Chemometric assessment of thermal oxidation of some edible oils

The effect of microwave heating was studied in six varieties of edible oil. Variations in physicochemical properties were observed and compared with the data obtained by hot plate heating. Fourier-transform infrared spectra of the oils showed substantial variations after both types of heating in the region of hydrogen’s stretching (C–H) vibration, region of double bond’s stretching (C=O), and fingerprint region. The visible spectra of mustard and olive oil showed the reduction in carotenoid, flavonoid, and chlorophyll pigments after heating. The oil samples were discriminated as saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats using chemometric techniques on physical and spectroscopic measurements.     

Synchronization in coupled Ikeda delay systems

In this work, we demonstrate the use of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) as a physical platform for realizing chaotic delay differential equations (DDE). Moreover, using our platform, we also experimentally study the synchronization between two time delayed systems. We illustrate two different experimental approaches – one is hardware co-simulation (using a Digilent Atlys with a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA) and the other is analog output (using a Terasic DE2-115 with an Altera Cyclone IV E FPGA).     

Quantum chemical study of the interaction of the short-chain poly(oxyethylene)s CH3(OCH2CH2)mOCH3 (C1EmC1; m = 1 and 2) with a water molecule in the gas phase and in solutions

It is well-known that the role of the oxygen atom of the hydrophilic unit of poly(oxyethylene) (POE) is one of the important factors of the high solubility of POE in water. In the present study, we focused on the hydration of the oxyethylene OCH2CH2O unit of POE, CH3(OCH2CH2)mOCH3 (C1EmC1), and theoretically examined the role of the water molecule on the stability of POE using the short-chain POE, 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) CH3(OCH2CH2)OCH3 (C1E1C1) and diglyme CH3(OCH2CH2)2OCH3 (C1E2C1). The relative energies of the important conformers of the model POE with and without a water molecule in the gas phase and the solvent have been calculated by the second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) method using the 6-311G basis set. We found three types of H-bonding of a water molecule with the POE chain for the TTT and the TGT conformers of C1E1C1 and for the TTTTTT, the TGTTGT, and the TGTTG'T conformers of C1E2C1, which are classified into the monodentate and the bidentate H-bonding. The conformers including the gauche form of the OCH2CH2O unit without the intramolecular electrostatic interaction are less stable in energy than the trans conformers in the gas phase for both C1E1C1 and C1E2C1. However, this order in the stability is reversed by the hydration. It is also found that the H-bond between POE and a water molecule is strengthened in the solvent. The stability of the conformers of POE in the gas phase and in the solvent is discussed in detail.     

Effects of gas pressure on the synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Si nanowires in VHF-PECVD method

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were grown on an Au-coated Si(111) substrate at various gas pressures by very high frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition via the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism. The synthesized SiNWs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL). The SiNWs were sharp needle-shaped and possessed highly crystalline core and oxide amorphous shell. As the gas pressure increases from 70 mtorr to 85 mtorr, the average diameter of the SiNWs decreases from 250 nm to 70 nm. Furthermore, the density of the nanowires increases with the gas pressure. The PL spectra revealed a peak at about 400 nm and a broadband emission at about 700 nm.     

Recent Advances on Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbons Towards Electrochemical Supercapacitor Applications

