NiO nanoparticle was synthesized by a sol-gel method with three different pH values namely pH=1, 7 and 11, and then calcined at temperature of 450 ᵒC. The influence of different pH values on the physical properties of NiO nanoparticles were investigated by a particle size analyzer (PSA), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Structural analysis confirmed that a cubic structure of NiO nanoparticle was obtained without any secondary phase for NiO powders prepared with pH=1, while the peak of secondary phase (Ni) appeared for NiO powders prepared with pH= 7 and 11. Morphological observation showed that the NiO nanoparticles prepared with pH=7 and 11 tend to form more agglomerates compared to one prepared with pH=1. The average diameter of NiO nanoparticles with pH 1, 7 and 11 were approximately in the range of 19-26 nm, 21-28 nm, and 24-30 nm, respectively. NiO powder that was synthesized with pH=1 was further used to prepare composite anode of NiO Nps-BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.1O2.95 (BCZY) powder. Unfortunately a composite of NiO Nps-BaCeO3-BaZrO3 was obtained instead of BCZY and governed by agglomerates with size in the range of 70-300 nm.
A Zn-CP exhibits remarkable fluorescence behaviours and stability in a wide range of pH values. It can become an outstanding candidate in the selective sensing of Fe3+, Mg2+, Cr2O72−, MnO4−, NB and NM at a lower detection limit.
Nanometer calcium titanate immobilized on silica gel G (SGCTO) was prepared by the sol–gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR). Its application in speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from water was studied. Adsorption and elution were investigated under different conditions. The results showed that the nanometer calcium titanate was immobilized on the silica gel G firmly, becoming a new adsorbent. At normal temperature, two forms of chromium show different adsorption capacities at different pH values, that is, Cr (III) selectively retained at pH 8–14, but Cr(Ⅵ) can’t be adsorbed. Whereas Cr (VI) retained at pH 1, but Cr(Ⅲ) can’t be adsorbed. Hence complete separation of the two forms of chromium is possible. Retained Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were eluted with 1 mol•L−1 HCl and 2 mol•L−1NaOH, respectively. The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The method was successfully applied for the speciation of chromium in environmental water samples.
A sensitive benzimidazole derivative fluorescent sensor for nanoparticulate ZnO has been designed and synthesized. The nanocrystalline ZnO, Ag doped ZnO and Cu doped ZnO have been synthesised by sol-gel method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies. The synthesized sensor emits fluorescence at 360 nm and this fluorescence is selectively enhanced by nanocrystalline ZnO. This technique is sensitive to detect and estimate ZnO at micro molar level. Impurities such as Ag and Cu do not hamper the sensitivity of this technique significantly. Keywords: Sensor, SEM, EDX, Impedance, Fluorescence
Thin films of TiO2 have been deposited on well cleaned glass substrates by Sol-Gel dip-drive coating technique. The films have been prepared at three different pH values (1, 3.5 & 9) of Sol and annealed in muffle furnace at 550°C for one hour and are allowed to cool to room temperature. The films were characterized by XRD, EDAX, SEM and UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. The as deposited films were found to be amorphous in nature. The annealed films exhibit anatase in crystalline structure. The EDAX results have shown that all the films are maintained with TiO2 in composition. The XRD results reveal that they are nano-crystalline in nature and the crystalline nature increases with pH of the Sol. The transmittance and absorbance spectra have shown that the films are transparent and band gap of the films are of the order of 3.2eV. The ab initio studies of TiO2 (using GGA) was performed with Vienna ab initio Simulation package and the band structure and effective masses of the electrons and holes were determined.
Optimization gap size and integration of TiO2nanoparticles thin film produce a sensitive sensor device. Sol-gel spin coated TiO2nanoparticles thin film is coated on a conventional fabricated IDEs with gap sizes of 7 μm, 10 μm, 14 μm and 17 μm which is then validated through electrical characterization. I-V characteristics of without and with TiO2thin film of various gap sizes are subjected to pH test are then plotted to describe the resistance of the devices and correlate with the sensitivity measurement. Sensing devices show that devices with larger spacing and greater pH values have higher current. On the other hand, integration of TiO2thin film reduced the resistance of devices. Among the four gap sizes, 7 μm gap sized device is the most sensitive one due to the tremendous difference after small amount of pH dropped on surface, thus lowering the detection limit.
Nano-calcium titanate-based coated aluminum oxide (ACCTO) was successfully prepared by the citrate acid sol-gel method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its application in speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from water was studied. The conditions of adsorption and elution were investigated. The results show that nanometer calcium titanate could be immobilized on the aluminum oxide firmly, becoming a composite adsorbent. Two forms of chromium showed different adsorption capability at different pH values, Cr (III) selectively retained at pH 8-14, whereas Cr (VI) retained at pH≤2. So separation of the Cr(III) and Cr(VI) is possible. Retained species were eluted with 5mL of 1 mol•L-1 HCl and NaOH. The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The adsorption agent has a promising prospect in removal or enriching and separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water.
Nanometer barium-strontium titanate based coated aluminum oxide (ABST) was prepared by the sol–gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR). Its application in speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from water were studied. The results showed that the nanometer barium-strontium titanate was immobilized on aluminum oxide firmly, becoming a new adsorbent. Two forms of chromium showed different exchange capacities at different pH values, viz. Cr (III) selectively retained at pH 10–13, whereas Cr (VI) retained at pH 1. Hence complete separation of the two forms of chromium is possible. Retained species were eluted with 5mL of 1 mol•L−1 HCl and 1 mol•L−1 NaOH. The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The adsorbent had a promising prospect in the separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in environment water.
A sol-gel processing technology was employed to synthesize fine SrTiO3 powder by using strontium nitrate (Sr(NO3)2) , butyl titanate (Ti(OC4H9)4) as precursors, citric acid (C6H8O6) as complexing agent and (ethylene) glycol (C2H6O2) as stabilizer. Prepared the precursors in liquid phase and then calcined the precursors to achieve nano-sized SrTiO3 powders. The microstructure and composition of the as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scan Electron Microscopy (SEM), and the photocatalytic activity was studied. The results showed that all the SrTiO3 particles were identified as perovskite phase. The pH values, the content of the acetic acid, the heat treat temperature play important roles on the synthesis of the SrTiO3 photocatalyst. When the pH=1, n(Sr(NO3)2 ) : n(Ti(OC4H9)4) = 1 : 1, n(Sr(NO3)2 ) : n(C6H8O6)=1:1.7, the product has better rate of photodegradation for the Methylene Blue under the ultraviolet condition.
ABSTRACT
Resistance to being killed by acidic environments with pH values lower than 3 is an important feature of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Escherichia coli. The most potent E. coli acid resistance system utilizes two isoforms of glutamate decarboxylase encoded by gadA and gadB and a putative glutamate:γ-aminobutyric acid antiporter encoded by gadC. The gad system is controlled by two repressors (H-NS and CRP), one activator (GadX), one repressor-activator (GadW), and two sigma factors (σS and σ70). In contrast to results of previous reports, we demonstrate that gad transcription can be detected in an hns rpoS mutant strain of E. coli K-12, indicating that gad promoters can be initiated by σ70 in the absence of H-NS.
Transcriptional Expression of Escherichia coli Glutamate-Dependent Acid Resistance Genes gadA and gadBC in an hns rpoS Mutant