Role of bio-derived zinc oxide nanoparticles in antifungal and photocatalytic activities

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are known as a material in the treatment of environmental pollutions. In this study, ZnO-NPs were synthesized using...     

Promising new catalytic properties of a Co (II)-carboxamide complex and its derived Co3O4 nanoparticles for the Mizoroki-Heck and the Epoxidation reactions

The new Co(II) - carboxamide complex ( 1 ) and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles ( 2 ), by way of thermal decomposition of ( 1 ) have been efficiently synthesised in the environment-friendly. X-ray diffraction reveals a slightly distorted octahedral coordination of cobalt (four nitrogens and two oxygens) in ( 1 ) and regular octahedral or tetrahedral ones (oxygens only) in ( 2 ). The investigation of ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) in the Mizoroki-Heck and epoxidation of alkens reactions showed them both to be powerful, green and inexpensive catalysts.     

Novel marine-based gold nanocatalyst in solvent-free synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives: Green and sustainable protocol

We report an ecofriendly synthetic approach for the fabrication of biogenic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using electron-rich sea cucumber extract as a bio-reductant and stabilizing agent in reducing gold cations into AuNPs at the optimal conditions. The produced AuNPs are spherical in shape with an average particle size of 11 ± 1.5 nm in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and exhibited a crystal structure of face-centered cubic in X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Our results indicated that bioinspired AuNPs demonstrate superior catalytic activity in the safe and facile one-pot synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives under solvent-free reaction conditions. This green route encompasses multiple benefits including highly recyclable bioinspired catalyst (5 cycles), short reaction times, convenient workout, high to excellent product yields (82%–97%), and nonhazardous conditions.     

A Highly Accurate Refractive Index Sensor with Two Operation Modes Based on Photonic Crystal Ring Resonator

A 2D hole‐type hexagonal lattice photonic crystal is utilized, herein, to detect the refractive index change of the material infiltrated into the designed circular sensing area which also resembles a ring resonator. The accuracy of the detection process is enhanced considering the simultaneous shift of the resonance wavelengths and the intensity modulation which occur in two separate spectral regions. The presented structure has the ability to detect liquids, material concentrations in fluids and gases having refractive indices in the range of n = 1–2 with sensitivity and quality factor of 61 nm/RIU and 3000, respectively, for resonance‐wavelength‐shift‐based operation. The detection range of n = 1–1.4 with the sensitivity of S = 0.69 NI/RIU is achieved for the intensity‐based measurement and the results show good linearity in the operating range.     

An improved solvent-free synthesis of flunixin and 2-(arylamino) nicotinic acid derivatives using boric acid as catalyst

A simple solvent-free protocol for the preparation of flunixin, a potent non-narcotic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is reported using boric acid as catalyst. Its salt, flunixin meglumine are then prepared under reflux in EtOH. This sustainable method are then extended for the synthesis of a series of 2-(arylamino) nicotinic acid derivatives. The present protocol combines non-hazardous neat conditions with associated benefits like excellent yield, straightforward workup, and use of readily available and safe catalyst in the absence of any solvent, which are important factors in the pharmaceutical industry. The pathway for catalytic activation of 2-chloronicotic acid with boric acid was also investigated using Gaussian 03 program package.

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Detection of acetone in the human breath as diabetes biomarker based on PPy/WO3 nanocomposite sensor by FFT continuous cyclic voltammetry method

This research represents a novel detection method of acetone level in the exhaled breath samples (RH=88 %) based on polypyrrole/tungsten oxide (PPy/WO₃) nanocomposite sensor. The PPy/WO₃ sensor was fabricated by the deposition of nanocomposite on/between interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) through electrospray coating and was then characterized by FE-SEM imaging. In this detection method, the coulometric signal of the sensor was calculated using Fast Fourier Continuous Cyclic Voltammetry (FFTCCV), where cyclic voltammetry (CV) was applied to the sensor in the defined potential rang and then charge changes of the sensor was obtained by integration of the current in all scanned potential ranges. FFTCCV method enhances the sensitivity of the sensor when exposed to the gas mixtures containing acetone. In addition to its fast coulometric response time (≤5 s) in the two linear ranges of 0.7–2.8 ppm and 2.8–28.2 ppm (R²=0.99), FFTCCV method provides the low detection limit of 70 ppb, and high sensitivity toward acetone at the optimum values of the parameters. The fabricated sensor showed great selectivity toward acetone when exposed to humid air and some exhaled gas like carbon dioxide, ammonia, methanol, ethanol and alkyl amines. The results were very satisfying as the sensor was capable to detect different acetone levels in human exhaled breath as non-invasive diagnosis of diabetes with a good correlation (R²≃0.9) to the routine blood sugar test taken by different commercial glucometers results.     

Synthesis of Fe3O4-supported Schiff base Cu (II) complex: a novel efficient and recyclable magnetic nanocatalyst for one-pot three-component synthesis of quinolin-5-one,chromene-3-carbonitrile and phthalazine-5,10-dione derivatives

Research on Chemical Intermediates - In this research, synthesis and characterization of a novel Schiff base Cu (II) complex immobilized on Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles are reported. Then, the...     

Highly tunable elastic dielectric metasurface lenses

Dielectric metasurfaces are two‐dimensional structures composed of nano‐scatterers that manipulate the phase and polarization of optical waves with subwavelength spatial resolution, thus enabling ultra‐thin components for free‐space optics. While high performance devices with various functionalities, including some that are difficult to achieve using conventional optical setups have been shown, most demonstrated components have fixed parameters. Here, we demonstrate highly tunable dielectric metasurface devices based on subwavelength thick silicon nano‐posts encapsulated in a thin transparent elastic polymer. As proof of concept, we demonstrate a metasurface microlens operating at 915 nm, with focal distance tuning from 600 μm to 1400 μm (over 952 diopters change in optical power) through radial strain, while maintaining a diffraction limited focus and a focusing efficiency above 50%. The demonstrated tunable metasurface concept is highly versatile for developing ultra‐slim, multi‐functional and tunable optical devices with widespread applications ranging from consumer electronics to medical devices and optical communications.

     

A new skin friction balance and selected measurements

A new skin friction balance with moving belt has been developed for measurement of the surface shear stress component in the direction of belt motion. The device is described in this paper with typical measurement results. This instrument is symmetric in design with small moving mass and negligible internal friction. It is 3.8 cm high, 3.8 cm long and 2.1 cm wide, with the sensing surface 0.7 cm wide and 1.5 cm long, and it can be made in various sizes. The unique design of this instrument has reduced some of the errors associated with conventional floating-element balances. The instrument can use various sensing systems and the ouput signal is a linear function of the wall shear stress. Measurements show good agreement with data obtained by the floating element balances and flat plate prediction techniques. Dynamic measurements have been made in a limited range. The overall uncertainty of measurement is estimated to be ±2%.