Awal Noor

Composite films of gelatin/polyethylene glycol/chitosan (GPC) doped with varying amounts (0.5–2.5% w/w) of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared by a solution casting/ultrasonic method.

First example of structurally characterized mononuclear homoleptic aryloxide of hafnium(IV) is reported using alkane elimination route. The herein isolated hafnium(IV) tatrakis(2,6-diisopropylphenoxide), a rare example of homoleptic group 4 aryloxides is synthesized via toluene elimination reaction by reacting four equivalents of 2,6-diisopropylphenol with tetrabenzylhafnium precursor. The compound [C₄₈H₆₈HfO₄], crystallized in the monoclinic space group, C2/c with unit cell parameters: a = 25.3120(6) Å, b = 10.8760(4) Å, c = 20.1250(5) Å, β = 125.939(3)°, V = 4485.6(2)) A³, Z = 4. The hafnium atom adopts a tetrahedral environment composed of oxygen atoms of the aryloxide ligands with crystal packing showing C⋯H π-interactions.

1. Thiourea SC(NH2)2 1 is the sulfur analog of urea, falls within the category of thioamides [1]. Structurally, 1 exhibits a close resemblance to urea OC(NH2)2 2, with the primary distinction being...

The widespread utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in energy storage systems has led to an accumulation of discarded LIBs. Recycling has been implemented as a novel approach to alleviate the detrimental impacts of battery waste and facilitate the recovery of precious metals. This innovative method utilizes an eco-friendly hydrometallurgical process for metal leaching, employing biodegradable mixed organic acids, specifically citric acid (C.A.) and tartaric acid (T.A.), alongside sugarcane bagasse, an agricultural byproduct. These experiments indicate that around 84% of Ni, 88% of Co, 95% of Li, and 93% of Mn were extracted under optimal circumstances of 1.5 : 1.5 mol L⁻¹ mixed acids (C.A. : T.A.) concentration, 0.6 g g⁻¹ bagasse dose, 15 g L⁻¹ slurry density, 50 °C temperature, 50 minutes leaching duration, and 400 rpm agitation speed. Moreover, experimental findings validated that organic compounds in bagasse improved the leaching efficiencies of precious metals. The leaching kinetics governed by chemical reactions are accurately represented by an Avrami model, which provides apparent activation energies of 47 kJ mol⁻¹ for Co, 44 kJ mol⁻¹ for Li, 46 kJ mol⁻¹ for Mn, and 45 kJ mol⁻¹ for Ni. This process turns agricultural waste into a valuable asset, reducing the environmental impact of discarded lithium-ion batteries.

The literature collected from various search engines and high-quality scientific databases reveals that amino acid (AA)-functionalized nanoparticles have emerged as a promising field for selective detection and remediation of heavy metals (HMs). Among the various nanoparticles (NPs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have drawn considerable attention, attributed to their unique optical, catalytic, and surface plasmon resonance properties. Functionalization with amino acids significantly enhances nanoparticle stability, biocompatibility, and metal-binding affinity through diverse functional groups. AA-functionalized AuNPs, including glycine, cystine, leucine, methionine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, histidine, and lysine-capped systems, exhibit tunable selectivity toward heavy metal ions. Bifunctionalization strategies further enhance sensitivity by inducing nanoparticle aggregation or signal amplification. Beyond single amino acids, polypeptides and protein-functionalized AuNPs offer enhanced molecular recognition and multivalent binding, expanding their applicability in complex matrices. Similarly, amino acid-functionalized AgNPs, such as those capped with similar amino acids stated above, exhibit strong interactions with heavy metals, AA bifunctionalization, and bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs), particularly amino acid-functionalized Au–Ag systems, which combine the advantages of both metals, leading to improved sensitivity, selectivity, and signal strength. Although these advances have been made, a major gap remains in the systematic comparison of different amino acids, peptides, and bimetallic systems under real-world conditions. This gap can be addressed by standardized testing methods, clearer structure–function relationships and combined experimentation to guide the rational design of more efficient AA-functionalized nanoparticles.

Rare examples of mononuclear magnesium and zinc bis(aminopyridinates) are isolated by reacting two equivalents of N-(2,4,6-triimethylphenyl)-[6-(2,4,6-triimethylphenyl)-pyridine-2-yl]-amine with MgnBu₂ and ZnEt₂, respectively. X-ray analysis reveals isostructural five coordinate [M(Ap)₂(thf)] complexes (M = Mg or Zn). The two compounds crystallized in the monoclinic space group, C2/c with nearly identical cell parameters. Structural analyses show that the two aminopyridinato ligands adopt the common head to tail arrangement with anionic function localized at the amido nitrogen atom. The observed τ₅ values of the two complexes indicate distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries. Crystals packing shows identical C⋯H π-interactions. Hirshfeld surface analyses and the two-dimensional fingerprint plots indicate intermolecular H⋯H contacts and H⋯C/C⋯H π-interactions with nearly identical contributions.

First example of structurally characterized tribenzyltitanium of anionic bidentate N-ligands is reported. The herein isolated organometallic derivative, a tribenzyltitanium complex stabilized by an aminopyridinato ligand is synthesized via salt metathesis reaction by reacting three equivalents of [C₆H₅CH₂MgCl] with the mono(aminopyridinate)titanium trichloro precursor. The compound [C₅₀H₅₈N₂Ti], crystallizes in the monoclinic space group, P2₁/n with unit cell parameters: a = 18.2110(8) Å, b = 13.5360(4) Å, c = 18.4810(9) Å, β = 109.443(3)°, V = 4295.8(3) ų, Z = 4. All three benzyl groups are η¹-coordinated. Crystal packing and Hirshfeld analyses show C⋯H interactions.