Nicotinamide-based supergelator self-assembling via asymmetric hydrogen bonding NH⋯OC and H⋯Br- pattern for reusable, moldable and self-healable nontoxic fuel gels.

HYPOTHESIS: Development of highly efficient low-molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) for safe energy storage materials is of great demand. Energy storage materials as fuel gels are often achieved by construction of hybrid organic frameworks capable of multiple noncovalent interactions in self-assembly, which allow tuning required properties at the molecular level by altering individual building blocks of the LMWG. However, LMWGs have limited rechargeable capability due to their chemical instability. EXPERIMENTS: We designed, synthesized and characterized a novel, bio-inspired chiral gemini amphiphile derivative 1 containing N-hexadecyl aliphatic tails from quaternized nicotinamide-based segment and bromide anion showing supergelation ability in water, alcohols, aprotic polar and aromatic solvents, with critical gel concentrations as low as 0.1 and 0.035 wt% in isopropanol and water, respectively. FINDINGS: Nanostructural architecture of the network depended on the solvent used and showed variations in size and shape of 1D nanofibers. Supergelation is attributed to a unique asymmetric NH⋯OC, H⋯Br- hydrogen bonding pattern between H-2 hydrogens from nicotinamide-based segment, amide functional groups from chiral trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamide-based segment and bromide ions, supporting the intermolecular amide-amide interactions appearing across one strand of the self-assembly. Gels formed from 1 exhibit high stiffness, self-healing, moldable and colorable properties. In addition, isopropanol gels of 1 are attractive as reusable, shape-persistent non-toxic fuels maintaining the chemical structure with gelation efficiency for at least five consecutive burning cycles.

The Separation of Emulsified Water/Oil Mixtures through Adsorption on Plasma-Treated Polyethylene Powder.

This paper addresses the preparation and characterization of efficient adsorbents for tertiary treatment (oil content below 100 ppm) of oil/water emulsions. Powdered low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was modified by radio-frequency plasma discharge and then used as a medium for the treatment of emulsified diesel oil/water mixtures in the concentration range from 75 ppm to 200 ppm. Plasma treatment significantly increased the wettability of the LDPE powder, which resulted in enhanced sorption capability of the oil component from emulsions in comparison to untreated powder. Emulsions formed from distilled water and commercial diesel oil (DO) with concentrations below 200 ppm were used as a model of oily polluted water. The emulsions were prepared using ultrasonication without surfactant. The droplet size was directly proportional to sonication time and ranged from 135 nm to 185 nm. A sonication time of 20 min was found to be sufficient to prepare stable emulsions with an average droplet size of approximately 150 nm. The sorption tests were realized in a batch system. The effect of contact time and initial oil concentrations were studied under standard atmospheric conditions at a stirring speed of 340 rpm with an adsorbent particle size of 500 microns. The efficiency of the plasma-treated LDPE powder in oil removal was found to be dependent on the initial oil concentration. It decreased from 96.7% to 79.5% as the initial oil concentration increased from 75 ppm to 200 ppm. The amount of adsorbed oil increased with increasing contact time. The fastest adsorption was observed during the first 30 min of treatment. The adsorption kinetics for emulsified oils onto sorbent followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Chemical modification of graphene with grape seed extract: Its structural, optical and antimicrobial properties.

Herein, we modified for the first time thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRG) using grape seed extract (GSE), by simple probe sonication method. The effect of GSE on the structural changes of TRG has been carefully analyzed through Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy and these spectral data proved that the TRG has been modified successfully. Furthermore, X-ray investigations proved the change in crystallinity and coherence length of TRG, which could be further, authenticated by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The optical properties of as prepared modified TRG (m-TRG) were investigated with the help of UV-Visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The band gap of m-TRG was found to be 4.1 eV and it exerted the luminescence in the visible region. Moreover, the antibacterial results showed that m-TRG has enhanced antibacterial activity and 80% of mortality was observed in both the gram positive and gram negative bacteria at a minimum concentration of 40 µg ml-1 and 60 µg ml-1. Thus, this m-TRG could find many applications in the future semiconductor and optoelectronic devices and it could be considered as a novel antibacterial agent that can find potential application in the areas of healthcare and engineering.

Preparation and characterization of green graphene using grape seed extract for bioapplications.

The development of functionalized graphene materials concerning health and environmental aspects via green approaches is currently the most recent topic in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Herein, we report the green reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using grape seed extract (GSE). Structural properties of the prepared RGO were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV-Visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. These all characterization techniques clearly revealed that the RGO has been successfully prepared. Moreover, the average thickness (4.2nm) of RGO layers was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Optical properties such as band gap and photoluminescence of the synthesized RGO were evaluated. The band gap of RGO was found to be 3.84eV and it showed emission in the visible region. Efficient antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was observed with 4µgml(-1) & 5µgml(-1) of RGO and also the cell wall damage of these strains has been proved by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The in vitro study of RGO (500µg) disclosed the effective anti-proliferative activity (88%) against HCT-116 cell lines.