Water/Vapor Assisted Fabrication of Large-Area Superprotonic Conductive Covalent Organic Framework Membranes

Fabrication of large-area ionic covalent organic framework membranes (iCOMs) remains a grand challenge. Herein, the authors report the liquid water and water vapor-assisted fabrication of large-area superprotonic conductive iCOMs. A mixed monomer solution containing 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TFP) in 1,4-dioxane and p-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (DABA) in water is first polymerized to obtain a pristine membrane which subsequently underwent crystallization process in mixed vapors containing water vapor. During the polymerization stage, water played a role of a diluting agent, weakening the Coulombic repulsion between sulfonic acid groups. During the crystallization stage, water vapor played a role of a structure-directing agent to facilitate the formation of highly crystalline, large-area iCOMs. The resulting membranes achieved a proton conductivity value of 0.76 S cm⁻¹ at 90 °C under 100% relative humidity, which is among the highest ever reported. Using liquid water and water vapor as versatile additives open a novel avenue to the fabrication of large-area membranes from covalent organic frameworks and other kinds of crystalline organic framework materials.     

Synthesis of Nanostructured Mg-Ni Alloy and Its Hydrogen Storage Properties

Nanostructured Mg-Ni alloy with the particle size in the range of 40-50 nm was synthesized by the thermal decomposition of bipyridyl complexes of Mg and Ni metals at 773 K for 24 h under dry argon gas ambient. The as-prepared nano-alloy was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for compositional and structural analysis. The alloy exhibited superior hydrogen absorption and desorption behavior with 3.2 wt% absorption within 1 min at 573 K and about 3 wt% desorption within 5-10 min at 573 K. This favorable behavior of Mg-Ni compound for the hydrogen storage is due to the specific nanostructure of the material. The low activation energy values and favorable thermodynamics indicate that the prepared Mg-Ni alloy is an attracting material for hydrogen storage applications.     

Systematic study of Ce3+ on the structural and magnetic properties of Cu nanosized ferrites for potential applications

Ce~(3+) substituted Cu-spinel nanoferrites CuCe_xFe_(2-x)O_4(x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10) were synthesized via sol-gel self-combustion hybrid route. Single phase spinel ferrite of Cu nanoferrites were examined using X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis whereas the multiphase structure was observed as Ce contents increased from x=0.06. Field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM), Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis(TGA and DTA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) were used to find out the morphology phase and metal stretching vibrations of Ce~(3+) substituted nanocrystalline ferrites. The crystallite size was increased and found in the range of 25-91 nm. The agglomerations in Cu ferrite samples increase as the Ce~(3+) concentration increases. The magnetic properties such as remanence, saturation magnetization, coercivity, Bohr magneton and magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant(K) were determined using M-H loops recorded from a vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM). Saturation magnetization, remanence and coercivity are increased as the Ce~(3+)contents increase in Cu nanocrystalline samples. Moreover, law of approach to saturation(LoA) was used to calculate the maximum value of saturation for Ce-doped Cu nanoferrites. The soft magnetic behaviour of the Cu nanoferrite is observed as compared to the samples substituted with the increased Ce contents in Cu nanocrystalline ferrite. Bohr magneton and magnetocrystalline anisotropy are found to increase with the substitution of rare earth Ce~(3+) contents in Cu spinel nanocrystalline ferrite. Cedoped Cu nanocrystalline ferrites with excellent properties may be suitable for potential applications in sensing, security, switching, core, multilayer chip inductor, biomedical and microwave absorption applications.     

Products of thermodynamic parameters of the generalized charged rotating black hole and the Reissner–Nordström black hole with a global monopole

We investigate the thermodynamics of the Kerr–Newman–Kasuya black hole and the Reissner–Nordström black hole with a global monopole on inner and outer horizons. Products of surface gravities, surface temperatures, Komar energies, electromagnetic potentials, angular velocities, areas, entropies, horizon radii and irreducible masses at the Cauchy and event horizons are calculated. It is observed that the product of surface gravities, the surface temperature product and the product of Komar energies, electromagnetic potentials and angular velocities at horizons are not universal quantities for these black holes. Products of areas and entropies at the horizons are independent of black hole masses. The heat capacity is calculated for the generalized charged rotating black hole, and a phase transition is observed under certain conditions on r.     

