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The absence of stable and highly active non-precious metal electrocatalysts as a substitute to precious metal i.e., Pt (state-of-the-art) for methanol oxidation reaction in the application of direct methanol fuel cell considerably impedes the commercialization of these energy devices. In this work the electrocatalytic investigation of Fe-In MOF and its g-C3N4-based composites (i.e., 5–8 wt% g-C3N4@ Fe-In MOF) for methanol oxidation is reported. All the catalysts were prepared via solvothermal method. XRD, SEM, EDX, and FTIR were used to characterize the Fe-In MOF and its 5–8wt% g-C3N4 composites. In comparison to other prepared g-C3N4 based Fe-In MOF composites, the 7wt% g-C3N4 @ Fe-In MOF catalyst showed much greater electrochemical activity (i.e., 95.54 mA/cm2) and stability of 72.45% in 1 M NaOH and 3 M CH3OH. Due to graphitic carbon nitride specified high catalytic activity, intercalation, ion exchange, and redox properties. Further, the availability of iron (Fe) and indium (In) may also show a significant role in enhancing the electrocatalytic performance of 7wt% g-C3N4 @ Fe-In MOF over Fe-In MOF. They could be viewed as stable and economical electrocatalysts due to their numerous advantageous characteristics in structure, content, and nitrogen doping level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthesis of a ZIF-67-based Molybdenum disulfide composite. • Electrochemical measurement showed a high specific capacitance of 612 Fg−1 of the sample having equal molar masses of Mo and ZIF-67/NPC. • The incorporation of ZIF-67/NPC greatly improved the electrochemical properties of MoS 2 the material also showed a high cyclic stability of 92% after 4000 cycles. Here in, we report the synthesis of a ZIF-67-based Molybdenum disulfide composite and analyze the structural and electrochemical properties of the material. A class of zeolitic imidazole framework ZIF-67 (Co) was first synthesized and annealed in a reducing (Ar/H 2) environment. To form Co/NPC (Nano-porous Carbon). Then different masses of Co/NPC were added during the hydrothermal preparation of MoS 2 to check the effect of Co/NPC while the amounts of Mo and S were kept constant. Three samples with different mass ratios CMS-1 (Mo 1 :Co/NPC 0.5), CMS-2 (Mo 1 :Co/NPC 1), CMS-3 (Mo 1 :Co/NPC 2) were prepared. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of MoS 2 /Co 3 S 4 /NPC composite. Electrochemical measurement showed a high specific capacitance of 612F g−1 for the sample having equal mass ratio of Mo and Co/NPC i.e. CMS-2. The incorporation of Co/NPC significantly improved the electrochemical properties of MoS 2. The material also showed a high cyclic stability of 88.59 % after 9000 cycles. Among the three samples, the Mo 1 :Co/NPC 1 /CMS-2 showed the best performance hence proving to be the optimum ratio. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing strain-induced polarization to amplify the performance of photo-catalytic water-splitting systems has garnered significant attention in view of clean H 2 evolution with no environmental footprint. However, achieving efficient charge separation, high underwater suspension efficiency, and sustained cyclic stability remains a persistent challenge. In this study, we employed a classic low-temperature ball milling technique to synthesize rhombohedral bismuth sodium titanate phase B 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 as a matrix material. One-step superimposed reduced graphene oxide with cobalt oxide loading RGO-Co 3 O 4 is used as reinforcement. The cobalt oxide (Co 3 O 4) is expected to speed up classically slow OER reaction. The addition of reinforcement lowers the band gap of our material and makes it more visible light active to optimize full spectrum absorption. We report a 14.79% increase in H 2 evolution with the addition of reinforcement and optimal H 2 evolution was achieved with 5% RGO-Co 3 O 4 (517 μmol/g-h). After the introduction of simultaneous photo and piezoelectric potential by using an ultrasonicator, H 2 evolution is much enhanced 109 μmol/g-h surpassing piezo catalysis 66 μmol/g-h and photo catalysis 64 μmol/g-h. Herein, we also explore renewable alternatives using manure and seawater revealing improved H 2 evolution that is 1.8% and 50.4% respectively. Additionally, the piezo-photo catalyst demonstrates remarkable performance without a sacrificial agent further highlighting its exceptional potential. Moreover, we also uncover the role of Co 3 O 4 as a co-catalyst and RGO as a promoter in direct and indirect z-schemes for water splitting. This work provides insight into harnessing and designing ingenious composites for efficient and stable piezo-photo catalysts for efficient and stable water-splitting systems. [Display omitted] • A novel metal-free BNT/RGO-Co 3 O 4 z-scheme composite piezo-photo catalyst was fabricated successfully. • The same piezo-photo catalyst was used for renewable mediums such as seawater and manure. • The catalyst demonstrates a direct z-scheme for the higher concentration of co-catalyst with no need for promoter. • The inclusion of BNT in the piezo-photo catalyst is responsible for both direct and indirect bands in all composite variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NiO/FeO MOF and its reduced graphene oxide based composites such as 1–5 wt% FeO/NiO MOF were solvothermaly synthesized. • Synthesized bimetallic MOF and its reduced graphene oxide based composites (1–5 wt% FeO/NiO MOF) were employed as an electro catalyst for methanol oxidation. • 4 wt% FeO/NiO MOF composite exhibit superior current density 486.14 mA/cm2 at potential of 0.85 V in 3 M CH 3 OH. • Key reason behind high catalytic activity of 4 wt% FeO/NiO MOF composite was because of synergetic effect of reduced graphene oxide and MOF catalysts. We report a novel bimetallic iron oxide/nickel oxide metal–organic framework (FeO/NiO MOF) that has been synthesized by using two different linkers; 2, 5-dihydroxy terephthalic acid (DHTA) and Pyrazine and also its composites are prepared with reduced graphene oxide from 1 to 5 wt% rGO FeO/NiO MOF and afterwards characterized via several important techniques like FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDX for examination of their morphological and structural properties. The synthesized series of bimetallic MOFs composites were later used as catalyst for methanol oxidation, tested via cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 3 M Methanol and 1 M NaOH on modified GCE. The electrochemical results illustrate that electrocatalytic response of the MOF boosts astonishingly with gradual loadings of rGO from (1–4 wt%) and among all prepared series 4 wt% rGO-FeO/NiO MOF shows the highest current density of 486.14 mA/cm2 at potential of 0.85 V with scan rate of 50 mV/cm2. This superlative response of prepared catalyst makes it a promising catalytic material for methanol oxidation in DMFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of Cu-doped ZIF-8 catalysts with varying Cu+2 doping. • Electrochemical CO 2 reduction process. Cu30%ZIF-8 showed the highest current density of -40 mA cm−2 at -2.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl. • Better selectivity for CH 4 and CO compared to previous works on Cu electrodes. • High activity is due to crystalline nanostructure, sufficient Cu+2 metal sites, micro-meso dual-porosity nature and broad surface area. Electrochemical CO 2 reduction is a beneficial process for converting CO 2 into useful hydrocarbons, chemicals, and fuels. Many catalysts have been tested before for CO 2 electroreduction however achieving good stability, activity, and selectivity of the required product remains a challenge. In this work, we demonstrate the solvothermal synthesis and characterization of Cu-doped ZIF-8 catalysts with varying Cu+2 doping and applying them in the electrochemical CO 2 reduction process. Cu30%ZIF-8 showed the highest current density of -40 mA cm−2 at -2.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl and better selectivity for CH 4 and CO compared to previous works on Cu electrodes. This high activity of the Cu-doped ZIF-8 catalyst is because of the crystalline nanostructure of our catalyst with sufficient copper active metal sites and N-content, micro-meso dual-porosity nature of the structure, and broad surface area of zeolite imidazole framework to work on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) derived nano-porous carbon structures that were further hybridized with MnO2 were tested for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as cathode material for fuel cells. The prepared electrocatalyst was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX). Cyclic voltammetry was performed on these materials at different scan rates under dissolved oxygen in basic media (0.1 M KOH), inert and oxygen rich conditions to obtain their I–V curves. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Chronoamperometry was also performed to observe the materials' impedance and stability. We report improved performance of hybridized catalyst for ORR based on cyclic voltammetry and EIS results, which show that it can be a potential candidate for fuel cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work gives an insight into combined experimental and DFT study of water gas shift reaction on Ni catalysts at moderately elevated temperatures. The relative reactivity of surface adsorbed species O*, OH* and H* with CO* and their catalytic consequence in reaction mechanism and kinetics was studied. DFT investigation and microkinetic analysis pointed out that the favorable reaction pathway depends on the relative reactivity of O*, OH* and H* with CO* on the surface. It rationalizes the experimental observed changes in kinetics with hydrogen pressure. • Experimental and DFT study leads to WGS reaction mechanism insight on Ni catalyst. • It reveals dependency of the reaction mechanism and kinetics on hydrogen pressure. • Reaction pathway is dependent on relative reactivity of O*, OH* and H* with CO*. • DFT studies rationalize the experimental changes in kinetics with H 2 pressure. This paper presents a combined experimental and density functional theory study of the relative reactivity of surface species O*, OH*, and H* with CO* on nickel catalysts and their catalytic consequence in reaction mechanism and kinetics of water gas shift reaction. The kinetic study illustrates the hydrogen reaction order changes from 0.5 at relatively low hydrogen pressures to -1 at high hydrogen pressures. Detailed kinetic analysis indicated a hydrogen-induced change of the corresponding reaction pathway from hydrogen assisted CO activation to the redox mechanism with CO*+O* as a rate-determining step. The DFT investigation revealed that the surrounding surface H* atoms destabilize more significantly O* adsorption than H* adsorption, thus enhance more the reactivity of O* than H* towards reaction with CO* at high H* coverage. This kinetic study provides an insightful depiction for the future study of CO activation on other transition metals and the catalyst development for WGS reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mo-MOF, MO/NPC and MO-MS/NPC were synthesized via solvothermal method at 200 °C and pyrolysis. • All prepared composites were characterized via SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD and XPS. • Synthesized series is tested for methanol oxidation and for oxygen reduction reactions. • MO-MS/NPC demonstrate higher electrochemical activity such as exhibiting 354.2 mA/cm2 current density for MOR and −9.54 ma/cm2 for ORR with low overpotential value of 0.80 V. In this paper, an effective method for synthesizing three different catalysts Mo-MOF, MO/NPC, and MO-MS/NPC by solvothermal preparation and pyrolysis processes has been described. The structural and compositional characteristics of these catalysts have been thoroughly analyzed using SEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, and TEM characterization techniques. It is noteworthy that MO-MS/NPC has proven to have remarkable electrocatalytic capabilities, exhibiting high current density i.e., 354.3 mA/cm2 and stability in methanol oxidation as well as superior electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reactions Because of these qualities, MO-MS/NPC, MO/NPC, and Mo-MOF might be an attractive option as cathodic and anodic materials in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Their higher oxygen reduction abilities as cathode materials can boost the cathodic reaction's effectiveness and encourage the conversion of oxygen and protons into water, and also help methanol to oxidize into carbon dioxide at the anode, liberating electrons that can be used to produce electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cubic Zirconia (CZ) has emerged as a critical material with diverse applications, ranging from high-performance ceramics to electronic devices. Designing CZ-based systems with improved functions necessitates a thorough understanding of its topological characteristics. The topological co-indices are numerical descriptors that offer important details about the local atomic configurations and connectivity inside the CZ lattice. In this study, we present a methodical approach to compute and assess the distribution of these co-indices throughout the CZ network using advanced computational approaches. The distribution patterns of topological co-indices inside the CZ network are significantly better understood as a result of our statistical investigation. The basic knowledge of the topological properties of the CZ network and how they relate to physical properties is improved by this study. Cubic Zirconia (CZ) has emerged as a critical material with diverse applications, ranging from high-performance ceramics to electronic devices. The outcomes revealed a relationship between the topological characteristics of the network and its mechanical, thermal, and electrical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxide-based solid electrolytes are gaining popularity among researchers owing to their great structural stability. In this work, a novel oxide-based ternary composite (AlPO4-SiO2-Li4P2O7) electrolyte is synthesized via a conventional solid-state process with excellent water stability and high ionic conductivity. The crystallographic structure of ternary composite is confirmed using x-ray diffraction and has a significant effect on ionic conductivity. The thermogravimetric analysis result shows a 22.26 wt% loss in the region of 25°C to 900°C due to the evaporation of volatile constituents, including nitrates, carbonates, and moisture. Surface analysis results revealed compact morphology and low porosity with arbitrary grain sizes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to evaluate ionic conductivities. The Mn-ternary composite sintered at 900°C has shown ionic conductivity of 1.63 × 10−6 S/cm at ambient temperature. 8 wt%-LiBr enhanced the ionic conductivity up to 1.68 × 10−4 S/cm by significantly reducing the grain boundaries without high-temperature sintering. Results suggested the suitability of LiBr mixed ternary composites as a favorite candidate for lithium batteries in terms of safety, stability, and high ionic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the methanol oxidation reaction is investigated on Ni based metal organic frameworks (MOF) and its composites with biomass derived activated carbon. NiO-MOF and composites with activated carbon were synthesized using hydrothermal method. SEM, EDX, and XRD, FTIR, TGA techniques were used for characterization of composites. The electrochemical activity of catalysts for oxidation of methanol was tested using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 1 M KOH and 3 M CH3OH on glassy carbon electrode in three electrode setup. The electrochemical performance shows the effect of activated carbon concentration on methanol oxidation. The electro-oxidation catalyzed by NiO-MOF with activated carbon (40 mg) composite exhibits a peak current density of 182.72 mA/cm2 at 0.89 V potential with a scan rate of 50 mV/s making it a potential catalyst for electrocatalysis of methanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote the electrochemical reduction of CO2 into valuable products and chemical feedstock, the refinement of inexpensive, functioning, highly discerning catalysts is of utmost importance to alleviate inordinate carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. This study presents an innovative electrocatalyst composed of MnO and CuO nanoparticles anchored onto Mn: Cu(1:2)@MOF. These nanocomposites offer multiple active sites for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction, resulting in a striking current density of almost − 58 mAcm−2 at − 2 V vs. Ag/AgCl (reference electrode) in 0.1 M aqueous KHCO3 electrolyte with faradic efficiency of nearly 52% for CO and 54% for methane at − 1.5 V and − 1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. This performance is in stark contrast to the Mn: Cu(1:1)@MOF and Mn: Cu(2:1)@MOF, which exhibit current densities of − 56 mAcm−2 and − 51 mAcm−2 respectively under similar cathodic voltages. The excellent catalytic accomplishment can be credited to the interaction between nanoparticles and MOFs, which allows enhanced absorption and activation for CO2 molecules due to approachable metallic components and matchless 2-D formation of Mn: Cu(1:2)@MOF. These finding presents a straightforward approach to promote CO2 to valuable products through the analytical formulation of MOF alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The versatile uses of Copper(II) Fluoride (CuF2) are well known; these include its usage as a precursor in chemical synthesis as well as its contribution to the creation of sophisticated materials and electronics. There are interesting opportunities to study the interactions between these elements because of their unique crystal structure, which contains copper ions and fluoride anions. Its potential in optoelectronic devices and conductive qualities also make it a viable material for next-generation technologies. To better understand the structural properties of CuF2 and how they affect its entropy, we present new Zagreb indices in this study and use them to calculate entropy measures. We also build a regression model to clarify the relationship between the calculated indices and entropy levels. The findings of our investigation offer significant understanding regarding the ability of the suggested Zagreb indices to extract meaningful content and their correlation with entropy in the context of CuF2. This information is important for understanding CuF2 alloys and for exploring related complex materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an artificial intelligence-based framework was developed to monitor the efficiency of the carbon capture unit, i.e., the Sour Compression Unit (SCU) and a cryogenic unit, in a cement manufacturing plant. Initially, an Aspen Plus-based model of the SCU and the cryogenic unit was developed. The process model was then transformed into dynamic mode through the interfacing of MATLAB and Excel with Aspen Plus to capture real-time process behavior. Five hundred fifty data samples were generated by varying the process conditions, i.e., inlet water flow rate, temperature, pressure, etc. The dataset was then used to develop ensemble models. Output compositions of the models were CO 2 , SO 2 , and NO. The ensemble models were used as surrogates in Sobol and Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (FAST) frameworks to find the most sensitive process conditions that affect the efficiency of the process. The correlation coefficients based on the ensemble models for estimation of the composition of CO 2 , SO 2 , and NO, were 0.9888, 0.9663, and 0.9970, respectively. Based on the sensitivity analysis, the inlet flue gas temperature and pressure were the dominant variables that affect the mole fraction of SO 2 and NO in the flue gas. Besides, the CO 2 recovery was found heavily dependent on temperature of the flash tanks. The proposed framework was highly accurate and will provide a base for real-time implementation of the concept of smart factory in cement manufacturing plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrid boiling nano fluid flow is over a porous sheet discuused. • Convective boundary conditions are considered. • Levenberg Marquardt artificial neural networks approach is applied. • Alumina and copper Nanoparticles are used for graphical illustration. • Electrohydrodynamic effects are also taken into account. In the domain of artificial neural networks, the Levenberg-Marquardt technique stands out for its innovative approach and convergent stability. It generates a numerical approach for the progression of a hybrid Cu–Al 2 CO 3 /water nanofluid on a porous stretched sheet (HNF-PSS), employing regression plots, state transition measures, histogram representations, and mean squared errors. This work explores the analysis of the fluid flow problem associated with HNF-PSS, introducing a novel application of an intelligent computing system that utilizes the effectiveness of neural networks trained by the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm (NN-TLMA). The initial mathematical expression, expressed in terms of partial differential equations (PDEs) for HNF-PSS, undergoes transformation into dimensionless nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The collection of data for the envisioned NN-TLMA involves parameters influencing the velocity of the HNF-PSS system model, generated using the Lobatto IIIa formula. The efficacy of the suggested NN-TLMA for solving the HNF-PSS is robustly verified by examinations of state transition dynamics, regression analyses, mean square error, and error histogram studies. The consistent alignment of the obtained results with corresponding solutions attests to the legitimacy of the structure, achieving a high level of accuracy within the range of 10–6 to 10–8. Insightful findings demonstrate that the thermal Biot number contributes significantly to an upsurge in fluid temperature. Furthermore, an augmentation in nanofluid concentration and thermal profile is found to increase the porosity strength of the medium. Nevertheless, an attenuation in the velocity profile is noted under these conditions. The application of this simulation work can be found in optimizing the designs of heat exchanger, in biomedical application and in renewable energy processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the escalated global energy requirements while preserving the intrinsic environmental integrity, it is highly important to develop renewable and clean energy sources as the replacement of traditional fossil fuels. Hydrogen is an appealing green energy source due to huge energy density, carbon free by products, renewable and storable nature. Water splitting is an exceedingly important technology for sustainable hydrogen generation. However, the process needs high-performance, stable, and low-cost catalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This review article aims to summarize the theoretical understanding of foundations for various H 2 development technologies along with their merits and de-merits. The essence of nanosciences for the development of nanoengineered stable and cost-effective catalysts has been comprehensively showcased by enlightening the outstanding performance of newly emergent nanocatalyst for H 2 production via water splitting. Particular consideration has been devoted to prevalent approaches that can improve the catalytic properties of the categorized nanocatalyst and provide insight towards atomic assembly related mechanism. Future consideration for catalytic enhancement is also discussed. In short, this critical review comes up with the insight essence of hybridized catalyst that are noteworthy for researchers and industrialists to sort out the best class of materials in accordance with hydrogen production techniques. [Display omitted] • Underlying mechanisms for Hydrogen production via existing water splitting techniques have been summarized. • Describes the fundamental insight of material requirements as water splitting catalyst. • Unveils the pros and cons of traditional Nanocatalyst. • Introduce features of emerging MXenes, Nano Encapsulated, Nanocurved, Janus Nanoparticles, and Single Atomic Catalyst. • The new pathways are highlighted to overcome the most encountered challenges in water splitting hydrogen generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nanostructured composites Mn/Zn N C @30% rGO, Mn/Zn N C @20% rGO, Mn/Zn N C @10% rGO was synthesized. • Mn/Zn N C @30% rGO demonstrates good electrocatalytic ORR activity in alkaline aqueous electrolyte solutions. • Mn/Zn N C @30% rGO has the lowest Tafel slope overpotential for attaining superior current density. • Mn/Zn N C @30% rGO has been proven reliable for test as fuel cross-over in methanol. Future fuel cells and metal-air batteries will benefit greatly from revealing self-supported electrodes with efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and durability. However, noble metal catalysts are expensive and unstable, necessitating research into novel metal-organic framework (MOF)-based topologies that can catalyse oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). In this work, the synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon (N C) is derived from zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) and a novel Mn-doped Zn N C@rGO is synthesized using a self-templated solvothermal method and their performance in an alkaline medium for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is studied. The nanostructured composite outperformed the commercial Pt/C catalyst in terms of both material resources and application efficacy. The Mn/Zn N C @30% rGO exhibit outstanding performance for ORR in KOH, with a more positive cathodic peak of 0.78 V vs RHE and an onset potential of 0.97 V vs RHE, which are characteristics that suggest the possibility of reducing ORR overpotentials. The improved electrochemical performance, small Tafel slopes and methanol tolerance are ascribed to the interdependent effect of the N -doped carbon (N C) and the Mn/Zn active sites. Novel architecture, tunable porosities, template directed growth and remarkable electrocatalytic performance of Mn-doped Zn N C@rGO make it a good aspirant for energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the demands for more effective and ecofriendly food packaging strategies, the potential of nisin-loaded rhamnolipid functionalized nanofillers (rhamnosomes) has been explored after embedding in hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose (HPMC) and κ-carrageenan (κ-CR)-based packaging films. It was observed that intrinsically active rhamnosomes based nanofillers greatly improved the mechanical and optical properties of nano-active packaging (NAP) films. Incorporation of rhamnosomes resulted in higher tensile strength (5.16 ± 0.06 MPa), Young’s modulus (2777 ± 0.77 MPa), and elongation (2.58 ± 0.03%) for NAP than active packaging containing free nisin (2.96 ± 0.03 MPa, 1107 ± 0.67 MPa, 1.48 ± 0.06%, respectively). NAP demonstrated a homogenous distribution of nanofillers in the biopolymer matrix as elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed that NAP prepared with nisin-loaded rhamnosomes was thermally stable even above 200 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses revealed that addition of nisin in nanofillers resulted in a slight increase in Tg (108.40 °C), indicating thermal stability of NAP. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed slight shift in all characteristic bands of nano-active packaging, which indicated the embedding of rhamnosomes inside the polymer network without any chemical interaction. Finally, when tested on chicken breast filets and cheese slices under refrigerated storage conditions, NAP demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity (up to 4.5 log unit reduction) and inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. These results suggest that HPMC and κ-CR-based NAP containing functionalized nanofillers can serve as an innovative packaging material for the food industry to improve the safety, quality, and shelf-life of dairy and meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bimetal sulfide based nanoporous material was synthesized from mixed ZIFs (Co, Zn). • In-situ growth of nitrogen doped CNTs resulted in excellent ion diffusion and fast electron transport. • ZIF-8 was assisted in nitrogen doping, and ZIF-67 resulted in CNT growth by increasing the graphitization degree. • The synergic effect of nanoporous carbon and binary metal based sulfide is investigated electrochemically. To synthesize porous carbon-based electrodes for supercapacitors, a bimetallic strategy is used from zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), i.e., ZIF-67 and ZIF-8 are used for derived carbon material. The synthesized electrode comprises two metals, nitrogen and nanoporous carbon with sulfur, which have precisely controlled specific surface area, porosity, and graphitization degree. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) methods are used to explore the electrochemical behavior of the prepared materials using three-electrode configurations in an electrolyte solution (2 M KOH). By combining the consequences of sulfur and bimetal, the prepared specimens performed exceptionally well. The modified final ZIF-derived bimetallic sulfide exhibited an enhanced specific capacitance value of 815 F/g at a scan rate of 2 mV/s. According to the findings, the modified composite has very little resistance to charge transfer, a fast frequency response time, and an improved specific capacitance value. The composite's coulombic efficiency remains at 83.9% after 5000 cycles. The final composite's outstanding performance is due to its nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon nature/structure and bimetallic derived sulfide composition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalyst's composition and rationally designed structure is significantly interlinked with its performance for wastewater remediation. Here, a novel hollow cobalt phosphides/carbon (HCoP/C) as an efficient catalyst for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was prepared. The ZIF-67 was synthesized first, followed by phytic acid (PA) etching and then heat treatment was used to get HCoP/C. The PA was used as an etching agent and a source of phosphorus to prepare HCoP/C. To analyze catalytic performance, another solid cobalt phosphides/carbon (SCoP/C) catalyst was prepared for comparison. In contrast to SCoP/C, the HCoP/C exhibited higher catalytic efficiency when used to activate PMS to degrade Bisphenol A (BPA). The results showed that about 98 % of targeted pollutant BPA was removed from the system in 6 min with a rate constant of 0.78 min−1, which was 4 times higher than the solid structure catalyst. The higher catalytic performance of HCoP/C is attributed to its hollow structure. In the study, other parameters such as BPA concentration, temperature, pH, and different catalyst amount were also tested. Moreover, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and radical quenching analysis confirmed that sulfate radicals were dominant in the HCoP/C/PMS system. [Display omitted] • The hollow cobalt phosphide/carbon (HCoP/C) catalyst was prepared from phytic acid assisted ZIF-67. • The phytic acid played dual role as an etching agent and a source of phosphorus. • Significant enhanced catalytic performance was achieved by the HCoP/C for Bisphenol A removal. • The Sulfate radicals were identified as dominant reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escalating antimicrobial resistance is causing a major threat to the public health. Failure of traditional antibiotics urges the development of alternative therapeutics, which include biopolymeric nanosystems with intrinsic antimicrobial potential. In the present study, mannose functionalized chitosan nanosystems (M-CNS) were fabricated through reductive amination of chitosan with mannose and further its ionic gelation. Changes in zeta potential and characteristic peaks in FTIR spectra revealed surface functionalization of chitosan with mannose. Zeta-sizer studies disclosed relatively higher size (180 ± 5 nm) of mannosylated CNS as compared to CNS (162 ± 7 nm). Inversely, the zeta-potential was reduced from +32.2 mV to +25.4 mV for M-CNS. Scanning electron microscopy verified the slight increase in size for M-CNS. Antimicrobial evaluation of designed nanosystems as alternative antibacterial agent was assessed by time-kill, polystyrene adherence and antibiofilm assays against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Results indicated that mannose functionalized CNS inhibited the growth of resistant Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes , while demonstrating anti-adherence and biofilm disruption activity. Furthermore, highly resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were also susceptible against M-CNS. This study unveiled the potential of M-CNS against pathogenic, multidrug resistant, biofilm forming bacteria; thus, making them an ideal candidate for developing alternative-medicines to cure the emerging resistant infections. • Intrinsically active chitosan nanosystems (CNS) are effective alternative therapeutics. • Reductive amination approach to synthesize mannose functionalized CNS (M-CNS). • M-CNS effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. • M-CNS demonstrated enhanced activity against resistant biofilms. • M-CNS hold non-toxic profile based on hemolytic and protein denaturation analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we demonstrate effect of substituents on optoelectronic properties of discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/Lanl2Z level of theory. Three parent DLCs, namely, (1) benzene-1,3,5-triyl tris(3,5-dialkoxybenzoate), (2) N1, N3, N5-tris(3-alkoxyphenyl)benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide, and (3) trialkyl 4, 4′, 4″-(benzenetricarbonyltris (azanediyl)) tribenzoate benzoate and their –N and –S group derivatives of 1, 2, and 3, were investigated to observe the change in optoelectronic response of these systems. The frontier molecular orbital studies and electron affinity values indicate that the studied compounds are stable against the oxygen and moisture present in air. The calculated charge transfer integrals, electron, and hole mobility values revealed that parent DLCs and their derivatives can be employed as an effective n-type material for OLEDs; however, derivatives have enhanced charge transfer values compared with their parents. For better understanding of the thermochemistry and effect of substituents, frequency calculations were carried out. P1-D4 derivative having R = -NH-CO-CH3 terminal group came out to be theoretically the most favored having the lowest ΔG value. Computed UV/visible spectroscopic analysis showed minimum absorbance and maximum transmittance for derivative P2-D1 having –S-NH2 substituent. Molecular electrostatic potential surfaces mapped at potential range, i.e., − 8.531e-3esu to + 8.531e-3esu, describe electrophilic and nucleophilic characteristics. Introduction of electron donor groups enhanced electrical conductivity, excitation energy, and charge transfer integral, thus increasing optoelectronic properties of DLCs. However, these claims require further experimental verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well recognised fact that the properties of materials depend on the synthesis technique. We can use this power to change the physical and chemical properties of materials. Metal organic frameworks are porous coordination polymers that have a highly porous structure, great surface area and can be utilised for gas capturing and storage applications. Improving the surface area of MOFs has always been targeted in coordination chemistry. Synthesis reactions need mass physical forces where the mass transfer of reactants is required, and it can definitely be provided by the sonochemical synthesis approach. In this study, the very well-known MOF-2 was re-synthesised using an ultrasonication method. The prepared sample was activated under vacuum to obtain highly porous MOF crystals. All the prepared samples were fully characterized using SCXRD, PXRD, FTIR TGA, SEM-EDS and BET analysis. The results indicated highly crystalline, water stable MOF materials with a high carbon dioxide capture tendency. Moreover, it was found that sonication treatment and vacuum activation at high temperature increases the specific surface area of the prepared samples compared to MOF-2 prepared by a conventional solvothermal synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For alkaline fuel cell, development of highly efficient catalysts based on non-noble metal for oxygen reduction reaction is of high significance. In this work, synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) derived from Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) and their performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium are studied. The NiCo/NCNTs (nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes) showing excellent ORR performance in KOH with current density of −5.6 mA cm−2 and onset potential of 0.98 