Machine Learning Assisted Prediction of Power Conversion Efficiency of All-Small Molecule Organic Solar Cells: A Data Visualization and Statistical Analysis.

Organic solar cells are famous for their cheap solution processing. Their industrialization needs fast designing of efficient materials. For this purpose, testing of large number of materials is necessary. Machine learning is a better option due to cheaper prediction of power conversion efficiencies. In the present work, machine learning was used to predict power conversion efficiencies. Experimental data were collected from the literature to feed the machine learning models. A detailed data visualization analysis was performed to study the trends of the dataset. The relationship between descriptors and power conversion efficiency was quantitatively determined by Pearson correlations. The importance of features was also determined using feature importance analysis. More than 10 machine learning models were tried to find better models. Only the two best models (random forest regressor and bagging regressor) were selected for further analysis. The prediction ability of these models was high. The coefficient of determination (R2) values for the random forest regressor and bagging regressor models were 0.892 and 0.887, respectively. The Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) method was used to identify the impact of descriptors on the output of models.

Microemulsified Gel Formulations for Topical Delivery of Clotrimazole: Structural and In Vitro Evaluation.

Microemulsified gels (µEGs) with fascinating functions have become indispensable as topical drug delivery systems due to their structural flexibility, high stability, and facile manufacturing process. Topical administration is an attractive alternative to traditional methods because of advantages such as noninvasive administration, bypassing first-pass metabolism, and improving patient compliance. In this article, we report on the new formulations of microemulsion-based gels suitable for topical pharmaceutical applications using biocompatible and ecological ingredients. For this, two biocompatible µE formulations comprising clove oil/Brij-35/water/ethanol (formulation A) and clove oil/Brij-35/water/1-propanol (formulation B) were developed to encapsulate and improve the load of an antimycotic drug, Clotrimazole (CTZ), and further gelatinized to control the release of CTZ through skin barriers. By delimiting the pseudo-ternary phase diagram, optimum µE formulations with clove oil (∼15%) and Brij-35 (∼30%) were developed, keeping constant surfactant/co-surfactant ratio (1:1), to upheld 2.0 wt % CTZ. The as-developed formulations were further converted into smart gels by adding 2.0 wt % carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a cross-linker to adhere to the controlled release of CTZ through complex skin barriers. Electron micrographs show a fine, monodispersed collection of CTZ-µE nanodroplets (∼60 nm), which did not coalesce even after gelation, forming spherical CTZ-µEG (∼90 nm). However, the maturity of CTZ nanodroplets observed by dynamic light scattering suggests the affinity of CTZ for the nonpolar microenvironment, which was further supported by the peak-to-peak correlation of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and fluorescence measurement. In addition, HPLC analysis showed that the in vitro permeation release of CTZ-µEG from rabbit skin in the ethanolic phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4) was significantly increased by >98% within 6.0 h. This indicates the sustained release of CTZ in µEBG and the improvement in transdermal therapeutic efficacy of CTZ over its traditional topical formulations.

Identifying Carrier Behavior in Ultrathin Indirect-Bandgap CsPbX3 Nanocrystal Films for Use in UV/Visible-Blind High-Energy Detectors.

High-energy radiation detectors such as X-ray detectors with low light photoresponse characteristics are used for several applications including, space, medical, and military devices. Here, an indirect bandgap inorganic perovskite-based X-ray detector is reported. The indirect bandgap nature of perovskite materials is revealed through optical characterizations, time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), and theoretical simulations, demonstrating that the differences in temperature-dependent carrier lifetime related to CsPbX3 (X = Br, I) perovskite composition are due to the changes in the bandgap structure. TRPL, theoretical analyses, and X-ray radiation measurements reveal that the high response of the UV/visible-blind yellow-phase CsPbI3 under high-energy X-ray exposure is attributed to the nature of the indirect bandgap structure of CsPbX3 . The yellow-phase CsPbI3 -based X-ray detector achieves a relatively high sensitivity of 83.6 µCGyair-1 cm-2 (under 1.7 mGyair s-1 at an electron field of 0.17 V µm-1 used for medical diagnostics) although the active layer is based solely on an ultrathin (≈6.6 µm) CsPbI3 nanocrystal film, exceeding the values obtained for commercial X-ray detectors, and further confirming good material quality. This CsPbX3 X-ray detector is sufficient for cost-effective device miniaturization based on a simple design.

