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Porous-activated carbons (PAC) show a lot of applications in various fields due to their large surface area and appropriate pore volume, along with decent thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Because of these characteristics, PACs are the best choice as an electrode material in supercapacitors (SCs). Due to the utility of PACs, this work reports the transformation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into PAC with a surface area of 162.40 m2/g. The synthesized PAC exhibits a maximum specific capacitance (CSP) of 40 F/g at five mV/s in 1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium thiocyanate ionic liquid (EMIM SCN-IL) electrolyte. Also, no degradation was recorded in the initial Csp of the fabricated SC, even after 9000 cycles at room temperature. Additionally, using the same PAC in counter electrode dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was also fabricated, and the cell was tested at 1 sun condition, which shows a fill factor of 59.37 % and an efficiency of 1.42 %.

This study aimed to assess the chemical composition and pesticidal activities of essential oils (EOs) from Cautleya spicata rhizomes and aerial parts. The EOs were assessed against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) by mortality and hatchability bioassays and the phytotoxicity of the EOs was determined against Raphanus raphanistrum subspp. Sativus (radish) and Cichorium intybus (chicory) seeds. In-silico screening of the primary constituents of EOs and five chosen target proteins of the nematode was conducted to predict the expected mechanism of action of these oils. p-Cymene and β-pinene were the key compounds in the EOs from the rhizomes and aerial parts. The EO from the aerial parts (LC50 value = 0.555 µL/mL for nematode mortality assay and IC50 value = 0.016 µL/mL for nematode egg hatchability after 96 h) exhibited significantly higher nematicidal activity than the rhizome EO. However, rhizome EO showed higher phytotoxic activity against radish (R. raphanistrum) with lower IC50 values (0.157 and 0.123 µL/mL for RLI and SLI, respectively) and chicory (C. intybus) seeds (100% inhibition at 1.0 µL/mL concentration). Docking studies revealed the strongest inhibitory actions of β-selinene against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cytochrome c oxidase (CytC), spathulenol against glutathione S-transferase (GST-1), and β-eudesmol against heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and odorant response gene-3 (ODR3) proteins. The study unveiled the chemical diversity present in both the EOs and rhizomes of C. spicata along with their considerable potential as plant-based pesticidal agents effective against nematodes and weed species.

Extensive research efforts have been devoted to using greenhouse gas CO2 in upgrading bio-derived feedstock to value-added chemicals using the oxidative dehydrogenation route (CO2-ODH) with low-energy input. To realize the effective deployment of CO2-ODH at an industrial scale, it is imperative to advance the development of robust catalysts that can selectively catalyze C-H over C-C bonds, while simultaneously demonstrating thermodynamic stability to coke formation or sintering. Transition metal-based catalysts exhibit significant potential for being highly selective and reactive in the simultaneous conversion of CO2 and hydrocarbons, owing to their surface reducibility, well-balanced acid/base properties, and dynamic oxygen storage capacity. To stimulate further optimization, it's crucial to discover key design principles, potential trends and descriptors, and effective strategies to fine-tune the catalyst materials. This review comprehensively examines experimental and theoretical research aimed at pinpointing the key catalytic characteristics that affect selectivity in transition metal-based mono, bi, and multimetal oxides. It covers aspects like combinations of active metals and supports, effects of composition and alloying, interfacial structures, adsorption strengths, dynamics of in-situ restructuring, defect creation, surface morphology, and electronic properties, among others. We wrap up by suggesting approaches to overcome present obstacles in catalyst design and reactor technology, potentially bridging the lab-to-industry gap in this domain.

ABSTRACTNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a life-threatening cancer associated with a higher mortality rate. Despite promising results shown by combination therapies, there remains a need for efficient drug delivery materials capable of combining various drugs, imaging agents, and targeting agents to enhance treatment efficacy. In this study, we present the synthesis of novel core-shell hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (@MSN) with bimodal porosity and a large surface area (694 m2/g) to facilitate targeted drug delivery for NSCLC treatment. The hollow core-shell structure enables the loading of a substantial quantity of the pemetrexed drug, up to 839 µg/mg, with a sustained release of 20% within 48 h. The MSN is surface functionalised with amino and carboxyl groups to accommodate an imaging agent and facilitate the attachment of the targeting drug bevacizumab. These particles exhibit rapid uptake by both A549 and PC-9 cells. Moreover, the targeting by bevacizumab leads to higher cytotoxicity within 48 h and induces apoptosis more effectively than the non-functionalised samples. As a versatile drug delivery platform, the hollow core-shell MSN demonstrated in this study holds great potential for various drug delivery applications.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, affecting more than 2.1 million people across the globe every year. A very high occurrence and mortality rate of lung cancer have prompted active research in this area with both conventional and novel forms of therapies including the use of nanomaterials based drug delivery agents. Specifically, the unique physico-chemical and biological properties of porous nanomaterials have gained significant momentum as drug delivery agents for delivering a combination of drugs or merging diagnosis with targeted therapy for cancer treatment. This review focuses on the emergence of nano-porous materials for drug delivery in lung cancer. The review analyses the currently used nanoporous materials, including inorganic, organic and hybrid porous materials for delivering drugs for various types of therapies, including chemo, radio and phototherapy. It also analyses the selected research on stimuli-responsive nanoporous materials for drug delivery in lung cancer before summarizing the various findings and projecting the future of emerging trends. This review provides a strong foundation for the current status of the research on nanoporous materials, their limitations and the potential for improving their design to overcome the unique challenges of delivering drugs for the treatment of lung cancer.

Recent demand of eco-friendly advanced materials for automotive components motivated to develop natural fiber-reinforced composites due to their extraordinary properties with minimum weight at low cost. The reinforcement of microcellulosic extracted from lignocellulosic materials can enhance the mechanical properties with astonishing the biodegradability quality in the polymer-based composites. Bahunia racemosa (BR) fibers were chosen to extract cellulose microfibers through chemo-mechanical method and the chemical compositions at different stages are determined by using ASTM standards. The average diameter of the extracted cellulose micro Bahunia racemosa fibers (CMBRF) found as 10 μm. The microfiber composites are fabricated at different weight fractions such as 20, 30, 40 and 50 by compression molding method. Surface properties of the produced fibers and fabricated composite structures are analyzed through microscopic techniques. The influence of reinforcement effect on the mechanical properties of fabricated composite structures is analyzed through standard testing methods. The composites reinforced with 40 wt% of cellulose microfibers exhibited highest enhancement about the tensile strength and young modulus of 80.25 and 40%, respectively. The proposed composites can be used to make various low cost, light weight composite materials for industrial and construction industries.

Abstract Mesoporous carbon nitrides (MCNs) are versatile materials and find use in applications such as catalysis, gas capture, and remediation. The development of new forms of MCNs, such as C3N5, C3N6, and C3N7, has expanded their scope further. One of the least reviewed applications of these materials is in the field of sensing, though it has been demonstrated that their sensing abilities are on par with other comparable materials. Their excellent properties such as high surface area, tunable stoichiometry, adjustable electronic structure, and basicity, make them well‐suited for the adsorption and detection of a wide range of analytes. Herein, the new findings in the synthesis of MCNs and their exciting prospects for sensing are reviewed. The review is divided into two broad sections: 1) discussions on the synthesis of MCNs using hard/soft templating, sol–gel, and template‐free methods; and 2) their capabilities for photoelectrochemical, optical, and quartz microbalance‐based sensing. The findings from the recent literature are showcased and the covered topics are explained with comparative analyses. The current review is a timely presentation of the concerned topic and will serve as a useful piece of information for developing advanced sensors using MCN based materials.

