Synthesis and characterization of layered perovskite-type oxides LnSr2MnFeO7 (Ln = La, Nd, Gd, and Dy)

Layered perovskite-type oxides LnSr₂MnFeO₇, with Ln?=?La, Nd, Gd, and Dy, have been synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction method. Rietveld refinement shows that all the phases were found to crystallize with tetragonal unit cell in the space group I4/mmm. The unit cell parameters a and c decrease monotonically with decreasing effective ionic radius of the lanthanide ion. The phases show insulating behavior with no anomalous features in the entire temperature range of 150–350 K and the electrical conduction occurs by Mott’s variable range hopping mechanism. The magnetic studies suggest that the phases are antiferromagnetic and the Weiss constant (θ) increases with decreasing ionic radius of lanthanide ion.     

The electronic bandstructure of CdO by the augmented plane wave method

An augmented plane wave calculation of the energy bands of CdO has been performed using two ionicities (0 and ± 1). Energy bands are found to be sensitive to the degree of ionicity assumed.The band structure for ionicity 0 is like that of a metal and the Fermi energy lies inside the conduction band whereas for ionicity ±1, the band structure is like that of a semiconductor and the Fermi energy lies in the Γ-Σ gap just above the valence band maxima at Σ₄.     

Chromatographic separations on pyridinium tungstoarsenate-impregnated ion-exchange papers

Ion-exchange papers were prepared by impregnating chromatographic Whatman No. 3 paper with pyridinium tungstoarsenate exchanger. The composition of the material loaded on the paper shows that the compound has the formula (C₅H₅NH)₃ W_{1 2}AsO_{4 0}·R_f values of 30 metal ions were determined on these ion-exchange papers by developing with ascending technique in solvents containing mixtures of n-propanol and hydrochloric or nitric acid. Several binary, ternary and some quaternary separations were also achieved on these papers. Studies were also made on plain papers for comparison.     

Excess volume of mixing of some polar and nonpolar liquids with propylene carbonate

The excess volume of mixing as a function of composition has been measured at 30°C and 40°C for mixtures of propylene carbonate with nitrobenzene, chlorobenzene, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, dioxane, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform. The highly polar nitrobenzene forms an ideal mixture with propylene carbonate. Chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, dioxane, chlorobenzene, benzene, and toluene give negative volume changes on mixing. In mixtures with cyclohexane,V _m ^E is positive at lower mole fractions of cyclohexane but becomes negative as the mole fraction of cyclohexane increases.     

Nanoconjugate Synthesis of Elaeocarpus ganitrus and the Assessment of Its Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Properties

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accountable for a total of 10 million deaths in the year 2020, according to GLOBOCAN 2020. The advancements in the field of cancer research indicate the need for direction towards the development of new drug candidates that are instrumental in a tumour-specific action. The pool of natural compounds proves to be a promising avenue for the discovery of groundbreaking cancer therapeutics. Elaeocarpus ganitrus (Rudraksha) is known to possess antioxidant properties and after a thorough review of literature, it was speculated to possess significant biomedical potential. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is an environmentally friendly approach intended to eliminate toxic waste and reduce energy consumption. This approach was reported for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from two different solvent extracts: aqueous and methanolic. These were characterized by biophysical and spectroscopic techniques, namely, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, EDX, DLS, SEM, and GC-MS. The results showed that the nanoconjugates were spherical in geometry. Further, the assessment of antibacterial, antifungal, and antiproliferative activities was conducted which yielded results that were qualitatively positive at the nanoscale. The nanoconjugates were also evaluated for their anticancer properties using a standard MTT Assay. The interactions between the phytochemicals (ligands) and selected cancer receptors were also visualized in silico using the PyRx tool for molecular docking.     

Direct CO2 capture and conversion to fuels on magnesium nanoparticles under ambient conditions simply using water

Converting CO₂ directly from the air to fuel under ambient conditions is a huge challenge. Thus, there is an urgent need for CO₂ conversion protocols working at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, preferentially without any external energy input. Herein, we employ magnesium (nanoparticles and bulk), an inexpensive and the eighth-most abundant element, to convert CO₂ to methane, methanol and formic acid, using water as the sole hydrogen source. The conversion of CO₂ (pure, as well as directly from the air) took place within a few minutes at 300 K and 1 bar, and no external (thermal, photo, or electric) energy was required. Hydrogen was, however, the predominant product as the reaction of water with magnesium was favored over the reaction of CO₂ and water with magnesium. A unique cooperative action of Mg, basic magnesium carbonate, CO₂, and water enabled this CO₂ transformation. If any of the four components was missing, no CO₂ conversion took place. The reaction intermediates and the reaction pathway were identified by ¹³CO₂ isotopic labeling, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and rationalized by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. During CO₂ conversion, Mg was converted to magnesium hydroxide and carbonate, which may be regenerated. Our low-temperature experiments also indicate the future prospect of using this CO₂-to-fuel conversion process on the surface of Mars, where CO₂, water (ice), and magnesium are abundant. Thus, even though the overall process is non-catalytic, it could serve as a step towards a sustainable CO₂ utilization strategy as well as potentially being a first step towards a magnesium-driven civilization on Mars.

We demonstrated the use of magnesium nanoparticles (and bulk) to convert CO₂ (pure & also from the air) to methane, methanol, formic acid and green cement without external energy within a few minutes, using only water as the sole hydrogen source.     

Electrochemical oxidation of aldehyde-N-arylhydrazones into symmetrical-2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

A convenient, efficient and one-pot synthesis of chemically and pharmaceutically interesting symmetrical-2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles is reported. The protocol involves anodic oxidation of aldehyde-N-arylhydrazones in anhyd. MeCN–LiClO₄. Constant potential electrolysis carried out in an undivided cell and platinum electrodes leads to the formation of the corresponding oxadiazoles under ambient condition and the mechanism was deduced from voltammetry studies. The reaction proceeded smoothly with high atom economy.