Hydrogen Sensing with Palladium-Based Materials: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Palladium morphologies are prominently used in Hydrogen gas sensing applications owing to their unique characteristics and properties. In this review article, Palladium nanoparticles, thin films, and alloys were designated as the scope of Palladium morphologies. The aim of this review article is to explore Hydrogen sensing using Palladium, focusing on the recent advancements in the field.. The principles underlying Hydrogen sensing mechanisms with Palladium are discussed initially, highlighting the unique properties of Palladium that make it a promising material for this purpose. Special attention is given to the surface interactions and structural modifications that influence the sensitivity and selectivity of Palladium-based sensors The study also addresses key challenges and recent innovations in the field which contribute to the enhancement of Palladium-based Hydrogen sensing capabilities. The current state of research is critically examined to identify gaps in knowledge and future research directions are highlighted. The prospects and challenges associated with the use of Palladium for Hydrogen sensing, emphasizing its pivotal role in advancing sensor technologies for Hydrogen detection are also discussed.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Flower-like MnMoO4 Nanostructures and Their Photocatalytic Performance.

This article describes an affordable method for the synthesis of MnMoO4 nanoflowers through the microwave synthesis approach. By manipulating the reaction parameters like solvent, pH, microwave power, and irradiation duration along this pathway, various nanostructures can be acquired. The synthesized nanoflowers were analyzed by using a powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) to determine their crystalline nature, morphological and functional group, and optical properties, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was performed for the examination of elemental composition and chemical states by qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results of the investigations demonstrated that the MnMoO4 nanostructures with good crystallinity and distinct shape were formed successfully. The synthesized MnMoO4 nanoflowers were tested for their efficiency as a photocatalyst in the degradation studies of methylene blue (MB) as model organic contaminants in an aqueous medium under visible light, which showed their photocatalytic activity with a degradation of 85%. Through the band position calculations using the electronegative value of MnMoO4, the photocatalytic mechanism of the nanostructures was proposed. The results indicated that the effective charge separation, and transfer mechanisms, in addition to the flower-like shape, were responsible for the photocatalytic performance. The stability of the recovered photocatalyst was examined through its recyclability in the degradation of MB. Leveraging MnMoO4's photocatalytic properties, future studies may focus on scaling up these processes for practical and large-scale environmental remediation.

TiO2 nanorod decorated with MoS2 nanospheres: An efficient dual-functional photocatalyst for antibiotic degradation and hydrogen production.

The design and preparation of dual-functional photocatalysts for simultaneously realizing photocatalytic wastewater purification and hydrogen energy generation pose significant challenges. This article presents the engineering of a binary heterostructured photocatalyst by combining TiO2 (nanorods) and MoS2 nanosphere using a straightforward solvothermal method and the assessment of the phase structures, morphologies, and optical properties of the resulting nanocomposites using diverse analytical techniques. The TiO2(Rod)/MoS2 composite exhibits remarkable efficacy in degrading ciprofloxacin, achieving 93% removal rate within 1 h, which is four times higher than that of bare TiO2. Moreover, the optimized TiO2(Rod)/MoS2 presents an outstanding hydrogen production rate of 7415 µmol g-1, which is ∼24 times higher than that of pristine TiO2. Under UV-visible light irradiation, the TiO2(Rod)/MoS2 heterojunction displays an exceptional photocatalytic performance in terms of both photodegradation and hydrogen production, surpassing the performance of TiO2 particle/MoS2. The study findings demonstrate that TiO2(Rod)/MoS2 nanocomposites exhibit considerably improved photocatalytic degradation and hydrogen generation activities. Based on the experimental results, a possible mechanism is proposed for the transfer and separation of charge carriers in Z-scheme heterojunctions.

Electro-Thermopneumatically Actuated, Adhesion-Force Controllable Octopus-Like Suction Cup Actuator.

