisImid−CuBr nanocomposite is an attractive and efficient nanomagnetic catalyst to afford 2,4,5–triaryl imidazoles through reactions of 1,2–diketones and aldehydes in the presence of NH4OAc under ecofriendly conditions. The Fe3O4@BisImid−CuBr nanocomposite was readily fabricated by a simple method from available reagents and its structure was analyzed by spectroscopic techniques. SEM and TEM images affirmed the formation of particles in spherical shape and nanometer–size. Under this methodology, a diverse library of triaryl imidazoles were afforded with high yields in water. This synthetic methodology has significant features such as (a) high yields and high purity of the products (b) suitable reaction time (c) use of magnetic reusable nanocatalyst (d) high reusability of Fe3O4@BisImid−CuBr nanocatalyst and the performance of reactions in aqueous medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drinking water defluoridation has attracted significant attention in the scientific community, from which membrane technology, by exploring thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, has demonstrated a great potential for treating fluoride-contaminated water. This study investigates the development of a TFN membrane by integrating titanium oxide nanosheets (TiO2 NSs) into the polyamide (PA) layer using interfacial polymerization. The characterization results suggest that successfully incorporating TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of the TFN membrane led to a surface with a high negative charge, hydrophilic properties, and a smooth surface at the nanoscale. The TFN membrane, containing 80 ppm of TiO2 NSs, demonstrated a notably high fluoride rejection rate of 98%. The Donnan-steric-pore-model-dielectric-exclusion model was employed to analyze the effect of embedding TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of TFN on membrane properties, including charge density (Xd), the pore radius (rp), and pore dielectric constant (εp). The results indicated that embedding TiO2 NSs increased Xd and decreased the εp by less than the TFC membrane without significantly affecting the rp. The resulting TFN membrane demonstrates promising potential for application in water treatment systems, providing an effective and sustainable solution for fluoride remediation in drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of Portland cement results in a large quantity of carbon dioxide gas that is dangerous for the sustainability of the environment. Thus, the researchers need to develop a sustainable replacement for Portland cement to be implemented in the construction industry. The present work investigates the mechanical, microstructural, and mineralogical properties of geopolymer (GPL) by adding microcarbon fiber (CF) and nano-alumina (NAL). The CF content was fixed to 0.5% by weight of the mix while the NAL was varied from 0 to 4% by weight of the binder to examine its effect on the behavior of GPL. The test results established the use of 3% NAL along with the combination of 0.5% CF as the optimal combination for enhancing the compressive strength of GPL by 22%, flexural strength by 46%, and impact strength by 64%. The microstructural investigation of fabricated samples using scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that the combined use of NAL and CF works as the most effective tool for strengthening the internal matrix of GPL with improved mechanical and microstructural performance. An increase in the intensity of hump situated between 15° and 40° in the XRD analysis is noticed, it might be because expanding the GPL matrix could lead to the dissolution of NAL nanoparticles, leading to the development of calcium silicate hydrate ( C - S - H ) next to the primary binder, sodium aluminosilicate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work aims to produce of new nanostructured films from cobalt oxide (Co2O3)/iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanostructures doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a promising nanocomposites materials to utilize in numerous quantum electronics and optical nanodevices. The structure, optical, and electronic characteristics of PVA/Co2O3/Fe2O3 nanostructured films were investigated. The structure properties included optimization, FTIR and optical microscope. The optical characteristics results indicated that the absorption increased of 91.3% at UV-spectra (λ = 360 nm) with rising of the Co2O3/Fe2O3 NPs content to 5.7 wt%. The energy gap decreased of 55.3% when the Co2O3/Fe2O3 NPs content reached of 5.7 wt% where it reduced from 4.03 to 1.8 eV, this performance make them appropriate for may optoelectronics nanodevices like transistors, photovoltaic cell, electronic gates, diodes and other applications. The optical parameters: absorption coefficient (α); refractive index (n); extinction coefficient (k); real (ε1) and imaginary (ε2) dielectric constants and optical conductivity (σop) of PVA enhanced with an increase in the Co2O3/Fe2O3 NPs content. Finally, obtained results showed that the PVA/Co2O3/Fe2O3 nanostructured films have excellent electronic and optical properties which make them as promising nanomaterials to employ in many quantum electronics and optical nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical pollutants in hospital wastewater (HWW) have the potential to contaminate both aquatic and terrestrial natural environments, posing a threat to aquatic life and human health. This work aimed to screen some chemical pollutants in HWW and evaluate the capacity of two magnetic nanocomposites (Fe3O4@SiO2 and NiFe2O4 NCs) to remove these pollutants from HWW. The manufactured nanocomposites were described with different techniques. The collected HWW samples were screened by LCMS/MS and HPLC/UV before and after treatment to detect the capacity of certain pharmaceutical pollutants. The screening results of HWW showed that numerous different compounds belonging to diverse