Investigation of TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Sol-Gel Method for Effectual Photodegradation, Oxidation and Reduction Reaction

Metal oxide titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized by using a simple and economical sol-gel method. The prepared nanoparticles were used to evaluate methylene blue dye degradation and as catalysts in the oxidation of benzaldehyde. The crystallite size of the titanium dioxide nanoparticle was 18.3 nm, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The spherical morphology was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the elemental composition of the nanoparticle was found by energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis. The anatase form of the nanoparticle was confirmed by the bandgap 3.2 eV, which was measured using UV–DRS analysis. The bond between metal and oxygen was confirmed by the peaks at 485 and 606 cm–1 analyzed by Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR). The efficiency of the catalyst in dye degradation was 60.08, 68.38, and 80.89% with respect to 50, 75, and 100 mg catalyst weight. The yield % of benzoic acid was 94%, and the reduction efficiency against 4-nitrophenol was 98.44%.

Superior improvement in dynamic response of liquid crystal lens using organic and inorganic nanocomposite

In this study, the response time of a 4 mm-aperture hole-patterned liquid crystal (HLC) lens has been significantly improved with doping of N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (BNA) and rutile titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2 NP) nanocomposite. The proposed HLC lens provides the focus and defocus times that are 8.5× and 14× faster than the pristine HLC lens, respectively. Meanwhile, the focus and defocus times of the proposed HLC lens reach the order of millisecond. Result shows that the synergistic effect of BNA and TiO2 NP induces a 78% decrement in the viscosity of pristine LC mixture that significantly shortens the focus and defocus times of HLC lens. The remarkable decrement in viscosity is mainly attributed to spontaneous polarization electric fields from the permanent dipole moments of the additives. Besides, the strengthened electric field surrounding TiO2 NP assists in decreasing the focus time of HLC lens. The focus and defocus times of HLC lens are related to the wavefront (or phase profile) bending speed. The time-dependent phase profiles of the HLC lenses with various viscosities are calculated. This result shows the decrease in wavefront bending time is not simply proportional to viscosity decrement. Furthermore, the proposed HLC lens emerges a larger tunable focus capability within smaller voltage interval than the pristine HLC lens.

Site-specific recognition of SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 protein with a tailored titanium dioxide nanoparticle

The ongoing world-wide Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic shows the need for new sensing and therapeutic means against the CoV viruses. The SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 protein is important, both for replication and pathogenesis, making it an attractive target for intervention. In recent years nanoparticles have been shown to interact with peptides, ranging in size from single amino acids up to proteins. These nanoparticles can be tailor-made with specific functions and properties including bioavailability. To the best of our knowledge, in this study we show for the first time that a tailored titanium oxide nanoparticle interacts specifically with a unique site of the full-length SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 protein. This can be developed potentially into a tool for selective control of viral protein functions.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle incorporated PVDF-HFP based composite membrane for direct methanol fuel cells application

Two composite polymeric membranes were synthesized using poly vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoroprropylene (PVDF-HFP) host in polyvinyl alcohol and with or without TiO2 nanoparticlesas a porous substrate. The structure of the membranes was PDVF-HFP/PVA and PVDF-HFP/PVA/TiO2.The composition of the synthesized membranes was analyzed by FTIR spectrum.The porosity of the polymer membranes were measured by immersing the membranes into n-butanol. The conductivity of the composite membranes was determined by impedance spectroscopy and the methanol permeability of the membranes was obtained from diffusion experiments. The surface morphology images were investigated by scanning electron microscope(SEM). The SEM image of the composite membrane incorporated with TiO2 has many pores which increased the conductivity of the membrane as compared to non TiO2 incorporated one. The composite membrane with TiO2 showed a good balance between proton conductivity and methanol permeability. The cell with PVDF-HFP/PVA/TiO2 composite membrane showed higher power density. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.56(2), 125-132, 2021