A light-weight actuator developed in this work belongs to a class of soft robots, and in a sense, resembles an octopus. Its main function is in the attachment or detachment to a solid surface driven by an electro-thermopneumatic mechanism. In this study, a suction cup similar to that of an octopus is manufactured from an elastomer, which is actuated by an electro-thermopneumatic system, mimicking the movement of the octopus' acetabular muscle. Accordingly, the adhesion force generated by such an actuator is regulated by releasing the inner air or adjusting the cup's elasticity. This actuator is designed to be an assistive device that facilitates the individual's physical strength in case of conditions related to aging or cerebellar disease, or a person who lost limbs. In this study, the actuator capabilities are demonstrated in the form of a grip-assisting glove and prosthetic attacher. Moreover, the adhesion mechanism is quantified by numerical simulations and verified experimentally.

Anti-diabetic drug discovery using the bioactive compounds of Momordica charantia by molecular docking and molecular dynamics analysis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial life-threatening endocrine disease characterized by abnormalities in glucose metabolism. It is a chronic metabolic disease that involves multiple enzymes such as α-amylase and α-glucosidases. Inhibition of these enzymes has been identified as a promising method for managing diabetes, and researchers are currently focusing on discovering novel α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors for diabetes therapy. Hence, we have selected 12 bioactive compounds from the Momordica charantia (MC) plant and performed a virtual screening and molecular dynamics investigation to identify natural inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidases. Our in silico result revealed that phytocompound Rutin showed the highest binding affinity against α-amylase (1HNY) enzymes at (-11.68 kcal/mol), followed by Karaviloside II (-9.39), Momordicoside F (-9.19), Campesterol (-9.11. While docking against α-glucosidases (4J5T), Rutin again showed the greatest binding affinity (-11.93 kcal/mol), followed by Momordicine (-9.89), and Campesterol (-8.99). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation research is currently the gold standard for drug design and discovery. Consequently, we conducted simulations of 100 nanoseconds (ns) to assess the stability of protein-ligand complexes based on parameters like RMSD, RMSF, RG, PCA, and FEL. The significance of our findings indicates that rutin from MC might serve as an effective natural therapeutic agent for diabetes management due to its strongest binding affinities with α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Further research in animals and humans is essential to validate the efficacy of these drug molecules.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Ce-Doped TiO2 Fabricated Glassy Carbon Electrode for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Acidic Medium.

The quest for sustainable and clean energy sources has intensified research on the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) in recent decades. In this study, we have presented a novel Ce-doped TiO2 catalyst synthesized through the sol-gel method, showcasing its potential as a superior electrocatalyst for HER in an acidic medium. Comprehensive characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Raman spectroscopy confirms the successful formation of the catalyst. Electrocatalytic performance evaluation, including open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel analysis, demonstrates that GCE-5wt.%CeTiO2 outperforms bare GCE, as well as Ce and TiO2-based electrodes. Kinetic investigations reveal a Tafel slope of 105 mV dec-1, indicating the Volmer step as the rate-determining step. The onset potential for HER at GCE-5wt.%CeTiO2 is -0.16 V vs. RHE, close to the platinum electrode. Notably, the catalyst exhibits a low overpotential of 401 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2 with an impressive 95 % Faradaic efficiency. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrates outstanding durability, maintaining a negligible increase in overpotential during a 14-hour chronoamperometry test. These results have far-reaching implications for the development of cost-effective and efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.

Simultaneous Effect of EBR on LLDPE and PDMS Rubber Blends and Its Nanocomposites for Cable Applications.