Synthesis of bimetallic oxides (SrO-CoO) nanoparticles decorated polyacrylamide hydrogels for controlled drug release and wound healing applications.

Hydrogels are polymeric structures characterized by their three-dimensional nature, insolubility in aqueous media, and remarkable ability to absorb significant amounts of water. Owing to their exceptional biocompatibility with living tissues, hydrogels find extensive use in various biomedical applications. Guggul gum grafted polyacrylamide hydrogels (SG) were prepared and green synthesized SrO, CoO and SrO-CoO nanoparticles (NPs) were incorporated with hydrogels (SrG, CoG, Sr-CoG) respectively. The fabricated hydrogels were characterized by various analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD and SEM. XRD results confirmed the presence of Sr and Co metal nanoparticles in the fabricated hydrogels matrix, SrG pattern showed diffraction peaks at 2θ = 30°, 36.59°, 44.11°, 50.22° and 62.20° while CoG peaks appeared at 2θ = 36.59°, 42.32°, 61.18°, 74.05° and 77.08°. SG, SrG, CoG and Sr-CoG hydrogels showed 11%, 32%, 23% and 45% radical scavenging activity respectively as compared to standard BHT (Butylated hydroxyl toluene). In vitro drug release tests results showed that SG, SrG, CoG and Sr-CoG exhibited 21%, 16%, 13% and 10% sustained release of naproxen respectively. The results revealed that SrO and CoO nanoparticles dopped hydrogels possessed good wound healing potential as compared to conventional hydrogels, which provides great potential in clinical treatment for wounds.

Numerical simulation to optimize power conversion efficiency of an FTO/GO/Cs2AgBiBr6/Cu2O solar cell.

Efficient conversion of solar power to electrical power through the development of smart, reliable, and environmentally friendly materials is a key focus for the next-generation renewable energy sector. The involvement of degradable and toxic elements present in hybrid perovskites presents serious concerns regarding the commercial viability of these materials for the solar cell industry. In this study, a solar cell with a stable, nondegradable, and lead-free halide-based double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 as the absorber layer, Cu2O as a hole transport layer, and GO as the electron transport layer has been simulated using SCAPS 1D. The thickness of the absorber, electron transport, and hole transport layers are tuned to optimize the performance of the designed solar cell. Notably, perovskite solar cells functioned most efficiently with an electron affinity value of 4.0 eV for Cu2O. In addition, the effect of variation of series resistance and temperature on generation and recombination rates, current density, and quantum efficiency has been elaborated in detail. The findings of this study provide valuable insight and encouragement toward the realization of a non-toxic, inorganic perovskite solar device and will be a significant step forward in addressing environmental concerns associated with perovskite solar cell technology.

Kinetics and thermodynamics studies of nickel manganite nanoparticle as photocatalyst and fuel additive.

In this study, nickel manganite (NiMn2O4) nanoparticles were prepared using a hydrothermal method and examined its potential as a photocatalyst for the Acid Green 25 (AG-25) dye degradation. The nanoparticles were subjected to structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study examined the kinetics and thermodynamics of degradation processes that are catalyzed by photocatalysis. To ascertain their effect on dye degradation, several parameters, such as catalyst dose, H2O2 concentration, and temperature, were investigated. With a temperature of 315 K in a pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction, a 0.3 M H2O2 concentration, 0.05 mg/mL catalyst dose, and a promising removal efficiency of 96 % was achieved by the NiMn2O4 NPs in 40 min. Thermodynamic analysis revealed the spontaneous and entropy-driven nature of catalytic degradation, progressing favorably at elevated temperatures. Additionally, the NiMn2O4 NPs were applied as a fuel additive to analyze its influence on combustion and the physical characteristics of the modified fuel. The modified fuel demonstrated exceptional catalytic efficiency, emphasizing the potential of the NiMn2O4 NPs as an effective additive.