groups of drugs were found in the water samples. Both nanocomposites exhibited a significant activity in degradation, removing a high concentration of the pharmaceutical pollutants in treated HWW. Meanwhile, data based on HPLC/UV analysis revealed that, NiFe2O4 NC was more effective than Fe3O4@SiO2 NC, which removed more peaks of several selected compounds, indicating its capacity to reduce these pollutants. Therefore, the outcomes of the current research provided new innovative effective materials for treating hospital wastewater, which can contribute to preventing the spread of pollutants and preserving the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) nanocomposites loaded with two different types of organoclays are fabricated using the melt mixing technique in a twin-screw extruder. Quaternary ammonium salts with dimethyl, benzyl, hydrogenated tallow, and dimethyl, dehydrogenated tailed modified organoclays are blended with PBT matrix at the compositions of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10% weight ratios. Test samples are shaped using a lab-scale injection molding device. Mechanical, thermo-mechanical, thermal stability, melt flow, structural, and morphological behaviors of the nanocomposite samples are investigated by performing tensile, impact, and shore hardness tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), melt flow rate measurements, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods, respectively. According to the findings, NC 130 clay gave better results than NC 140 in terms of tensile, hardness, and melt flow behaviors, whereas NC 140 showed higher performances as impact resistance, thermo-mechanical, and density, since the reduction in density and weight lowering are highly required for mainly transportation sector, and thermal properties were considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aims to create of novel nanostructured films from silicon sarbide(SiC)/cerium oxide (CeO2) doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a promising nanocomposites materials to utilize in numerous quantum electronics and optical nanodevices. The fabricated nanostructures have great properties compared of other nanomaterials comprised few cost, excellent optical characteristics, flexible and lightweight. The structure, optical, and electronic features of PVA/SiC/CeO2 nanostructures were investigated. The structure properties included optimization, FTIR and optical microscope (OM). The optical characteristics were tested at wavelength ranged (200–800) nm. The optical characteristics results indicated that the absorbance of PVA rises about 76.9% at (λ = 240 nm, UV-spectra) while rises of 87% at (λ = 540 nm, VIS-spectra) when the SiC/CeO2 NPs content reached of (5.7 wt%).%. The energy gap decreased when the SiC/CeO2NPs content reached of 5.7wt% where it reduced from 4.5 to 2.7 eV, this performance make them appropriate for may optoelectronics nanodevices like transistors, photovoltaic cell, electronic gates, lasers, diodes and other applications. The optical parameters of PVA; with an increase in the SiC/CeO2 NPs content, the optical conductivity(σop), real (ε1) and imaginary (ε2) dielectric constants, absorption coefficient (α), refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k), and other properties improved. Finally, the obtained results demonstrated that the PVA/SiC/CeO2 nanostructures are promising nanomaterials to employ in many quantum electronics and optical nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density polyethylene (HDPE), nano-calcium carbonate (NCC) and polyethylene-g-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) nanocomposites were blended utilizing the infusion shaping strategy. Three frameworks of different NCC and PE-g-MA loadings were planned and fused into the lattice of HDPE. The qualities of each planned framework with various rates of NCC and PE-g-MA were checked. The hardening impact of these various loadings on the grid of HDPE was assessed. Mechanical, warm and physical examinations were performed on such nanocomposites tests to explore and think about their properties. The pliable highlights were estimated utilizing the automated mechanical general testing machine recording an expansion of 22% in the endure break contrasted with the flawless HDPE with keeping up the elastic worth demonstrating the hardening impact event. PE-g-MA affected the de-holding impact and raised the strength at yield point. TGA warm examination decided the warm decay of unadulterated HDPE and its nanocomposites. The NCC particles contributed in limiting the warmth saturation into the HDPE lattice by going about as a warmth hindrance during the warm deterioration measure and helping the development of carbide which forestalled the volatilization of the disintegrated materials. The joining of PE-g-MA improved the scattering of the NCC particles, the probabilities of agglomeration expanding the interfacial attachment between the nanoparticles and the HDPE grid. Dissolve stream list is a significant boundary which can anticipate the processability of polymeric materials. The expansion of PE-g-MA as a compatibilizer to the HDPE/NCC grid caused an expansion in the consistency which prompts a lessening in the dissolve stream list. This lessening is a mechanical preferred position that sparing the creation energy and may be ascribed to the physical snares that created among added substance and compatibilizer in the HDPE network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead is one of the toxic heavy metals in the environment and its concentration in oceans, seas, lakes and rivers should be controlled. Both hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and gelatin were extracted from the bone wastes of Talang queenfish and were used for preparation of a hydroxyapatite‐gelatin nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was used as a modifier in fabrication