Publications

In this approach, tensiometry and UV-visible techniques are used to determine the effect of cationic gemini and conventional surfactants on tetracaine hydrochloride (TCH), an anesthetic drug. We have estimated micellar, interfacial, and energetic constraints. To gain a deep understanding of their mixed association behavior, the outputs were examined using different theoretical models. The critical micelle concentration for single and mixed amphiphiles was estimated. The cmc values of mixed amphiphiles were found between the individual amphiphiles due to strong attractive interaction (synergism) between the components after mixing. The non-ideal behavior of mixtures was confirmed by the larger values of ideal cmc than the experimental cmc values. The negative values of interaction parameter (<i>β</i>) and values of activity coefficients less than unity indicate strong synergistic interaction between drug and surfactant. The stability of the mixed systems is demonstrated by the negative Gibbs free energy of micellization and excess free energy of micellization. In contrast to a single chain surfactant, a double chain surfactant (gemini) exhibits better interactions with the drug. Spectral measurements (UV-visible spectra) were used to monitor the binding of the drug with surfactant (conventional as well as gemini). Studying these mixed aggregates could help to optimize their compositions and find synergistic properties between TCH monomers and surfactants.

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

The synergistic interactions between bile salts (BS) and the Pluronic block copolymer (P123) in aqueous solution at various mole fractions were investigated using the surface tension technique to explore the appropriate sequestrant (Pluronic P123) for bile salt. The interaction parameters in the bulk and surface were evaluated using ideal mixing and regular solution models. The synergistic effects operating in these amphiphile mixtures were confirmed by the negative values of the interaction parameter and reduction in critical micelle concentration (cmc) values. Energetic parameters computed for bile salts and block copolymer mixtures were also discussed in detail.

A 3D hierarchical CuO/Co₃O₄ core–shell nanowire array works as a robust and highly active catalyst toward the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of NaBH₄ for on-demand hydrogen generation in alkaline solutions.

In this work, γ-MnS/reduced graphene oxide composites (γ-MnS/rGO) were prepared using a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. As an electrode material for supercapacitors, the γ-MnS/rGO-60 composite obtained under dosages of graphene oxide was 60 mg and exhibited an enhanced specific capacitance of 547.6 F g^-1 at a current density of 1 A g^-1, and outstanding rate capability (65% capacitance retention at 20 A g^-1), with superior cycling stability and electrochemical reversibility. An asymmetric supercapacitor assembled from γ-MnS/rGO-60 composite and rGO (γ-MnS/rGO-60//rGO) showed a voltage window of 0-1.6 V and delivered a high energy density of 23.1 W h kg^-1 at a power density of 798.8 W kg^-1, and 15.9 W h kg^-1 at 4.5 kW kg^-1. Moreover, two such 1.0 × 1.0 cm² devices connected together in series easily light up a group of LED lights, showing its potential practical application as an attractive energy storage device.

In this work, fluorescent copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have been fabricated with ascorbic acid (AA) as reductant and polyvinyl pyrolidone (PVP) as scaffold in aqueous solution for the on-site detection of hypochlorous acid (HClO) with high sensitivity and selectivity. The CuNCs showed a specific fluorescence quenching toward HClO compared with other reactive oxygen species and ions that are found widely in the environment. The CuNCs also exhibited a good linear fluorescence quenching effect on HClO with a limit of detection at 55 nM. The mechanism has been investigated and was attributed to the oxidation of reduced Cu on the surface of CuNCs by HClO. Surprisingly, the fluorescence intensity of the probe was more responsive to HClO in the presence of excessive iodide ions (I–), with a lower detection limit of 19 nM. In acidic conditions, iodine (I2) was generated by HClO oxidation and subsequently reacted with Cu atoms on the surface of CuNCs to form cuprous iodide (CuI) precipitation. This resulted in surface defects on the CuNCs, which further significantly reduced the fluorescence intensity of the CuNCs. Under the influence of the reaction mechanism, the order of excessive I– and HClO addition affects the linear range and detection limit of the probe. Because these CuNCs have shown excellent performance as a fluorescent probe, they have been further successfully applied for real-time quantitative detection of HClO in practical samples, and I– can also be used as a “sensitizer” in HClO sensing.

Core–shell structured NiO@Ni–Ci/CC exhibits superior water oxidation activity, requiring 387 mV overpotential to drive 15 mA cm⁻² in 1.0 M K–Ci.