NiO/MnFe2O4 Nanocomposite Photoluminescence, Structural, Morphological, Magnetic, and Optical Properties: Photocatalytic Removal of Cresol Red under Visible Light Irradiation.

In this study, pure nickel oxide (NiO), manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4 or MFO), and binary nickel oxide/manganese ferrite (NiO/MFO1-4) nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized using the Sol-Gel method. A comprehensive investigation into their photoluminescence, structural, morphological, magnetic, optical, and photocatalytic properties was conducted. Raman analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the materials. The synthesized samples exhibited superparamagnetic behavior, as revealed by our analysis of their magnetic properties. A lower recombination rate was shown by the photoluminescence analysis, which is helpful for raising photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated for the degradation of Cresol Red (CR) dye. 91.6% of CR dye was degraded by NiO/MFO-4 nanocomposite, and the NC dosage as well as solution pH affected the photocatalytic performance significantly. In four sequential photocatalytic cycles, the magnetically separable NCs were stable and recyclable. The enhanced photocatalytic activity and magnetic separability revealed the potential application of NiO/MFO-4 as an efficient photocatalyst for the removal of dyes from industrial wastewater under solar light irradiation.

Optical, Dielectric, Magnetic, Photocatalytic, and Antibacterial Properties of Ga-Doped BiGaxFe1-xO3 Synthesized by the Microemulsion Approach.

The effect of Ga-substitution on bismuth ferrite BiGaxFe1-xO3 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25) properties was investigated, which was fabricated using a microemulsion route. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that specimens had a single-phase rhombohedral structure with space group R3̅c. The concentration of Ga had an impact on various properties such as structural parameters, crystalline size, porosity, and unit cell volume. The samples exhibited notable values for the dielectric constant, tangent loss, and dielectric loss in the low-frequency range, which declined as the frequency increased due to different polarizations. The increment in the AC conductivity was associated with rise in frequency. The P-E loops demonstrated that the samples became more resistive as the Ga concentration increased. The retentivity (Mr) and saturation magnetization (Ms) values reduced as the Ga content increased, although all samples had Hc values within the range for electromagnetic materials. The Ga-substitution had a synergistic effect on the electrochemical characteristics of BiGaxFe1-xO3, resulting in greater conductivity than that of undoped BiFeO3. These enhanced properties contributed to their higher photocatalytic activity in the degradation of crystal violet under visible light irradiation. The doped BiGaxFe1-xO3 exhibited 79% dye degradation after 90 min of illumination compared to 54% for pure BiFeO3. Recycling experiments confirmed the stability and reusability of the synthesized nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the samples was certified against various microbes, and the doped BiGaxFe1-xO3 showed promising activity. Thus, doped materials are good candidates for memories, dielectric resonators, and photovoltaics because of their high dielectric constant and AC conductivity, while their higher photocatalytic activity under visible light makes them promising photocatalysts for removing noxious and harmful effluents from wastewaters.

Expression of concern: A well-defined S-g-C3N4/Cu-NiS heterojunction interface towards enhanced spatial charge separation with excellent photocatalytic ability: synergetic effect, kinetics, antibacterial activity, and mechanism insights.

Expression of concern for 'A well-defined S-g-C3N4/Cu-NiS heterojunction interface towards enhanced spatial charge separation with excellent photocatalytic ability: synergetic effect, kinetics, antibacterial activity, and mechanism insights' by Haya A. Abubshait et al., RSC Adv., 2022, 12, 3274-3286, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA07974C.

