Fabrication of Tandem Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells to Enhance Photovoltaic Performance
Energy has had an enormous impact on the development of technology and is a main factor in humans’ advancement towards an evolved society. Nevertheless, nonrenewable energy resources – which are the most effective in everyday application - have led to changes in the climate, environment, human health, and the world in general [1], which has encouraged researchers to switch to the use of renewable energy sources. Solar Cells are one of the most effective resources that rely on renewable energy. They come in a variety of types, operation methods, and efficiency as shown in Figure 1, including Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), which, inspired by photosynthesis in plants, uses photo-sensitive dye to capture sunlight and generate electricity. DSSCs were proved to have generated a great deal of interest and are one of the most promising solar cells among third-generation PV technologies, due to their low cost, simple preparation, good performance, and environmental friendliness compared to conventional photovoltaic devices [3]. However, their efficiency is quite insufficient for everyday use. Previous studies proved that Tandem DSSCs – which are two dye-sensitized cells stacked on top of each other – are able to enhance cell performance. The light absorption range of a tandem cell is increased because the bottom cell behind the top one absorbs and uses the incident light that was not absorbed by it [4]. It operates as shown in Figure 2, where the light photons excite the electrons of the dye molecules. The electrons are then transported to the FTO (conductive glass) by the semiconductor, which is used in the figure as TiO2 nanoparticles. The electrons pass through the circuit to perform the work, then move to the counter electrode (shown as Platinum). They are then transported by the electrolyte (I-/I3-) back to the dye molecules, and the process is repeated.
Low-Cost Nickel-based Catalyst for Electrocatalytic Splitting Of Ammonia Towards Clean Hydrogen Production
Increasing energy needs alongside the urgent issues of chemical pollution has prompted the need for developing novel green energy sources. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are of fundamental importance for the ecosystem as their usage has increased eight times in the last fifty years [1]. On the other hand , increased use of nitrogenous fertilizers is followed by higher ammonia emissions, which are dangerous pollutants responsible for deterioration in biodiversity by means of eutrophication, acidification of soil and water, and climate change [2]. Ammonia has the2apacityy to bond with other pollutants including sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to create particles that cause smog, which is associated with lung disease. Ammonia also increases frost sensitivities and causes necrosis of many plant species [3.] Therefore, there is a need to properly manage the ammonia-rich nitrogen waste to decrease the environmental threat factors. Of the possible approaches suggested for ammonia waste treatment, the ammonia electro-oxidation reaction (eAOR) has various promising features for application in the energy sector. It is economically appealing because Ammonia can serve as an excellent hydrogen carrier due to its storage capabilities and existing transport infrastructure alongside having no net carbon emissions. Apart from this, it requires 95% less of the theoretical energy [4] to perform the process. But the reaction is kinetically slow [5], which has been a research obstacle during the development of (eAOR), due to factors ofmslow reaction rate and large catalytic overpotential that this process consumes an unnecessary amount of power [6]. Nickel-based catalysts are a promising solution to these problems, they are cheaper , more stable and easier to produce than electrocatalysts for water electrolysis which makes it highly energy efficient for widespread use on the industrial scale. N films deposited on the anodic side also allow the creation of N-containing products such as (NH42SO3) and nitrates, which can be converted into fertilizers or renewed into the nitrogen cycle to make the process more environmentally friendly while enhancing the (eAOR) process [7,8]. Compared to Pt and Ir which are the most used noble metals, they are less poisoned on the potentials less than 0.65V and are more stable [9,10]. However , noble metals are scarce, and their cost is high for industrial applications as well as the energy they waste during (eAOR) [11].
Flavored Nanofiber Strips Loaded with Amoxicillin as an Alternative Method for Treating Bacterial Infections in Children
Semisynthetic penicillin, Amoxicillin, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is widely used to treat bacterial infections in children suffering ear, nose, and throat infections, genitourinary tract infections, skin infections, and lower respiratory tract infections1. This antibiotic works against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia , Streptococcus pyogene and Escherichia coli1,2. It shows antibacterial activity by inhibiting dd-transpeptidase, which maintains the integrity of the bacterial cell wall which results in bacterial cell death due to a fragile cell wall3. Nonadherence to medication was associated with 50% of drug-related hospitalizations in children4. In order to improve adherence and influence clinical outcome, it is important to acknowledge the importance of drug palatability to children4–6. The currently available liquid suspension form of this antibiotic is administered to patients through oral/GI routes. It is also available in capsules or tablets for adults7–9. In the gastrointestinal tract, the drug has to withstand variable pH conditions and enzymatic degradation , mucus and mucosal barriers to survive resulting in limiting drug bioavailability10,11. In addition to conventional drug delivery formulations, nanofibers can be used to deliver drugs orally, topically, and through buccal or transdermal routes12. Drug-loaded nanofibers offer many advantages as a delivery system, including their porous structure and their efficient delivery of various drugs and bioactive molecules including hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs12–14. Considering that amoxicillin palatability can affect children patients’ compliance and due to the advantages of both nanofiber drug delivery system and drug delivery through buccal routes, hence, this project aims to prepare flavored electrospun nanofibers loaded with amoxicillin to mask the unpleasant taste of the drug for treating children with bacterial infection. Nanofibers loaded with amoxicillin can be applied between the child's gum and cheek, allowing the fibers to dissolve in mucus and penetrate directly into the bloodstream.
