MGR-Janaki 学院 of Arts and Science for Women

This study presents the synthesis, structural architecture, density functional theory (DFT) investigations, third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, and biological evaluations of two organic–inorganic hybrid compounds based on the dicationic 1-(4-pyridyl)piperazine ligand: (C9H15N3)2+.HgCl42- (Compound I) and (C9H15N3)2+.CuCl42- (Compound II) Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that both hybrid compounds assemble into robust 3D supramolecular networks governed by extensive ionic charge-assisted (N–H···Cl, C–H···Cl) hydrogen bonds. Hirshfeld surface analysis demonstrates that H···Cl (up to 37.1) and H···H contacts dominate the crystal packing. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), non-covalent interaction (NCI) calculations and Time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) validate the purely non-covalent character of these lattice-stabilizing interactions. Single-beam Z-scan measurements under continuous-wave excitation show that both complexes exhibit strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) and thermal self-defocusing behavior. Compound II demonstrates a significantly enhanced third-order susceptibility χ3 = 1.899 × 10–5 compared to Compound I χ3= 1.25 × 10–5 driven by efficient dication-to-halometalate electronic coupling and LMCT interactions. Furthermore, Compound I exhibited pronounced antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli 19 mm and S. aureus 21 mm while Compound II demonstrated superior cytotoxic potency against MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells with an IC50 of 10.96 μg/mL (compared to 25.25 μg/mL for Compound I). These results highlight the dual potential of compound I and II in photonic devices and as next-generation anti-cancer therapeutics.

Within the Indian context, marriage has grown to be largely defined as the coming together of two families who are not just geographically distant but also very much distant in their foundations and lifestyle. These differences between the individuals and their respective families pave way for disturbances resulting in marital discord, thereby taking a toll on marital satisfaction. This study aimed to identify predictors of marital satisfaction among 395 Indian female educators by examining the relationships between marital compatibility, commonality, dedication commitment, work-family conflict, and marital satisfaction using correlational analysis and regression analysis. The results revealed that both compatibility and commonality play an indispensable role in enhancing marital satisfaction. It can also be concluded that adopting strategies to maintain work-life balance and keeping work and family conflict at bay is essential in aiding couples to maintain their marriage. Being committed to the relationship and investing in it for the right reasons is another protective factor that contributed to enhancing marital satisfaction.

Ternary mixed metal hydroxide/oxyhydroxide nanomaterials are an interesting class of pseudocapacitive electrode materials for supercapacitor applications, yet the influence of compositional variation on their electrochemical performance remains underexplored. In this work, a series of Mn-Co-Cu hydroxides/oxyhydroxides (marked as MnCoCu-x : y : z, with x : y : z = 1 : 1 : 1, 3 : 1 : 1, 5 : 1 : 1, 1 : 3 : 1, 1 : 5 : 1, 1 : 7 : 1, 1 : 9 : 1, 1 : 1 : 3, and 1 : 1 : 5, corresponding to Mn2+ : Co2+ : Cu2+ molar ratios) were synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method, along with the respective monometallic hydroxides or oxyhydroxides, MnO(OH), CoO(OH), and Cu(OH)(2), and selected bimetallic counterparts, MnCo-2 : 5 and CuCo-2 : 5. Examination of three-electrode supercapacitor performance of the as-prepared materials using 3 M KOH at 1 A g(-1) revealed the superior specific capacitance of MnCoCu-1 : 5 : 1 (1684 F g(-1)) compared to the other materials, which followed the trend MnCoCu-1 : 1 : 5 (299 F g(-1)) < MnCoCu-3 : 1 : 1 (404 F g(-1)) < Cu(OH)(2) (477 F g(-1)) < MnO(OH) (509 F g(-1)) < MnCoCu-1 : 9 : 1 (608 F g(-1)) < CoO(OH) (651 F g(-1)) < MnCoCu-1 : 1 : 3 (683 F g(-1)) < MnCoCu-5 : 1 : 1 (684 F g(-1)) < CuCo-2 : 5 (828 F g(-1)) < MnCoCu-1 : 1 : 1 (1084 F g(-1)) < MnCoCu-1 : 3 : 1 (1124 F g(-1)) < MnCoCu-1 : 7 : 1 (1204 F g(-1)) < MnCo-2 : 5 (1321 F g(-1)) - highlighting the significant synergistic effect of constituent metal hydroxides/oxyhydroxides in the as-prepared materials and underscoring the pivotal role of compositional tuning in enhancing the energy storage performance. Furthermore, the optimized MnCoCu-1 : 5 : 1 composite in a two-electrode asymmetric supercapacitor configuration demonstrated an appreciable energy storage performance, delivering a specific capacitance of 224 F g(-1), an energy density of 60.8 Wh kg(-1), and a power density of 280 W kg(-1) at 0.4 A g(-1). Moreover, this composition exhibited appreciable long-term cycling stability, retaining 90% of its initial capacitance and displaying a 92% coulombic efficiency up to 5000 charge-discharge cycles at 5 A g(-1). The superior electrochemical performance of MnCoCu-1 : 5 : 1 can be attributed to its optimal composition, offering favorable structural and electrical properties for facilitating efficient charge storage. These results highlight the significance of rational compositional engineering in ternary mixed metal hydroxide/oxyhydroxide composites for evolving next-generation high-performance supercapacitor electrodes.

