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•SILAR method is employed for the formation of Ni-doped Fe2O4 thin films.•Morphology has a great impact on data storage devices.•Ni concentration decreases the crystallite size of ...Fe3O4 thin film.•The low crystallite size enhances the ferromagnetism in Ni-doped Fe2O4 thin films.•The Ni doping in Fe3O4 thin film brings magnetic hardness to the material and makes it suitable for future-generation data storage devices.
In this article, Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films were synthesized by using the SILAR technique. The films were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, Photoluminescence and UV–Vis analysis. The XRD spectrum confirms the spinal structure of undoped and Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films. The FESEM images show that Ni-doping has changed the morphology of thin films from a granular to a Spiky structure. The EDAX and XPS spectra show Fe, Ni and O elements are present in 1%Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin film. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) studies showed ferromagnetism in undoped and Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films. The ferromagnetism behavior of Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films increases with the increase in Ni ion concentration.
The objective of this study is to quantify the extent of microplastic (MP) contamination in the Indian edible oyster (Magallana bilineata) and to understand how this relates to the MP contamination ...in its surrounding marine environment. Samples of water, sediment and oysters of different sizes were collected from three sites along Tuticorin coast in Gulf of Mannar in Southeast India. The mean abundance of MP in oysters was found to be 6.9 ± 3.84 items/individual and the mean concentration to be 0.81 ± 0.45 items/g of tissue. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fibers were the dominant MP types in oysters (92% and 4%, respectively) and in seawater (75% and 25%, respectively), with PE fibers, ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 mm, being the most common. Both PE and PP are low-density polymers which are slow to sediment to the seafloor. This increases the potential of their availability in the environment and ingestion by the oysters. The largest oysters (14–16 cm) contained the highest abundance and concentrations of MP, suggesting a greater proportion of MP in the water column is ingested with increasing size. The calculated microplastic index (0.02 to 0.99) also indicates that MP bioavailability increases with increasing size of oysters. The distribution patterns of MP abundance, shape and size in oysters more closely resemble those in water than in sediment. The surface morphology of the MPs reveals the characteristic pits and cracks which result from partial degradation through the weathering processes. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis shows the presence of Ni and Fe in association with MP, and this probably indicates the fly-ash pollution and the petroleum-related activities in the surrounding area. Being sessile animals the oysters are good candidates for use as sentinel organisms for monitoring MP in specific marine environments.
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•MP distributions in oysters closely reflected those in surrounding seawater.•Mean abundance of 6.9 MP/individual and concentration of 0.81MP/g detected (ww).•MP abundance and concentration increases with increasing size of oysters.•PE fibers ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 mm were the most common MP in oysters.•Sediments contained a broader range of MP than seawater or oysters.
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•SEM morphographs showed rise in grain size of the nanocompounds with ZnO content.•EDAX studies were corelated with radiation shielding properties of the samples.•XRD showed ...zinc-pyrophosphate (Zn2P2O7) and copper-pyrophosphate (Cu2P2O7) phases.•FTIR spectra identified ZnO4, CuO4 structural units along with PO4 units.•EPR spectra displayed hyperfine spectra of paramagnetic Cu2+ ions of CuO6 units.
The inorganic nanocompounds were synthesized by solid state reaction with the composition 10Li2O+(30-x)Sb2O3 + xZnO + 59.5P2O5 + 0.5Cu (in mol%). SEM morphographs of the samples confirmed the grain size ≈0.5–2.5 μm. The EDAX spectra of the samples confirmed presence of copper (Cu) nanoparticles (<2 wt%) in the composition. The EDAX studies showed energy dispersion of Kα- photons by reactivity of elements P, Cu, and Zn, while the element Sb has shown dispersion of Lα- photons up to 10 keV. Mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) has exhibited a few discontinuities (bumps) at low energies (<10 keV) due to K, L- absorption edges of various elements (such as P, Cu, Zn, and Sb) presented in the samples. The shrinking of Phosphorous-Phosphorous separation (dP-P) from 4.716 Ao to 3.990 Ao indicated the greater solidity (or density) of the prepared nanocompounds at higher content of ZnO. XRD spectra showed the presence of major crystallites such as LiPO3, Li3PO4, Li6P6018, SbPO4, Cu3PO4, Cu2P2O7, Cu3PO42, ZnPO32, Zn2P2O7, ZnP4O11, and LiZnPO4 in the prepared nanocompounds. The average crystallite size was determined in the range of 35–83 nm. FTIR spectra of these compounds displayed the PO2−, PO3−, PO43−, and ZnO4 units along with linkages P─O─P, O─P─O, Sb─O─Sb, Cu─O─Cu, etc. A band due to vibrations of Cu─O bond has been observed in the range of 466–478 cm−1, which endorses the contribution of copper nanoparticles in the solid state reaction of the metal phosphate nanocompounds. A partially resolved hyperfine structure of magnetic resonance signals corresponding to g|| ≈2.4 and g⊥ ≈2.05 were observed due to the presence of an anisotropic hyperfine interaction of the electron spin (S = 1/2) with the nuclear spin (I = 3/2) of copper isotopes (63Cu and 65Cu) in the samples.