The impact of electron beam radiation on the blend of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber at different doses from 50 to 300 kGy has been investigated. The irradiated sheets were examined for their morphology, gel content, thermal stability, melt behavior, and electrical and dielectric properties. The radiation treatment has reduced both the melting point and crystallinity of base polymers and their blends because of chain scission. As observed, 100 kGy doses of irradiated blend and 3 wt % of loaded nanosilica composite showed comparatively good thermal stability. The phase morphology of the LLDPE: PDMS rubber blend showed a honeycomb-like design before irradiation because of two-stage morphology, which prominently changed into a solitary stage after electron beam irradiation. This is because of intermolecular cross-link arrangement inside the singular parts, just like cross-linking development at the interface. From the AQFESEM study, it is observed that the stacking of nanosilica particles within the blend matrix is greatly reduced after electron beam irradiation. The addition of nanosilica within the blend increased the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity. The dielectric breakdown strength has been observed to be the highest for 3 wt % loaded nanocomposite and its irradiated sample. The result indicates that the nanocomposite can be utilized for high-voltage cable applications in indoor and outdoor fields.

A Critical Review on Hydrogen Based Fuel Cell Technology and Applications.

The research in energy storage and conversion is playing a critical role in energy policy as the innovation and technological progress are essential for achieving the energy transition and climate neutrality goals. Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology is considered a strategic element in the pursuit of sustainable and clean energy solutions. This technology is increasingly gaining attention in recent years as a potential substitute to conventional non-renewable energy sources. Fuel cell technology can be employed for domestic/commercial use along with powering the transportation sector which currently employs the use of conventional battery systems. However, these systems pose severe limitations with respect to longer charging times and limited distance range. This review article aims at providing a comprehensive methodical overview of hydrogen-based fuel cell technology along with key concepts, present day scenarios, including overview of the market and industry trends, government policies and initiatives, along with major stakeholders involved in scaling up the technology for mass consumption. The outlook of fuel cells, including their capability to revolutionise the energy sector is discussed. The technological advancements and breakthroughs on the horizon along with the challenges and safety concerns related to the widespread acceptance of fuel cells are analysed.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C and its receptor-3 signaling in tumorigenesis.

The cancer-promoting ligand vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) activates VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3). The VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 axis is expressed by a range of human tumor cells in addition to lymphatic endothelial cells. Activating the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling enhances metastasis by promoting lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis inside and around tumors. Stimulation of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling promotes tumor metastasis in tumors, such as ovarian, renal, pancreatic, prostate, lung, skin, gastric, colorectal, cervical, leukemia, mesothelioma, Kaposi sarcoma, and endometrial carcinoma. We discuss and update the role of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling in tumor development and the research is still needed to completely comprehend this multifunctional receptor.

Superior mechanical, electrical, dielectric, and EMI shielding properties of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) based carbon black composites.

In this study, the mechanical, electrical, dielectric, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) based carbon black composites, namely high abrasion furnace (HAF) and conductive Printex blacks, were investigated and their effectiveness compared. The results show that Printex black filled composites exhibited superior properties in all aspects compared to HAF filled composites. The electrical percolation threshold value of Printex black filled composites was approximately 1/2 to 1/3 lower compared to HAF black filled composites based on classical theory and the Sigmoidal model. Moreover, the tensile modulus, dielectric permittivity, and EMI shielding efficiency (SE) of the Printex black filled composites were 4.6 times, in the order of 106 at 1 kHz, and 6.65 times improved compared to HAF black filled composites at their 40 phr loadings, respectively. The Printex black filled 40 phr loaded composite showed an EMI SE of 49.94 dB that is 99.999% the attenuation of EM radiation. These properties can be attributed to the high structure of Printex black, which facilitates the ease of formation of the conductive channel through the polymer matrix, higher reinforcement, higher interfacial polarization, and high absorption of radiation. These properties were compared with some published literature on carbon black filled composites and it was found that the results of the Printex black filled composites are highly competitive with the published work. The results show that these composites are highly effective for load bearing materials, supercapacitors, and EM radiation protection.

k-Carrageenan based magnetic@polyelectrolyte complex composite hydrogel for pH and temperature-responsive curcumin delivery.

