Preparation and characterization of (100 − x) TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> + (x)ZnO nanocomposites for dye-sensitized solar cells using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syzygium cumini</Emphasis> natural dye extract

The present paper attempts to report the preparation of TiO₂–ZnO nanocomposite photoanode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and analyse the efficiency of DSSC with natural dyes. The structural and optical characteristics of the composites were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, field effective scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, photoluminescence and absorption spectroscopy. The synthesized nanocomposites formed on FTO substrates are applied as photoanode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC). The natural dyes extracted from Beta vulgaris (Beetroot) and Syzygium cumini (black plum) were used in the fabrication of DSSC. The solar cells’ photovoltaic performance in terms of short-circuit current, open circuit voltage, fill factor and energy conversion efficiency was tested with photocurrent density–voltage measurements. The evolution of the solar cells parameters is explored as a function of the photoanode and type of dye used in DSSC fabrication.The obtained results show that the efficiency of DSSC significantly changes with the addition of ZnO to TiO_2, while the Beta vulgaris dye has evidently shown higher photo sensitized performance compared to Syzygium cumini in the preparation of DSSC.     

Engineering Catalytically Active Sites by Sculpting Artificial Edges on MoS2 Basal Plane for Dinitrogen Reduction at a Low Overpotential

Engineering catalytically active sites have been a challenge so far and often relies on optimization of synthesis routes, which can at most provide quantitative enhancement of active facets, however, cannot provide control over choosing orientation, geometry and spatial distribution of the active sites. Artificially sculpting catalytically active sites via laser-etching technique can provide a new prospect in this field and offer a new species of nanocatalyst for achieving superior selectivity and attaining maximum yield via absolute control over defining their location and geometry of every active site at a nanoscale precision. In this work, a controlled protocol of artificial surface engineering is shown by focused laser irradiation on pristine MoS₂ flakes, which are confirmed as catalytic sites by electrodeposition of AuNPs. The preferential Au deposited catalytic sites are found to be electrochemically active for nitrogen adsorption and its subsequent reduction due to the S-vacancies rather than Mo-vacancy, as advocated by DFT analysis. The catalytic performance of Au-NR/MoS₂ shows a high yield rate of ammonia (11.43 × 10⁻⁸ mol s⁻¹ cm⁻²) at a potential as low as −0.1 V versus RHE and a notable Faradaic efficiency of 13.79% during the electrochemical nitrogen reduction in 0.1 m HCl.     

Experimental investigation with optimal prediction of emission in diesel engine using combined NSR–SCR catalyzer

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - The utilization of catalytic converters is one of the well-known strategies to clean the exhaust. The catalytic converters oxidize the destructive...     

Towards a Light Weight Routing Security in IoT Using Non-cooperative Game Models and Dempster–Shaffer Theory

Wireless Personal Communications - The internet of things (IoT) has become an emerging technology owing to the rapidly increasing number of devices and their connectivity to the internet. Routing...     

Development of halogen‐free flame‐retardant thermoplastic elastomer polymer blend

Ethylene‐propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blends have widest industrial applications that require a degree of flame retardancy. Halogen‐free intumescent technology based on phosphorous salt is a significantly advanced approach to make the polymer flame‐retardant. Both ammonium polyphosphate and ethylenediamine phosphate are important intumescent compounds. Their combination with carbonific and spumific agents were studied in binary blends of EPDM/PP. The polymer system was vulcanized online during melt mixing. Intumescent flame‐retardant polymer systems exhibit good flame‐retardancy with optimum comparable physiomechanical, electrical, and fluid resistance properties, including lower smoke emission, which is essential to protect people because the visibility remains unaffected in the event of fire. Pronounced charring and intumescent effect appear to enhance the flame‐retardancy of the polymers. Possible expected intumescent mechanism is proposed based on the nonpyrolysis mechanism for the flame‐retarded polymer and the intumescent components. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 407–415, 2004     

Citrulline malate supplementation does not improve German Volume Training performance or reduce muscle soreness in moderately trained males and females

Background

Use of supplements to aid performance is common practice amongst recreationally active individuals, including those without a sufficient evidence base. This investigation sought to assess whether acute supplementation with 8 g of citrulline malate (CM) (1.11: 1 ratio) would improve anaerobic performance.

Methods

A randomised double blind placebo control trial was employed, using a counterbalanced design. We recruited recreationally active men and women to take part in an isokinetic chair protocol, based on German Volume Training (GVT) whereby participants attempted to perform 10 sets of 10 repetitions against a force representing 70% of their peak concentric force.