of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) for determination of Pb2+ concentration. The behavior of the prepared electrode was studied with respect of changes in the amount of modifier and pH of the solution. The best response was obtained with 5 % wt of composite in CPE and at pH 5. The prepared electrode showed a linear response in the concentration range of 2–290 μM of Pb2+ with a good detection limit and acceptable stability, reproducibility and selectivity. The modified electrode showed an excellent selectivity towards Pb2+ in the presence of other metal ions such as Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Co2+ and Mg2+. The electrode can also be used for simultaneous determination of Cd2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ without considerable interference with each other or Pb2+ ions. This electrode is convenient for determination of Pb2+ in real water samples without using a pre‐concentration step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the important needs of human societies are the reduction of biological pollution and the use of environmentally friendly and inexpensive solvents. For the synthesis of medicinally important heterocycles, there is a need for an easy, efficient, and environmentally friendly catalytic protocol through multicomponent reaction (MCR). In this regard, the construction of multi-functional composites has been considered. A novel magnetic graphite carbon nitride decorated by tri-vanadium substituted Dawson-type heteropolytungstate nanocomposite (C3N4/Fe3O4@P2W15V3) effectively synthesized and characterized by prevalent functional analysis. This heterogeneous catalyst produced various tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran derivatives in the presence of ethanol as a green solvent. Among the advantages observed for this method is the presence of a heterogeneous and reusable catalyst that is easily isolated and provides a high yield of products in a very short reaction time with high purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to use D-optimal combined design, and partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) to investigate the mechanical properties, and chemical compatibilities of improved epoxy nanocomposites by nano TiO2 /Al2O3. Experimental design of adhesion, and wedge bend properties led the results into the optimum values of TiO2 = 0.66%, Al2O3 = 1.33%, dispersant= 0.000017%. The variable importance of the projection (VIP) score and PLS-DA modeling were used to categorize mechanical properties and chemical compatibilities. The best point could be identified from the other samples, based on the results. PLS-DA could explain 94.32% of the total variance in the data and wedge bend, adhesion and thermal treatment were the most significant variables with VIP scores at 2.73, 2.02, and 1.38, respectively. The morphology was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The thermal properties of nanocomposites were described by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) to define the glass transition temperature for epoxy-nanocomposites. The mechanical properties were measured to assess the storage modulus via the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Epoxy/TiO2 /Al2O3 nanocomposite exhibited a uniform particle distribution, as indicated by the FESEM image. Adding nanoparticles significantly raised the glass transition temperature. The presence of nanoparticles can be used to enhance storage modulus functionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to synthesize a specific and efficient sorbent to use in the extraction of apixaban from human plasma samples and its determination by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. High specific surface area of metal‐organic framework, magnetic property of iron oxide nanoparticles, selectively of molecular imprinted polymer toward the analyte, and the combination of dispersive solid‐phase extraction method with a sensitive analysis system provided an efficient analytical method. In this study, first, a molecularly imprinted polymer combined with magnetic metal organic framework nanocomposite was prepared and then characterized using different techniques. Then the sorbent particles were used for selective extraction of the analyte from plasma samples. The efficiency of the method was improved by optimizing effective parameters. According to the validation results, wide linear range (1.02–200 ng mL−1), acceptable coefficient of determination (0.9938), low limit of detection (0.32 ng mL−1) and limit of quantification (1.02 ng mL−1), high extraction recovery (78%), and good precision (relative standard deviations ≤ 2.9% for intra‐ (n = 6) and interday (n = 6) precisions) were obtainable using the proposed method. These outcomes showed the high potential of the proposed method for screening apixaban in the human plasma samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (II) complex immobilized on the surface of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with di(pyridin-2-yl)amine (Fe3O4@SiO2-di(pyridin-2-yl)amine-Cu(II)) was successfully fabricated and characterized by various analyses including FT-IR, SEM, TEM, EDX, TGA, XRD, VSM, AAS and ICP-OES techniques. The catalytic behavior of Fe3O4@SiO2-di(pyridin-2-yl)amine-Cu(II) nanocomposite was investigated in the synthesis of ynones and amides. Furthermore, the heterogeneous catalyst (Fe3O4@SiO2-di(pyridin-2-yl)amine-Cu(II)) can be easily recovered by external magnet and reused for 8 cycles without significant loss in activity. The results clearly exhibit the advantages of the present methodology, namely the low catalyst loading, high product yield, experimental simplicity, broad substrate scope and short reaction times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the optical properties of (ZnO) 1-x /(CeO 2) x nanocomposites within the UV–visible range (250–1000 nm). Two sets of samples were synthesized using a gelatin-based