Plant-insect interactions where the insect changes the course of host-plant growth by building a new structure called as a “gall” to protect and nourish the growing insect continue to fascinate ...scientists. Alstonia scholaris, a medicinal plant extensively used in Indian Traditional Medicine has shown to have such interactions with insect Pauropsylla tuberculata Crawford producing numerous galls on the plant leaves. This intricate and poorly understood natural relationship demands further investigation to unravel the distinctions between gall tissue and unaffected leaves. We examined the tissue ultrastructure by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and phytochemistry by thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry to understand variations between the gall tissues and ungalled leaves of A. scholaris. The data showed dense population of sclereids in the gall tissues in addition to parenchyma cells. The concentration of aluminium, phosphorus and carbon were found to be reduced in the galls while cobalt and oxygen were increased. The SEM images gives insight into the ecological relationship between these species. The phytochemical analysis indicated not only enrichment of alkaloids and terpenoids in the gall tissues but also observed several novel peaks with unreported masses indicating a potential reservoir of bioactive phytochemicals.
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•Scanning electron microscopy of the gall and ungalled leaves of Alstonia scholaris.•Comparison of macro and micronutrient contents among these plant tissues.•Putative identification of phytochemicals present in galls by a dereplication study.
A research was conducted to explore the characteristics of locally accessible dolomite for Engineering applications. Dolomite is a double carbonate of calcium and magnesium (CaCo3, MgCO3). It is one ...of the important raw materials used in the iron and steel, Ferro-alloys, glass, alloy steels, fertilizer industry, etc. dolomite chips area also used in flooring tiles, Specification of dolomite required for different industries. Dolomite samples from different dolomite mining locations are collected in the Anantapur area for this investigating. SEM, and EDAX are used to study the structure and chemical characteristics of the dolomites, and five sampling sites in the research region are subjected to XRF analysis for the analysis of Major elements. The research findings suggest that dolomite available from the north-eastern section of the research region is being used as a basic refractory material, particularly in the machine-tool and steel-making industries.
This study investigated the microplastic (MP) contamination of seawater and fishes from different habitats so as to understand the level of human exposure to microplastics. Samples of Harpodon ...nehereus, Chirocentrus dorab, Sardinella albella, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Katsuwonus pelamis and Istiophorus platypterus were collected from Tuticorin, southeast coast of India. The MPs in seawater and the gastrointestinal tracts of fish were identified using Stereomicroscope and characterized by FTIR and SEM-EDAX analysis. The abundance of MPs varied from 3.1 ± 2.3 to 23.7 ± 4.2 items L−1 in water, from 0.11 ± 0.06 to 3.64 ± 1.7 items/individual, and from 0.0002 ± 0.0001 to 0.2 ± 0.03 items/g gut weight. The epipelagic fishes had higher levels of MP contamination than the mesopelagic ones. Most of the MPs identified were of blue color, of fiber type and with their size <500 μm. Polyethylene was the most commonly detected MP, followed by polyester and polyamide, and this fact could be attributed to the inflow of domestic sewage and to the intensive fisheries activities in the area. SEM-EDAX spectra revealed the weathered MP surfaces which could adsorb/leach inorganic elements (colorants and fillers) from/to the environment. We may conclude that the concentration of MPs in fishes is a function of the concentration of MPs in their environment.
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•MPs were found in coastal waters and in fish gastrointestinal tract.•Higher abundance of MPs was detected in epipelagic fish than in mesopelagic fish.•The most common PE were blue in color, fiber-shaped, and <500 μm in size.•Abundance of MPs in fish was found to depend significantly on the MP pollution in water.