V vs RHE. The improved electrochemical performance and stability is credited to the synergetic effect of the nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) and the Ni/Co active sites. The alkaline fuel cell performance of NiCo/NCNTs as cathode catalyst was 65 mW cm−2, which is slightly higher than the commercial Pt/C as cathode (60 mW cm−2). These results indicate that NiCo/NCNTs are promising electrocatalysts for ORR in alkaline fuel cell. Image 1026449 • The NiCo/NCNTs showed halfwave potential of 0.88V while Pt/C showed 0.84V. • In AFC, NiCo/NCNTs showed peak power density of 65 mW cm−2. • Synergetic effect of the NCNTs and the Ni/Co active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, biomass derived activated carbon (AC) was utilized to enhance the electrochemical properties of copper benzene-1, 3, 5-tricarboxylate metal organic framework (Cu-BTC MOF). Dried leaves (Lantana) were activated with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) for preparation of AC. Cu-MOF was pyrolyzed with different ratios of AC (1:1) under a reduction atmosphere of mixture of argon and hydrogen gases (90:10) in a tube furnace. These freshly produced composite materials were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. The synthesized catalysts were tested for its electro catalytic activity for oxidation reduction reaction (ORR) in three electrode system by cyclic voltammetry, Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical parameters calculated by film coated glassy carbon electrode exhibit impact of activated carbon on oxidation reduction reaction catalyzed by Cu-BTC MOF. The composite Cu@AC (1:1) reported the highest current density of 2.11 mA cm−2 at 0.9 V potential with a scan rate of 50 mV s−1 in 0.1 M KOH which is better than commercial grade Pt/C having highest current density of 1.37 mA cm−2 at 0.86 V potential. The electrochemical activity and intensified constancy is due to synergistic influence of MOF and AC-composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, protein/polysaccharide core-shell-corona (PP-CSC) nano delivery systems (NDS) were prepared by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and chitosan (CS). The potential of PP-CSC-NDS for increasing the stability and bio-accessibility of ε-poly- l -lysine (ε-PL) as effective therapy for gastric Helicobacter pylori was investigated. The presence of CS-shell increased the size (223 ± 1.7 nm) of BSA-core as compared to BSA-shell on CS-core (191 ± 2.6 nm). Conversely, encapsulation efficiency of ε-PL was reduced for C(B)NDS [CS-shell on BSA-core] to 73 ± 1% than 82 ± 2% for B(C)NDS [BSA-shell on CS-core] due to cationic nature of ε-PL. Scanning electron microscopy of PP-CSC-NDS displayed smooth and non-flocculated morphology. FTIR analyses verified that the electrostatic interactions, H-bonding, and hydrophobic effects were involved in PP-CSC formation. Zeta analyses revealed that the net charge depends on the corona layer and the encapsulated antimicrobials. Moreover, CS corona improved the antimicrobial potential, controlled release, mucoadhesion and stability of ε-PL loaded C(B)NDS in simulated gastric fluid due to inherent antimicrobial and mucoadhesive properties of CS polymer. In contrast, protein corona improved the penetration into bacterial biofilms for better eradiation of H. pylori. Thus, conjugated nano-systems with selected corona can improve the overall efficacy of antimicrobials to develop effective nano-therapeutics against gastric infections. Unlabelled Image • Core shell-corona nano-systems improved the encapsulation and stability of active agent. • Protein-polysaccharide based nano-antimicrobials (NAMs) improved the mucoadhesion. • Corona modification improved the gastro-retention and controlled release of poly-lysine. • Conjugated NAMs demonstrated excellent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Entrapment of β-carotene in proteosomes (WPI-MPs-P and CasNa-MPs-P) was ≥90% • Emulsifying properties of WPI and CasNa increased with milk phospholipids (MPLs) • Positive and negative ζ-potential of proteosomes (P) depended on WPI and CasNa shell. • Thermal stability and sustained release of β-carotene from P at gastric and intestinal pH. • Improved digestive stability (>50%) and bioaccessibility (>85%) of β-carotene. Proteosomes (P) based on milk fat globule membrane's phospholipids (MPs), whey protein isolate (WPI) and sodium caseinate (CasNa) were developed by ultrasonication to encapsulate β-carotene. Entirely milk-ingredients based proteosomes (WPI-MPs-P and CasNa-MPs-P) revealed homogenous distribution with size diameters < 250 nm. WPI-MPs-P depicted positive ζ-potential values (+15.7 ± 0.5 mV), while CasNa-MPs-P demonstrated negative (–32.5 ± 3.4 mV) values of surface charge, respectively and hydrophilic nature of proteosomes was observed by measuring contact-angle (θ). AFM and SEM exhibited spherical to oval and slightly irregular morphology of nanocarriers. For various concentrations of β-carotene, the highest encapsulation efficiency of β-carotene was 90 ± 0.2% and 92 ± 0.8% in WPI-MPs-P and CasNa-MPs-P respectively. FTIR analyses confirmed the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions-based encapsulation of β-carotene. Beneficial antioxidant-potential of β-carotene was retained after its encapsulation in the proteosomes. Proteosomes increased the digestive-stability (>50%) and bioaccessibility (>85%) of β-carotene. Thus, milk-ingredients based proteosomes offer a novel-strategy to develop functional dairy products to overcome widespread vitamin-A-deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were engineered using anhydrous milk fat (AMF) as vitamin-D 3 (VD 3) carrier and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) phospholipids (PLs) as surfactants. Significantly higher encapsulation efficiency of VD 3 was obtained (96 ± 2.5%) in AMF-MFGM-PLs NLCs. Void and VD 3 loaded NLCs had diameters of 150 ± 0.2 nm and 167 ± 2 nm and ζ-potentials of −15.5 ± 1.6 mV and −15.9 ± 0.3 mV, respectively. NLCs had spherical morphology; VD 3 was distributed in the lipid core of NLCs via weak electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions. Physical stability in terms of particle size and homogeneity of particles was attained for a three-week storage period. Biphasic in-vitro controlled release kinetics was observed, i.e., burst release followed by sustained release up to 21 days. VD 3 exhibited effective chemical stability (48.3 ± 3.4%) and significantly higher bioaccessibility (88 ± 2.6%) after complete simulated in-vitro digestion. VD 3 loaded NLCs are promising natural vehicles for the effective delivery of less-bioaccessible vitamins to overcome micronutrient deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of membrane with improved carbon dioxide (CO 2) gas separation capability is a significant challenge. However, the fabrication of membrane that efficiently separate and purification CO 2 -containing gases has been the focus of global attention. Cellulose Acetate (CA) has robust reinforcing characteristics when incorporated within a suitable polymer matrix. This work focus on the synthesis of novel mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) by introducing Graphene-grafted bimetallic MOFs in Cellulose Acetate polymer. The graphene-grafted bimetallic MOF (GG-BM MOFs) was prepared by a hydrothermal technique. Whereas, the solution casting approach used to fabricate membranes. The 1–5 wt% of GG-BM MOFs incorporated into the CA matrix. The mechanical, hydrophilicity and adsorption characteristics of fabricated MMMs were investigated. The crystallinity of MMM enhanced after the addition of GG-BM MOFs. In addition, the mechanical characteristics of MMMs were improved with the incorporation of GG-BM MOFs inside the polymer matrix. Maximum stress and strain was obtained for 2 wt% MMM (36.4 N/mm2 and 11% respectively). The CO 2 adsorption performance was evaluated at 10 bar and 45 °C. The FTIR results represent insignificant bond shifting with the addition GG-BM MOFs at these conditions. The overall results showed that MMMs containing 2 wt% GG-BM MOFs have good adsorption properties for CO 2 i.e 3.15 wt% of CO 2. The MMMs have shown a decrease in the mechanical properties and CO 2 adsorption at the higher GG-BM MOFs loading due to the presence of agglomeration which was confirmed through SEM. Thus, the addition of GG-BM MOFs in the CA matrix positively altered the physicochemical characteristics of the resulting MMMs, which could assist them in achieving remarkable CO 2 adsorption at 2 wt%. [Display omitted] • The graphene-grafted bimetallic MOFs were synthesized using a hydrothermal process • Graphene-grafted bimetallic MOF-membranes for toxic contaminants treatment • The uniform dense structure of membrane was obtained • The membrane demonstrated higher CO 2 affinity of 15.7 cm3/g [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Co-pyrolysis of RH, SS and their blends were evaluated using thermogravimetric study. • Coats-Redfern integral method successfully applied on five major reaction mechanisms to estimate co-pyrolysis kinetics. • Thermodynamic parameters of pure biomass and their blends were elucidated using kinetic data at two temperature regions. • ANN is, for the first time, applied to co-pyrolysis process. Abstract This study investigates the thermal