Exploring ionic liquid assisted chemical bath deposition of a highly uniform and transparent cadmium sulfide thin film for photovoltaic applications.

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is one of the most important semiconductor materials in solar cells. In this study, different concentrations (0-0.118 M) of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF) ionic liquid (IL) are introduced as a novel complexing agent in dilute chemical bath deposition of CdS thin films.

Transition Metals-Based Water Splitting Electrocatalysts on Copper-Based Substrates: The Integral Role of Morphological Properties.

Electrocatalytic water splitting is a promising alternative to produce high purity hydrogen gas as the green substitute for renewable energy. Thus, development of electrocatalysts for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are vital to improve the efficiency of the water splitting process particularly based on transition metals which has been explored extensively to replace the highly active electrocatalytic activity of the iridium and ruthenium metals-based electrocatalysts. In situ growth of the material on a conductive substrate has also been proven to have the capability to lower down the overpotential value significantly.

Synergistic Effect of Allium-like NiS & CuS Electrodeposited on Nickel Foam for Enhanced Water Splitting Activity.

This study explores a water-splitting activity using a biphasic electrodeposited electrode on nickel foam (NF). The *NiS/CuS/NF electrode with citric acid reduction exhibits superior OER (oxygen evolution reaction) and HER (hydrogen evolution reaction) performance with reduced overpotential and a steeper Tafel slope. The *NiS/CuS/NF electrode displays the ultra-low overpotential value of 212 mV for OER and 109 mV for HER at the current density of 10 mA cm.

Metal organic framework derived NiO nanoparticles for application as a hole transport layer in perovskite solar cells.

NiO as a hole transport layer (HTL) has gained a lot of research interest in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), owing to its high optical transmittance, high power conversion efficiency, wide band-gap and ease of fabrication. In this work, four different nickel based-metal organic frameworks (MOFs) using 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC), terephthalic acid (TPA), 2-aminoterephthalic acid (ATPA), and 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (DHTPA) ligands respectively, have been employed as precursors to synthesize NiO NPs. The employment of different ligands was found to result in NiO NPs with different structural, optical and morphological properties.

Metal-Organic Framework-Based Composites for the Detection and Monitoring of Pharmaceutical Compounds in Biological and Environmental Matrices.

The production of synthetic drugs is considered a huge milestone in the healthcare sector, transforming the overall health, aging, and lifestyle of the general population. Due to the surge in production and consumption, pharmaceutical drugs have emerged as potential environmental pollutants that are toxic with low biodegradability. Traditional chromatographic techniques in practice are time-consuming and expensive, despite good precision.

Effect of Calcination Temperature on Structural, Morphological and Optical Properties of Copper Oxide Nanostructures Derived from L. Leaf Extract.

Synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures via biological approach has gained attention to reduce the harmful effects of chemical synthesis. The CuO nanostructures were synthesized through a green approach using the L. leaf extract and copper (II) nitrate trihydrate as a precursor at varying calcination temperatures (200-600 °C).

Investigation of Morphological, Optical, and Dielectric Properties of RF Sputtered WO Thin Films for Optoelectronic Applications.

Tungsten oxide (WO) thin films were synthesized through the RF magnetron sputtering method by varying the sputtering power from 30 W to 80 W. Different investigations have been conducted to evaluate the variation in different morphological, optical, and dielectric properties with the sputtering power and prove the possibility of using WO in optoelectronic applications. An Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), stylus profilometer, and atomic force microscope (AFM) have been used to investigate the dependency of morphological properties on sputtering power.

Recovery of FTO coated glass substrate environment-friendly facile recycling perovskite solar cells.

Organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have recently emerged as a potential candidate for large-scale and low-cost photovoltaic devices. However, the technology is still susceptible to degradation issues and toxicity concerns due to the presence of lead (Pb). Therefore, investigation on ideal methods to deal with PSC wastes once the device attains its end-of-life is crucial and to recycle the components within the cell is the most cost effective and energy effective method by far.

Transformation of Oil Palm Waste-Derived Cellulose into Solid Polymer Electrolytes: Investigating the Crucial Role of Plasticizers.

This study explores the possibility of transforming lignocellulose-rich agricultural waste materials into value-added products. Cellulose was extracted from an empty fruit bunch of oil palm and further modified into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a water-soluble cellulose derivative. The CMC was then employed as the polymeric content in fabrication of solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) films incorporated with lithium iodide.

Current trends and prospects of tidal energy technology.

Generation of energy across the world is today reliant majorly on fossil fuels. The burning of these fuels is growing in line with the increase in the demand for energy globally. Consequently, climate change, air contamination, and energy security issues are rising as well.

Resorcinol-Formaldehyde (RF) as a Novel Plasticizer for Starch-Based Solid Biopolymer Electrolyte.

A starch-resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF)-lithium triflate (LiTf) based biodegradable polymer electrolyte membrane was synthesized via the solution casting technique. The formation of RF crosslinks in the starch matrix was found to repress the starch's crystallinity as indicated by the XRD data. Incorporation of the RF plasticizer improved the conductivity greatly, with the highest room-temperature conductivity recorded being 4.

Erratum: pH Sensitive Hydrogels in Drug Delivery: Brief History, Properties, Swelling, and Release Mechanism, Material Selection and Applications. Polymers 2017, 9, 137.

The authors wish to make a change to their published paper [1]. [..

Ternary natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) infused phthaloyl starch as cost efficient quasi-solid gel polymer electrolyte.

A first-of-its-kind, eco-friendly quasi-solid bioelectrolyte derived from potato starch was prepared. Starch was chemically modified via phthaloylation to synthesize amorphous, hydrophobic starch derivative and the attachment of the phthaloyl group was confirmed via FTIR which showed phthalate ester peak at 1715cm; and H NMR peaks between 7.30-7.

pH Sensitive Hydrogels in Drug Delivery: Brief History, Properties, Swelling, and Release Mechanism, Material Selection and Applications.

Improving the safety efficacy ratio of existing drugs is a current challenge to be addressed rather than the development of novel drugs which involve much expense and time. The efficacy of drugs is affected by a number of factors such as their low aqueous solubility, unequal absorption along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, risk of degradation in the acidic milieu of the stomach, low permeation of the drugs in the upper GI tract, systematic side effects, etc. This review aims to enlighten readers on the role of pH sensitive hydrogels in drug delivery, their mechanism of action, swelling, and drug release as a function of pH change along the GI tract.

Artificial Neural Network and Response Surface Methodology Modeling in Ionic Conductivity Predictions of Phthaloylchitosan-Based Gel Polymer Electrolyte.

A gel polymer electrolyte system based on phthaloylchitosan was prepared. The effects of process variables, such as lithium iodide, caesium iodide, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide were investigated using a distance-based ternary mixture experimental design. A comparative approach was made between response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the ionic conductivity.