The dual stimuli-responsive drug delivery system has attracted a lot of interest in controlled drug delivery to specific sites. The magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles integrated polyelectrolyte complex-based hydrogel (MPEC HG) system was developed in this work. First, magnetic nanoparticles were produced in situ in the synthetic polymer polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG). Furthermore, the natural biopolymer k-carrageenan (kCG) was employed to form the polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) through charge-balancing interaction between positively charged guanidine units and negatively charged sulfonate groups. Various characterization approaches were used to characterize the developed magnetic polyelectrolyte complex hydrogel (MPEC HG) system. Curcumin (Cur) was employed as a model bioactive agent to examine the drug loading and stimuli-responsive drug release efficiency of the MPEC HG system. Under the combined pH and temperature stimuli conditions (pH 5.0/42 °C), the developed hydrogel system demonstrated great drug loading efficiency (∼ 68 %) and enhanced drug release. Furthermore, the MPEC HG system's in vitro cytotoxicity behavior was investigated on a human liver cancer (HepG2) cell line, and the results revealed that the MPEC HG system is biocompatible. As a result, the MPEC HG system might be used for dual pH and temperature stimuli-responsive drug delivery applications in cancer therapy.

Prospective in vitro A431 cell line anticancer efficacy of zirconia nanoflakes derived from Enicostemma littorale aqueous extract.

Biomedical applications of zirconia nanomaterials were limited in biological systems. In this research, 8-15 nm size zirconia nanoflakes (ZrNFs) were fabricated and their nature, morphology, and biocompatibility were evaluated. The synthesis was carried out using Enicostemma littorale plant extract as an effective reducing and capping agent. Physiochemical properties of prepared ZrNFs were characterized using diverse instrumental studies such as UV-vis spectrophotometer, Fourier-transform infrared, powder X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The XRD pattern confirmed the tetragonal phases of ZrNFs and the highest crystallite size of Zr0.02, Zr0.02, and Zr0.06 was 56, 50, and 44 nm, respectively. The morphology of samples was assessed using TEM. Electrophysiological effects of ZrNFs in the cellular interaction process were revealed by the slower rate of electron transfer results in CV demonstration. Biocompatibility of synthesized ZrNFs was studied on A431 human epidermoid carcinoma epithelial cells. The cell viability was increased with an increasing the concentration of nanoflakes up to 6.50-100 µg/mL. The cell viability and observed IC50 values (44.25, 36.49, and 39.62 µg/mL) reveals that the synthesized ZrNFs using E. littorale extract is found to be efficient toxic to A431 cancer cell lines.

Effect of carbons' structure and type on AC electrical properties of polymer composites: predicting the percolation threshold of permittivity through different models.

The AC electrical properties of EVA- and NBR-based composites filled with different conductive fillers were investigated. Result shows several magnitudes of increment in AC electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity after the addition of these conductive fillers, indicating that these materials can be used as supercapacitors. The magnitude of increment was varied according to polymer and filler types. Herein, we also have tested the applicability of different sigmoidal models to find out the percolation threshold value of permittivity for these binary polymer composite systems. It is observed that except sigmoidal-Boltzmann and sigmoidal-dose-response models, other sigmoidal models exhibit different values of percolation threshold when considered for any particular polymer composite system. The paper discusses the variation in results of percolation threshold with an emphasis on the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of these models. We also have applied the classical percolation theory to predict the percolation threshold of permittivity and compared with all the reported sigmoidal models. To judge the unanimous acceptability of these models, they tested vis-à-vis the permittivity results of various polymer composites reported in published literature. To comprehend, all the models except the sigmoidal-logistic-1 model were successfully applicable for predicting the percolation threshold of permittivity for polymer composites. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00396-023-05120-2.

Recent Developments and Research Avenues for Polymers in Electric Vehicles.