Automated Alternative Compression/Traction of Lower Extremities AACT as a Musculoskeletal Countermeasure to Mitigate Bone Loss and Muscle Atrophy in Microgravity
Space Medicine and relevant sciences are still considered a new era; the first humankind steps toward the space took place since less than 60 years. It has been noticed the adverse effects of microgravity on the human body in different aspects, our concern here is the musculoskeletal aspect. On the ground we didn’t notice how we can stand up, or how our muscles and bones of the lower limbs can keep us standing up right. This is by a complicated process including the bones, the equilibrium, and the anti-gravitational muscles of the lower limbs which occurred without thinking about it. The force of Earth gravity against our bones of the lower limbs makes them harder and makes the muscles stronger, because they are interfacing the earth gravitational force every moment we are standing up, as per Newton’s third law (for every action in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction), such forces are unavailable in space and its effect being obvious on arrival to earth after long stay space flights, so being unable to keep standing upright easily on their arrival. On return to earth the routine medical examinations revealed loss of astronaut muscle mass and bone density particularly of their lower extremities because they did not use them in space for a long time. Currently, astronauts on board of ISS (International Space Station) they accomplish daily tasks including resistive exercises ARED “Advanced Resistive Exercise Device” in form of treadmill, ergometer, and weightlifting machine, to decrease the loss of bone density and muscle mass of their lower limbs. Despite their discipline to those exercises they still lose 1-2% of the muscle mass and bone density that give importance to add some protective measures to keep their muscles and bones healthy. Through this article, the idea is to make a device such AACT (Automated Alternative Compression/Traction) to be applied daily to the astronauts lower limbs as part of their daily exercise during space flight to give push/traction forces to astronauts lower limbs to prevent or at least decrease such loss, by AACT we are mimicking the gravitational force of earth on astounds lower limbs during long space flights to let them be healthy till they come back.
Natural resources utilization for the in-house production of fluorescence lipid nanoparticles
Nanotechnology, a transformative force, has steadily gained traction across multiple scientific disciplines, including physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology. It offers unprecedented capabilities, especially in the realm of nanoscale particles, ushering in new paradigms in various applications. One of the most revolutionary applications of nanotechnology is in the pharmaceutical sector. Here, nanoparticles have transformed drug and vaccine delivery systems, offering both efficacy and precision. Among these nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have stood out, especially for their role in delivering nucleic acid-based drugs and vaccines. These LNPs are intricate assemblies composed of lipids and nucleic acid complexes, offering an amalgamation of stability and deliverability. Such properties have rendered LNPs as invaluable tools in enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target side effects. The myriad of nanoparticles available includes the likes of silver, gold, and lipid nanoparticles. However, the emphasis of this research lies with lipid nanoparticles, given their widespread success in the pharmaceutical arena. LNPs have showcased their potential in delivering drugs with low therapeutic indices, emphasizing their capability to act as versatile platforms for novel drug development. Recent advances have further expanded the horizons of LNPs, paving the way for novel antisense oligonucleotides, innovative vaccines, and complex lipid nanoparticle formations. Characterizing these nanoparticles is paramount, not only for the development of novel drugs but also to comprehend their in vivo behavior. Their multifaceted nature, stemming from their unique excipients, core-bilayer design, and varying sizes, makes their characterization a critical step in the research and development pipeline.
