The effects of cerium doping concentration on the properties and photocatalytic activity of bimetallic Mo/Ce catalyst

In this study, the characterization and photocatalytic activity of MoO₃ nanoparticles doped with various doping concentrations of cerium have been investigated. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the prepared catalysts confirmed that MoO₃ particles have been successfully doped by cerium. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was performed to visualize the surface morphology of the obtained catalysts. The XRD patterns suggested that the crystallinity of the sample with the lowest doping concentration of 15 mol % was higher in comparison with samples of higher doping concentrations. The volume-averaged crystal sizes of the obtained catalysts were calculated to be 25, 28, and 32 nm for 15, 35, and 60 mol % samples, respectively. The photocatalytic activity along with the reaction kinetics of Ce-doped MoO₃ nanoparticles have also been investigated through the dye degradation of methyl orange. The synthesized Ce-doped MoO₃ particles with the lowest dopant concentration of 15 mol % exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for methyl orange dye degradation. It was observed that photo-degradation activity decreased with an increase in the doping concentration of cerium. The predicted rate constants for samples with 15, 35, and 60 mol % doping concentrations were found to be 0.0432, 0.035, and 0.029 min^–1, respectively.     

Bioinspired synthesis,characterization and antifungal activity of enzyme-mediated gold nanoparticles using a fungal oxidoreductase

The development of efficient cell-free systems of nanoparticle synthesis using microbial enzymes is a growing field of biological and green chemistry for the supportable improvement in nano-biotechnology. In the present study, we established a cell-free system for producing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a fungal oxidoreductase named sulfite oxidoreductase purified to homogeneity from Fusarium oxysporum. The enzyme was purified by ultrafiltration followed by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50 gel, and its molecular weight was determined by gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 gel. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 346 kDa. It was composed of three subunits of 176, 94 and 76 kDa. Purified enzyme was successfully used for production of gold nanoparticles in a cell-free system. Synthesized gold nanoparticles showed the highest absorbance at 520 nm wavelength as shown by UV–visible spectroscopy. They were spherical in shape with an average size of 20 nm as determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Assessment of the antifungal properties of synthesized nanoparticles by disk diffusion method indicated a potent growth inhibitory activity against all tested human pathogenic yeasts and molds by inhibition zones ranged from 10 to 18 mm. Taken together, our enzymatically established method of nanoparticle synthesis using a purified sulfite oxidoreductase of F. oxysporum can be considered as an efficient tool for generating harmless bioactive gold nanoparticles with potential applications in biology, medicine and industry.     

Parametric study of plasma active medium and gain saturation region in a Ne-like soft X-ray laser

Plasmas created by the interaction of high power optical laser with a target surface can be used as a source of soft X-ray lasers. Plasma and pump laser characteristics play significant role in achieving high gain coefficient for such plasma based on soft X-ray lasers. In the present work, the plasma active medium parameters for germanium element at a wavelength of 19.6 nm irradiated by a double-pulse pump laser have been studied using MED103 hydrodynamic code. For this purpose, first, the effects of laser intensity, pulse width and delay time of two pulses on the gain coefficient have been investigated and the optimum conditions for the maximum gain extent of Ne-like germanium soft X-ray laser are obtained. Then, in order to calculate the intensity of such high gain lasers in which Linford equation is invalid, we have adopted the general formula of amplified spontaneous emission intensity, which is valid in all range of intensities even at much higher intensities than saturation intensity. Finally, the soft X-ray laser intensities in the saturated areas for different plasma lengths have been calculated. The results show that the output of soft X-ray laser intensity with 294 cm⁻¹ gain coefficient can reach to about several times saturated intensity by applying a 1–2 mm plasma length as the active medium.     

Performance Improvement in Fiber-Optic Spectrometers Using Photonic Crystal Fibers

Abstract

Resolution enhancement of a high-speed fiber-optic spectrometer is investigated in this article. The operation of these types spectrometers is based on conversion of the spectral-domain signal into the time domain by a dispersive element. A photonic crystal fiber is used as a dispersive fiber in this spectrometer. Resolution enhancement of considered spectrometer with photonic crystal fibers is studied. The fiber loss and length minimization in this spectrometer are obtained. Simulation results show that an increase in resolution will cause a decrease in the speed of the spectrometer. Trade offs between resolution and speed are studied.     

Preparation and Characterization of Agarose-Gelatin Blend Hydrogels as a Cell Encapsulation Matrix: An In-Vitro Study

Cell encapsulation represents an alternative nonviral technique to treat multiple diseases, leading to a reduction or even absence of administration of immunosuppressants. Hydrogels have been introduced as novel materials suitable for cell encapsulation. This study involves agarose–gelatin blend hydrogels with four different weight percentage ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75) of agarose to gelatin. Prepared blend hydrogels were assessed in terms of rheological behavior (gel point by using complex viscosity), cell attachment (hemocytometer), cell viability and cytotoxicity (3-(3,4-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliium bromide, MTT assay), and mechanical and integral stability (Bradford test and shear force rupture assay, respectively). Based on the obtained rheological experimental results, the sol-gel transition point for 50:50 was in the physiological condition range (35°C–37°C). The percent of nonattached cells on the surface of the hydrogel decreased from 92% for the 100:0 sample to 46.3% for the 50:50 sample, and the cell viability was more than 95%. A good structural integrity was achieved for samples with weight ratio of 50:50; 20.195% gelatin was released during the 24 h in phosphate buffer solution at 25°C and the mechanical stability of agarose–gelatin microcapsules under shear force were improved about 14% rather than pure agarose microcapsule.     