decomposition, thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of rice-husk (R), sewage sludge (S) and their blends during co-pyrolysis using thermogravimetric analysis at a constant heating rate of 20 °C/min. Coats-Redfern integral method is applied to mass loss data by employing seventeen models of five major reaction mechanisms to calculate the kinetics and thermodynamic parameters. Two temperature regions: I (200–400 °C) and II (400–600 °C) are identified and best fitted with different models. Among all models, diffusion models show high activation energy with higher R2(0.99) of rice husk (66.27–82.77 kJ/mol), sewage sludge (52.01–68.01 kJ/mol) and subsequent blends (45.10–65.81 kJ/mol) for region I and for rice husk (7.31–25.84 kJ/mol), sewage sludge (1.85–16.23 kJ/mol) and blends (4.95–16.32 kJ/mol) for region II, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters are calculated using kinetics data to assess the co-pyrolysis process enthalpy, Gibbs-free energy, and change in entropy. Artificial neural network (ANN) models are developed and employed on co-pyrolysis thermal decomposition data to study the reaction mechanism by calculating Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2). The co-pyrolysis results from a thermal behavior and kinetics perspective are promising and the process is viable to recover organic materials more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis of high-ash sewage sludge (HASS) is a considered as an effective method and a promising way for energy production from solid waste of wastewater treatment facilities. The main purpose of this work is to build knowledge on pyrolysis mechanisms, kinetics, thermos-gravimetric analysis of high-ash (44.6%) sewage sludge using model-free methods & results validation with artificial neural network (ANN). TG-DTG curves at 5,10 and 20 °C/min showed the pyrolysis zone was divided into three zone. In kinetics, E values of models ranges are; Friedman (10.6–306.2 kJ/mol), FWO (45.6–231.7 kJ/mol), KAS (41.4–232.1 kJ/mol) and Popescu (44.1–241.1 kJ/mol) respectively. ΔH and ΔG values predicted by OFW, KAS and Popescu method are in good agreement and ranged from (41–236 kJ/mol) and 53–304 kJ/mol, respectively. Negative value of ΔS showed the non-spontaneity of the process. An artificial neural network (ANN) model of 2 * 5 * 1 architecture was employed to predict the thermal decomposition of high-ash sewage sludge, showed a good agreement between the experimental values and predicted values (R 2  ⩾ 0.999) are much closer to 1. Overall, the study reflected the significance of ANN model that could be used as an effective fit model to the thermogravimetric experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioaccessibility of lipophilic β-carotene is often compromised and lipid-based colloidal delivery systems (CDS) are considered effective to overcome this issue. In this study, milk phospholipid (MPL), buttermilk powder (BMP) and MPL:BMP composite-nanosystems were developed with encapsulation-efficiency of 91 ± 2.7%. Scanning electron microscopy showed spherical morphology of MPL and MPL:BMP nanosystems; slightly irregular morphology was observed in BMP nanosystems. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) for size (172±5–217 ± 2 nm) and polydispersity-index (0.24–0.37) analyses were performed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed β-carotene incorporated through weak electrostatic interaction in nanosystems. The lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity of β-carotene by thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) assay revealed that MPL, BMP and MPL:BMP nanosystems effectively inhibited TBARS (20.6 ± 2.9–50 ± 4.5%) formation. In vitro digestion revealed chemical stability was 82 ± 2.4% while bioaccessibility and effective-bioaccessibility was 94.8 ± 5% and 70.5 ± 3.2% in MPL:BMP nanosystems, respectively. Thus, milk-ingredients-based CDS can provide rational design for nutraceuticals application with enhanced bioaccessibility of β-carotene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface attributes of nanocarriers are crucial to determine their fate in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Herein, we have functionalized chitosan with biochemical moieties including rhamnolipid (RL), curcumin (Cur) and mannose (M). FTIR spectra of functionalized chitosan nanocarriers (FCNCs) demonstrated successful conjugation of M, Cur and RL. The functional moieties influenced the entrapment of model drug i.e. , coumarin-6 (C6) in FCNCs with payload-hosting and non-leaching behavior i.e. , >91 ± 2.5 % with negligible cumulative release of <2 % for 5 h in KREB, which was further verified in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Consequently, substantial difference in the size and zeta potential was observed for FCNCs with different biochemical moieties. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy of FCNCs displayed well-dispersed and spherical morphology. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity results of FCNCs confirmed their hemocompatibility. In the ex-vivo rat intestinal models, FCNCs displayed a time-dependent-phenomenon in cellular-uptake and adherence. However, apparent-permeability-coefficient and flux values were in the order of C6-RL-FCNCs > C6-M-FCNCs > C6-Cur-FCNCs = C6-CNCs > Free-C6. Furthermore, the transepithelial electrical resistance revealed the FCNCs mediated recovery of membrane-integrity with reversible tight junctions opening. Thus, FCNCs have the potential to overcome the poor solubility and/or permeability issues of active pharmaceutical ingredients and transform the impact of functionalized-nanomedicines in the biomedical industry. • Substantial influence of functional moieties on percent release and entrapment of API • Functionalized chitosan nanocarriers (FCNCs) exhibited spherical morphology. • FCNCs exhibited time dependent phenomenon in cellular uptake and adherence. • Electrophysiology revealed reversible impact of FCNCs on membrane polarization. • Ex-vivo study: enhanced permeation and transport of FCNCs via Franz diffusion cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the effect of a synthesis method for cobalt catalyst supported on hydrotalcite material for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The hydrotalcite supported cobalt (HT-Co) catalysts were synthesized by co-precipitation and hydrothermal method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by using various techniques like BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), TGA (Thermal Gravimetric Analysis), XRD (X-ray diffraction spectroscopy), and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). Fixed bed micro reactor was used to test the catalytic activity of prepared catalysts. The catalytic testing results demonstrated the performance of hydrotalcite based cobalt catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with high selectivity for liquid products. The effect of synthesis method on the activity and selectivity of catalyst was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substantial quantity of Cr(VI) contaminants in the aqueous atmosphere is a major environmental fear that cannot be overlooked. For the first time, MXene and chitosan-coated polyurethane foam have been employed for wastewater treatment, including heavy metal ions (Cr (VI)) through a fixed-bed column study. It is also the most inexpensive, lightweight, and globally friendly material tested. The Mxene and chitosan-coated polyurethane foam hybrid materials were thoroughly investigated using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), SEM (scanning electron microscope), XPS (X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffraction). The presence of the rough surface and the pore creation in the Mxene– MX 3 @CS 3 @PUF should rise its surface area, which is useful to interact the surface-active assembly of MX 3 @CS 3 @PUF and the Cr(VI) contaminations in the aqueous solution. With the help of the ion exchange mechanism and electrostatic contact, negatively charged MXene hexavalent ions were being adsorbed on the surface. MXene and chitosan have been coated on PUF foam in the form of three different layers, which shows the highest adsorption capacity, where up to ∼70% Cr (VI) was removed in the first 10 min and more than 60% elimination after 3 h when the metal ion concentration was 20 ppm. The electrostatic interaction between the negative charge MXene and the positive charge chitosan on the surface of PUF, which was absent in MX@PUF, is accountable for the high removal efficiency. This was done through a sequence of fixed-bed column studies, which took place in the continuous flowing of wastewater. [Display omitted] • High-capacity surface-engineered MXene composite is successfully developed. • Fixed bed column tests were conducted to determine adsorption behaviour. • 65% of the Cr (VI) was removed with continuous operation of 180 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis and activation of biochar derived catalyst is critically examined. • Activation of biochar catalyst has significant impact for biofuel production. • Challenge and way forward is presented by highlighting research gaps. Biodiesel is considered as a promising sustainable biofuel from renewable resources with lower pollutant emissions. However, high production cost, difficulty in