Nutritional and compositional study of Desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars grown in Punjab,Pakistan

Four indigenous Desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars grown in the Punjab Province of Pakistan have been analyzed to determine and compare their nutritional and compositional properties and to assess their role in human nutrition. Variability was observed among investigated cultivars in terms of physical characteristics of seeds, such as seed size, seed volume, seed density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index. Mineral composition showed that sufficient amounts of Ca, P, K, Cu, Zn and Mg were present to meet the macronutrient and micronutrient demand in human diets. Despite variations, potassium and manganese were noted as being present in highest and lowest concentrations, respectively, in all cultivars. The distribution patterns of various amino acids in these cultivars suggested sulfur-containing amino acids as limiting amino acids. Fatty acid profile indicated unsaturated fatty acids as major fatty acids in all cultivars. The levels of some of the anti-nutritional factors were also determined. The analysis showed almost similar proportions of biochemical constituents among all cultivars. The data show that, in terms of both quality and quantity, the Desi chickpea cultivars can serve as a significant source of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids and trace minerals to meet the demand of populations living in Punjab Province of Pakistan.     

Development of collagen/PVA composites patches for osteochondral defects using a green processing of ionic liquid

Osteochondral defects are still a big challenge for the surgeons because of good biocompatibility and higher mechanical strength requiring issues of the implants. In this study, different concentrations of collagen (dissolved in ionic liquid) up to 60% were blended with polyvinyl alcohol to prepare hydrogels of good mechanical strength, with the best biocompatibility and excellent fluid uptake ability. Ionic liquid was used as a green solvent for dissolution of collagen at a higher concentration as compared to other normal solvents. The prepared hydrogels were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which showed the characteristic peaks assigned to collagen and PVA. The surface morphology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which revealed homogeneity of the composite patches. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) performed for samples show good thermal stabilities. Fluid uptake ability showed the massive uptake of fluid by the hydrogels. Biocompatibility was tested using hemolysis and MTT assay. Electrodynamic fatigue testing system was used for evaluating the mechanical properties and measured the tensile strength in the range of 2.4 to 8.5?MPa. The prepared osteochondral patches show good biocompatibility and mechanical properties.     

Antimutagenic effect of neem leaves extract in freshwater fish, Channa punctatus evaluated by cytogenetic tests

Neem (Azadirachta indica), an indigenous plant commonly grown in India and its sub-continent is a multipurpose plant well known for its insecticidal and biomedical properties, however, its antimutagenic effects in vertebrate organisms are lacking. The present work is therefore, focused on possible antimutagenic potential of ethanolic extract of neem leaves evaluated on the clastogenicity induced by Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in freshwater fish, Channa punctatus used as a vertebrate model, by cytogenetic endpoints: chromosome aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) test. In the first set of experiment, fish were exposed by medium treatment to a single treatment of each chemical (PCP, 0.6 ppm; 2,4-D, 75 ppm; neem extract, 3 ppm) along with the controls. The chromosome preparations were made after processing kidney cells and micronucleus slides were prepared from peripheral blood at multiple duration (48, 72 and 96 h). PCP and 2,4-D when used alone, induced significant CA and MN in a time dependent manner. Neem extract did not show genotoxic potential in both assays. The maximum frequency of CA were recorded as 18.58% and 15.17%, while frequency of MN reached to 8.08% and 4.62% by PCP and 2,4-D respectively, after 96 h exposure. In the second set of experiment, three concentrations of neem extract (1, 2 and 3 ppm) were run simultaneously with the same concentration of PCP (0.6 ppm) and 2,4-D (75 ppm) for antimutagenicity estimates. In mixed treatment, neem extract significantly reduced the frequency of CA and MN. The reduction in the frequency of CA ranged from 40-75% and 45.4-83.3% and similar values for MN were 40.2-75.3% and 44.1-65.8% for PCP and 2,4-D respectively. Although the reductions were significant but not dependent on concentration and time intervals employed. Results suggested that under present experimental conditions, neem extract exhibit strong antimutagenic activity in this fish model, which could further contribute to study its benefit in humans.     

