3D-flower-like porous neodymium molybdate nanostructure for trace level detection of organophosphorus pesticide in food samples.

Herein we report (i) designing of porous 3D flower-like neodymium molybdate nanosheets (pf-NdM NSs) and (ii) attaining reasonable selectivity towards methyl parathion (MP, organophosphate pesticide) in the presence of structurally comparable interferents. Herein the pf-NdM NSs as a catalyst for electrochemical detection of MP in food samples is reported for the first time. Because of porous morphology, and high surface area, the proposed catalyst offers a high electrocatalytic activity toward MP reduction. As a result, a low detection limit (5.7 nM), wide linear range (0.5 - 300 µM), and good sensitivity (1.88 µA µM-1 cm-2), with decent selectivity were achieved. Further, the real sample analysis in tomato juice, and paddy grains, yielded good recovery results, demonstrating the practicability of the proposed sensor. Overall, our study presents a method for designing a novel-nanostructured material for trace-level detection of pesticides that is simple to fabricate, and also delivers a good performance.

In situ formation of Co3O4 nanoparticles embedded N-doped porous carbon nanocomposite: a robust material for electrocatalytic detection of anticancer drug flutamide and supercapacitor application.

The one-step synthesis of heteroatom-doped porous carbons is reported with the in situ formation of cobalt oxide nanoparticles for dual electrochemical applications (i.e., electrochemical sensor and supercapacitor). A single molecular template of zeolitic imidazole framework-67 (ZIF-67) was utilized for the solid-state synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticle-decorated nitrogen-doped porous carbon (Co3O4@NPC) nanocomposite through a facile calcination treatment. For the first time, Co3O4@NPC nanocomposite derived from ZIF-67 has been applied as an electrode material for the efficient electrochemical detection of anticancer drug flutamide (FLU). The cyclic voltammetry studies were performed in the operating potential from 0.15 to - 0.65 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Interestingly, the fabricated drug sensor exhibited a very low reduction potential (- 0.42 V) compared to other  reported sensors. The fabricated sensor exhibited good analytical performance in terms of low detection limit (12 nM), wide linear range (0.5 to 400 µM), and appreciable recovery results (~ 98%, RSD 1.7% (n = 3)) in a human urine sample. Hereafter, we also examined the supercapacitor performance of the Co3O4@NPC-modified Ni foam in a 1M KOH electrolyte, and noticeable a specific capacitance of 525 F g-1 at 1.5 A g-1 was attained, with long-term cycling stability. The Co3O4@NPC nanocomposite supercapacitor experiments outperform the associated MOF-derived carbons and the Co3O4-based nanostructure-modified electrodes.

Effect of substitution on the excited state photophysical and spectral properties of boron difluoride curcumin complex dye and their derivatives: A time dependent-DFT study.

The optical, charge transport and electronic properties of boron difluoride curcumin (BFC) complex have been explored using the DFT (Density Functional Theory) method and B3LYP functional with the combination of 6-31 + G(d,p) as a basis set. The influence of substitution with various electron releasing and withdrawing groups on the above properties is analyzed and discussed in this work. The results reveal that the BFC complex on additional electron releasing substitution experiences redshifts in the optical transitions, and this is correlated with the dipole moment, NBO charges, HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Further, the absorption (λabs) and emission (λems) spectra of substituted and unsubstituted BFCs are calculated using Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT). The results show that the electron releasing groups strongly influence the absorption and emission spectra of BFC. Electron releasing groups in BFC derivatives generate the wavelength shift (Bathochromic), but the electron-withdrawing groups in BFC don't affect the λabs and λems when compare to its original (parent) compound. The output of the research work strongly recommends that the amino, phenyl and N, N'-dimethylamino derivatives are potential candidates to act as fluorescent materials due to enhance the emission behavior of BFC and also can be used as an electron/charge transport material for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).