Microplastics are a major environmental pollutant, threatening ecosystems and human health. This study investigates microplastic contamination and its associated ecological risks in the sediments of Wular Lake, Kashmir-a Ramsar-designated site. Sediment samples collected from 32 locations were analyzed for microplastic abundance, composition, and pollution hazard. Microplastics were present at all sites, with concentrations ranging from 300 to 1,280 particles per kilogram of dry sediment (p/kg dw) and a mean of 835.6 p/kg dw. Hotspots exceeding 1,000 p/kg dw included sites WL19, WL5, WL2, WL10, and WL20, with the northeastern region being the most contaminated. White (26.9%) and blue (25.5%) particles were predominant, and fibers constituted 74.7% of all morphotypes. Raman spectroscopy identified nylon/polyamide as the primary polymer type (74.7%), followed by polypropylene (18.1%) and polyethylene (6.2%). Pollution Hazard Index (PHI) values ranged from 515 to 15,926, indicating significant contamination and high ecological risk at the majority of sites. These findings reveal widespread microplastic pollution in Wular Lake sediments, characterized by distinct hotspots and elevated environmental risk. The results underscore the urgent need for improved waste management, stronger regulatory measures, and continuous monitoring to protect the ecological integrity of this critical Himalayan wetland.

High-efficiency electrocatalysts are critical for advancing sustainable energy technologies, yet challenges such as high costs, limited stability, and reproducibility hinder their widespread adoption. This study introduces novel carbon-supported Fe-group composite catalysts (Fe, Co, and Mo), synthesized via a scalable two-step reduction method, offering a cost-effective alternative to precious metal catalysts for the electrooxidation ofhydrogen peroxide derived from sodium perborate in nonmembranous fuel cells. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed a face-centered cubic (fcc) phase with a homogeneous solid-solution structure and uniform dispersion of the composites on the carbon support. Electrochemical evaluation at ambient temperature revealed that molybdenum-containing catalysts, notably Fe60Co30Mo10/C and Fe60Mo40/C, exhibited superior activity compared to molybdenum-free and pure iron counterparts. Durability tests in a nonmembranous hydrogen peroxide fuel cell demonstrated exceptional stability for the ternary Fe60Co30Mo10/C anode over binary compositions. These findings underscore molybdenum's pivotal role in enhancing iron oxidation and activating cobalt sites, significantly boosting catalytic performance. This work highlights the potential of Fe-group composite catalysts as high-performance, cost-effective solutions for next-generation fuel cell technologies, addressing key barriers to sustainable energy applications.