Results

The number of repetitions achieved over the course of the GVT was 94.0?±?7.9 and 90.9?±?13.9 for placebo and CM respectively. There was no significant difference between the placebo and CM treatment for number of repetitions (P?=?0.33), isometric (P?=?0.60), concentric (P?=?0.38), or eccentric (P?=?0.65) peak force following the GVT. Total muscle soreness was significantly higher in the CM compared to the placebo treatment following the GVT protocol over 72 h (P?=?0.01); although this was not accompanied by a greater workload/number of repetitions in the CM group.

Conclusions

We conclude that an acute dose of CM does not significantly affect anaerobic performance using an isokinetic chair in recreational active participants. Practical implications include precaution in recommending CM supplementation. Coaches and athletes should be aware of the disparity between the chemical analyses of the products reviewed in the present investigation versus the manufacturers’ claims.

     

Shape memory alloy film damping for smart miniature systems

This paper presents a dynamic analysis of the free and forced vibration of a free-standing bridge of superelastic shape memory alloy TiNiCuCo film with ultra-low fatigue properties and evaluates its versatility for novel miniature scale damping applications. A thermodynamics-based finite element model is used to simulate the evolution of martensite phase fraction during load-induced martensitic phase transformation. The effects of pre-strain, strain rate and excitation load on the hysteresis of stress-strain characteristics are investigated in order to assess damping energies. The analysis is performed under non-isothermal conditions taking into account heat transfer and rate-dependence of release and absorption of latent heat. We show that damping energy can be maximized by applying an optimum pre-strain. A maximum damping capacity of 0.17 is determined for the case of complete stress-strain hysteresis loop during phase transformation.     

Hen Egg White Lysozyme Catalyzed Efficient Synthesis of 3-Indolyl-3-hydroxy Oxindole in Aqueous Ethanol

A green synthesis of 3-indolyl-3-hydroxy oxindoles was reported using hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) in an aqueous ethanol. The HEWL promotes this reaction efficiently from various isatins and indoles under mild reaction conditions with yields up to 98% bearing good adaptability to varied substrates in the reaction. This conversion has provided a new strategy to synthesize 3-indolyl-3-hydroxy oxindole derivatives employing biocatalytic promiscuity of less explored lysozyme. Based on the experimental studies, the plausible reaction mechanism is proposed.

Graphical Abstract

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Minimized SER and QOS Based Power Allocation Strategies for Multi HDAF Relay Cooperative Network

In this paper, a multi hybrid decode-amplify-forward relay cooperative network with perfect CSI in flat Rayleigh fading channel is considered. Using moment generating function based approach, the closed form of symbol error rate (SER) with asymptotic approximation is derived. Based on the lower bound of SER (Olfat and Olfat in IET Commun 5(4):2018–2027, 2011), Lagrange multiplier method and differential evolution (DE) algorithm based power allocation schemes are proposed. With fixed source power, the relay powers are optimized with the proposed schemes by the power allocation factor. Further the SER performance of proposed power allocation schemes is investigated by varying the location of the relays. The performance gain of proposed power allocation schemes depends on the channel quality of source to relay and relay to destination links. It is observed that the proposed power allocation schemes outperform the equal power allocation scheme and DE based power allocation provides SER response close to power allocation with Lagrange multiplier method. In order to achieve the target SER (quality of service) minimum power allocation is introduced as minimum relay power allocation and minimum source and relay power allocation.

     

Preconcentration and solid phase extraction method for the determination of Co, Cu, Ni, Zn and Cd in environmental and biological samples using activated carbon by FAAS

2-{[1-(2-Hydroxynaphthyl) methylidene] amino} benzoic acid (HNMABA) was synthesized for solid phase extraction (SPE) to the determination of Co, Cu, Ni, Zn and Cd in environmental and biological samples by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). These metals were sorbed as HNMABA complexes on activated carbon (AC) at the pH range of 5.0+/-0.2 and eluted with 6 ml of 1M HNO3 in acetone. The effects of sample volume, eluent volume and recovery have been investigated to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of proposed method. The effect of interferences on the sorption of metal ions was studied. The concentration of the metal ions detected after preconcentration was in agreement with the added amount. The detection limits for the metals studied were in the range of 0.75-3.82 microg ml(-1). The proposed system produced satisfactory results for the determination of Co, Cu, Ni, Zn and Cd metals in environmental and biological samples.