Materials Science Forum Vol. 807

Abstract: Magnetic nanoparticles are made up of magnetic elements such as iron, nickel, cobalt and their oxides. Their unique physical and chemical properties, biocompatibility and their ability to be manipulated by external magnetic fields have made them as popular drug carriers in recent years. They offer various advantages such as ability to carry drugs to the desired areas in the body, and the ability to release the drugs in a controlled manner which in turn help in reducing side effects to other organs and in providing correct dosage of drugs. However, the complexity of the drug delivery system is a challenge in further improving the efficiency of magnetic nanoparticle drug delivery. In order to overcome this challenge, computational tools help in understanding the complexity of the drug delivery process and to design magnetic nanoparticles which are more efficient in drug delivery. In this chapter we propose to review various properties of magnetic nanoparticles, applications of magnetic nanoparticles as drug carriers, challenges in using them for drug delivery, various computational tools which aid in modeling magnetic nanoparticle drug delivery and in designing magnetic nanoparticles for efficient targeted drug delivery.

Abstract: Carbon-based nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers and nanodiamonds have been fascinated considerable attention as promising materials for drug sensing. These materials have tremendous amount of attraction due to some extraordinary features such as excellent electrical and thermal conductivities as well as high mechanical strength. Hence, these nanomaterials have been used extensively in sensor technology in order to achieved desired sensitivities. To date, carbon based nanomaterials have been exploit in the development of various drug sensing due to their simple preparation methods, and cost effectiveness. The aim of this review is to focus upon carbon based nanomaterials predominantly on drugs sensing applications. This review has been written in summary form including properties, fabrication method, and analytical performances.Abbreviation:Au, Gold; CNFs, Carbon Nanofibers; CNTs, Carbon Nanotubes; CVD, Chemical Vapour Deposition; D-, Dextrorotatory enantiomer; D, Dimensional; DNase, deoxyribonuclease; ESD, Electrospinning deposition; GCE, Glassy Carbon Electrode; Gr, Graphene; GrO, Graphene Oxide; ILs, ionic liquids; L-, Levorotatory enantiomer; LOD, Limit of Detection; MTase, Methyltransferases; MW, Microwave; MWCNTs, Multi-walled Carbon nanotubes; NDs, Nanodiamonds; NPs, Nanoparticles; PECVD, Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition; RGO, Reduced Graphene Oxide; SPE, Screen-Printed Electrode; SPR, Surface Plasmon resonance; ssDNA, single-stranded DNA; SWCNTs, Single-walled Carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Nanocomposite polymer electrolytes (NCPEs) have been playing a considerable role in the development of alternative clean and sustainable energy technologies. This review article summarizes the recent research progress on the synthesis and characterization of NCPEs and its application in lithium ion battery based energy storage devices. First, an introduction on the properties, synthesis strategies and use of NCPEs is briefly given, followed by a state-of-the-art review on the preparation of NCPEs and their electrochemical properties in lithium ion battery (LIB) applications. Finally, the prospects and future challenges of NCPEs for energy storage are discussed

Abstract: The photodegradation of Reactive Red 141 (RR-141) and Reactive Yellow 105 (RY-105) dyes using TiO₂ nanoparticles was investigated under UV light irradiation. TiO₂ was prepared by sol-gel process and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and FTIR. The effects of operational parameters such as illumination time, catalyst dose, initial concentration and pH of dye solutions on photodegradation by TiO₂ have been analyzed. The degradation of the selected dyes followed pseudo-first order reaction according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model.

Abstract: V₂O₅ catalyzes the oxidation of diphenylamine (DPA) to N-phenyl-p-benzoquinonimine (PBQ) in ethanol under UV light as well as under natural sunlight. The formation of PBQ was studied as a function of [DPA], V₂O₅-loading, airflow rate, light intensity, etc. Formation of PBQ is larger on illumination at 254 nm than at 365 nm and the catalyst is reusable. The mechanism of photocatalysis is discussed and the product formation analyzed using a kinetic model. ZnO and CdO enhance the V₂O₅-photocatalyzed formation of PBQ and the results are rationalized.

Abstract: nanoCdO/ZnO/PVC composite thin films were prepared by simple solution cast method, using tetra hydrofuran as solvent. nanoCdO/ZnO/PVC composite thin films were irradiated by UV light at the range of 365 nm, 312 nm, and 254 nm. The photo-catalytic activity of CdO/ZnO/PVC was examined by photo-catalytic decolourization of congo-red in aqueous solution. nanoCdO/ZnO/PVC composite film exhibited higher photo-catalytic activity under UV light radiation at 365 nm rather than 312 nm & 254 nm. After 90 minutes irradiation by UV light almost 95% congo-red got decolorized. FT-IR studies confirm the complexation behavior of polymer with ZnO and CdO present in the composite.

Abstract: The graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) materials have been synthesized from nitrogen rich precursors such as urea and thiourea by directly heating at 520 °C for 2 h. The as-synthesized carbon nitride samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and particle size analysis. The photoelectrochemical measurements were performed using several on-off cycles under visible-light irradiation. The x-ray diffraction peak is broader which indicates the fine powder nature of the synthesized materials. The estimated crystallite size of carbon nitrides synthesized from urea (U-CN) and thiourea (T-CN) are 4.0 and 4.4 nm respectively. The particle size of U-CN and T-CN were analysed by particle size analyser and were found to be 57.3 and 273.3 nm respectively. The photocatalytic activity for the degradation of the textile dye namely, direct red-81 (DR81) using these carbon nitrides were carried out under visible light irradiation. In the present investigation, a comparison study on the carbon nitrides synthesized from cheap precursors such as urea and thiourea for the degradation of DR81 has been carried out. The results inferred that U-CN exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than T-CN. The photoelectrochemical studies confirmed that the (e^--h⁺) charge carrier separation is more efficient in U-CN than that of T-CN and therefore showed high photocatalytic degradation. Further, the smaller particle size of U-CN is also responsible for the observed degradation trend.

Abstract: Zinc doped Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots (CdSe/Zn QDs) were synthesized via inverse micelle technique. The absorption spectra exhibit a strong blue-shift characteristic due to quantum confinement effect. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern showed the zinc-blende phase of Zn doped CdSe QDs. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images suggested that the sizes of QDs were falls in range between 2 – 8 nm, with narrow size distribution. The TEM images also revealed that the Zn doped CdSe QDs were spherical, having a compact and dense structure. The optical bandgap of Zn-doped CdSe QDs are smaller than the undoped CdSe QDs as shown in Tauc’s plot. The fourier transform infrared spectra proves the complexion of CdSe-Zn QDs.

Abstract: In this study, Undoped and lanthanum doped ZnO nanopowders have been successfully synthesized by solution method using the mixture of Zinc acetate dihydrate and ethanol. The powders were annealed at various temperatures. The effect of lanthanum incorporation on the structural and optical properties of the ZnO nanoparticles has been investigated and the effect of temperature impact on as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles with respect to the morphological and optical characteristics has also been investigated. Structural studies were done by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Morphological studies were done by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The surface-related optical properties have been investigated by Raman spectrum.