Superhydrophilic zwitterions on the membrane surface have been widely exploited to improve antifouling properties. However, the problematic formation of a <20 nm zwitterionic layer on the hydrophilic surface remains a challenge in wastewater treatment. In this work, we focused on the energy consumption and time control of polymerization and improved the strong hydrophilicity of the modified polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. The sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) monomer was treated with UV-light through polymerization on the PVDF membrane at a variable time interval of 30 to 300 s to grow a poly-SBMA (PSBMA) chain and improve the membrane hydrophilicity. We examined the physiochemical properties of as-prepared PVDF and PVDF–PSBMA_x using numeric analytical tools. Then, the zwitterionic polymer with controlled performance was grafted onto the SBMA through UV-light treatment to improve its antifouling properties. The PVDF–PSBMA_120s modified membrane exhibited a greater flux rate and indicated bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection performance. PVDF–PSBMA_120s and unmodified PVDF membranes were examined for their antifouling performance using up to three cycles dynamic test using BSA as foulant. The PVDF-modified PSBMA polymer improved the antifouling properties in this experiment. Overall, the resulting membrane demonstrated an enhancement in the hydrophilicity and permeability of the membrane and simultaneously augmented its antifouling properties.

The detailed facile synthesis and material characterizations of NdNiO₃ nanoparticles for a non-enzymatic glucose sensor application were discussed briefly in this paper.

We have successfully synthesized nanostructured cubic NiAl₂O₄ nanoparticles for the selective electrochemical determination of gallic acid (GA) and the prepared nanostructured composite material was characterized by (X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy analyses. The cubic NiAl₂O₄ nanoparticles had average sizes of ∼ 26–30 nm as calculated from XRD and SEM measurements, respectively. GA-detection performance was also evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry method. NiAl₂O₄ glassy carbon electrode showed excellent performance in GA detection with a linear range, detection limit (SNR = 3 sb/S), limit of quantitation (LOQ = 10 sd/S) and sensitivity value of 0.03–551.18 μM, 0.018 μM, 0.057 μM and 9.019 μM mA⁻¹ cm⁻², respectively. The GA sensor was also used in real-sample analysis using food samples, and results showed the practicability of the proposed sensor.

Herein, the synthesis of heteroatom-containing graphene-like carbon nanosheets (HA-GCNs) by chemical activation of waste biomass, namely peanut shells. As characterized by a variety of analytical and spectroscopy techniques, the as-synthesized HA-GCNs material carbonized at 900 °C was found to possess sheet-like porous nanosheet morphology with high surface areas (>800 m² g⁻¹) and desirable of heteroatom contents such as nitrogen (N; 0.84 atom%), and oxygen (O) as high as 20.25 atom%, which greatly improved the electronic properties of the carbon substrate for prospective applications as metal-free electrodes and electrocatalytic materials. The HA-GCNs were found to exhibit a superior specific capacitance of 148, 145, 125, and 105 F g⁻¹ corresponding to the KOH, NaOH, LiOH, and H₂SO₄ electrolyte solutions, respectively. Although, the HA-GCNs electrode exhibited extraordinary electrochemical performances and cyclic charge-discharge stabilities. Moreover, these novel HA-GCNs exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activities and cyclic stabilities for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with a desirable current density of 1.17 mA cm⁻² in O₂-saturated 0.1 M KOH solution, surpassing that of noble metal-incorporated activated carbons. The superior electrochemical and electrocatalytic performances observed for the HA-GCNs were attributed to the unique pseudocapacitive behavior of the oxygen surface functional groups as well as their unique textural properties, rendering practical applications as low-cost electrodes for supercapacitors and metal-free electrocatalysts for ORR.

Mercury and explosives are well-known hazards that affect the environment and threaten society. Mercury generally exists as inorganic mercuric (Hg²⁺) salts, and its detection via fluorometric response is highly notable. Likewise, mainstream explosives contains a nitro (−NO₂) moiety as a functional unit, and numerous reports have quantified them using fluorescence quenching. Among the available literature, there are still noticeable concerns about the environmental and biological applicability of luminescent pyrene derivaives-tunedfluorometric detection of Hg²⁺ and explosives. In the presence of Hg²⁺ ions, pyrene derivatives tend to form excimers, which can be tuned to the chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF), photo-induced electron transfer (PET), or fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), etc., to exhibit “Turn-On” or “Turn-Off” fluorescence responses. On the other hand, π-π stacking of emissive pyrene-derivatives may lead to J- or H-type aggregation via self-excimers (Py-Py*), which has been found to be quenched/enhanced by explosive hazards. In fact, −NO₂-containing explosives interact with pyrene derivatives, leading to exceptional fluorescence quenching or enhancement. This review details the use of pyrene derivatives toward the sensing of Hg²⁺ and explosives with demonstrated applications. Further, the design requirements, sensory mechanisms, advantages, limitations, and the future scope of using the reported pyrene derivatives in Hg²⁺ and explosives sensing are discussed.