Lattice Boltzmann Pore Scale Simulation of Natural Convection in a Differentially Heated Enclosure Filled with a Detached or Attached Bidisperse Porous Medium

In this research, pore scale simulation of natural convection in a differentially heated enclosure filled with a conducting bidisperse porous medium is investigated using the thermal lattice Boltzmann method. For the first time, the effect of connection of the bidisperse porous medium to the enclosure walls is studied by considering the attached geometry in addition to the detached one. Effect of most relevant parameters on the streamlines and isotherms as well as hot wall average Nusselt number is studied for two of the bidisperse porous medium configurations. It is observed that effect of geometrical and thermo-physical parameters of the bidisperse porous medium on the heat transfer characteristics is more complicated for the attached configuration. To assess the validity of the local thermal equilibrium condition in the micro-porous media, the pore scale results are used to compute the percentage of the local thermal non-equilibrium for two of the bidisperse porous medium configurations. It is concluded that for the detached configuration, the local thermal equilibrium condition is confirmed in the entire micro-porous media for the ranges of the parameters studied here. However, for the attached geometry, it is shown that departure from the local thermal equilibrium condition is observed for the higher values of the Rayleigh number, micro-porous porosity, solid–fluid thermal conductivity ratio, and the smaller values of the macro-pores volume fraction.     

Tin-based halide perovskite materials: properties and applications

Organic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskite materials have attracted considerable research interest, especially for photovoltaics. In addition, their scope has been extended towards light-emitting devices, photodetectors, or detectors. However, the toxicity of lead (Pb) element in perovskite compositions limits their applications. Therefore, a tremendous research effort on replacing is underway. More specifically, tin-based perovskites have shown the highest potential for this purpose. However, many challenges remain before these materials reach the goals of stability, safety, and eventually commercial application. This perspective considers many aspects and the critical development possibilities of tin-based perovskites, including drawbacks and challenges based on their physical properties. Additionally, it provides insights for future device applications that go beyond solar cells. Finally, the existing challenges and opportunities in tin-based perovskites are discussed.

This perspective presents the current status and prospects of tin-perovskites and the relevant optoelectronic device applications.     

Optimal design and characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with polyvinyl alcohol for targeted delivery and imaging

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) with narrow size distribution and stabilized by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were synthesized. The particles were prepared by a coprecipitation technique using ferric and ferrous salts with a molar Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio of 2. Using a design of experiments (DOE) approach, the effect of different synthesis parameters (stirring rate and base molarity) on the structure, morphology, saturation magnetization, purity, size, and size distribution of the synthesized magnetite nanoparticles was studied by various analysis techniques including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. PVA not only stabilized the colloid but also played a role in preventing further growth of SPION followed by the formation of large agglomerates by chemisorption on the surface of particles. A rich behavior in particle size, particle formation, and super paramagnetic properties is observed as a function of molarity and stirring conditions. The particle size and the magnetic properties as well as particle shape and aggregation (individual nanoparticles, magnetic beads, and magnetite colloidal nanocrystal clusters (CNCs) are found to be influenced by changes in the stirring rate and the base molarity. The formation of magnetic beads results in a decrease in the saturation magnetization, while CNCs lead to an increase in saturation magnetization. On the basis of the DOE methodology and the resulting 3-D response surfaces for particle size and magnetic properties, it is shown that optimum regions for stirring rate and molarity can be obtained to achieve coated SPION with desirable size, purity, magnetization, and shape.     

Synthesis,photocrosslinking characteristics,and biocompatibility evaluation of N‐vinyl pyrrolidone/polycaprolactone fumarate biomaterials using a new proton scavenger

Photocrosslinkable and biodegradable polymeric networks were formulated based on N‐vinyl pyrrolidone‐poly(ε‐caprolactone fumarate) (NVP/PCLF) compositions for hard tissue engineering applications using a new proton scavenger, propylene oxide (PO). The synthesized macromers were obtained as a white clear paste with no colorization. The obtained macromers were thoroughly characterized using spectroscopic (NMR and FT‐IR) and chromatographic (gel permeation chromatography (GPC)) techniques. Photocrosslinking of the PCLF/NVP compositions was achieved using camphorquinone and dimethyl toluidine (DMT) as a photoinitiator system. The cytocompatibility of the macromers and their corresponding networks were evaluated via MTT assay. Characterization of the networks indicated the importance of NVP content on the network properties. Sol fraction studies indicated that more than 90% of the PCLFs were crosslinked over the studied range of PCLF/NVP compositions; however most of the NVP above a stoichiometric ratio of one NVP to fumerate unit remained unreacted. It was also found that in the concentrations more than 10% NVP, the unreacted NVP monomer neither participated in the crosslinking reaction nor homopolymerized to poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). The elastic modulus (G′) and estimated molecular weight between crosslinks also confirmed that at the higher NVP content the PCLF photocrosslinking was hindered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple method to estimate relative stabilities of polyethers cationized by alkali metal ions

Dissociation of doubly cationized polyethers, namely [P + 2X]²⁺ into [P + X]⁺ and X⁺, where P = polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG) and polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) and X = Na, K and Cs, was studied by means of energy‐dependent collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry. It was observed that the collision voltage necessary to obtain 50% fragmentation (CV₅₀) determined for the doubly cationized polyethers of higher degree of polymerization varied linearly with the number of degrees of freedom (DOF) values. This observation allowed us to correlate these slopes with the corresponding relative gas‐phase dissociation energies for binding of alkali ions to polyethers. The relative dissociation energies determined from the corresponding slopes were found to decrease in the order Na⁺ > K⁺ > Cs⁺ for each polyether studied, and an order PPG ≈ PEG > PTHF can be established for each alkali metal ion. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.