Effect of heat and time-period on the growth of ZnO nanorods by sol–gel technique

Sol–gel routes to metal oxide nanoparticles in organic solvents under exclusion of water have become a versatile alternative to aqueous methods. We focus on the preparation of well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays using non-aqueous sol–gel synthesis route, where ZnO nanorods arrays have been grown on glass substrates. This work provides a systematic study of controlled morphology and crystallinity of ZnO nanorod arrays. The investigation demonstrates that the synthesis process conditions of ZnO thin film have strong influences on the morphology and crystallinity of the ZnO nanorod arrays grown thereon, where non-aqueous process offers the possibility of better understanding and controlling the reaction pathways on the molecular level, enabling the synthesis of nanomaterials with high crystallinity and well-defined, uniform particle morphologies. Here the annealing temperature plays an important role on the growth of nanostructures of the ZnO grains and nanorod arrays. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image shows that the growth of ZnO nanorod arrays are high-quality single crystals growing along the c-axis perpendicular to the substrates. A detailed analysis of the growth characteristics of ZnO nanostructures as functions of growth time is also reported.     

Chemical and Pharmacological Profiling of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. Ex Hornem.) Sims Focusing Antioxidant,Cytotoxic, Antidiarrheal,Hypoglycemic, and Analgesic Properties

The aim of the study was to conduct phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Sims via several in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models. A total of four compounds were identified and isolated from the methanol extract of the bark and the methanol extract of the seed pulp of W. coccinea through successive chromatographic techniques and were characterized as 3β-acetyloxy-olean-12-en-28-ol (1), wrightiadione (2), 22β-hydroxylupeol (3), and β-sitosterol (4) by spectroscopic analysis. The aqueous fraction of the bark and chloroform fraction of the fruits provided the most potent antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ = 7.22 and 4.5 µg/mL, respectively) in DPPH free radical scavenging assay compared with the standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 17.45 µg/mL). The methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract exerted anti-diarrheal activity by inhibiting 74.55 ± 0.67% and 77.78 ± 1.5% (mean ± SEM) of the diarrheal episode in mice, respectively, after four hours of loading the samples. In the hypoglycemic test, the methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract (400 mg/kg) produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the blood glucose level in mice. Both doses of the plant extracts (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) used in the study induced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in pain reaction time. The in vitro and in vivo findings were supported by the computational studies. The isolated compounds exhibited higher binding affinity compared with the standard drugs towards the active binding sites of glutathione reductase, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), kappa opioid receptor, glucose transporter 3 (GLUT 3), Mu opioid receptor, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) proteins due to their potent antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diarrheal, hypoglycemic, and central and peripheral analgesic properties, respectively. The current findings concluded that W. coccinea might be a potential natural source for managing oxidative stress, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, and pain. Further studies are warranted for extensively phytochemical screening and establishing exact mechanisms of action.     

Exogenous Application of Green Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to Improve the Germination,Physiochemical, and Yield Parameters of Wheat Plants under Salinity Stress

Agriculture is the backbone of every developing country. Among various crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to the family Poaceae and is the most important staple food crop of various countries. Different biotic (viruses, bacteria and fungi) and abiotic stresses (water logging, drought and salinity) adversely affect the qualitative and quantitative attributes of wheat. Among these stresses, salinity stress is a very important limiting factor affecting the morphological, physiological, biochemical attributes and grain yield of wheat. This research work was carried out to evaluate the influence of phytosynthesized TiO₂ NPs on the germination, physiochemical, and yield attributes of wheat varieties in response to salinity. TiO₂ NPs were synthesized using TiO₂ salt and a Buddleja asiatica plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. Various concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L) and salt solutions (NaCl) (100 and 150 mM) were used. A total of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L improve germination attributes, osmotic and water potential, carotenoid, total phenolic, and flavonoid content, soluble sugar and proteins, proline and amino acid content, superoxide dismutase activity, and reduce malondialdhehyde (MDA) content at both levels of salinity. These two concentrations also improved the yield attributes of wheat varieties at both salinity levels. The best results were observed at 40 mg/L of TiO₂ NPs at both salinity levels. However, the highest concentrations (60 and 80 mg/L) of TiO₂ NPs showed negative effects on germination, physiochemical and yield characteristics and causes stress in both wheat varieties under control irrigation conditions and salinity stress. Therefore, in conclusion, the findings of this research are that the foliar application of TiO₂ NPs can help to improve tolerance against salinity stress in plants.     

