1,2-Dihydroxyanthraquinone: Synthesis, and induced changes in the structural and optical properties of the nanostructured thin films due to γ-irradiation

A Plant Dye for Photocatalytic Methane Conversion

A metal-free natural dye has been developed to selectively convert methane to methyl trifluoroacetate (CH3 TFA) using visible light, probably due to the formation of a chloride-bridged dimer undergoing fast intra-complex charge transfer.

Gamma Radiation Induced Synthesis of Novel Chitosan/Gold/Bioactive Glass Nanocomposite for Promising Antimicrobial, and Antibiofilm Activities

In the present study we reported, for the first time, the gamma irradiation induced synthesis of chitosan/Au/bioactive glass (CS/Au/BG) nanocomposite. The bioactive glass (BG), with the composition 45% SiO2, 32.5% CaO, 15% Na2O, and 7.5% P2O5 wt% was synthesized through the sol–gel technique. XRD, SEM, EDX, and elemental mapping images were utilized to evaluate the structure of pure BG and CS/Au/BG nanocomposite. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated by zone of inhibition (ZOI), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), growth curve assay, and Ultraviolet irradiation effect. Investigation was carried on the antibiofilm effectiveness. Membrane leakage as well as SEM imaging were used to evaluate the antibacterial reaction mechanism. The crystallite size of CS/Au/BG nanocomposite was determined via Scherer equation as 22.83 nm. CS/Au/BG possessed the most ZOI activity against the tested microbes. The highest inhibition % of BG, and CS/Au/BG nanocomposite was investigated for S. aureus (15.65%, and 77.24%), followed by C. albicans (13.32%, and 64.75%). The quantity of protein leakage was directly-proportional after increasing the concentration of BG, and CS/Au/BG and counted to be 70.58, and 198.25 µg/mL, respectively (after applied 10 mg/mL). The promising results suggested the use of novel CS/Au/BG nanocomposite as an encourage candidate for wastewater treatment application against pathogenic microbes.

Novel Strategy for Hazardous Cement Bypass Dust Removal: Structural, Optical and Nuclear Radiation Shielding Properties of CBD-Bismuth Borate Glass

Herein, this study introduced a novel strategy for hazardous cement bypass dust (CBD) removal via incorporated it into glassy system having the chemical formula 10Li2O–10Bi2O3–(80 − x)B2O3–xCBD, where x = 0, 10, 20 and 30%. The doped glass samples with the CBD were used as a radiation shielding material. The structural, optical and nuclear radiation shielding properties of CBD-lithium bismuth borate (LBB) glass were investigated. The optical energy gap increases from 2.22 eV for LBB + 0% CBD glass sample to 2.66 eV for LBB + 30% CBD glass sample. Also, a comparative study between the experimental data and theoretical interpretation for the attenuation coefficients was addressed via the Phy-X software database. The outcomes unveiled that the shielding parameters such as the linear attenuation coefficient, mass attenuation coefficient, and the effective atomic number were enhanced as CBD content increases. In the same time, the half-value layer, the tenth value layer, and the mean free path are reduced with the enrichment in the CBD content. Furthermore, the exposure build-up factor is inversely related to equivalent atomic numbers. Based on these findings, it was determined that the manufactured bismuth lithium-borate glass system doped cement bypass dust can be used for radiation shielding purposes.

Elucidating Inner Workings of Naturally Sourced Organic Optoelectronic Materials with Ultrafast Spectroscopy

Recent advances in sustainable optoelectronics including photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, transistors, and semiconductors have been enabled by π-conjugated organic molecules. A fundamental understanding of light-matter interactions involving these materials can be realized by time-resolved electronic and vibrational spectroscopies. In this Minireview, the photoinduced mechanisms including charge/energy transfer, electronic (de)localization, and excited-state proton transfer are correlated with functional properties encompassing optical absorption, fluorescence quantum yield, conductivity, and photostability. Four naturally derived molecules (xylindein, dimethylxylindein, alizarin, indigo) with ultrafast spectral insights showcase efficient energy dissipation involving H-bonding networks and proton motions, which yield high photostability. Rational design principles derived from such investigations could increase the efficiency for light harvesting, triplet formation, and photosensitivity for improved and versatile optoelectronic performance.