Ni-Sr/TiZr for H2 from methane via POM: Sr loading & optimization.

Achieving remarkable H2 yield with significantly high H2/CO over Ni-based catalysts through partial oxidation of methane (POM) is a realistic approach to depleting the concentration of CH4 and using H2 and CO as synthetic feedstock. This study examined Ni catalysts on titania-zirconia for methane conversion via POM at 600 °C and atmospheric pressure. The addition of strontium to the catalyst was explored to improve its performance. Catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman-infrared-UV-vis spectroscopy, and Temperature-programmed reduction-desorption techniques (TPR, TPD). 2.5 wt% Sr addition induced the formation of the highest concentration of extreme basic sites. Interestingly, over the unpromoted catalyst, active sites are majorly generated by hardly reducible NiO species whereas upon 2.5 wt% promoted Sr promotional addition, most of active sites are derived by easily reducible NiO species. 45% CH4 conversion and 47% H2 yield with H2/CO = 3.5 were achieved over 2.5 wt% Sr promoted 5Ni/30TiO2 + ZrO2 catalyst. These results provide insight into the role of basic sites in enhancing activity through switching indirect pathways over direct pathways for POM. Further process optimization was carried out in the range of 10 000-22 000 SV, 0.35-0.75 O2/CH4, and 600-800 °C reaction temperature over 5Ni2.5Sr/30TiO2 + ZrO2 by using central composite design under response surface methodology. The optimum activity as high as ∼88% CH4 conversion, 86-87% yield of H2, and 2.92H2/CO were predicted and experimentally validated at 800 °C reaction temperature, 0.35O2/CH4 ratio, and 10 000 space velocity.

Efficient removal of organophosphate insecticide employing magnetic chitosan-derivatives.

Herein, this work reports an efficient acephate adsorption using chitosan (CS) incorporating varying amounts of magnetite. A co-precipitation methodology was employed for the functionalization of chitosan with iron nanoparticles, using Fe2+ as the sole iron source and with a low energy requirement. The adsorbents were characterized by FTIR, XRD, VSM, and nitrogen porosimetry techniques. The CS∙Fe3O4 1:1 NPs showed the highest acephate removal percentage (74.96 %) at pH 9 and ambient temperatures. The adsorption process exhibited high dependencies on pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of adsorbate, and ionic strength. Sips and pseudo-second-order kinetics models best adjusted the experimental data, suggesting that the process occurs on a heterogeneous surface. Thermodynamic evaluation showed that the adsorption was exothermic, favorable, and predominately through chemical interactions. Finally, the CS∙Fe3O4 showed no significant decrease after several cycles of adsorption/desorption, avoiding centrifugation-filtration steps.

Synthesis of Oval-Shaped Bi2Al4O9 Nanoparticles and Their Applications for the Degradation of Acid Green 25 and as Fuel Additives.

The present study was designed to synthesize an oval-shaped bimetallic bismuth aluminate (Bi2Al4O9) nanoparticles through a solvothermal approach. The resulting structure and morphology of synthesized materials were characterized through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The catalytic performance of Bi2Al4O9 was investigated using acid green 25 (AG-25) as the model dye. The effect of various parameters like catalyst dose, H2O2 concentration, and temperature on dye degradation was studied. The Bi2Al4O9 nanocomposite exhibited the maximum removal of 95% within 50 min at 0.3 M H2O2 concentration, 0.05 mg/mL catalyst dose, and 315 K temperature. The photocatalytic removal of AG-25 followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The thermodynamics study exposed that thermal catalytic degradation is a spontaneous, endothermic, as well as entropy-driven reaction that moves in the forward direction at the higher temperatures. The Bi2Al4O9 composite was further applied as fuel additives in order to study combustion and physical characteristics of the modified fuel. The efficacy of modified fuel was studied by investigating the fuel parameters at different Bi2Al4O9 dosages. Results revealed that synthesized NPs are excellent photocatalysts and could possibly be used for the removal of toxic pollutants.