sol-gel method. The first set comprises (ZnO) 1-x /(CeO 2) x , where x values are 0.0 (pure ZnO), 0.03 (ZCe3), 0.05 (ZCe5), and 0.01 (ZCe10) that calcined at 600 °C for 2 h. The second set consists of (ZnO) 0·97 /(CeO 2) 0.03 samples, which were obtained at varying temperatures denoted as ZCe3-700, ZCe3-800, ZCe3-900, and ZCe3-1000 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was employed to investigate the structure of the prepared nanocomposites under different conditions. The XRD patterns revealed a hexagonal lattice structure for ZnO and a cubic lattice structure for CeO₂ , confirming that ZnO and CeO₂ nanocrystals grew independently. The crystalline size of the samples was determined using the Size Strain Plot (SSP) method. Reflectance data acquired through UV–visible spectroscopy were utilized to calculate the band-gap value, which was subsequently analyzed using the Kramer-Kronig method. The results indicate that, although there is negligible variation in the band gap values among samples prepared with different combinations and temperatures, these parameters influence n(ω) and k(ω). These findings suggest that ZnO/CeO₂ nanocomposites hold promise for optoelectronic applications, and the optical properties can be fine-tuned by controlling the aspect ratio of ZnO and CeO₂. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since that pathogenic bacteria are major threats to human health; this research describes the fabrication of an effective and sensitive platform based on graphene oxide/poly deep eutectic solvent/nickel oxide nano particles (GO/PDES/NiO NPs) nanocomposite at the surface of glassy carbon electrode for selective detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The DNA aptamers were immobilized on the modified electrode through the EDC/NHS chemistry. Each aptasensor modification step was checked by with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) techniques. The linear dynamic range of the proposed electrochemical aptasensor covered a large variation of S. aureus concentrations from 101 – 108 CFU.mL−1 and a detection limit of 10 CFU.mL−1 under optimum conditions was obtained. Analysis of spiked tap water, lake water and human serum samples revealed high potential of this aptasensor as a sensitive, effective, and label‐free promising tool for S. aureus detection. This is the first time that poly deep eutectic solvents used in live bacteria detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the optical properties of the PVP: ZnTiO3 nanocomposite are studied using the spectroscopic ellipsometry technique. The preparation procedure of the ZnTiO3 nanocomposite is explained in detail. The absorbance/transmittance, surface morphology, structural information, chemical identification, and surface topography of the ZnTiO3 nanocomposite is studied using UV–Vis spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red, and atomic force microscopy, respectively. The ellipsometry method is used to obtain the spectra of the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function and refractive index in the photon energy range of 0.59–4.59 eV. Moreover, using two machine learning algorithms, namely artificial neural network and support vector regression methods, the ellipsometric parameters ψ and Δ are analyzed and compared with non-linear regression. The error and accuracy of each three methods, as well as the time required for their execution, are calculated to compare their suitability in the ellipsometric data analysis. Also, the absorption coefficient was used to determine the band gap energy of the ZnTiO3 nanocomposite, which is found to be 3.83 eV. The second-energy derivative of the dielectric function is utilized to identify six critical point energies of the prepared sample. Finally, the spectral-dependent optical loss function and optical conductivity of the ZnTiO3 nanocomposite are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ethanolamine and 2-mercaptoethanol were tested for the first time as capping agents and heteroatom sources in the preparation of heteroatom-doped reduced graphene oxides (Au/E@rGO and Au/M@rGO) decorated with Au nanoparticles that can be used as catalysts in ethylene glycol (EG) fuel cells. The performance of the composites was compared with the composite prepared at the same conditions using sodium citrate dihydrate (Au/C@rGO), a widely used capping agent in the literature. The average particle size of Au nanoparticles in Au/E@rGO, Au/M@rGO, and Au/C@rGO were calculated as 10.55 ± (5.10) nm, 5.82 ± (2.35), and 3.36 (±1.02 nm) based on the TEM analysis, respectively. Amounts of Au loaded to Au/E@rGO, Au/M@rGO, and Au/C@rGO were determined as 36.50 (±0.51) %, 39.04 (±1.13) %, and 27.66 (±0.08) %, respectively. The EG oxidation performance of Au/E@rGO was 5 and 14 times higher than that of Au/C@rGO and Au/M@rGO. Chronoamperometry measurements showed that Au/E@rGO, Au/C@rGO, and Au/M@rGO catalysts retained 18.72%, 7.31%, and 4.06% of their initial currents, respectively, revealing that Au/E@rGO maintained its stability significantly compared to Au/C@rGO and Au/M@rGO. Repetitive cyclic voltammetry measurements also verified the high stability of Au/E@rGO in EG oxidation. The results showed that ethanolamine can be used as a potential capping and N-doping agent in the preparation of carbon structures containing Au nanoparticles that can be used in fuel cells. [Display omitted] • Ethanolamine, 2-mercaptoethanol, and sodium citrate were tested as capping agents. • N and S doped-rGOs decorated with Au nanoparticles were prepared for EG oxidation. • Au/E@rGO and Au/M@rGO were tested as catalysts for the first time in EG fuel cells. • Among the tested substances, ethanolamine has the best performance in EG oxidation. • The stability of Au/E@rGO was prominently higher than that of AuM@rGO and AuC@rGO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogels prepared using natural sources are of great importance in