Novel oxidozirconium (IV) complexes incorporating potassium 2-chlorophenylacetohydroxamate and potassium nicotinohydroxamate ligands were successfully synthesized and systematically characterized using elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and both 1H and 13C NMR techniques to elucidate their coordination mode, structural features, and composition. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to optimize the geometries of complexes (I) and (II) at the B3LYP and UPBEPBE/6–31 + G(d, p) level, with the calculated vibrational frequencies and NMR parameters showing good agreement with experimental observations. Further insight into the electronic structure was obtained through HOMO–LUMO analysis and Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) charge distribution studies. The antimicrobial potential of the complexes was assessed in vitro using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method against selected bacterial and fungal strains, demonstrating that complex (I) possesses higher antimicrobial activity compared to complex (II).
The Internet of Things (IoT) enabled Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) to emerge for applications like underwater imagining, underwater equipment monitoring, marine data collection, etc. These all applications relied on the routing method for data transmissions. However, a designing routing protocol for UWSNs using acoustic should address lower throughput, longer delay, high energy consumption, and collisions. We propose the novel Hybrid Optimization-based Cooperative Opportunistic Routing (HOCOR) for improving the performance of IoT-enabled UWSNs. As the Swarm Intelligence (SI) methods have already proven effective for routing and clustering problems of various wireless networks, we aim to design a hybrid SI technique using popular Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) methods. In this hybrid SI technique, we exploit the benefits of both GA and PSO for optimal forwarding relay selection. In HOCOR, hybrid optimization aims at forming a reliable opportunistic data transmission route from any underwater sensor node to the surface sink. The hybrid optimization solves the problem of maximizing the Quality of Service (QoS) and network lifetime using the novel fitness function while evaluating each sensor node. The fitness function of the hybrid optimization algorithm computes the four parameters of each underwater sensor node such as underwater distance, node connectivity, packet transmission ability, and residual energy. We select these parameters to avoid packet collisions and void communications in UWSNs. Simulation results show that the HOCOR protocol outperforms the state-of-art methods in terms of the average throughput, Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), average energy consumption, and average delay.
Citrus sinensis (CS) seed extract, a rich source of natural antioxidants and phytochemicals, played a crucial role in the green synthesis of nanoparticles by acting as a natural reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent, offering a sustainable alternative to toxic chemical methods. A novel green synthesis of manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2-NPs) was done using Citrus sinensis seed extract (CSSE), achieving ultra-stable and uniformly dispersed NPs with an average size of 15.3 nm (DLS) and crystallite size of 15.23 nm (XRD). The antibacterial activity was carried out against B. cereus, S. aureus (gram-positive), E. coli, and P. aeruginosa (gram-negative) bacteria, and antifungal activity against P. chrysogenum, A. niger, A. solani, and F. oxysporum using the tube dilution method. The MIC values for antibacterial activity of CSSE and CS-MnO2-NPs were observed to be 15 +/- 1.56 and 10 +/- 0.73 & micro;g/mL against B. cereus. The MIC values for antifungal activity of CSSE and CS-MnO2-NPs were observed to be 40 +/- 3.17 and 15 +/- 1.89 & micro;g/mL against A. solani. The antioxidant potential of CSSE and CS-MnO2-NPs showed a good DPPH scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 192.41, and 182.42 & micro;g/mL. The CS-MnO2-NPs achieved up to 99% degradation efficiency of methylene blue dye (7 & times; 10(-6 )M) within 90 min under UV-visible light at pH 3 and a catalyst dosage of 3 mg. The PZC of the CS-MnO2-NPs is found to be 2.5. Post-treatment water analysis showed reductions in COD (from 3120 to 2080 mg/L), BOD (from 2.9 to 2.6 mg/L), and increased DO (from 10 to 11.9 mg/L), indicating effective pollutant mineralization, which suggests CS-MnO2-NPs as a promising material for antimicrobial and wastewater treatment, supporting circular economy practices.
This research explores the efficiency of molybdenum-based catalysts including molybdenum oxide, sulfide, and nitride in oxygen evolution reactions (OER). By systematically comparing these materials, we aim to elucidate their unique electrochemical properties and effectiveness in driving OER, a key process in energy conversion technologies. The study involves an in-depth analysis of their structural, compositional, and morphological attributes to determine the fundamental factors affecting their catalytic performance. These findings contribute to the strategic design and enhancement of OER catalysts, promoting advancements in sustainable energy solutions. Notably, this work represents the first direct comparison of these three materials under identical experimental conditions, providing fresh insights into their catalytic potential. The electrodes were fabricated by the sputter deposition technique by varying the plasma power. The outperformed electrode of the molybdenum nitride-based electrode fabricated at 200 W of plasma power, demonstrated the overpotential of 124 mV at the current density of 10 mA/cm2.
Thin flexible mats of NiFe2O4 incorporated PU/PS IPN has been successfully prepared using In-situ polymerization of PU/PS & NiFe2O4 using chain initiator and catalyst. X-ray diffraction peaks corresponding to spinel crystal phase (F d 3m No. 227) in non-crystalline interpenetrating polymer network reveals presence of NiFe2O4 in matrix of PU/PS. FTIR bond also endorsed X-ray diffraction data means presence of NiFe2O4 in matrix of non-crystalline PU/PS IPN. Change in rate of wt% loss with incorporation of NiFe2O4 shows improvement in thermal stability whereas elongation at break evident for enhancement in mechanical properties of PU/PS IPN. M-H magnetic hysteresis reveals establishment of magnetic behavior in non-magnetic PU/PS IPN by incorporation of NiFe2O4 in matrix of IPN. The elements present in thin flexible mat have been confirmed from energy of X-ray generated during X-ray dispersive spectroscopy whereas elemental mapping shows distribution of various elements in flexible mats. The ε', ε" & ac vs. Frequency reveals increased in dielectric properties of IPN by incorporation of NiFe2O4 during in-situ polymerization of PU/PS IPN.