An MCl inf4 p2− moiety (M = copper,zinc, cadmium and mercury) stabilized by bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) cation

Summary New ionic bimetallic complexes of the type [Cu(en)₂]-[MCl₄], where M = Cu^II, Zn^II, Cd^II and Hg^II, were prepared by reacting bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) dichloride (1 mol) with copper, zinc, cadmium and mercury dichlorides (1 mol) in absolute alcohol. Elemental analyses, conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements, and spectroscopic data (such as i.r., u.v.-vis. and e.p.r.) confirm that the compounds are 22 electrolytes in MeOH and that the copper(II) ion is paramagnetic, maintaining its square-planar geometry, while metal ions in the anionic moiety of the complexes achieve their usual tetrahedral environment. An augmented magnetic moment has been observed in the [Cu(en)₂] [CuCl₄] complex, which is attributed to the ferromagnetic effect and TIP.Author to whom all correspondence should be directed.     

Cross-coupling reactions towards the synthesis of natural products

Molecular Diversity - Cross-coupling reactions are powerful synthetic tools for the formation of remarkable building blocks of many naturally occurring molecules, polymers and biologically active...     

Combined parametric optimization of P3HT: PC70BM films for efficient bulk-heterojunction solar cells

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this report, the effects of photoactive blend compositions, film thicknesses, and annealing conditions on the P3HT:PC70BM solar cells performance and...     

Synthesis of new dinuclear dicopper(II) and dinickel(II) complexes. The kinetics of catechol oxidase and electrochemistry of a dicopper(II) complex

A new dinuclear ligand L, ethylene[OO-bis-salicylidene--diketone] bearing two symmetrical coordination sites was synthesized by the condensation of salicylaldehyde and acetylacetone, L, with 1,2-dibromoethane under reflux. The ligand L in a 1:1 ratio was treated with CuCl₂ and NiCl₂ to yield the complexes, tetrachloro bis[OO-bis- salicylidene--diketone copper(II)] and bis[OO-bis-salicylidene--diketone nickel(II)] chloride. The complexes were subsequently characterized by spectroscopic techniques, elemental analysis, i.r., ¹H-n.m.r., ¹³C-n.m.r., u.v.–vis., e.p.r. spectroscopy, and conductance measurements. The conductance measurements in DMF reveal that the Cu^II complex is covalent while the Ni^II complex is ionic and the spectral data support the Cu^II complex to be distorted octahedral whereas the Ni^II complex has square-planar geometry. The dioxygen binding was studied spectrophotometrically by the oxidation of tetrachloro bis[OO-bis-salicylidene--diketone copper(II)] with pyrocatechol in the presence of oxygen. The kinetic experiments were performed with the copper complex in DMF by monitoring the increase in absorbance over time at pH 8.0 in the presence of pyrocatechol at 25 °C. The kinetic parameters V_max and K_M were determined on the Michaelis–Menten Approach. Redox behavior of the dinuclear copper(II) complex was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in the presence of O₂ with the pyrocatechol (substrate) and also without the substrate. The large difference in potentials E⁰ is indicative of reversible oxygen binding of the complex and distinct catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of new 14- and 16-membered macrocycles and their transition metal complexes

Summary Benzoylacetic acid (1 mol) interacts with ethylenediamine or with propanediamine (2 mol) to yield new N₄ macrocycles 1,5,8,12-tetraazacyclotetradeca-2,4,9,11-tetraphenyl-3, 10-dicarboxylic-4,11-diacetic acid- 1,8-diene (L¹) and 1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadeca-2,4,10,12-tetraphenyl-3, 11-dicarboxylic-4,12-diacetic acid-1,9-diene (L²), respectively. These macrocycles have been successfully complexed with Cr^III, Fe^III, Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II. The complexes of the divalent metal ions are non-electrolytes, while those of Fe^III and Cr^III are 1:1 electrolytes in DMSO. On the basis of ligand field spectra and magnetic moments an octahedral geometry has been proposed for all the complexes.     

Analysis of ores by simple grinding and circular thin-layer chromatography and the nichrome wire ring chamber

Summary A method for the preparation of ore solutions by grinding the ore with distilled water is developed for the analysis of minerals and ores in the field by the circular thin-layer Chromatographic technique.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Herstellung von Erzlösungen durch Mahlen des Erzes mit dest. Wasser zur Feldanalyse von Mineralen und Erzen durch Ring-Dünnschichtchromatographie wird empfohlen.