Plastics have been an indispensable material of choice in automobiles with wide range of applications such as interior, exterior, under the hood, and lighting/wiring applications. The prime motive of inclusion of these materials is increase in fuel efficiency and reduction in carbon footprint by replacing the energy intensive metallic counterparts. The current decade i. e., the 2020s has seen a recent surge in the sales of electronic vehicles. Although these numbers are promising, the growth in the rest of the parts of the world is not encouraging. It is primarily due to the skepticism involving battery life and efficiency, profitability, and environmental footprint when compared to conventional and hybrid vehicles. Also, a more concerted effort is needed in the lagging areas in order to install the required infrastructure. The emergence of plastics in the development and acceptance of e-vehicles is going to be pivotal especially when the efficiency and profitability are considered as they give the required freedom to the engineers for the design and development of various parts and sizes by replacing the bulkier and more dense materials. Also, the research on bionanocomposites has received great interest from the research community due to their versatility in application along with their eco-friendly nature throughout the lifecycle starting from feedstock up to end-of-life treatment. This review paper will be one of its kind to present a critical review of the recent developments of polymers suitable for use in e-vehicles. Also, a comprehensive discussion comprising of newer research areas for polymers in their use for e-vehicles will be presented.

A Review on Biodegradable Packaging Films from Vegetative and Food Waste.

Plastics around the globe have been a matter of grave concern due to the unavoidable habits of human mankind. Taking waste statistics in India for the year 2019-20 into account, the data of 60 major cities show that the generation of plastic waste stands tall at around 26,000 tonnes/day, of which only about 60 % is recycled. A majority of the non-recycled plastic waste is petrochemical-based packaging materials that are non-biodegradable in nature. Vegetative/food waste is another global issue, evidenced by vastly populated countries such as China and India accounting for 91 and 69 tonnes of food wastage, respectively in 2019. The mitigation of plastic packaging issues has led to key scientific developments, one of which is biodegradable materials. However, there is a way that these two waste-related issues can be fronted as the analogy of "taking two shots with the same arrow". The presence of various bio-compounds such as proteins, cellulose, starch, lipids, and waxes, etc., in food and vegetative waste, creates an opportunity for the development of biodegradable packaging films. Although these flexible packaging films have limitations in terms of mechanical, permeation, and moisture absorption characteristics, they can be fine-tuned in order to convert the biobased raw material into a realizable packaging product. These strategies could work in replacing petrochemical-based non-biodegradable packaging plastics which are used in enormous quantities for various household and commercial packaging applications to combat the ever-increasing pollution in highly populated countries. This paper presents a systematic review based on modern scientific tools of the literature available with a major emphasis on the past decade and aims to serve as a standard resource for the development of biodegradable packaging films from food/vegetative waste.

Erratum to "Next-generation and further transgenerational effects of bisphenol A on zebrafish reproductive tissues" [Heliyon 4, (9), (September 2018), Article e00788].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00788.].

Synthesis and In Vitro Antimicrobial Evaluation of Photoactive Multi-Block Chalcone Conjugate Phthalimide and 1,8-Naphthalimide Novolacs.

Herein we report new multiblock chalcone conjugate phthalimide and naphthalimide functionalized copolymers with a topologically novel architecture synthesis using nucleophilic substitution and polycondensation methodology. The structures of the synthesized novolacs were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic analysis including FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Further, the number-average and weight-average molecular weights of the novolac polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). We examined the solubility of the synthesized polymers in various organic solvents including CHCl3, CH3CN, THF, H2O, CH3OH, DMSO, and DMF and found they are insoluble in both methanol and water. The novolac polymers were evaluated for their photophysical properties and microbial activities. The investigation of the antimicrobial activities of these polymers reveals significant antimicrobial activity against the pathogens E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans, and A. niger.

Effects of Technical Textiles and Synthetic Nanofibers on Environmental Pollution.

