Phuong Nguyen-Tri

A novel heterocyclic compound, 6-(tert-butyl)-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thione (TPDP), was synthesized via two distinct methods: a cyclocondensation reaction of (E)-4,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpent-1-en-3-one and a one-pot reaction involving thiourea, benzaldehyde, and pinacolone. The compound's structure was elucidated using standard spectroscopic techniques, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry. Given that organic compounds containing heteroatoms (N, S, O) are known to be effective corrosion inhibitors, this study evaluated TPDP's potential to inhibit corrosion of carbon steel (CS) in 1 M hydrochloric acid solution. Electrochemical measurements, including polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, coupled with theoretical studies, revealed that TPDP's inhibition efficiency increases with concentration, reaching 94% at 10−3 M. TPDP acts as a mixed-type inhibitor, forming a protective film on the metal surface. The Gibbs free energy of adsorption (−33.73 kJ/mol) indicates a physicochemical adsorption mechanism, consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. TPDP remains effective at elevated temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density functional theory (DFT), and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations further corroborate TPDP's robust inhibitory performance.

The elimination of H2S is important for the efficiency of energy production and safety due to its high corrosion and toxicity. While metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates for H2S adsorption, there remains a critical gap between discovery and industrial deployment. This study bridges the scalability gap of MOFs in this field by tailoring the structure of MIL-53(Al) pellets, investigating how pelletization variables dictate structural characteristics and H2S adsorption performance. By elucidating the impact of the pelletization process, this research contributes to the transition of MOF-based technologies from laboratory-scale experimentation to industrial application. We find that pellets comprising 80 wt % MIL-53(Al) and 20 wt % binder, which were subjected to calcination at 400 oC, are beneficial for reversible adsorption of H2S thanks to the maximized surface area and rigid structure. This MOF/binder ratio also enables an uninterrupted extrusion process. Furthermore, exploring various crosslinking agents identifies Fe3+ as a vital additive. This ionic crosslinker not only facilitates the pelletization of MIL-53(Al) but also enhances H2S removal efficiency by inducing partial amorphization and generating additional active sites. Overall, the findings in our work provide guidance for further research on engineering MOFs into macrostructure forms for H2S removal as well as H2S-related applications in practice.

Hydrolytic degradation of biodegradable polyesters is governed by coupled effects of formulation, morphology, and environmental conditions. Here, PHB/amorphous PLA (PHB/PLA‐AMP, 70/30, w/w) blend films and corresponding nanocomposites containing 1–5 phr chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) were investigated during accelerated hydrolytic aging at 70°C under acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions. The degradation response depended strongly on pH and CNP loading, with alkaline exposure generally producing faster gravimetric changes and more pronounced surface deterioration. SEM and CLSM revealed pH‐dependent cracking, localized erosion, and substantial changes in surface topography. AFM also revealed nanoscale surface heterogeneity after the incorporation of CNPs. The thermal response changed as well. DSC showed that hydrolysis changed the crystallization behavior of the PHB‐rich phase. TGA/DTG revealed that the main decomposition temperatures of PHB shifted much more than those of the composite that contains CNP. In summary, these findings show that both the pH level and the CNP loading influence the behavior of PHB/PLA‐AMP nanocomposites when they are subjected to accelerated aging conditions at elevated temperature.

Peganum harmala L. is a xerophytic medicinal and aromatic plant of considerable ethnopharmacological importance, characterized by a rich diversity of β-carboline alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and essential oil constituents. Despite increasing scientific interest, current knowledge remains fragmented across phytochemistry, essential oils, extraction technologies, biological activities, and safety assessments. This review provides an integrated overview of the essential oil composition, extraction methods, analytical characterization, biological properties, toxicological considerations, and emerging applications of P. harmala. Particular emphasis is given to organ-specific chemical variability, geographical and environmental influences on volatile profiles, and the importance of standardized chemical characterization for reliable bioactivity evaluation. Conventional extraction methods, including hydrodistillation and steam distillation, are critically compared with emerging green technologies such as ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and supercritical CO₂ extraction. Advanced analytical tools, including GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, NMR, and chemometric approaches, are highlighted for comprehensive phytochemical profiling. Reported biological activities include antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, and agricultural effects, although their translation requires rigorous chemical standardization, mechanistic validation, and safety evaluation. Overall, this review emphasizes that the sustainable development of P. harmala should rely on quality-by-design strategies integrating botanical authentication, chemotyping, green extraction, and regulatory-oriented toxicological assessment.

In this work, a novel proton exchange membrane (PEM) working in anhydrous conditions was successfully fabricated from a 50:50 blend of polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-co-HFP) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) via solution casting. Proton conductivity was enabled through hydrogen-bonding interactions between phosphoric acid (H3PO4) molecules and the carbonyl groups present in the PVP polymer structure. The results indicated that the blended polymer membranes showed a tight structure, no cracks, no agglomeration, and good flexibility. Chemical resistance was also excellent, as evidenced by the stability of these membranes during 24 h of phosphoric acid doping. The thermal stability of these membranes was investigated uniformly above 300 °C using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The highest proton conductivity was recorded at 130 °C, and anhydrous conditions reached 38.81 mS·cm–1. These values exhibited high compatibility with the most advanced phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole membranes (around 40 mS·cm–1 at 120 °C under anhydrous conditions), serving as an alternative to Nafion 212 membranes working at around 100 °C and anhydrous operation. This is a promising research direction for developing PEMs for potential applications in high-temperature (around 100 °C to 130 °C) proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs).

ZnO-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites are promising candidates for developing efficient, sustainable antibacterial strategies to address the growing threat of bacterial contamination across diverse sectors. However, their practical application remains limited by various constraints that affect their biological performance, stability, and biocompatibility, necessitating rational design and engineering approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the strategies employed to enhance the antibacterial performance of ZnO-based systems. It first outlines the fundamental antibacterial mechanisms, followed by an in-depth discussion of advanced design strategies, including surface functionalization, elemental doping, polymer coating or encapsulation, and hybridization with carbon-based materials, antimicrobial agents, and light-activated components. The impact of these strategies on physicochemical properties, charge transfer behavior, and antibacterial performance is systematically evaluated. The review further updates recent progress in the application of ZnO-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites across various fields, including textiles, surface coatings, food packaging, air purification, and paints. Finally, future perspectives for the design strategies and promising applications of ZnO-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites are discussed. This work provides valuable insights to guide the rational design of next-generation ZnO-based antibacterial materials.