Fabrication of Efficient Electrocatalysts for Electrochemical Water Oxidation Using Bimetallic Oxides System.

The study focused on the fabrication of nickel, cobalt, and their bimetallic oxide via a facile electrodeposition approach over the surface of conducting glass has been reported here. Fabricated electrodes have been employed as binder-free and effective anode materials toward oxygen evolution reactions (OER) in electrochemical water splitting at high pH. Nickel and cobalt oxides showed overpotential values of 520 mV and 536 mV at the current density of 10 mAcm-2 with charge transfer resistances of 170 and 195 Ω. For bimetallic oxides (NiCoO@FTO), the overpotential depressed up to 460 mV and lower charge transfer value of 80 Ω. Additionally, double-layer capacitance also boosted for the bimetallic oxide with a value of 199 µF as compared to monometallic nickel oxide (106 µF) and cobalt oxide (120 µF). Multimetal oxides of Ni-Co showed the best performance, which was further supported with larger electrochemical surface area. This facile approach toward the electrode fabrication could be a charming alternate to replace the Ru- and Ir-based expensive materials for OER in electrochemical water splitting.

Enhanced Photoresponsivity UV-C Photodetectors Using a p-n Junction Based on Ultra-Wide-Band Gap Sn-Doped ß-Ga2O3 Microflake/MnO Quantum Dots.

Solar-blind self-powered UV-C photodetectors suffer from low performance, while heterostructure-based devices require complex fabrication and lack p-type wide band gap semiconductors (WBGSs) operating in the UV-C region (<290 nm). In this work, we mitigate the aforementioned issues by demonstrating a facile fabrication process for a high-responsivity solar-blind self-powered UV-C photodetector based on a p-n WBGS heterojunction structure, operating under ambient conditions. Here, heterojunction structures based on p-type and n-type ultra-wide band gap WBGSs (i.e. both are characterized by energy gap ≥4.5 eV) are demonstrated for the first time; mainly p-type solution-processed manganese oxide quantum dots (MnO QDs) and n-type Sn-doped ß-Ga2O3 microflakes. Highly crystalline p-type MnO QDs are synthesized using cost-effective and facile pulsed femtosecond laser ablation in ethanol (FLAL), while the n-type Ga2O3 microflakes are prepared by exfoliation. The solution-processed QDs are uniformly dropcasted on the exfoliated Sn-doped ß-Ga2O3 microflakes to fabricate a p-n heterojunction photodetector, resulting in excellent solar-blind UV-C photoresponse characteristics (with a cutoff at ∼265 nm) being demonstrated. Further analyses using XPS demonstrate the good band alignment between p-type MnO QDs and n-type ß-Ga2O3 microflakes with a type-II heterojunction. Superior photoresponsivity (922 A/W) is obtained under bias, while the self-powered responsivity is ∼86.9 mA/W. The fabrication strategy adopted in this study will provide a cost-effective means for the development of flexible and highly efficient UV-C devices suitable for energy-saving large-scale fixable applications.

An efficient antenna system with improved radiation for multi-standard/multi-mode 5G cellular communications.

This paper introduces a multi-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array system that provides improved radiation diversity for multi-standard/multi-mode 5G communications. The introduced MIMO design contains four pairs of miniaturized self-complementary antennas (SCAs) fed by pairs of independently coupled structures which are symmetrically located at the edge corners of the smartphone mainboard with an overall size of 75 × 150 (mm2). Hence, in total, the design incorporates four pairs of horizontally and vertically polarized resonators. The elements have compact profiles and resonate at 3.6 GHz, the main candidate bands of the sub-6 GHz 5G spectrum. In addition, despite the absence of decoupling structures, adjacent elements demonstrate high isolation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first type of smartphone antenna design using dual-polarized self-complementary antennas that could possess anti-interference and diversity properties. In addition to exhibiting desirable radiation coverage, the presented smartphone antenna also supports dual polarizations on different sides of the printed circuit board (PCB). It also exhibits good isolation, high-gain patterns, improved radiation coverage, low ECC/TARC, and sufficient channel capacity. The introduced antenna design was manufactured on a standard smartphone board and its main characteristics were experimentally measured. Simulations and measurement results are generally in good agreement with each other. Moreover, the presented antenna system delivers low SAR with adequate efficiency when it comes to the appearance of the user. Hence, the design could be adapted to 5G hand-portable devices. As an additional feature, a new ultra-compact phased array millimeter-wave antenna with super-wide bandwidth and end-fire radiation is being introduced for integration into the MIMO antenna systems. As a result, the proposed antenna system design with improved radiation and multi-standard operation is a good candidate for future multi-mode 5G cellular applications.