Development of a nano-filtration membrane using different linear aliphatic amines and linear cross-linkers for purification of expensive and precious organic solvents
Theseparation, purification, and recovery of precious organic solvents is a huge challenge for many industriesincludingpetroleumandpharmaceuticalcompanies,sincethesecompaniesusehugequantities of organic solvents [1-2]. Natural dissolvable nanofiltration(ON)has atremendous potential for supplantingafewenergy-concentratedcrudepurgingtechniques,similartorefiningandextraction[3-4- 5]. The importance of OSN is obvious from the fact that one cubic meter of methanol requires 1750 MJ of energy for distillation since the process of distillation is comprised of heating, evaporation, and condensation while OSN can purify the same volume of methanol by consuming 3 MJ of energy [6-7]. Additionally, OSN is a useful technology since it is simpler to use than conventional purification and separationmethods.Themembrane'sporestructure,whichinfluencesbothitsselectivityandpermeance, hasasignificantimpactonhowwellthemembranesperform[8-9].Ingeneral,thetrade-offbetweenflux andselectivityaffectsthemembrane'sperformance.Asaresult,themembranes'fluxandpermeabilityare affectedbythetailoringandtuningoftheirporestructure.Therefore,designinganefficientnanofiltration membranes with ideal porosity is highly desirable. Interfacial polymerization (IP) is highly versatile as it provides a freedom of selection of various monomersfortargetingaspecificapplicationsuchasnanofiltrationandreverseosmosisThepotentialfor organicsolventnanofiltration(ON)toreplacevariousenergy-intensivetraditionalpurificationtechniques, suchasdistillationandextraction,isenormous.[8-9].Despitethefactthatmanydifferentmonomershave been successfully used by utilizing IP to create thin film composite nanofiltration TFC-NF membranes, one of the main limitations of such membranes continues to be the poor selection of closely related comparable nanometer sized solutes. Many efforts are still being made to develop potential monomers with the perfect properties for creating membranes that operate excellently [10-11]. Another strategy is also getting more popular in which different porous additives are added to the TFC membrane either at thesupportleveloractivelayerlevel.Theseadditivesincludecarbonorganicframeworks(COFs),metal organic frameworks (MOFs), hyper-cross-linked porous polymers (HCPs), and natural polymers such as chitosan[12-13-14-15]. However,maintainingthecrystallinity ofsuch additives,particularlyMOFsthat lead to crystalline membranes, is extremely difficult while other additions suffer from aggregation and agglomeration that results in membrane flaws that impair the performance of the membranes [16]. Therefore,changingthechemistryofthereacting monomerduringIPcansignificantlyalterthestructure of the resultant active layers of the membranes. The current study was carried out by using linear aliphatic amines 4A-3P and 4A on a crosslinked PAN support. The study was carried out through interfacial polymerization between either 4A-3P and TPC or 4A and TPC on crosslinked PAN. In comparison to the previous studies where cyclic amines such as piperazine or aromatic amines such as meta-phenylenediamine (MPD) are used, we have used linear aliphatic amines 4A and 4A-3P crosslinked with organic phase containing terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) asacross-linker.TheIPreactionwascarriedoutbetweenamineandTPConacrosslinkedPANsupport. The fabricated membrane was extensively characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), ATR-FTIR, water contact angle (WCA), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and elemental mapping . The fabricated membrane was used for OSN applications by using dead-end filtration setup.
Silver nanoparticles-loaded titanium dioxide coating towards immobilized photocatalytic reactor for water decontamination and bacterial deactivation under natural sunlight irradiation
The environmental implications of rapid industrialization, including rising pollution, depleted resources, the effects of climate change brought on by global warming, and unrestrained groundwater extraction, are contributing to a growing water scarcity crisis [1-3]. The improvements in quality of life are largely attributable to the innovations in manufacturing technology made possible by the Industrial Revolution, but these innovations also pose risks to the natural world and human health [1-3]. The textile business uses a wide variety of raw materials, including natural fibers like cotton as well as synthetic and woolen fibers, and the chemical components of dyes are just one example. The annual output of synthetic dyes is around 700,000 tons, and there are over 10,000 different varieties available. As much as 200,000 tons of synthetic dyes are released into the environment every year due to the inefficient dyeing technique commonly employed in the textile industry. According to the World Bank, the processing of textiles for dyeing and finishing accounts for between 17 and 20 percent of industrial wastewater [1-3]. Textile wastewaters contain a high biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, color, acidity, high suspended particles, high dissolved solids, surfactants, dyestuffs, heavy metals, and other soluble chemicals [3] due to the variety of dyes used to color textile items. In particular, water-soluble reactive and azo dyes are employed to obtain the required color. Ten to twenty percent of the dyes used end up in the effluents, where they might harm wildlife and the ecosystem (carcinogenic or mutagenic). Headaches, nausea, skin irritation, respiratory difficulties, and congenital deformities are only some of the health problems linked to exposure to textile wastewater. There are repercussions for aquatic ecology, environmental biodiversity, and the quality of receiving water bodies. New, low-cost, and highly effective water treatment methods are needed to deal with polluted wastewater. Adsorption and coagulation, two common water purification methods, just concentrate