Yothin Chimupala

Although plasma technology has been widely investigated for seed enhancement, optimization of sine wave-modulated corona plasma (SWMCP) and the stability of its effects during storage remain insufficiently clarified. This study determined the optimal SWMCP conditions for improving maize seed quality and evaluated the persistence of treatment effects over six months. A split–split plot design was applied, with the storage period (0, 2, 4, and 6 months) as the main plot, the applied voltage (11, 12, and 13 kV) as the subplot, and the plasma exposure time (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 s) as the sub-subplot. Seed responses were assessed using biochemical and physiological parameters, including the total nitrogen content, the gibberellic acid (GA₃) concentration, the peroxidase and protease activities, the radicle emergence (RE), the germination index (GI), the germination percentage (G), the shoot length (SL), and the seedling biomass. SWMCP of 11 kV for 5 s was identified as the optimal condition, enhancing peroxidase activity, RE, G, and GI, with the germination rate maintained about 89% throughout a six-month storage period. However, excessive voltage and/or exposure time reduced enzymatic activity, indicating a critical threshold effect. Furthermore, biochemical benefits distinctively peaked within the first two months post-treatment and gradually declined thereafter.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as structurally designable materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their tunable coordination architecture and functionality. Herein, we report a couple of isostructural MOFs of divalent cobalt (1) and zinc (2), [M^II₂(bdc)₂(DABCO)]_n, [bdcH₂ = terephthalic acid, DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane], and evaluate their lithium storage performance. Electrochemical properties and performance show that Co-MOF 1 has higher efficiency than the Zn congener, with an excellent specific capacity of 750 mAh g^-1 after 10 cycles and last at 322 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles, which is a high electrochemical performance in specific capacity and rate cycle performance over the previous MOF-based materials. The ligand substitution at the metal centers of the MOFs triggered the single-crystal to single-crystal transformation toward corresponding [M^II(H₂O)(bdc)(DABCO)]_n (1a and 2a) MOFs, which were investigated. First-principles computations revealed that the identity of the metal center critically governs the lithiation behavior of these MOFs.

The persistent presence of antibiotic residues in water, together with the growing demand for sustainable energy technologies, calls for multifunctional and environmentally benign materials. Herein, a fully cassava-derived Ag₂S/N-doped carbon quantum dots composite hydrogel (Ag₂S/N-CQDs@CCH) is developed as a dual-functional platform for solar-driven antibiotic degradation and triboelectric energy harvesting. Cassava cellulose hydrogel (CCH), obtained from agricultural biowaste, serves as a renewable three-dimensional scaffold for in-situ growth of Ag₂S nanoparticles and N-CQDs via a hydrothermal approach. Comprehensive structural and spectroscopic analyses (UV–Vis, XRD, PL, SEM, TEM, XPS, and synchrotron XAS) confirm the formation of an Ag₂S/N-CQDs heterointerface featuring interfacial electronic modulation through Ag–N coupling and controlled sulfur surface reconstruction. Under simulated solar irradiation, the optimized 0.5wt%Ag₂S/N-CQDs@CCH achieves complete degradation of ciprofloxacin and oxytetracycline (10 ppm), with pseudo-first-order rate constants of 0.0571 and 0.0659 min⁻¹, respectively. The enhanced performance originates from an adsorption–photocatalysis synergy, where the porous hydrogel pre-concentrates pollutants and the engineered heterointerface promotes efficient charge separation and reactive oxygen species generation. Additionally, the composite delivers improved triboelectric output, exhibiting ~1.5-fold higher voltage and ~2.25-fold higher current than pristine CCH. This work offers a sustainable strategy for cassava biowaste valorization and advances development of self-powered water treatment systems.

This study examined the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on rice seed quality, seedling growth, and fungal inhibition. Sanpatong 1 rice seeds were treated with DBD plasma at three exposure durations (0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 s/cm) and coated with CuO NP solutions at five concentrations (0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08 M). The experiment followed a split-split-plot design within a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with storage time (0, 2, 4, and 6 months) as the main plot factor. Plasma etching improved seed surface wettability, while CuO NPs increased copper uptake and promoted growth at 0.04–0.06 M but caused toxicity at 0.08 M. Combined treatments suppressed Rhizopus sp. and Rhizoctonia solani, though Aspergillus spp. were less affected. Seed quality declined after six months of storage, likely due to oxidative stress. The best results were obtained with 0.6 s/cm plasma and 0.06 M CuO NPs, maximizing germination, vigor, and seedling growth without toxicity, demonstrating their potential as practical tools for improving rice seed quality and pathogen management.

A series of five isostructural 3D lanthanide-based coordination polymers [Ln^III₂(H₂O)₆(glu)(SO₄)₂]_n [Ln = Pr(1), Nd(2), Sm(3), Eu(4), and Gd(5)] was effortlessly obtained within a few minutes via the microwave-heating method. The employment of auxiliary bases, that is, sodium hydroxide, 4,4'-bipyridine, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, led to the formation of the title complex, whereas base-free synthesis yielded a three-dimensional inorganic coordination polymer, [Ln₂(H₂O)₄(SO₄)₃]_n·nH₂O, Ln = Nd (2a). The robustness of the synthetic method was illustrated as both microwave-heating and conventional hydrothermal techniques also enabled the formation of a high-crystalline phase-pure complex 1-5. In the structure of 1-5, glutarato (glu^2-) and sulfato ligands link dinuclear Ln(III) building units into three-dimensional frames. The glu^2- ligands act as tethering linkers, expanding the structure into a neutral 3D coordination network. Hydrogen bonds were found to be the predominant intermolecular interactions in the crystal structures. Photoluminescence of the complex 1-5 was studied.

External-stimuli responsiveness as found in natural organisms and smart materials is attractive for functional materials scientists who attempt to design and imitate fascinating behavior into their materials. Herein, we report a couple of new solvent-responsive isostructural two-dimensional cationic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of Mn(II) (1a) and Zn(II) (2a) that undergo unprecedented single-crystal to single-crystal (SCSC) transformation toward the corresponding isostructural three-dimensional MOFs of Mn(II) (1b) and Zn(II) (2b). The 2D MOFs 1a and 2a have been effortlessly and rapidly synthesized via the microwave-heating technique. The SCSC transformations are synergistically induced by solvent and ligand-substitution reactions and able to be triggered by water, methanol, ethanol, and n-propanol. Time-dependent SCSC transformations were studied by in situ X-ray diffraction. Investigations on photodegradation of methyl orange showed that Zn-MOF 2b has higher efficiency than Mn-MOF 1b under UV-C irradiation at 300 min, 94.27%, and 21.91%, respectively. The influence of charge on the dye molecules, heterogeneity of the catalysis, and ^•OH radical-scavenging test was studied. First-principles computations suggest that the high photocatalytic activity of 2b may be attributed to its suitable band-edge position for redox reactions.