various applications due to their biodegradable and biocompatible features. In this work, a novel nanocomposite hydrogel based on the Gum extracted from Elaeagnus angustifolia was prepared and characterized. Graft copolymerization of Acrylic acid (AA) and Acrylamide (AAm) monomers was done on the polysaccharide chains of E. angustifolia Gum (EAG). To improve the physical and mechanical properties of the synthesized hydrogel, Cloisite 15A was used in different amounts as additive and physical cross-linking agent. The prepared hydrogels based on EAG polysaccharides were chemically and structurally characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD analysis and SEM images. Incorporation of Cloisite 15A altered the porosity and network structure of the hydrogels-based EAG by acting as a physical cross-linker. So, the hydrogel containing Cloisite 15A showed improved water absorption and mechanical properties. Also, it was observed that the nanocomposite hydrogels have better performance in solutions with various pH values and saline solutions. The rheological studies showed that by the application of 3% wt of Cloisite 15A, the gel characteristics of the nanocomposite hydrogel are enhanced due to the optimum density of physical cross-linking in hydrogel structure. Accordingly, due to the natural source and proper physicochemical properties, the prepared hydrogel can be potentially used as water reservoir system in various agricultural and hygienic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrates the effect of adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different weight ratios on the photophysical properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The ZnO/MWCNTs nanocomposites were prepared successfully using a solution blending method. The structure properties of the samples were analyzed using TEM, FTIR, and SEM techniques to identify the shape of both pure ZnO NPs and MWCNTs, classify the functional groups of the samples, and confirm the uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in the ZnO NPs matrix. The optical properties were determined using UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectrophotometer. No significant wavelength shift or additional peaks in the absorption spectra were detected, indicating that there is no chemical interaction between ZnO NPs and MWCNTs in ground states. The increase in Urbach energy and decrease in the steepness parameter with increasing MWCNTs suggest the presence of localized states with higher density. The incorporation of MWCNTs led to a blue shift in the emission peaks with creation new peaks at 388 and 419 nm, indicating the intrinsic nature of the defects in the materials. Moreover, the addition of MWCNTs resulted in a shift from bluish color towards a more greenish-blue color. The dynamic fluorescence quenching and efficient charge transfer in the ZnO/MWCNTs nanocomposites were evidenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum is the universal fuel for solid propellants; however, its passive oxide layer could impede the full exploitation of its enthalpy. Meanwhile, common catalyst could not contribute to combustion enthalpy. This study shaded light on the multifunctional energetic metal-organic frameworks ZIF-8 with combustion enthalpy 21 KJ/g as high energy dense material as well as a novel catalyst for solid propellants. As-prepared ZIF-8 particles exhibited a highly crystalline structure with an average particle size of 40 nm. The performance of ZIF-8 as high-energy dense material was assessed to aluminum particles via integration into ammonium perchlorate (APC). ZIF-8/APC and Al/APC composites were prepared via the solvent–nonsolvent method; the decomposition enthalpy was investigated via DSC. ZIF-8 offered an increase in APC total decomposition enthalpy by 98.4%, to 39.11% for Al. ZIF-8 exhibited a superior catalytic behavior by lowering the APC high-temperature decomposition peak (HTD) by 81.48 °C compared to 70.3 °C for Al. The decomposition kinetics of ZIF-8/AP nanocomposite was investigated via Kissinger's formula. The ZIF-8 offered a remarkable reduction in APC apparent activation energy at low-temperature decomposition peak and HTD peaks by peak by 16.5% and 30%, respectively. The superior catalytic performance of ZIF-8 was attributed to Zn+2 electron deficient centers with the exclusive formation of ZnO nanoparticles during combustion. ZIF-8 with gaseous decomposition products could boost specific impulses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-cyclodextrin and alginate polymers have been extensively investigated for their use in drug delivery systems. β-Cyclodextrin-alginate nanoparticles (CD/Alg) as an innovative drug carrier was the preapared by ionic chelation method. Methotrexate (MTX) as model drug was loaded onto the β-CD/Alg nanoparticles to form MTX-CD/Alg nanocomposites, via ionic interactions. The study was to investigate the changes in independent variables (concentration of CD, Alg and CaCl2) loading efficiency and particle size using 4-levels of CD, 5-levels of Alg and 4-levels of CaCl2. The Optimum nanocomposite has %LE (58.1% and particle size (213 nm). The prepared nanocomposites were chrecterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a release study. FTIR analysis displayed the drug into nanocomposites. The XRD pattern of MTX-β-CD/Ag nanocomposite suggested a peak at 2θ = 44.6° with the amorphous properties. A novel MTX-CD/Alg nanocomposites was developed. Optimized, characterized, and release studied was performed. These nanocomposites will be prmosing by delivering the drug in powder form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The qualities of a composite may be enhanced by the addition of several components, including nanoparticles. Different moieties can interact with one another through strong covalent bonds as well as weak physical interactions such as hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals contacts, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions. Chitosan/in situ gelatin-magnesium silicate nanocomposites were prepared by the sol–gel method. The composition and structure of the nanocomposites were studied by FTIR and XRD techniques. The morphology is obtained by FE-SEM. The optical diffuse reflectance (Rd) was employed to study the absorbance behavior of the nanocomposite and extract their energy gap, refractive indices, optical dielectric, and optical electronegativity. Scanning electron microscope images reveal that a large portion of the sample surface was occupied by regularly distributed caves over the gelatin-MgO/chitosan construct, which occurred because of the dense aggregated polymeric clusters. The antimicrobial effectiveness of the nanocomposites exhibited remarkable enhancement in the antimicrobial activities that candidate it for bio-applications. The biocomposites exhibit a developed antibacterial activity which increased with increasing chitosan content and cross-linking density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenite (As(III)) is the most toxic form of arsenic that is a serious concern for water contamination worldwide. Herein a ZnO/Halloysite (Hal) nanocomposite was prepared by the chemical bath deposition method (CBD) through seed-mediated ZnO growth on the halloysite for eliminating As(III) from the aqueous solution. The growth of ZnO on seeded halloysite was investigated based on the HMTA: Zn2+ molar ratio in the solution. An optimum molar ratio of HMTA:Zn for nucleation and growth of ZnO upon halloysite was obtained 1:2 based on morphological analysis. The TGA results confirmed that thermal stability of HNT was enhanced by ZnO decoration. The prepared ZnO/Hal nanocomposite at optimal conditions was employed for arsenite (As(III)) removal from aqueous solutions. Experimental data were evaluated with different isothermal, thermodynamic, and kinetic models. Based on the zeta potential results, Hal nanocomposites had a greater negative value than pure Hal. Therefore, the ZnO/Hal nanocomposite exhibited efficient As(III) adsorption with a removal efficiency of 76% compared to pure Hal with a removal efficiency of 5%. Adsorption isotherm was well correlated by both non-linear Langmuir and Sips models, exhibiting maximum adsorption capacity of As(III) at 42.07 mg/g, and 42.5 mg/g, respectively. As a result of the study, it was found that the fabricated Hal nanocomposite with low toxicity can be used effectively in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with their unique structural chemistry create opportunities to be modified with polymers, making different nanocomposites. In the current research, a novel PET-PAN embedded with Mg-AI-LDH-PVA nanocomposite membrane was fabricated through electrospinning. SEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, and AFM were carried out to investigate the structure and morphology of the nanocomposite membrane. The characterization of the optimized nanocomposite membrane showed a beadless, smooth structure with a nanofiber diameter of 695 nm. The water contact angle and tensile strength were 16° and 1.4 Mpa, respectively, showing an increase in the hydrophilicity and stability of the nanocomposite membrane by the addition of Mg-Al-LDH-PVA. To evaluate the adsorption performance of the nanocomposite membrane, operating parameters were achieved for Cr(VI) and methyl orange at pH 2.0 and pH 4.0, respectively, including contact time, adsorbate dose, and pollutant concentration. The adsorption data of the nanocomposite membrane showed the removal of 68% and 80% for Cr(VI) and methyl orange, respectively. The process of adsorption followed a Langmuir isotherm model that fit well and pseudo-2nd order kinetics with R2 values of 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. The recycling results showed the membrane's stability for up to five cycles. The developed membrane can be used for efficient removal of pollutants from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a multiscale approach is proposed to study the moisture diffusion behavior of polymer/clay nanocomposites. For this purpose, a new method to determine the representative elementary volume is proposed for possible nanocomposites structures. For this study, two structures at nanoscale are considered based on micrographs of the actual microstructures of these materials at this scale. The results, obtained for the in-depth profiles of the moisture content as well as the overall moisture diffusion kinetics curves revealed a significant effect of the clay volume fraction on the moisture diffusion in nanocomposites. Furthermore, the predicted results show, that the moisture diffusion behavior at microscale strongly depends on the structure at nanoscale. From these results, it seems that the exfoliated structure is the most critical for the moisture diffusion in polymer/clay nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a new nanocomposite was synthesized via the sol-gel method by covalent immobilizing of di -substituted Keggin-type heteropolyanion containing cobalt (PW 10 Co 2) on the surface of manganese oxide (MnO 2) ceramic. The desired nanocomposite (PW 10 Co 2 @MnO 2) was used as an effective heterogeneous catalyst in the water oxidation reaction for oxygen evolution. The PW 10 Co 2 @MnO 2 nanocatalyst was identified through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) methods in detail. After confirming the preparation of the PW 10 Co 2 @MnO 2 , its catalytic activity in the water splitting reaction was assessed in the presence of cerium (Ⅳ) ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an efficient oxidant at different pH (pH = 7 and 9). The PW 10 Co 2 @MnO 2 nanocatalyst demonstrated turnover number (TON), turnover frequency (TOF), and O 2 evolution of 520.12 m m o l O 2 m o l C o. s , 178 m m o l O 2 m o l C o , and 0.003 m g O 2 L. S , respectively, which are the highest values