A review on recent advances in hierarchically porous metal and metal oxide nanostructures as electrode materials for supercapacitors and non-enzymatic glucose sensors

The remarkable significance of electrode materials in industrial processes, energy, sustainability and diabetes monitoring has captivated scientists to develop advance nanomaterials for the benefit of life across the globe. Here in, the recent developments in nanostructured porous metal and metal oxide composite materials for supercapacitor applications and non-enzymatic glucose sensors (NEGS) has been extensively discussed. The essential and active electrode materials from the research and application perspective has been emphasized in detail. We have also evaluated the worthiness, taxonomical classification, efficiency, specific capacitance and sensitivity of these materials for the aforementioned potential applications. Eventually, we concluded the review by providing the aspect ratio, surface morphology, particle size and specific surface area of these materials that plays an indispensable role for their promising potential applications.     

Facile charge-displacement at silicon gives spaced-out reaction

Adsorbates on metals, but not previously on semiconductors, have been observed to display long-range repulsive interactions. On metals, due to efficient dissipation, the repulsions are weak, typically on the order of 5 meV at 10 ?. On the 7×7 reconstruction of the Si(111) surface, charge transport through the surface has been demonstrated by others using charge injection by STM tips. Here we show that for both physisorbed brominated molecules, and for chemisorbed Br-atoms, induced charge-transfer in the Si(111)-7×7 surface can lead to a strong repulsive interaction between adsorbates, calculated as 200 meV at 13.4 ?. This large repulsive interaction must be channeled through the surface since it causes widely spaced "one-per-corner-hole" patterns of physisorption (three cases--directly observed here) and subsequent chemisorption (four cases observed). The patterns were observed by ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy for four different brominated hydrocarbon adsorbates; 1,2-dibromoethane, 1-bromopropane, 1-bromopentane, and bromobenzene, deposited individually on the surface. In every case, adsorbates were overwhelmingly more likely to be found singly than multiply adjacent to a corner-hole, constituting a distinctive pattern having a probability p = 7 × 10(-5) compared to a random distribution.     

Precision continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> at 1064 nm

A high performance continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectrometer using a rapidly swept cavity has been applied to investigate weak absorption of CO₂ line near 1064 nm. In the experimental setup, offset locking of the Nd:YAG laser to other iodine-stabilized Nd:YAG laser provides a frequency accuracy better than 20 kHz. The ringdown time was obtained by fitting the experimental ringdown data to a theoretically obtained ringdown curve. The absorption coefficient and absolute center wavelength are determined with accuracy better than two orders of magnitude with respect to the previous observations. Our experimental setup yields high performance in a relatively simple, low cost, and compact system that is amenable to chemical analysis of trace gases in medicine, agriculture, industry, and the environment.     

Practical,high-yield synthesis of thiol-terminated diacetylenes for formation of conductive monolayers

Self-assembled monolayers of thiol terminated conjugated diacetylenes can be cross-linked using ultraviolet light to form highly conjugated polydiacetylenic conductive monolayers [1]; however, the reported syntheses of the diacetylene monomers present numerous problems that prevent the wide spread application of these in functional materials. We report a redesigned four-step synthesis that proceeds in 75–80% overall yields and allows gram scale production of an array of thiol terminated conjugated diacetylenes, thereby allowing examination and application of these low-dimensional conductive materials.     

Structure elucidation,DNA binding,DFT, molecular docking and cytotoxic activity studies on novel single crystal (E)-1-(2-fluorobenzylidene)thiosemicarbazide

Compound 3 {(E)-1-(2-fluorobenzylidene)thiosemicarbazide} – a new Schiff base of thiosemicarbazide has been synthesized, characterized and reported for crystal structure. Planer side chain in the crystal structure was observed co-planer with aromatic ring plane and molecules were connected into centrosymmetric dimmers via intermolecular hydrogen bonding. DFT geometry optimization and the relevant quantum parameters indicated unstable and reactive nature of compound 3. Experimental and theoretical findings for DNA binding by UV–visible, cyclic voltammetry and molecular docking studies showed consistency in kinetic (K_b) and thermodynamic (ΔG) parameters and that compound 3 significantly interacted with DNA via intercalation. Viscometric analysis further comprehended intercalation as possible binding mode of the compound with DNA and non-denaturing of DNA in the presence of 10% aqueous DMSO. Docked parameters further assured the drug like characteristics of the investigated compound as fit in Lipinski’s criteria. Dose dependant cytotoxic activity of compound 3 against human Huh-7 cell line indicated its anti-cancer potential at 100?µg/ml concentration.     

Experimental characterization of roughness parameters for fretting wear in spline couplings

Roughness parameters convey important information about the tribological properties of a material subjected to fretting conditions. They significantly affect the fretting life of the material. An experimental study has been conducted to characterize the variations in roughness parameters with respect to fretting wear and clearance in aero-engine spline couplings which are prone to angular misalignment. A dedicated test bench has been used to test spline couplings made of nitrogen hardened 42CrMo4 with crowned teeth. Tests were performed on samples of identical geometry and material under varying conditions of torque and misalignment angle between the hub and shaft of the coupling. Percentage differences in roughness parameters before and after the test have been characterized which showed symmetric variations, but interestingly mirrored in amplitudes for applied torques and misalignment angles. Even non linear variations behaved similarly for the most of the parameters. Both clearance and fretting wear were found to be in a direct relation with torque and misalignment angle. The parameters, namely peak count and mean height of the peaks have been found to be the most characteristic representation of fretting damage.     

Preconcentration of Rare Earth Elements in Seawater with Chelating Resin Having Fluorinated β‐Diketone Immobilized on Styrene Divinyl Benzene for their Determination by ICP‐OES

An analytical method has been developed for the preconcentration of rare earth elements (REEs) in seawater for their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). An indigenously synthesized chelating resin was used for the preconcentration of (REEs) which was based on immobilization of fluorinated β‐diketone group on solid support styrene divinyl benzene. Sample solutions (adjusted to optimized pH) were passed through a polyethylene column packed with 250 mg of the resin. Experimental conditions consisting of pH, sample flow rate, sample volume and eluent concentration were optimized. The established method has been applied for the preconcentration of light, medium and heavy REEs in coastal sea water samples for their subsequent determination by (ICP‐OES). Percentage recoveries of La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb and Lu were ≥ 95%, a preconcentration factor of 200 times, and relative standard deviations < 5% were achieved.     

An approximation algorithm for a symmetric Generalized Multiple Depot, Multiple Travelling Salesman Problem

In this paper, we present an algorithm with an approximation factor of 2 for a Generalized, Multiple Depot, Multiple Travelling Salesman Problem (GMTSP) when the costs are symmetric and satisfy the triangle inequality. The algorithm requires finding a degree constrained minimum spanning tree which we compute using a Lagrangian relaxation.