Effect of oxidation and esterification on functional properties of mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) starch

The chemical and physicochemical properties of mung bean starch oxidized by sodium hypochlorite and esterified with succinic anhydride were studied. Mung bean starch was modified by oxidation with sodium hypochlorite and esterified with succinic anhydride. The native mung bean starch (NMBS) granules were shown to have an irregular shape, which varied from oval to round to bean shape with a smooth surface. Succinylation led to partial rupture of the granule integrity while oxidation converted the smooth surface of the native granules to a surface with fissures. Swelling capacity improved through succinylation but was reduced after oxidation. Oxidation enhanced solubility; however, succinylation showed no uniform effect throughout the temperature range studied. Both modifications increased hydrophilic tendency and demonstrated decreased gelatinization temperature compared to the NMBS. Oil absorption capacity and syneresis of native starch was enhanced after oxidation but was reduced after succinylation. Both starch types, native and modified, exhibited non-Newtonian behavior, but to a different extent. The gel formation of oxidized starch revealed the highest storage modulus followed by native starch and then succinated starch.     

Optimising deproteinisation methods and effect of deproteinisation on structural and functional characteristics of flaxseed gum

In the current study, deproteinisation rate (DPR) and carbohydrate loss ratio (CLR) in flaxseed gum (FSG) were compared as indexes by using four different deproteinised methods, that is sodium chloride (NaCl), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂). In addition, the effect of deproteinisation on physicochemical, functional and structural characteristics (FTIR, ¹H NMR and SEM analysis) of deproteinised flaxseed gum (DFSG) was further examined. The results revealed that HCl and TCA methods had better ability of deproteinisation (97.83% and 96.21%) but resulted in higher CLR (27.66% and 24.19%), while CaCl₂ method excelled over the NaCl method in DPR (94.7% and 88.6%) and CLR (4.90% and 4.21%), respectively. Flaxseed gum showed significant functional properties even after deproteinisation and exhibited resolved resonances for both ring and anomeric protons in ¹H NMR spectra. The characteristic groups in FTIR spectra were retained after deproteinisation.     

Strain-Mediated Lattice Rotation Design for Enhancing Thermoelectric Performance in Bi2S2Se

A unique strain-mediated lattice rotation strategy is introduced via nanocompositing to upsurge the optimized limits in the composition-to-structural pathway on rationally engineering the efficient thermoelectric material. In this study, a special lattice rotation via strain engineering is realized to optimize the desired electronic and chemical environment for enhancing thermoelectric properties in n-type Bi₂S₂Se. This approach results in a unique transport phenomenon to assist high-energy electrons in transferring through the optimized transport channels, and appropriate structure disparity to significantly localize phonons. As a result, Sb over Cl doping in Bi₂S₂Se gently reduces E_g and introduces defect states in bandgap with shifting down the Fermi level, thus causing increase in carrier concentration, which contributes to a higher power factor of ≈7.18 µW cm⁻¹ K⁻² (at T = 773 K). Besides, a lower thermal conductivity of ≈0.49 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ is driven through lattice strain and defect engineering. Consequently, an ultra-high ZT_max = 1.13 (at T = 773 K) and a high ZT_ave = 0.54 (323 K-773 K) are realized. This study not only leads to an extraordinary thermoelectric performance but also reveals a unique paradigm for electron transportation and phonon localization via lattice strain engineering.