Multifunctional plasmonic Ag-hematite nano-dendrite electro-catalysts for methanol assisted water splitting: Synergism between silver nanoparticles and hematite dendrites

Hydrogen is the most environment friendly fuel and has the largest energy density but still much away from being a viable technology due to the cost associated with its production on-site on-demand. However, hydrogen production via water splitting could become potential commercial technology by designing new catalyst materials with low cost, desired surface structures and properties that govern hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity and stability. Here, we report the methanol assisted electrochemical water splitting using silver nanoparticles decorated hematite (Ag-hematite) dendrite nanostructures. Ag-hematite nano-dendrites prepared via two different methods viz. chemical co-precipitation and hydrothermal treatment are analysed and compared for their potential applications towards methanol assisted water splitting. It is found that Ag-hematite nano-dendrites prepared by chemical precipitation method shows much better activity as compared to both the parent materials (i.e. Ag NPs and hematite nano-dendrites) as well as Ag-hematite nano-dendrites synthesized by hydrothermal treatment. A baseline study showing the influence of methanol concentration, catalyst, catalyst support, and operating mode has been established. The analysis of the system was carried out as a function of onset potentials and kinetic parameters, including the Tafel slopes and exchange current densities. The effect of electrochemical promotion was investigated to see if it can increase the efficiency and performance of H₂ production through electrochemical processes. The observed electro-catalytic enhancement could be attributed to the synergistic effect of hematite dendrites, larger surface area of dendrite structure leading to higher loading of Ag NPs on the surface of HDs. Moreover, the endurance study was performed to check the stability of the presented electrocatalyst in acidic medium under both dark and light illumination conditions which shows that the presented composite catalyst is stable for minimum 100 scans even under light illumination with no signs of photo-corrosion.     

Tribological characteristics of boronized niobium for biojoint applications

Boride coatings on corrosion-resistant refractory metals are potentially used as implanting materials. In this research, we investigated wear mechanisms of boride coatings on pure niobium using a pin-on-disk tribometer in two different conditions i.e. in dry and using a simulated body fluid (SBF). Surface morphology studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows the compressed boride layer with indistinguishable regions such as coating intermediate transition layer and the substrate. The surface analysis after wear tests was conducted using an atomic force microscope (AFM). It was found that, in dry condition, the boride coating underwent deformation wear, and debris formed and accumulated at both ends of the track due to adhesion. In presence of SBF, the coating shows different mode of failure. The tribo-chemical wear dominates the wear mode.     

Substrate dependent morphological and electrochemical properties of V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis

A scheme of substrate dependent self-organization of vanadium oxide has been used to create unique supercapacitor electrodes. In present work, thin films of V₂O₅ were prepared on different substrates by using well known spray pyrolysis technique.The sample depositions were carried out at 673 K, by spraying 0.05 M, 40 ml solution of ammonium metavanadate at the spray rate 10 ml/min. V₂O₅ thin films grown on aluminum (Al), copper (Cu) and stainless steel (SS) substrates shows porous valley and mountains, rough and dense morphology with overgrown agglomeration of nano grains. In electrochemical characterizations, by using standard electrode configurations, specific capacitance values were evaluated from cyclic voltammetry in 1 M KCl, these are 18.43, 1500.0, 439.60 and 250.58 F/g at 5 mV/s for the electrodes deposited on Al, Cu, SS substrates and two electrode cell respectively. Charge discharge behavior of the SS electrode and two electrode cell was observed using chronopotentiometry. This exhibits specific energy, specific power, and coulombic efficiency (η) 84.91 Wh/kg, 120.00 kW/kg and 89.51 % for SS electrode and 19.92 Wh/kg, 65.00 kW/kg and 99.90 % for two electrode cell respectively. Impedance study was carried out in the frequency range 1 mHz–1 MHz depicts less internal resistance of SS electrode ~2.69 Ω and two electrode cell ~3.04 Ω.     