Optical, Photocatalytic, Electrochemical, Magnetic, Dielectric, and Ferroelectric Properties of Cd- and Er-Doped BiFeO3 Prepared via a Facile Microemulsion Route.

A series of Cd- and Er-doped bismuth ferrites were synthesized using a simple microemulsion technique. The influence of Cd and Er doping on the structural, ferroelectric, photocatalytic, and dielectric properties of bismuth ferrite (BFO) was examined in this research. The prepared materials were examined by X-ray diffraction, Raman, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis techniques. The XRD patterns reflected the formation of a monophasic rhombohedral structure with the space group R3-c and an average crystallite size calculated to be in the range of 29 to 32 nm. The saturation polarization (Ps), coercivity (Hc), and retentivity (Pr) of the materials were investigated by a hysteresis loop (P-E), and it was perceived that increasing the dopant contents improved the Ps and Pr values, which may be due to the variation of metal cation valence states. In accordance with the photoluminescence (PL) spectra, a highly substituted material displayed lower recombination and increased charge separation rate (e--h+), which eventually contributed to a higher photocatalytic degradation performance of the prepared NMs. Furthermore, as the frequency and dopant concentration increased, the dielectric loss decreased, which could be due to different types of polarization. Bi1 - xCdxFe1 - yEryO3 showed well-saturated hysteresis loops (P-E) with enhanced saturation polarization near 9.7 × 10-4 µC·cm-2. The remnant polarization of the BFO and BFOCE NPs was 2.26 × 10-4 and 8.11 × 10-4 µC·cm-2, respectively, under a maximum electric field, which may be due to the variation of the metal cation valence states. The improved ferroelectric and dielectric properties of Bi1 - xCdxFe1 - yEryO3 NPs are attributed to the reduced concentration of defects, the different domain behavior, and the valence state of Cd and Er ions. The electrochemical (crystal violet (CV) and I-V) properties of Bi1 - xCdxFe1 - yEryO3 were all influenced by the dopant concentrations (Cd and Er). The synergistic effects of Cd and Er on the substituted material enhanced the specific capacitance in comparison to undoped BiFeO3. The photocatalytic activity to degrade CV under visible irradiation increased in BFOCE as the dopant (x,y) concentration increased from 0 to 0.25 by showing 84% dye degradation in comparison to pristine BiFeO3 (53% only) within 120 min under visible light. Moreover, the stability of these prepared nanoparticles was confirmed using recycling experiments, with the results indicating that the synthesized nanomaterials demonstrated promising stability and reusability.

Carbon Nanotube Fiber-Based Flexible Microelectrode for Electrochemical Glucose Sensors.