pollutants by shifting them to other phases; they do not "eliminate" or "destroy" them. Sedimentation, filtration, chemical oxidation, and biotechnology are all examples of conventional water treatment methods, but they all have their drawbacks. These include insufficient removal, high chemical reagent consumption, high treatment costs, long treatment times, and the creation of toxic secondary pollutants. New water treatment procedures are needed to improve the quality of treated effluent [1-3]. The use of semiconductor particles in photocatalysis is gaining appeal as a solution to global pollution problems due to its shown efficiency in degrading a wide variety of contaminants. Photocatalyst-coated surfaces-based reactors have proven to be practical for long-term operation over photocatalytic powder-based reactors (i.e., slurry-based reactors) [4-5]. As a promising photo-electrode and photocatalyst, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has enjoyed wider applicability in photocatalytic hydrogen generation, solar cells, and remediation of organic contaminants among other photo-catalytic applications [4-6]. TiO2 has been recognized as one of the low-cost, most effective, and fascinating photo-catalyst as a result of its interesting thermal and chemical stability, desirable electronic features, others, and environmental benignity [6-8]. Pristine TiO2 semiconductor is characterized by a wide band gap that can only utilize the UV part of the light spectrum with a wavelength of less than 385 nm, which is just 5% of the sunlight energy capacity. Spectrum usability extension to visible regions warrants further and extensive research study [8-10]. Additionally, the quickness of the recombination of photo-generated holes and electrons further restricts the practical applicability of the semiconductor [10-12]. It is highly desirable to develop a cost-effective scalable strategy to over these drawbacks toward sustainable development and a clean environment using only natural sunlight irradiation [5-11]. In addition, it is preferred to fabricate them as films rather than powders as photocatalytic immobilized reactors are more practical than powder-based reactors [4-8]. Dye sensitization, supports, magnetic separation, and surface modification by doping with non-metals, metals, and transition metals and coupling with other semiconductors have all been used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 photocatalyst. Higher photonic efficiency can be attained through the synergistic fine-tuning of features such as physical, chemical, and electronic, and these composites and hybrid materials based on TiO2 are creating a big trend. Doping has been widely studied as a means of altering the surface of TiO2. Rare earth metals, noble metals, and transition metals are all discussed in the existing literature on the surface modification of TiO2 doped with cations [4-12]. In this study, for the first time, Ag nanoparticles loaded mesoporous TiO2 coating was prepared and applied as an immobilized photocatalytic reactor for water decontamination and bacterial deactivation under natural sunlight irradiation.
Development of Electrical Shielding system for auto dust removal for solar PV modules
Currently, Large-scale solar PV systems installations are taking place in the desert environment and space to harness abundant solar energy effectively. Dust accumulation on the surface of photovoltaic panels (PV) is the most stignant problem for photovoltaic panels, as dust deposition reduces PV problem energy generation efficiency significantly. Thus, the removal of dust from the PV panels has become very important to increase the rate of energy efficiency by the PV panels. The dust particles could be reduced using traditional dust cleaning techniques. But, in the harsh and hostile desert environment, these approaches which requires a lot of water, complicated mechanical instruments, enormous logistics, and personnel. Electrodynamic dust shielding (EDS) system has been developed at our laboratory to remove dust particles from the surface of the PV panels. The EDS system has been successfully tested for dust mitigation. The unique features of our EDS System is that it is cost effective, easy to install and no manpower required as it is an unmanned system. The design and construction of a single-phase electrodynamic dust repulsion device built locally in KSA is demonstrated in this study. This work showed that the optimized electrode design and electrical parameters, such as AC source voltage and frequency, maximized the EDS system's dust mitigation effectiveness. A perfect balance was achieved between the geometrical and electrical parameters of the EDS system, resulting in a dust removal efficiency of up to 92±1 ℅.
Design of a new Hydrogen Fueled Hybrid Car Prototype
The proposed project involves a new water-fueled hybrid car prototype that integrates various technologies, including photovoltaic (PV) panels, electrolysis, a fuel cell, a metal hydride tank, and a battery. The car is equipped with PV panels on its surface, such as the roof or hood, which convert solar energy into electricity. This electricity powers a DC motor that propels the vehicle. Excess electricity can be stored in a battery or used in an electrolysis system to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is stored in a metal hydride tank for later use. Metal hydrides are materials capable of absorbing and releasing hydrogen gas, providing a safe and compact storage solution. The fuel cell converts hydrogen into electricity to power the DC motor when sunlight is not available. This hybrid system allows for direct solar-powered operation while also storing excess energy as hydrogen. Experimental tests were conducted on a prototype of this water-fueled car, with the fuel cell serving as a backup power source to ensure continuous operation even without solar energy. This concept offers several advantages, including the use of renewable solar energy, zero emissions during fuel cell operation, and the ability to store and utilize excess energy.