at pH = 9 in the water oxidation process. Moreover, the effect of CAN concentration, pH, and the amount of KOH was assessed on the catalytic activity, and a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed. In the present study, the PW 10 Co 2 @MnO 2 nanocatalyst provides valuable insights into the design of other catalysts for the water oxidation reaction and beyond. • The PW 10 Co 2 @MnO 2 nanocatalyst was synthesized via sol-gel method. • The catalytic activity of nanocomposite was tested on the water oxidation. • The water splitting was assessed in the presence of CAN as an oxidant at different pH. • The nanocatalyst was found to be efficient for water oxidation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn3O4 (MO) nanoparticles have drawn a lot of attention due to their use in batteries, ion exchange, sensors, and catalysts in various oxidation states. Here, prior to developing new hybrid freestanding films with different MO nanoparticle concentrations (0, 0.037, 0.37, and 3.7 wt%), it was essential to first manage the electrical and optical properties of the PVA/PVP blend. Several methods, including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Atomic force microscope, FTIR, and XRD, were accustomed to verifying the emergence of the polymeric nanocomposite (PNC) films. The correlation between both the optical and dielectric properties of the films and the bandgap was altered using the doping ratio. In terms of its optical properties, MO is observed to have a significant impact on pure PVA/PVP, including the indirect optical energy gap, the localized state's order, the absorption coefficient, and the response of optical conductivity. Hervé–Vandamme, Moss, Singh-Kumar, and Ravindra are a few models that have studied the connection between energy gaps and refractive index. Moreover, PVA/PVP/xMn3O4 polymer nanocomposite samples with varied MO levels were examined for their linear together with nonlinear optical properties (NLOP). The exclusion of both ordinary and laser light is studied in the PVA/PVP enriched MO (NPs) samples that were created. Moreover, there are sharp decreases in the laser transmitted power from 315.88 to 13.6 mW for the pure blend to 0.135 and 0.00039 for PNC/3.75Mn3O4 nano-composition using a laser source of 623.8 and 533 nm, respectively. Thus PNC/3.75Mn3O4 sample is recognized as a good prospect for relatively inexpensive optical limiting and laser filter innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the development of iron manganese doped graphene quantum dots (FeMnO4@GQD) having peroxidase-like catalytic activity detected through chromogenic reaction in the presence of supplementary H2O2. Synthesized hetero-atoms doped GQD showed excellent peroxidase mimicking activity with a Vmax value of 9.91547 × 10− 6 (M/min) and Km value of 0.0491 mM towards substrate TMB (based on Hanes-Woolf kinetics) suggesting higher affinity towards the substrate than the natural enzyme (horseradish peroxidase). In another experiment, we systemically examined the efficacy of GQD and its nanocomposites on germination, vigor, and biochemical activity of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Prepared nanomaterials were applied at 200 and 500 µg/mL, initially through seed priming (solid matrix priming) and later through foliar spray on transplanted wheat seedlings grown on nutrient-free sand. The application of iron manganese nanocomposites (FeMnO4) and FeMnO4@GQD improve seed germination and maintain an optimum level of carbohydrates and protein contents that eventually promotes seedling growth. Different germination-related parameters were found to be influenced by the applied higher dose (500 µg/mL) of FeMnO4@GQD. Seedling growth, plant biomass, and biochemical parameters like chlorophyll, carotenoid, sugar, protein, and phenolic content were stimulated by both FeMnO4 and FeMnO4@GQD applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium oxides and their derivatives are known for their performance in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the practical application of these materials in commercial LIBs is still hindered by their intrinsic low ionic diffusion coefficient and moderate electrical conductivity. To improve their conductivity and their structural stability, a robust scenario is proposed in this study, through the synthesis of the nanocomposite materials LixH2V3O8/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as novel composite cathode materials for LIBs. The structure, composition, and morphology of the hydrothermal powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To evaluate the electrochemical performance of LixH2V3O8/rGO, cyclic voltammetry (CV), charge/discharge, and impedance spectroscopy studies were performed. The H2V3O8/rGO cathode exhibits improved electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacitance, reversibility, and stability compared to single-component LixH2V3O8. At 0.1 A g−1, the specific discharge capacity for the pure LixH2V3O8 and the LixH2V3O8/rGO composite is about 320 mAh g−1 and 3950 mAh g−1, respectively. The improvement in the electrochemical capacity of the composite cathode is mainly ascribed to a cooperative effect between the reduced graphene, with good electrical conductivity, and the unique nano-sized H2V3O8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium - polyaniline nanocomposites were prepared using polymerization of aniline. Structure (XRD), surface (SEM, AFM), chemical (FTIR) and optical (UV-Spectrophotometer) properties have been examined. The X-ray diffraction pattern observed the PANI/TiO2 has a crystalline nature and the peak intensity increases with TiO2 composition ratio, the results of SEM &AFM images show the surface of TiO2-polyaniline have regular distribution and homogeneous structure. Furthermore, the grain size increases with increasing of TiO2 compositions and was found to be 32.58nm, 36.21nm and 47.67 nm at x= 