CO2/CH4 separation using inside coated thin film composite hollow fiber membranes prepared by interfacial polymerization

Carbon dioxide(CO_2) is greenhouse gas which originates primarily as a main combustion product of biogas and landfill gas. To separate this gas, an inside coated thin film composite(TFC) hollow fiber membrane was developed by interfacial polymerization between 1,3–cyclohexanebis–methylamine(CHMA) and trimesoyl chloride(TMC). ATR-FTIR, SEM and AFM were used to characterize the active thin layer formed inside the PSf hollow fiber. The separation behavior of the CHMA-TMC/PSf membrane was scrutinized by studying various effects like feed gas pressure and temperature. Furthermore, the influence of CHMA concentration and TMC concentration on membrane morphology and performance were investigated. As a result, it was found that mutually the CHMA concentration and TMC concentration play key roles in determining membrane morphology and performance. Moreover, the CHMA-TMC/PSf composite membrane showed good CO_2/CH_4 separation performance. For CO_2/CH_4 mixture gas(30/70 by volume) test, the membrane(PD1 prepared by CHMA 1.0% and TMC 0.5%) showed a CO_2 permeance of 25 GPU and the best CO_2/CH_4 selectivity of 28 at stage cut of 0.1. The high CO_2/CH_4 separation performance of CHMA-TMC/PSf thin film composite membrane was mostly accredited to the thin film thickness and the properties of binary amino groups.     

Nephroprotective effect of Bryophyllum pinnatum‐mediated silver nanoparticles in ethylene glycol‐induced urolithiasis in rat

A large population is suffering from multifactorial urolithiasis worldwide with a reoccurrence rate of almost 70%–80% in males and 47%–60% in females. In the present study, the nephroprotective effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesised by Bryophyllum pinnatum was evaluated in ethylene glycol‐induced urolithiasis in rat. B. pinnatum‐mediated AgNPs which were found to be spherical and polydispersed particles with an average size of 32.65 nm determined by transmission electron microscopy analysis, and showing an absorption peak at 432 nm by the UV‐Vis spectrophotometric analysis, revealing the role of hydroxyl group in the synthesis by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy analysis, with a zeta potential value of −15.7 mV. The crystalline nature and fcc structure was demonstrated based on X‐ray diffraction analysis. Animal study was performed on 36 male Wistar rats divided into six equal groups, which demonstrated significant increase in serum total protein, albumin and globulin and significant decrease in AST, ALT, creatinine, BUN, calcium and phosphorus in group V and VI when compared with group II and IV. No crystalluria was observed in rats given B. pinnatum AgNPs. Histopathological observations in group V and VI showed mild degenerative changes and restoration or maintenance of kidney parenchyma when compared with group II and IV rats. Thus, the authors conclude with the beneficial preventive and therapeutic nephroprotective effect of B. pinnatum‐mediated AgNPs against ethylene glycol‐induced urolithiasis in rats.     

Surface characterization of novel alumina-based composites for energy efficient sliding systems

Friction, wear, and lubrication have direct influence on performance, reliability, and service life of devices that contain moving components. These are universal in applications of energy conversion, power generation, energy harvesting in the broader fields such as agriculture, transportation, drug delivery, and bioengineering. The useful life of these systems and their energy efficiency can be improved by improving the surface properties (performances) of sliding systems. Further, the applications of sliding systems are limited in extreme environments such as high temperature and space application etc. due to their limited surface properties. Therefore, development of a new class of materials with superior surface properties will improve the energy efficiency, sustainability, and applicability. This paper focuses on development of self-lubricating materials with superior surface properties for reduced friction and wear applications.     

Study of proteases and other enzymes of Vibrio cholerae 01 E2 Tor and 0139 serotypes isolated in Yavatmal (Maharashtra)

A critical issue in the field of signal transduction is how signaling molecules are organized into different pathways within the same cell. The importance of assembling signaling molecules into architecturally defined complexes is emerging as an essential cellular strategy to ensure specificity and selectivity of signaling. Scaffold proteins function as the pillars of these transduction complexes, bringing together a diversity of signaling components into defined ultramicrodomains of signaling.     

Membrane dehumidification process using defect-free hollow fiber membrane

Water vapor removal by the polymeric membrane to reduce the energy cost during the water–gas shift reaction in a catalytic membrane reactor was investigated. In this study, polyamideimide (PAI) defect-free hollow fiber membranes were produced by a dry/wet phase inversion method. The purpose of this study was to investigate the water vapor removal efficiency under high pressure and high temperature. The morphologies of the hollow fiber membranes were characterized by SEM. The water vapor and hydrogen mixed gas separation properties were used to verify the performance of a defect-free membrane. The water vapor removal efficiency increased from 54% to 90% (at 120 °C) as a function of the operating conditions because of the enhanced water vapor flux. However, the H₂ retention ratio was negatively related to the water removal efficiency.