Due to ever-increasing global energy demands and dwindling resources, there is a growing need to develop materials that can fulfil the World's pressing energy requirements. Electrochemical energy storage devices have gained significant interest due to their exceptional storage properties, where the electrode material is a crucial determinant of device performance. Hence, it is essential to develop 3-D hierarchical materials at low cost with precisely controlled porosity and composition to achieve high energy storage capabilities. After presenting the brief updates on porous carbons (PCs), then this review will focus on the nitrogen (N) doped porous carbon materials (NPC) for electrochemical supercapacitors as the NPCs play a vital role in supercapacitor applications in the field of energy storage. Therefore, this review highlights recent advances in NPCs, including developments in the synthesis of NPCs that have created new methods for controlling their morphology, composition, and pore structure, which can significantly enhance their electrochemical performance. The investigated N-doped materials a wide range of specific surface areas, ranging from 181.5 to 3709 m² g⁻¹, signifies a substantial increase in the available electrochemically active surface area, which is crucial for efficient energy storage. Moreover, these materials display notable specific capacitance values, ranging from 58.7 to 754.4 F g⁻¹, highlighting their remarkable capability to effectively store electrical energy. The outstanding electrochemical performance of these materials is attributed to the synergy between heteroatoms, particularly N, and the carbon framework in N-doped porous carbons. This synergy brings about several beneficial effects including, enhanced pseudo-capacitance, improved electrical conductivity, and increased electrochemically active surface area. As a result, these materials emerge as promising candidates for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. The challenges and outlook in NPCs for supercapacitor applications are also presented. Overall, this review will provide valuable insights for researchers in electrochemical energy storage and offers a basis for fabricating highly effective and feasible supercapacitor electrodes.     

Novel UV-protective formulations for cotton, PET fabrics and their blend utilizing irradiation technique

A novel coating formulation to impart ultraviolet (UV) protection property to cotton, Polyethylene trephethalate (PET) and cotton/PET fabrics was prepared and gamma rays as an ionizing radiation was utilized for surface curing. Natural occurring aluminum potassium sulfate (Alum) was used individually and in binary coat with Zinc Oxide (ZnO), to induce the UV-blocking properties. It was found that using Alum (0.3 g/ml) caused a prompt increase in ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) over the uncoated fabrics. Moreover, the incorporated ZnO in the binary coat increased the UPF for two to threefold than the stand-alone Alum coating, specially in case of PET coated fabric. Water absorbance and moisture regain of ZnO and Alum/ZnO coated fabrics showed a decrease over the blank samples, due to the usage of oligomer/monomer combination. On contrary, Alum showed a hydrophilic effect with the increase in its content in the formulation. Surface Electron Microscope showed the homogenous coating of fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and water vapor permeability were also tested for coated samples.     

Barrier,Mechanical, Morphological and Thermal Properties of Compatibilized High Density Polyethylene and Polyamide 6 Blends

Effectiveness of the content of maleic anhydride (MAH) and polyamide 6 (PA6) on mechanical, thermal, barrier (moisture and oxygen) properties of HDPE/PA6 blends was investigated. Blends of HDPE with PA6 were prepared by in situ method. Molau test and FTIR spectroscopy results confirmed the reactive compatibilization through grafting of MAH on HDPE and PA6 chains in PA6/HDPE blends. Low concentration of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and MAH reduced the particle size, improved phase morphology and mechanical properties of PA6/HDPE blends. Decrease in mechanical properties of PA6/HDPE blends was observed at high concentration of BPO and MAH.     

Regio‐ and Stereoselective Biomimetic Synthesis of Oligostilbenoid Dimers from Resveratrol Analogues: Influence of the Solvent,Oxidant, and Substitution

Oligostilbenoids are polyphenols that are widely distributed in nature with multifaceted biological activities. To achieve biomimetic synthesis of unnatural derivatives, we subjected three resveratrol analogues to oligomerization by means of one‐electron oxidants. Upon varying the metal oxidant (AgOAc, CuBr₂, FeCl₃ ? 6 H₂O, FeCl₃ ? 6 H₂O/NaI, PbO₂, VOF₃), the solvent (over the whole range of polarities), and the oxygenated substitution pattern of the starting material, stilbenoid oligomers with totally different carbon skeletons were obtained. Here we propose to explain the determinism of the type of skeleton produced with the aid of hard and soft acid/base concepts in conjunction with the solvating properties of the solvents and the preferred alignment by the effect of π stacking.     

An Overview of the Literature on the Synthetic Routes to Azolyloxadiazoles

Published data on the methods of preparation of different azoles linked directly to oxadiazoles are described systematically. This review is divided into classes based on the number of heteroatoms in the azoles connected to oxadiazole ring, and the subtitles are divided according to the type of oxadiazoles isomer.