Textile manufacturing has been one of the highest polluting industrial sectors. It represents about one-fifth of worldwide industrial water pollution. It uses a huge number of chemicals, numerous of which are carcinogenic. The textile industry releases many harmful chemicals, such as heavy metals and formaldehyde, into water streams and soil, as well as toxic gases such as suspended particulate matter and sulphur dioxide to air. These hazardous wastes, may cause diseases and severe problems to human health such as respiratory and heart diseases. Pollution caused by the worldwide textile manufacturing units results in unimaginable harm, such as textile polymers, auxiliaries and dyes, to the environment. This review presents a systematic and comprehensive survey of all recently produced high-performance textiles; and will therefore assist a deeper understanding of technical textiles providing a bridge between manufacturer and end-user. Moreover, the achievements in advanced applications of textile material will be extensively studied. Many classes of technical textiles were proved in a variety of applications of different fields. The introductory material- and process-correlated identifications regarding raw materials and their transformation into yarns, fibers and fabrics followed by dyeing, printing, finishing of technical textiles and their further processing will be explored. Thus, the environmental impacts of technical textiles on soil, air and water are discussed.

Modified Electrospun Polymeric Nanofibers and Their Nanocomposites as Nanoadsorbents for Toxic Dye Removal from Contaminated Waters: A Review.

Electrospun polymer nanofibers (EPNFs) as one-dimensional nanostructures are characterized by a high surface area-to-volume ratio, high porosity, large number of adsorption sites and high adsorption capacity. These properties nominate them to be used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of water pollutants such as heavy metals, dyes and other pollutants. Organic dyes are considered one of the most hazardous water pollutants due to their toxic effects even at very low concentrations. To overcome this problem, the adsorption technique has proven its high effectiveness towards the removal of such pollutants from aqueous systems. The use of the adsorption technique depends mainly on the properties, efficacy, cost and reusability of the adsorbent. So, the use of EPNFs as adsorbents for dye removal has received increasing attention due to their unique properties, adsorption efficiency and reusability. Moreover, the adsorption efficiency and stability of EPNFs in aqueous media can be improved via their surface modification. This review provides a relevant literature survey over the last two decades on the fabrication and surface modification of EPNFs by an electrospinning technique and their use of adsorbents for the removal of various toxic dyes from contaminated water. Factors affecting the adsorption capacity of EPNFs, the best adsorption conditions and adsorption mechanism of dyes onto the surface of various types of modified EPNFs are also discussed. Finally, the adsorption capacity, isotherm and kinetic models for describing the adsorption of dyes using modified and composite EPNFs are discussed.

Self-Nitrogen-Doped Nanoporous Carbons Derived from Poly(1,5-diaminonaphthalene) for the Removal of Toxic Dye Pollutants from Wastewater: Non-Linear Isotherm and Kinetic Analysis.

The high surface area and porosity of self-nitrogen-doped porous carbons (SNPCs) nominates them for potential application in water treatment due to their high efficiency towards the removal of various pollutants. In this study, SNPCs were fabricated from poly(1,5-diaminonaphthalene) (P(1,5-DANPh) by single and simultaneous carbonization at the activation step at different temperatures (600, 700, and 800 °C). The carbonization's temperature plays a vital role in controlling the nitrogen-doping, surface area, porosity, and morphology of SNPCs. The SNPCs-7 sample prepared at 700 °C showed the highest surface area (1678.8 m2 g-1) with pore volume (0.943 cm3 g-1) with a micro/meso porous structure. The prepared SNPCs were used as an effective adsorbent for removal of crystal violet dye (CV) from contaminated water. SNPCs-7 showed the highest adsorption of 487.53 mg g-1 and the adsorption capacity of the SNPCs samples follows the order SNPCs-7 > SNPCs-8 > SNPCs-6, which is consistent with the results of their surface area and porosity. The adsorption for CV dye followed Freundlich isotherm models and a pseudo second order kinetic model. The negative values of Gipps free energy (ΔG°) and positive value of enthalpy (ΔH°) indicated that the adsorption of CV dye onto the surface of SNPCs was a spontaneous and endothermic process, respectively. Based on the results, the adsorption mechanism of CV dye onto the surface of SNPCs was proposed.