Single electron tunneling in large scale nanojunction arrays with bisferrocene-nanoparticle hybrids

We report on the fabrication and single electron tunneling behaviour of large scale arrays of nanogap electrodes bridged by bisferrocene-gold nanoparticle hybrids (BFc-AuNP). Coulomb staircase was observed in the low temperature current-voltage curves measured on the junctions with asymmetric tunnel barriers. On the other hand, junctions with symmetric tunneling barrier exhibited mere nonlinear current voltage characteristics without discrete staircase. The experimental results agreed well with simulations based on the orthodox theory. The junction resistance showed thermally activated conduction behaviour at higher temperature. The overall voltage and temperature dependent results show that the transport behaviour of the large arrays of single particle devices obtained by a facile optical lithography and chemical etching process corresponds with the behaviour of single particle devices fabricated by other techniques like e-beam lithography and mechanical breaking methods.     

Transformation of flexural gravity waves by heterogeneous boundaries

The transformation of flexural gravity waves due to wave scattering by heterogeneous boundaries is investigated under the assumption of the linearized water-wave theory. The heterogeneous boundaries include step-type bottom topography as well as heterogeneity in the material property of a floating ice-sheet. By applying the generalized expansion formulae along with the corresponding orthogonal mode-coupling relations, the boundary-value problem (BVP) is reduced to linear system of algebraic equations. The system of equations is solved numerically to determine the full solution of the problem under consideration. Energy relations are derived and used to check the accuracy of the computational results of the scattering problem. Explicit relations for the shoaling and scattering coefficients due to the change in water depth and heterogeneous ice-sheet are derived. These derivations are based on the law of conservation of energy flux under the assumptions of the linearized shallow-water theory. The change in water depth and the structural characteristics of the medium significantly contribute to the change in the scattering and shoaling coefficients and the deflection of the structure. The present results are likely to play a significant role in the analysis of flexural gravity-wave propagation in problems of variable topography for which a direct computational approach is being utilized.     

Chaotic electronic oscillator from single amplifier biquad

The present letter reports a simple chaotic electronic oscillator. A single amplifier biquad (SAB) based active high-Q Band Pass Filter (BPF) is converted into a chaotic oscillator by introducing a single passive nonlinear element in the form of a general purpose pn junction diode, and a storage element in the form of an inductor. The chaotic circuit is mathematically modeled, which is a set of four coupled first-order autonomous nonlinear differential equations. The behavior of the proposed circuit is investigated through numerical simulations and electronic hardware experiments. It is found that the circuit shows complex behaviors, like, bifurcations and chaos, for a certain range of circuit parameters. The chaotic behavior of the circuit is ensured qualitatively by bifurcation diagram, phase plane plot and experimentally obtained power spectrum, and quantitatively by Lyapunov exponents and Kaplan–York dimensions.     

Green Nanoarchitectonics of Cu/Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Using Helleborus niger Extract Towards an Efficient Nanocatalyst,Antioxidant and Anti-lung Cancer Agent

Biogenic nanoarchitectured magnetic materials have drawn serious attention throughout the last decade. We have attempted the Helleborus niger flower extract functionalized and templated biogenic synthesis of Cu nanoparticles supported Fe₃O₄ as a likewise novel material. The plant phytomolecules were deployed as a non-toxic sustainable reductant and an outstanding capping agent to stabilize the synthesized NPs. The synthesized Cu/H.niger@Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was undergone comprehensive characterizations through Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), elemental mapping, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques. The material was catalytically explored in the synthesis of diverse pyrano[3,2-c]chromene derivatives by coupling 4-hydroxycoumarin, malononitrile and a range of aldehydes in hot water when it afforded excellent yields. Based on its core magnetism, the catalyst was easily recovered using a magnet and reused for 8 successive times without considerable loss in catalytic activity. After the chemical application, the synthesized Cu/H.niger@Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was engaged in biological assays like study of anti-oxidant properties by DPPH mediated free radical scavenging test using BHT as a reference molecule. Thereafter, on having a significant IC₅₀ value in radical scavenging assay, we extended the bio-application of the desired nanocomposite in anticancer study of A549 and H358 human lung cell lines in-vitro through MTT assay. The cell viability of malignant lung cell line reduced dose-dependently in the presence of desired nanocomposite. So, these results suggest that synthesized Cu/H.niger@Fe₃O₄ as a chemotherapeutic nanomaterial have a suitable anticancer activity against lung cell lines.

     

Emerging technologies for selenium separation and recovery from aqueous systems: A review for sustainable management strategy

Selenium (Se) is known both as an essential micronutrient for human health as well as a toxic element when consumed in excess. This work endeavours to critically review the existing selenium literature over the period 1980–2021, following a systematic sub-classification into the domains of occurrence, speciation, and existing conventional and advanced technologies, while directing further research towards emerging integrated sustainable recovery strategies. The review reveals that the majority of the conventional and advanced separation techniques eventually lead to secondary pollution rather than offering a complete solution, whereas resource recovery studies from water are very scant. Some of the techniques, being miserably slow, cannot be applied in the situations of the occurrence of excess selenium in drinking water, posing a serious threat to human health. Research efforts have so far been directed mainly at the removal of selenium rather than recovery through processes that have the potential of turning selenium abatement technology into a sustainable one with value addition. Emerging integrated technologies involving resource recovery from waste streams or generated sludge such as physicochemical technologies, biochemical reduction, electro-biological reduction, and membrane-based hybrid technologies are presently at a very early development stage. Moreover, the application of studies where Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) ormetal selenides are obtained is very limited, which may be attributed to the particle size, purity, morphology, and challenges involved in their separation. This review evaluates the challenges in separation and resource recovery from contaminated streams and points future research in a new direction.     

Design and Investigation of Double Gate Field Effect Transistor Based H2 Gas Sensor Using Ultra-Thin Molybdenum Disulfide

Silicon - In this article, a low-power hydrogen (H2) gas sensor has been proposed using a two-dimensional (2D) material based Double Gate Field Effect Transistor (2D-FET). It is imperative to...