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 respectively. Additionally, optical properties show that the absorption intensity increases with TiO2 compositions compared to pure TiO2. Hybrid of TiO2/PANI has a vast attracted attention especially to improve photocatalytic activity. Simple design and high quality of nanocomposites play a crucial role in improving mechanical and physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the synthesized nanocomposite was evaluated novel graphene oxide/pectin/ferrite (GOPF) adsorbent to the adsorption of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Gemifloxacin (GEM) from wastewater. Theoretical studies were carried out using quantum simulation via the Forcite module in Material Studio 2017. The simulation results demonstrated RhB and GEM adsorption over other dyes and drugs. The synthesized nanocomposite was identified by BET, TGA, FT‐IR, FE‐SEM, XRD, VSM, and EDS. The nanocomposite's ability to effectively take RhB and GEM from an aqueous solution was checked by performing a series of experiments based on the effect of adsorbent dose, initial condensation, contact time, pH, and temperature. The nanocomposite kinetics follow a PSO. The Freundlich isotherm model was applied for maximum adsorption capacity of GEM (124.37 mg/g) and RhB (86.60 mg/g) on GOPF nanocomposite. According to the antibacterial activity test, the synthesized nanocomposite can kill bacteria 5 mm in diameter. Also, the anti‐cancer test of nanocomposite was done with 75% viability in high concentrations of nanocomposite. Thus, GOPF application results are not only suitable for dyes but only satisfying for drugs. Practitioner Points: GOPF nanocomposite was fabricated for adsorption dye and drug and characterized.The effect of different process parameters, pH, catalyst dosage, contact time, and temperature effect was surveyed.The MD simulation were investigated to adsorb various dyes and drugs.The equilibrium isotherm and adsorption kinetic follow from Freundlich and pseudo‐second‐order kinetics; GOPF nanocomposite was used for about six cycles.The antibacterial activity and anticancer test of GOPF nanocomposite were investigated by satisfying results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer composite are very interesting materials in automotive industry. Nanocomposites play a crucial role in the automotive parts and cars weight reduction fields. Hybridization of polymer nanocomposites is appeared as a process of choice in obtaining the required property/weight ration. Simple and hybrid nanocomposites of polypropylene (PP) blend with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having different aspect ratios and nanosilica at different nanosilica contents were prepared in molten state in an internal mixer. Scanning electron microscopic images along with rheological and tensile properties revealed that only 0.2 wt% CNT is high enough to finely disperse nanosilica particles in PP matrix in the absence of any chemical compatibilizer. Differential scanning calorimetric thermograms showed that none of nanoparticles has any effect on crystallinity of PP. Mechanical characterizations showed that hybrid composites are superior to PP‐S3 composite. Due to its more intensive hydrodynamic motions it was also observed that the longer CNT showed a higher ability to disintegrate nanosilica particles aggregates. Transmission electron microscopic images well portrayed the nanosilica particles in the vicinity of CNTs' surfaces which accounts for electrostatic adsorption of fine nanosilica particles. At such a low CNT content (say 0.2 wt%) in the absence of any chemical compatibilizer, elongation at break of the tensiled nanocomposites raised from 13.23% to 35.41% and fracture energy was mounted from 1253 to 2750 J. This divulges the effectiveness of CNTs to disperse nanosilica in PP matrix but a poor adhesion between the particles and PP matrix is an overwhelming drawback yet. Under these conditions a maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP‐g‐MA) was added to the composite in molten state. The tensile strength of these chemically compatibilized nanocomposites increased with respect of that of their counterpart physically mixed nanocomposites. For example, in the presence of this chemical compatibilizer, the tensile strength of PP‐S3 nanocomposite raised from 21 to 28 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuning photophysical properties of poly[bis(4-butypheny)-bis(phenyl)benzidine] (poly-TPD) by addition multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different weight ratios is demonstrated. The solution blending method followed by spin coating technique was used to successfully prepare thin films of poly-TPD/MWCNTs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the interaction between poly-TPD and MWCNT. UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectrophotometer were used to determine the optical properties. No chemical interaction was detected between poly-TPD and MWCNTs in their ground states, as evidenced by the absence of new peaks in FTIR and absorption spectra. The nanocomposites showed reduced direct (Egd) and indirect (Egi) energy band gaps values, while Urbach energy (Eu) values increased with increasing MWCNT doping, resulting in a narrower optical energy band gap width and an increase in localized energy levels that act as electron traps in the band gap. The charge transfer from poly-TPD to MWCNTs was evidenced by the reduction in poly-TPD emission, as well as changes in both the values of Stokes shift and vibronic spacing energy in the nanocomposite system. The parameters of the Stern–Volmer quenching constant (kSV), fluorescence lifetime (τ) of excited poly-TPD in the presence of MWCNTs, photo-induced electron-transfer rate (kET), and bimolecular quenching rate (kq) can be adjusted to further enhance efficient charge transfer between poly-TPD and MWCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]