Biosynthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles and their superior antibacterial effect against human nosocomial bacterial pathogens

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Antibacterial titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) were biologically synthesized by microwave irradiation of Cissus quadrangularis extract followed by...     

Structural characterization of copper (II) tetradecanoate with 2,2′-bipyridine and 4,4′-bipyridine to study magnetic properties

This paper presents synthesis, structural characterization and spintronic applications of copper (II) tetradecanoate derived magnetic complexes. The complexes were prepared by a chemical reaction between [Cu₂(CH₃(CH₂)₁₂COO)₄](EtOH)₂ and 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-bipyridine ligands respectively. The complexes were further reacted between the product of the first reaction and 4,4′-bipyridine-2,2′-bipyridine respectively. The structural characterization techniques included elemental analysis, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultra-violet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy, magnetic moment and thermogravimetric analysis. The structural and characterization results suggested that the synthesized complexes were binuclear and mononuclear covalent complexes of copper(II) with structural formulas [Cu₂(η²-(OOCR)₄](4,4′-bpy)2H₂O] and [Cu(η¹-(OOCR)₂(2,2′-bpy) (4,4′-bpy)] respectively.     

Surface characterizations of membranes and electrospun chitosan derivatives by optical speckle analysis

In this paper, we show that laser speckle pattern provides useful information toward revealing discrimination between nanofibers and membranes. Chitosan materials particularly organosoluble chitosan derivatives have a number of applications. The surface characteristics of these materials are very critical for specific applications. The analysis of laser speckles, both numerical and graphical, includes information about the surface structure. The development of digital electronics brought the ease of image processing and has opened new perspectives for a spectrum of laser speckle analysis (LASCA) applications. Our results show reasonable differences between the LASCA parameters of nanofibers and membranes. The methodology may be considered as a quantitative assessment tool for similar samples.     

Nano-scale copper oxidation on leadframe surface

Copper oxidation studies were carried out by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) techniques. The growth of copper oxide occurs as a copper surface comes in an oxygen containing environment. The reaction sequence leading to oxidation of the copper surface is generally accepted to be oxygen chemisorption, nucleation and growth of the surface oxide and bulk oxide growth. HRTEM examination of the cross section of the oxidized copper sample revealed the interface region in between the copper and copper oxide. At high oxidation temperature, formation of micro-voids and separations were observed along this interface region. Poor adhesion at this interface region due to micro-voids and separation were found to be the root cause of delamination issue. EELS analysis determined that for regions with intact interface the oxidation system is Cu/CuO/Cu₂O/CuO, however, in regions containing micro-voids or separation it is found to be Cu/Cu₂O/CuO.     

Effect of polar aprotic solvents on hydroxyethyl cellulose-based gel polymer electrolyte

Quasi-solid bioelectrolytes based on hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and sodium iodide (NaI) in three different polar aprotic solvent systems, dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and dimethylacetamide (DMA), were fabricated and characterized. FTIR studies revealed active solvent-ion interactions in DMF-based electrolytes in comparison to DMA and DMSO. The effect of the solvent system on the crystallinity of HEC gel electrolytes was more significant at low NaI concentration. In each solvent system, the highest ionic conductivity was achieved at 70 wt% NaI and generally DMF-based electrolytes showed higher conductivity than the other solvents. The availability of multiple complexation sites present in DMF is ascribed to improvement in ion mobility and hence conductivity. Rheological analysis was carried out to elucidate the mechanical properties of the gels. Generally, the mechanical strength of the polymer gels was unaffected by the type of solvent.     

Ionic liquid infused starch-cellulose derivative based quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cell: exploiting the rheological properties of natural polymers

Cellulose - Starch and cellulose have long been used in various industrial applications as gelating agents. In this work, the intrinsic adhesive properties of these biopolymers are exploited for...     

Conductivity or rheology? Tradeoff for competing properties in the fabrication of a gel polymer electrolyte based on chitosan-barbiturate derivative

Chitosan-barbiturate (Ch-Ba) derivative was synthesized to afford organosolubility. Attachment of Ba onto the Ch backbone was confirmed by ¹H NMR with peaks at 8.2 and 11.1 ppm, and FTIR with bands at 1679 and 1739 cm^?1 belonging to the Ba ring. This derivative was used as a host polymer in the preparation of gel polymer electrolytes. The components of the gel consist of tetrapropylammonium iodide (TPAI) as the salt, SiO₂ nanofiller (NF) as the mechanical stabilizer, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the solvent. The necessary formulation required to produce the gel was studied using response surface models by means of artificial neural networks. Electrochemical and rheological behaviors were studied and the simulated model predicted conductivities were as high as 8.51 mS cm^?1 while still maintaining a solid-like gel structure in the region where storage modulus dominated loss modulus, G″/G′?<?1.     

One-step facile synthesis of poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-polypyrrole/graphene oxide nanocomposites: enhanced solubility,thermal stability and good electrical conductivity

Poly (N-vinylcarbazole)-polypyrrole/graphene oxide (PNVC-Ppy/GO) nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by one-step chemical oxidative polymerization using ferric chloride hexahydrate in the presence of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid. The composite formation, morphology and the crystallinity of the composite have been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, FESEM, and XRD, respectively. The incorporation of graphene oxide into the PNVC-Ppy matrix induces interaction between graphene oxide and PNVC-Ppy via hydrogen bonding and π–π* stacking. This π–π* stacking between the GO layers and PNVC-Ppy produces longer conjugation length leading to a higher solubility in organic solvents and enhanced electron mobility. The information of conjugation chain length and charge transfer capacity at the interface of the composite has been obtained from the Raman spectroscopy and photolumincience spectroscopy. The improved thermal stability and electrical d.c. conductivity (0.123?S/cm) of the resulting PNVC-Ppy/GO composite compared to the PNVC–Ppy copolymer (0.08?S/cm) is attributed to the incorporation of graphene oxide in the composite.