Pramod Shankarrao Patil

Rational engineering of metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived transition metal oxides through solvent regulation provides an effective strategy for enhancing electrochemical energy storage performance. Herein, MOF-derived NiFe2O4 (NFO) was synthesized via a solvothermal route using dimethylformamide (DMF), DMF/ethanol, and DMF/ethanol/water solvent systems. The results establish a direct correlation between solvent composition and electrochemical performance via crystallization kinetics, defect formation, and morphology. Among the prepared samples, the ternary-solvent-derived NiFe2O4 (NFO-DEW) exhibited a defect-rich bitter-gourd-like nanostructure with the smallest crystallite size (30 nm) and the highest specific surface area (28.06 m2 g-1). Consequently, NFO-DEW delivered an outstanding specific capacitance of 1230 F g-1 at 1 A g-1, the lowest charge-transfer resistance (7.09 Ω), and the highest electrolyte diffusion coefficient (1.13 × 10-11 cm2 s-1). An asymmetric NFO-DEW//AC supercapacitor achieved a maximum energy density of 37.96 Wh kg-1 and retained 70 % of its initial capacitance after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles. Artificial neural network (ANN) models accurately predicted both CV and GCD-derived capacitance. At the same time, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis identified electrolyte diffusion coefficient, charge-transfer resistance, crystallite size, and operating conditions as the key descriptors governing electrochemical performance. Complementary density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that surface defects and oxygen vacancies introduce mid-gap states, narrow the bandgap, increase the density of states near the Fermi level, and strengthen KOH adsorption, thereby promoting charge transfer and enhancing electronic conductivity. This integrated experimental, explainable AI, and DFT study establishes a rational framework for solvent-directed defect engineering of MOF-derived electrodes for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

A layered Co ₃ O ₄ /rGO/PANI ternary nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via sequential hydrothermal and electrodeposition on a steel substrate.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as a promising tool for cancer therapy, providing significant potential for multimodal cancer treatments that include chemotherapy, magnetic hyperthermia, and bioactive targeting. The physicochemical properties of MNPs, including size, surface chemistry, and magnetic properties, play a crucial role in determining their therapeutic effectiveness and overall performance in multimodal cancer therapy. The present study introduces a magnetic nanoformulation ( c MNP‐mPEG‐Dox‐Ab) nanobioengineered for an integrated therapeutic approach. The cubic‐shaped MNPs ( c MNP) are functionalized with a biocompatible polymer, mPEG‐NH ₂ , to immobilize anti‐HER2 antibody and the anticancer drug doxorubicin. The nanoformulation exhibits a controlled drug release in response to pH and temperature stimuli. Notably, under an alternating magnetic field (AMF), 64% drug release is observed at an acidic pH, which mimics the tumor microenvironment. Cytotoxicity studies on the HCC1954 breast cancer cells reveal that the nanoformulation without an anti‐HER2 antibody induces 25% cell death, which increases to 52% upon conjugation with the anti‐HER2 antibody, confirming the bioactive targeting effect. Apoptosis studies demonstrate a significant increase in the apoptotic cell population under hyperthermic conditions relative to the physiological temperature. This study underscores the potential of c MNP‐mPEG‐Dox‐Ab nanoformulation to enhance the precision and therapeutic efficacy of multimodal cancer therapy through bioactive targeting.

In this study, cobalt phosphate is synthesized using a hydrothermal approach on a stainless steel substrate.

This study presents an innovative approach to enhancing the antibacterial performance of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) by functionalizing them with copper oxide nanoflowers (CuO NFs). Initially, ZnO NRs were synthesized using a straightforward sol–gel wet chemical method, followed by the controlled integration of CuO NFs to form the desired ZnO–CuO nanocomposites (ZC NCs). Detailed physicochemical characterization tools were employed to interpret the associated structural, functional, optical, and morphological properties of the synthesized samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was further quantitatively supported by Rietveld refinement, providing a brief account of the structural parameters and other aspects. Herein, the augmented antibacterial performance can be understood by observing the improved surface area determined by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, which shows a higher surface area of 187.622 m² g⁻¹ compared to bare ZnO NRs, exhibiting a high surface area-to-volume ratio that facilitates extensive contact with microbes. Notably, ZC NCs (50 wt% of CuO NFs with ZnO NRs) demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. Additionally, the mode of action study revealed that the antimicrobial performance is primarily attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the disruption of the microbial cell membrane. These dual-functional ZC NCs demonstrate significant potential in healthcare applications, providing a cost-effective and scalable solution for developing advanced antibacterial and antifungal agents.

Co ₃ O ₄ nanowire electrode synthesized via double hydrothermal with additives showed enhanced supercapacitive performance. The C-HMT electrodes achieved C _s of 468.68 F g ⁻ and powered LEDs, demonstrating energy storage potential.

The study highlights a 1.8-fold efficiency improvement in metal-free SK3 dye-sensitized solar cells using a TiO₂/ZnO nanocomposite and polymer gel electrolyte, attributing to enhanced charge transport, reduced resistance, and improved surface area.