recovering catalyst, and an expensive separation process associated with the use of homogeneous catalysts are still critical challenges. Heterogeneous catalysts derived from biomass are considered as viable options. Marine macroalgae-derived biochar owing to its vast surface area, diverse functional groups, presence of inorganics, and high porosity, could be considered as a suitable heterogeneous catalyst or as a supported catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. Thermochemical conversion processes, such as hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis, convert marine macroalgae biomass into biochar, which primarily composed of carbon, oxygen, and inorganics (Ca, K, Mg, Fe, etc.). The activation of macroalgae-derived biochar either physically or chemically played a vital role towards biofuel production. The catalytic activity and the performance of the macroalgae-derived biochar catalyst are influenced by its physicochemical properties (–SO 3 H group density, porosity, overall surface area, functional groups, and so on). Biodiesel production over marine macroalgae-derived biochar catalyst represents a more sustainable solution to current energy demands and develops economically beneficial biodiesel technology. This article provides a critical assessment of the marine macroalgae-derived biochar catalysts for the production of biodiesel. Initially, macroalgal biochar is produced through different thermochemical conversion technologies, including hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis, and its yield and physicochemical characteristics are discussed. After that, various techniques for the activation of macroalgae-derived biochar are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A review on biomass pyrolysis oil using shape selective microporous zeolites. • Historic evaluation of research was analyzed using bibliometric analysis. • Reaction pathways for different zeolites for bio-oil upgradation are presented. • Challenges and recommendation suggested the way forward. Biomass pyrolysis is one of the cleaner ways to produce bioenergy focusing on bio-oil. The high oxygen content of oxygen in bio-oil limits its application in transportation applications. The deoxygenation of bio-oil using various catalyst systems is required to upgrade the bio-oil. Herein, we presented the scientometric analysis of microporous zeolites for deoxygenation of biomass-derived bio-oil. The state of the art review of biomass catalytic deoxygenation using zeolite-based materials is elucidated. A special focus on the role of catalyst physicochemical properties and degree of deoxygenation is Furthermore, the reaction pathways for different zeolites for bio-oil upgradation are presented. Finally, the technology readiness level is assessed and future recommendations are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daphne mucronata is a shrub well known as a medicinal plant in different regions of Asia. Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies have revealed strong anti-cancer potential of the plant. Literature reports the evaluation of the initial bioactivity profile and extraction of the plant followed by different chromatographic techniques to obtain fractions. As an outcome, isolation and identification of coumarins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, lignin cumarinolignans, glucosides, daphnecin, aquillochin, daphnine and umbelliferone from the plant have been reported. Of these compounds, a diterpene, named gnidilatimonoein, has shown promising anticancer potency in in vitro tests on various cancer cell lines. This review article is an effort to summarize literature published in recent years on the bioactivity of Daphne mucronata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to low cost and high theoretical capacity of 994 mAh g−1, tin has received much attention for its applications relevant to energy storage devices including lithium-ion batteries. However, the structural instability of tin-based compounds becomes prominent during lithium-ion insertion/extraction mechanism and this decreases its cyclic life and rate capacity. Mitigating the structural instability and corresponding improvement in rate capacity require novel strategies, and herein composite of SnO 2 with nanoporous carbon was synthesized using ZIF-67 which creates a framework composed of Co–Sn alloy and Sn–C network that is responsible for enhanced structural stability. The electrochemical behavior of the Co–Sn@NC composite with three different molar ratios of 2-methylimdazole was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), and a multi-channel battery analyzer. The later analysis revealed that after 50 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, Co–Sn alloy with carbon matrix having the maximum amount of N -doped organic linker delivered the highest reversible capacity of 601 mAh g−1. This can be attributed to well-dispersed nano Co–Sn alloy embedded within the porous structure of carbon matrix, thus providing an effective cushion for releasing volumetric strain that develops within the structure. • Composite of SnO 2 with nanoporous carbon was synthesized using ZIF-67. • Creation of framework composed of Co–Sn alloy and Sn–C network, responsible for enhanced structural stability. • Co–Sn@NC-3 with higher loading of organic linker delivered the highest reversible capacity of 601 mAh g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hierarchical multi-element architecture i.e. Co/NC/S@NH via controlled pyrolysis and hydrothermal treatment. • The Co/NC/S@NH displays an improved specific capacitance of 1636 F/g at 1A/g plus exceptional cyclic stability by the retention of 94% over 5000 cycles. • Improved electrochemical properties of the synthesized electrode material being attributed towards efficient redox reactions and accessibility of active sites. Herein we report the synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NC) based sulfide (S) and nickel hydroxide (NH) supported on nickel foam as a novel electrode material for the supercapacitors (abbreviated as Co/NC/S@NH). A class of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, ZIF-67 (Co), is initially grown to synthesize nanotubes directly on the nickel foam (NF). The anion exchange reactions are performed for the growth of sulfide and nickel hydroxide on ZIF-67 (Co) derived carbon nanotubes. In the structural analysis, X-ray diffraction confirmed the successful in-situ growth of carbon nanotubes. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to confirm the formation of NC-based sulfide and nickel hydroxide. The Co/NC/S@NH, hierarchical hybrid electrode, exhibited improved capacitance of 1636 F/g at 1 A/g (982 C/g or 273 mA/h) with exceptional cyclic stability. The Co/NC/S@NH showed capacity retention of 94% over 5,000 cycles. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the synthesized electrode is due to the improved redox reactions and direct growth of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes on 3D nickel foam which act as "superhighways" for electron transportation. Moreover, the sulfur ions could hinder the collapse of a structure by the intercalation among layers, whereas the extremely hydroxylated surface of Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets could promote accessibility of ions to the electrolyte which decreases the resistance of electrodes which agreed with the finding from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pt/Pt alloy and single Pt atoms are anchored on defects rich carbon support. • PtNiCo/NC showed halfwave potential of 0.91 V while Pt/C showed 0.87 V. • PtNiCo/NC catalyst showed a peak power density of 1070 mWcm−2. • PtNiCo/NC exhibited excellent stability in fuel cell with no loss in performance. • Synergistic effect among nitrogen doped carbon, Co/Ni active sites and Pt/Pt alloy. High performance cathode catalysts with minimum platinum amount for the electrocatalyzed oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEMFCs remain as a significant challenge for commercial application. Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF) based catalyst can provide void 3D framework of N-doped nano-porous carbon for promising ORR activity. Here we report a bimetallic pyrolyzed NiCo-ZIF supported fine Pt/Pt alloy electrocatalyst for ORR. After pyrolysis, nano-porous carbon is obtained with well dispersed Pt/Pt alloy nanoparticles (˜ 3 nm). This catalyst shows superior performance and stability in acidic medium against the commercial catalyst comprising of Pt/C. In a single cell PEMFC, high peak power density value of 1067 mW. cm−2 is attained at 70 °C by using low platinum amount of 0.12 mg cm-2 on cathode. The enhanced activity and durability is credited to the synergistic impact of N-doped nano-porous carbon originated from NiCo-ZIF and the defect rich carbon support to anchor Pt/Pt alloy nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elimination of dyes discharged from industrial wastewater into water bodies is crucial due to its detrimental effects on aquatic organisms and potential carcinogenic impact on human health. Various methods are employed for dye removal, but they often fall short in completely degrading the dyes and generating large amounts of suspended solids. Hence, there is a critical need for an efficient process that can achieve complete dye degradation with minimal waste emission. Among traditional water treatment approaches, photocatalysis stands out as a promising method for degrading diverse toxic and organic pollutants present in wastewater. In this review, the heterogeneous photocatalysis process is well explained for dye removal. This comprehensive review not only provides insightful illumination on the classification of dyes but also thoroughly explains various dye removal methods and the underlying mechanisms of photocatalysis. Furthermore, factors which effect the activity of the photocatalysis process are also explained in detail. Likewise, we categorized the heterogeneous photocatalyst in three generations and observed their activity for dye removal. This review also addresses the challenges and effectiveness of this promising field. Its primary aim is to offer a comprehensive overview of the photocatalytic degradation of pollution and to explore its potential for further future applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Environmental degradation and energy constraint are important risks to long-term sustainability in the modern world. Water splitting is a vital approach for environmentally friendly and sustainable energy storage, providing a clean way to produce hydrogen without pollutants. Preparing a catalyst that is active, bifunctional, and durable for water splitting is a difficult task. We addressed the difficulty by creating a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst, MoS 2 /rGO, with an ideal weight percentage of 5 wt% by a hydrothermal process. The optimized sample showed exceptional electrocatalytic activity, requiring an overpotential of 242 mV and 120 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm -2 in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). Furthermore, our synthesized catalyst was validated for its exceptional water-splitting capacity, with the optimized sample showing low Tafel slope values of 59 mV dec -1 for HER and 171 mV dec -1 for OER. The significant OER and HER activity seen in the 5 wt% MoS 2 /rGO hybrid, compared to other hybrids, is due to the many catalytic active sites that aid in charge and electron transport, as well as the synergistic interaction between MoS 2 and rGO., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal interests that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Drilling fluids are an essential component of drilling operations in the oil and gas industry. Nanotechnology is being used to develop advanced drilling fluid additives. This study looked at the viability of synthesizing SiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 hybrid extending the Stober process followed by its addition in different concentrations to water-based drilling fluids and studying impact on the rheological and fluid loss properties of the fluids. The synthesized hybrid was analyzed using XRD, SEM, TGA, and FTIR. Subsequently, it was used to develop the water-based drilling mud formulations and subjected to measurements in accordance with API standard practices. The studies were carried out at various SiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 nanoparticle concentrations under before hot rolling (BHR) and after hot rolling (AHR) conditions. The outcomes demonstrated that the rheological and fluid loss properties were enhanced by the addition of SiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 nanoparticles, as it worked in synergy with other additives. Additionally, it was discovered that the nanoparticles improved the drilling fluid thermal stability. The experimental findings indicate a significant influence of SiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 nanoparticles on base fluid properties including rheology and fluid loss as the most remarkable, especially at higher temperatures. The significant improvements in yield point and 10 s gel strength were 55 and 42.8% under BHR and 216 and 140% under AHR conditions, respectively. Permeability plugging test (PPT) fluid loss was reduced by 69.6 and 87.2% under BHR and AHR conditions, respectively, when 0.5 lb/bbl nanoparticles were used in formulations. As a result, SiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 nanomaterial has the potential to be used as drilling fluid additive in water-based drilling fluids., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Electrochemical water splitting for sustainable hydrogen and oxygen production have shown enormous potentials. However, this method needs low-cost and highly active catalysts. Traditional nano catalysts, while effective, have limits since their active sites are mostly restricted to the surface and edges, leaving interior surfaces unexposed in redox reactions. Single atom catalysts (SACs), which take advantage of high atom utilization and quantum size effects, have recently become appealing electrocatalysts. Strong interaction between active sites and support in SACs have considerably improved the catalytic efficiency and long-term stability, outperforming their nano-counterparts. This review's first section examines the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). In the next section, SACs are categorized as noble metal, non-noble metal, and bimetallic synergistic SACs. In addition, this review emphasizes developing methodologies for effective SAC design, such as mass loading optimization, electrical structure modulation, and the critical role of support materials. Finally, Carbon-based materials and metal oxides are being explored as possible supports for SACs. Importantly, for the first time, this review opens a discussion on waste-derived supports for single atom catalysts used in electrochemical reactions, providing a cost-effective dimension to this vibrant research field. The well-known design techniques discussed here may help in development of electrocatalysts for effective water splitting., (© 2024 The Chemical Society of Japan & Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) containing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been an emerging and promising membrane technology to contribute to different gas separation applications including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and oxygen (O 2 ) separation, because of their large surface areas and distinctive gas adsorption features. In this work, the fabrication process of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based MMMs was reported, in which 0.5 to 2 wt.% of each type of (Cu, Ni)-based MOF-74 variants were incorporated into a PDMS matrix in order to achieve high CO 2 /N 2 , O 2 /N 2 , and CO 2 /O 2 separation efficiency. These MMMs and their nanofillers (MOF-74) were extensively characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) mapping, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), a single gas permeation testing system, and an ultimate tensile strength testing (UTS) unit in order to gain insight into their properties in relation to their gas separation performance. The 1 wt.% of both (Cu and Ni)-MOF-74@PDMS were selected as the most optimum MMMs due to their uniform morphology and enhanced tensile strength, which exhibited high CO 2 permeabilities of 4432 Barrer (37.9% increase) and 4288 Barrer (33.5% increase), respectively. Furthermore, in the case of 1 wt.% Ni-MOF-74@PDMS, the CO 2 /N 2 , O 2 /N 2 , and CO 2 /O 2 selectivities were also enhanced to 36.2 (141.6% increase), 3.2 (21.9% increase), and 11.25 (98.1% increase), respectively. While, in the case of 1 wt.% Cu-MOF-74@PDMS the CO 2 /N 2 and O 2 /N 2 selectivities showed an increment up-to 94.7 (531.5% increase) and 6.47 (145% increase), respectively, Whereas, at 0.5 wt.%, Cu-MOF-74@PDMS showed the best CO 2 /O 2 selectivity of 25.26 (344.7% increase)., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Designing of non-noble, cost-effective, sustainable catalysts for water splitting is essential for hydrogen production. In this research work, ZIF-67, g-C 3 N 4 , and their composite (1, 3, 5, 6, 8 wt% g-C 3 N 4 @ZIF-67) are synthesized, and various techniques, XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX and BET are used to examine their morphological properties for electrochemical water-splitting. The linkage of ZIF-67 with g-C 3 N 4 synergistically improves the electrochemical kinetics. An appropriate integration of g-C 3 N 4 in ZIF-67 MOF improves the charge transfer between the electrode and electrolyte and makes it a suitable option for electrochemical applications. In alkaline media, the composite of ZIF-67 MOF with g-C 3 N 4 over a Ni-foam exhibits a superior catalyst activity for water splitting application. Significantly, the 3 wt% g-C 3 N 4 @ZIF67 composite material reveals remarkable results with low overpotential values of -176 mV@10 mA cm -2 , 152 mV@10 mA cm -2 for HER and OER. The catalyst remained stable for 24 h without distortion. The 3 wt% composite also shows a commendable performance for overall water-splitting with a voltage yield of 1.34 v@10 mA cm -2 . The low contact angle (54.4°) proves the electrocatalyst's hydrophilic nature. The results of electrochemical water splitting illustrated that 3 wt% g-C 3 N 4 @ZIF-67 is an electrically conductive, stable, and hydrophilic-nature catalyst and is suggested to be a promising candidate for electrochemical water-splitting application., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)