The essential oils and aroma derived from the leaves (L), stems (St), and spikes (s) of Piper nigrum L. cv. Guajarina were extracted; the essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation (HD), and steam distillation (SD), and the aroma was obtained by simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE). Chemical constituents were identified and quantified using GC/MS and GC-FID. Preliminary biological activity was assessed by determining the toxicity against Artemia salina Leach larvae, calculating mortality rates, and determining lethal concentration values (LC50). The predominant compounds in essential oil samples included α-pinene (0–5.6%), β-pinene (0–22.7%), limonene (0–19.3%), 35 linalool (0–5.3%), δ-elemene (0–10.1%), β-caryophyllene (0.5–21.9%), γ-elemene (7.5–33.9%), and curzerene (6.9–31.7%). Multivariate analysis, employing principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), revealed three groups among the identified classes and two groups among individual compounds. The highest antioxidant activity was found for essential oils derived from the leaves (167.9 41 mg TE mL−1). Larvicidal potential against A. salina was observed in essential oils obtained from the leaves (LC50 6.40 μg mL−1) and spikes (LC50 6.44 μg mL−1). The in silico studies demonstrated that the main compounds can interact with acetylcholinesterase, thus showing the potential molecular interaction responsible for the toxicity of the essential oil in A. salina.

Abstract Carbon‐based nanomaterials, including graphene, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes, are attracting significant attention as promising materials for next‐generation energy storage and conversion applications. They possess unique physicochemical properties, such as structural stability and flexibility, high porosity, and tunable physicochemical features, which render them well suited in these hot research fields. Technological advances at atomic and electronic levels are crucial for developing more efficient and durable devices. This comprehensive review provides a state‐of‐the‐art overview of these advanced carbon‐based nanomaterials for various energy storage and conversion applications, focusing on supercapacitors, lithium as well as sodium‐ion batteries, and hydrogen evolution reactions. Particular emphasis is placed on the strategies employed to enhance performance through nonmetallic elemental doping of N, B, S, and P in either individual doping or codoping, as well as structural modifications such as the creation of defect sites, edge functionalization, and inter‐layer distance manipulation, aiming to provide the general guidelines for designing these devices by the above approaches to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, this review delves into the challenges and future prospects for the advancement of carbon‐based electrodes in energy storage and conversion.

Bio-based composites are getting popular due to its major contribution to the green materials industry application. Green techniques reduce the toxic gas emission, waste generation and improve environmental protection. The extraction of cellulose microfibers from natural fibers using the steam explosion technique is a cost-effective and traditional method. In this study, cellulose microfiber was extracted from raw Grewia optiva (GO) fiber by a chemo-mechanical method. Chemical treatments like alkaline treatment, steam explosion, bleaching, and acid treatment are used. Also, mechanical defibrillation of fiber was carried out by stirring and homogenization. The chemical compositions of various stages were determined by using ASTM standards. The microscopic, XRD, FTIR and TGA techniques were used to analyze structural and morphological properties of fibers. The extracted cellulose micro Grewia optiva fibers (CMGOF) had an average diameter of 10 μm. TGA results indicated that the thermal properties of isolated cellulose microfibers are improved after chemical treatment. The cellulose micro Grewia optiva fibers reinforced epoxy composites were fabricated adopting the compression molding method by varying the fiber ratio. Also, the mechanical properties of composites with various fiber ratios were investigated. The experimental results revealed that composite having 40 wt% of fiber has shown higher tensile, impact strength and hardness properties.

DNI assessment is essential for developing any CSP projects. In this manuscript, an approach is made for the analysis and estimation of DNI by developing the empirical models for India. The historical data of around 15 years (1986-2000) of DNI and cloud cover (CC) from six representative locations of major climatic zones namely Bhopal, Jaipur, Srinagar, Patna, New Delhi & Thiruvanantpuram have been employed. From these locations, first four have been used to develop the models correlating DNI and cloud cover; however, rest two were used to evaluate their validity. The standard statistical predictor's viz. CoD, MPE, MBE, RMSE, skewness, kurtosis & chi-square were applied to evaluate these empirical models. The CoD was observed greater than 0.8 while performance criteria have low and acceptable values (MPE-11.4% to -13.77%; MBE 0.49 to 0.96; RMSE 1.22 to 1.44; Skewness 0.90 to -0.15; Kurtosis 0.90 to -1.36 and Chi-square 6.87 to 8.50). The adequecy of empirical models was evaluated through comparing estimated and measured DNI for New Delhi and Thiruvanantpuram which coincides very closely. The study established an approach to estimate DNI using cloud cover data which may facilities CSP projects developers for site selection and decision making in the absence of ground data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]