Overview of Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Electro‐Skin,Actuator, Supercapacitor and Fuel Cell

The properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite hydrogels influenced by nanoparticles are reviewed. Various kinds of nanoparticles with excellent mechanical and electrical properties have been introduced into PVA hydrogel to produce stretchable and conductive PVA nanocomposite hydrogel. Understanding the mechanism between the matrix of PVA hydrogel and nanoparticles is therefore critical for the development of PVA nanocomposite hydrogels. This review focuses on the nanoparticles include carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide and metal nanoparticles, and describes the effects of nanoparticles on the mechanical and conductive properties of PVA nanocomposite hydrogels. A new promising area of soft stretchable PVA nanocomposite hydrogel is highlighted for possible applications. Finally, a brief outlook for future research is presented.     

Core-shell zirconia-coated magnetic nanoparticles offering a strong option to prepare a novel and magnetized heteropolyacid based heterogeneous nanocatalyst for three- and four-component reactions

A new type of magnetically-separable nanocatalyst was prepared through the immobilization of phosphomolybdic acid (H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀) in 10–30 wt.% on the surface of core-shell zirconia-coated magnetite nanoparticle (nano-Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂). The developed heterogeneous nano-sized acid catalyst named nano-Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂ supported PMA (or n-Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂/PMA) was characterized using several techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, VSM, EDX, TEM and TGA. The characterization data derived from FT-IR spectroscopy exhibited that H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ species on the support retained their Keggin structures. Additionally, the potentiometric titration with n-butylamine was employed to measure the acidity content of the as-obtained catalyst. Surprisingly, this novel active solid acid catalyst displayed to have a higher number of surface active sites compared to its homogeneous analogues. Besides, the catalytic activity of the catalyst was evaluated in multicomponent reactions (MRCs) for the rapid and efficient one-pot synthesis of 2, 4, 5-trisubstituted and 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles in high yields and selectivity. The sample of 20 wt.% displayed higher acidity content which led to its enhanced activity in the catalytic transformation. Moreover, the catalyst could be easily reused without deactivation after five runs, which made it a promising catalyst for practical and large-scale applications. This outstanding reusability was ascribed to the strong attachment of PMA molecules on the n-Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂ support material.     

Calixarene coated gold nanoparticles as a novel therapeutic agent

In the current study, gold nanoparticles (AuC6NPs and AuC8NPs) were prepared through sodium borohydride reduction method by using Calix[6]rene and Calix[8]rene as a stabilizing agents. The synthesized AuNPs were screened for cytotoxic, phytotoxic, antifungal and antibacterial activities. The fabricated AuNPs were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and FTIR spectroscopy. Antibacterial activities of the AuNPs were tested against E. coli and S. aureus. The AuC6NPs were found to be effective against the growth of gram positive bacteria and inhibited the growth of S. aureus. AuC6NPs interact with bacterial cell and damaged cell membrane. Roughness of the bacterial surface and membrane rupture can be clearly observed by AFM images. The AuNPs possess insignificant antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Moreover, AuC8NPs have significant phytotoxicity and moderate cytotoxicity.     

Gold nanoparticles synthesized with Poria cocos modulates the anti-obesity parameters in high-fat diet and streptozotocin induced obese diabetes rat model

Obesity is a foremost health issue that affects about 1.6 million people out of which 400 million worldwide. Epidemiological evidences prove obesity is the primary cause for various metabolic ailments e.g. diabetes. Poria cocos possess extensive biological actions, for instance, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory actions. The primary limitation of all phytomedicine was their poor bioavailability hence in this investigation, we bio-fabricated the gold nanoparticles from Poria cocos aqueous extract and inspected their potency to treat obesity. Obese rat model were produced via fed the young female rats with high fat food for 8 weeks regimen. Further to confirm the potency of Poria cocos gold nanoparticles against obesity induced metabolic disorders we treated obese rats with low dose streptozotocin in the conclusion of the investigational time. The synthesis of Poria cocos gold-nanoparticles was evidenced via the UV-Spectroscopic study and characterized with SEM, TEM and EDAX studies. The anti-obesity actions of Poria cocos gold-nanoparticles were investigated by estimating the glucose profile, kidney markers, lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines, adipocyte markers, antioxidants in the Poria cocos gold nanoparticles treated obese rats. To confirm the Poria cocos gold nanoparticles role on inhibiting the obesity induced metabolic disorders we analyzed the histopathological changes in cardiac tissues. Our physical characterization confirms the synthesized Poria cocos gold nanoparticles assure the distinctions of influential nanoparticles to be utilized for the treatment. The results from biochemical and histopathological analysis confirms Poria cocos gold nanoparticles is a persuasive antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-obesity drug. Overall our results authentically confirm Poria cocos gold nanoparticles is a potent anti-obesity drug and it also protects from obesity induced metabolic disorders.     