A series of new phosphor SrAlBO4 doped by Eu³+ was synthesized by using very known Combustion method. The structural and optical properties explored using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD pattern was ...matched well with the standard PDF card no. 1542236.The obtained phosphor had orthorhombic structure with space group Pccn (56). The image of Scanning electron microscope shows the external morphology of SrAlBO4 phosphor material, which revails the irregular morphology and the material showed the non uniform structure with agglomerates' size was size ranging in several micrometers. The confirmation of present element and their percentage also shown in the EDX image. The luminescence properties of rare earth activated SrAlBO4 phosphor were determined by measurement of excitation and emission spectra. The PL emission spectra of Eu3+ doped SrAlBO4 phosphor show characteristics bands at 590 nm & 614 nm which corresponds due to 5D0 →7F1 and 5D0 →7F2 transition of Eu3+ ions upon 395 nm excitation. The effect of different concentration of Eu3+ on luminescence emission intensity of SrAlBO4 phosphor was also studied. Further, concentration quenching is explained using Blasse's equation and Dexter's theory. Also, Judd-Ofelt analysis was performed on photoluminescence emission spectra. On investigation synthesized rare earth activated SrAlBO4 phosphor can be suitable for all lighting application devices.
•A series of new phosphor SrAlBO4: Eu³+ was synthesized by Combustion method.•The XRD pattern was matched well with the standard PDF card no. 1542236.•PL emission spectrum exhibits characteristic bands at 590 nm and 614 nm.•Concentration quenching is explained using Blasse's equation and Dexter's theory.•Judd-Ofelt analysis was performed on photoluminescence emission spectra.
•New Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) complexes were synthesized using tridentate Schiff base ligands.•Characterization of synthesized compounds was done using various spectroscopic and ...physico-analytical protocols.•DFT/BL3YP investigations were performed.•In-vitro antidiabetic potential was tested.•Molecular docking of the most potent analogs was executed in the active site of human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase.
A new series of transition metal complexes of type M(L1-3)(H2O)(CH3COO) where, M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) & Zn(II), and L1 = 2-(((1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)imino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol; L2 = 2-ethoxy-6-(((5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)imino)methyl)phenol; L3 = 2-ethoxy-6-(((5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)imino)methyl)phenol; were synthesized and characterized by various spectral and physico-analytical techniques such as 1H, 13CNMR , FTIR, HRMS, XRD, ESR, TGA, SEM and EDAX. The studies envisaged a penta-coordinated geometry for the complexes, where the Schiff base ligands act in a tridentate manner via the azomethine nitrogen, deprotonated oxygen and one of the nitrogen atom of thiadiazole heterocycle. DFT/B3LYP theoretical method was utilised for calculations of molecular electrostatic potential, HUMO-LUMO energy values of selected compounds. In an in-vitro experiment, the antidiabetic effects of the synthesized compounds were assessed on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. It was found that compounds 14 and 15 revealed good biological potency with IC50 value close to Acarbose (standard). In-silico study of the synthesized compounds was carried out to check the drug-likeness and it was observed that compounds can be used as orally active drugs. Additionally, molecular docking studies of the potent compounds i.e. 14 and 15, were carried out in the active site of human pancreatic α-amylase (PDB code: 1BSI) and α-glucosidase (PDB code: 5ZCC).
A new collection of three Schiff base ligands (1–3) and their twelve Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) & Zn(II) complexes (4–15) have been synthesized. The synthesized compounds have been examined for in-vitro antidiabetic study.
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Biosynthesized nanoparticles have an incredible application in biomedicine owing to its simplicity, eco-friendly properties and low cost. The present study aims to determine the green synthesized ...zinc oxide nanoparticles from methanolic leaf extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-VIS Spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectrometer, FT-IR, XRD, SEM with EDAX and TEM. The confirmations of synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by peak at 351 and 410 nm in the UV-VIS spectrum and photoluminescence spectrum respectively. FT-IR studies revealed the functional group of the nanoparticles. The XRD data showed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles and EDAX measurements indicated the 20.70% of highly pure zinc oxide metal. The morphological characterization of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles was analyzed by SEM and TEM and size of the particles were ranging from 32 to 36 nm. The synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited interesting antimicrobial activity against pathogenic organisms. In addition, this is the first report on leaf mediated synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles from Glycosmis pentaphylla.
•Bio-synthesize of ZnO nanoparticles is using Glycosmis pentaphylla for the first time.•XRD pattern confirmed ZnO hexagonal phase (wurtzite structure).•The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles have shown excellent antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms.