Electrochemical sensors are gaining significant demand for real-time monitoring of health-related parameters such as temperature, heart rate, and blood glucose level. A fiber-like microelectrode composed of copper oxide-modified carbon nanotubes (CuO@CNTFs) has been developed as a flexible and wearable glucose sensor with remarkable catalytic activity. The unidimensional structure of CNT fibers displayed efficient conductivity with enhanced mechanical strength, which makes these fibers far superior as compared to other fibrous-like materials. Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were deposited over the surface of CNT fibers by a binder-free facile electrodeposition approach followed by thermal treatment that enhanced the performance of non-enzymatic glucose sensors. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed the successful deposition of CuO nanoparticles over the fiber surface. Amperometric and voltammetric studies of fiber-based microelectrodes (CuO@CNTFs) toward glucose sensing showed an excellent sensitivity of ∼3000 µA/mM cm2, a low detection limit of 1.4 µM, and a wide linear range of up to 13 mM. The superior performance of the microelectrode is attributed to the synergistic effect of the electrocatalytic activity of CuO nanoparticles and the excellent conductivity of CNT fibers. A lower charge transfer resistance value obtained via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) also demonstrated the superior electrode performance. This work demonstrates a facile approach for developing CNT fiber-based microelectrodes as a promising solution for flexible and disposable non-enzymatic glucose sensors.

Infrared Efficiency and Ultraviolet Management of Red-Pigmented Polymethylmethacrylate Photoselective Greenhouse Films.

Red-pigmented photoselective polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films were prepared by casting from polymer/chloroform solution. The films were doped with efficient red fluorescent perylene dyes specialized for plastic coloration, namely KREMER 94720 and KREMER 94739, which have excellent weathering stability and a high fluorescence quantum yield. The effect of the doping concentration was studied using the atomic force microscope (AFM), optical transmission, color measurement, time-resolved fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The obtained results suggested the potential usefulness for photoselective greenhouse cladding applications as the lowest doping concentration (10-5 wt%) displaying the UV-open effect, whereas the best UV-blocking and thermic effects were obtained for the highest doping concentration (10-1 wt).

Photonics with Gallium Nitride Nanowires.

The surface plasmon resonance in low-dimensional semiconducting materials is a source of valuable scientific phenomenon which opens widespread prospects for novel applications. A systematic study to shed light on the propagation of plasmons at the interface of GaN nanowire is reported. A comprehensive analysis of the interaction of light with GaN nanowires and the propagation of plasmons is carried out to uncover further potentials of the material. The results obtained on the basis of calculations designate the interaction of light with nanowires, which produced plasmons at the interface that propagate along the designed geometry starting from the center of the nanowire towards its periphery, having more flux density at the center of the nanowire. The wavelength of light does not affect the propagation of plasmons but the flux density of plasmons appeared to increase with the wavelength. Similarly, an increment in the flux density of plasmons occurs even in the case of coupled and uncoupled nanowires with wavelength, but more increment occurs in the case of coupling. Further, it was found that an increase in the number of nanowires increases the flux density of plasmons at all wavelengths irrespective of uniformity in the propagation of plasmons. The findings point to the possibility of tuning the plasmonics by using a suitable number of coupled nanowires in assembly.

Two dimensional MXenes as emerging paradigm for adsorptive removal of toxic metallic pollutants from wastewater.

Effective methods for removing harmful metals from wastewater have had a huge impact on reducing freshwater scarcity. Because of its excellent removal effectiveness, simplicity and low cost at ambient conditions, adsorption is one of the most promising purifying approaches. MXene-based nanoarchitectures have proven to be effective adsorbents in a variety of harmful metal removal applications. This owes from the distinctive features such as, hydrophilicity, high surface area, electron-richness, great adsorption capacity, and activated metallic hydroxide sites of MXenes. Given the rapid advancement in the design and synthesis of MXene nanoarchitectures for water treatment, prompt updates on this research area are needed that focus on removal of toxic metal, such as production routes and characterization techniques for the advantages, merits and limitations of MXenes for toxic metal adsorption. This is in addition to the fundamentals and the adsorption mechanism tailored by the shape and composition of MXene based on some representative paradigms. Finally, the limits of MXenes are highlighted, as well as their potential future research directions for wastewater treatment. This manuscript may initiate researchers to improve unique MXene-based nanostructures with distinct compositions, shapes, and physiochemical merits for effective removal of toxic metals from wastewater.