Physicochemical parameter influences and their optimization on the biosynthesis of MnO2 nanoparticles using Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract

The manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO₂ NPs) were synthesized using Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract which was used as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents due to the presence of bioactive phytochemical compounds. Twenty five runs were designed to investigate the effect of V. amygdalina leaf extract ratio (A), initial potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) concentration (B), pH (C), and reaction time (D) on the biosynthesized MnO₂ NPs using 4-factor, 4-level D-Optimal Response Surface Quadratic Design Model approach. The relationship between physicochemical variables and absorption responses were established using transform second degree polynomial quadratic model. The effects of each absorption responses were analyzed by ANOVA principle using quadratic equations. A very low p-values (<0.0001), non-significant Lack of Fit F-values, and reasonable regression coefficient values (coefficient R² = 0.9790, adjusted R² = 0.9496, and predicted R² = 0.8452) suggested that there is an effective correlation between experimental results and predicted values. Numerical and graphical optimized results demonstrated that the optimized conditions for the predicted absorbance at 320 nm (1.095) were suggested at 43.72%, 1.81 mM, 6.02, and 103.42 min for V. amygdalina leaf extract ratio, initial KMnO₄ concentration, pH, and reaction time, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, the average absorbance from four experimental run was recorded to be 0.9678. This result was very closest to the predicted values. The average size elucidated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was found in the range between 20 nm and 22 nm. The stretching/or and vibrational, surface topography, thermal, and surface roughness as well as its porosity distributions were investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and Gwyddion software analysis.     

Application of Autoradiography to the Investigation of New Doping Techniques of Semiconductor Materials

The development of technology of new semiconductor devices requires fundamental studies of a number of phenomena taking place in semiconductors during the doping process or accompanying the doping process.

These studies are concerned with the following problems:

1. Diffusion of gold in silicon and the effect of diffusion layers (particularly phosphorus layers) and epitaxial silicon layers on the distribution of gold in thin silicon plates.

2. Distribution of admixtures in silicon introduced with the aid of the ion implantation technique. Our studies concerned with the second of the above mentioned problems comprised an autoradiographic examination of the homogeneity of the beam of phosphorus ions implanted in silicon, and a study of some apparatus factors and of the purity of the basic material on the implantation.     

银薄层控制金纳米四足体的重塑和等离激元调谐

探究了溶液中不同温度以及不同溶液成分(I^-的引入)对金纳米四足体(GNTPs)重塑过程的影响，表明了GNTPs的重塑机制为Ostwald熟化，即弱结合的表面Au原子在高凸曲率区域溶解和在凹区域重新沉积。这种重塑过程可以随时通过镀银薄层在几秒内阻止，GNTPs的形貌可以在最大程度上得到很好的稳定，从而也可以防止其光学性质的演变。在此基础上，通过紫外可见近红外(UV-Vis-NIR)吸收光谱和基于同步辐射的小角X射线散射(SAXS)进一步研究了GNTPs/Ag的稳定性，并通过表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)光谱证实了GNTPs/Ag的光学响应。     

Vibrational spectroscopic study of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-ZnO nanocomposites

A series of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-zinc oxide (PDMS-ZnO) nanocomposites having different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles (0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 wt%) have been prepared. Raman and FTIR-ATR spectroscopic analysis was performed in order to determine the interaction between the ZnO nanoparticles and PDMS polymer matrix. Density functional theory (DFT) using the (B3-LYP)/6-311++G(2df,2p) method was used to investigate the vibrational spectra of PDMS. A complete vibrational assignment is supported by the normal coordinate analysis, calculated Raman activities as well as IR intensities.The presence of ZnO nanoparticles in PDMS gives rise to significant differences in relative intensities of the characteristic vibrational bands with respect to the cross-linked polymer. The changes in relative intensities of Raman bands, as well as swelling measurements, were used to explain the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the cross-linked structure of PDMS nanocomposites. It is established that ZnO nanoparticles influence the cross-linking density of the polymer matrix.