The study of porous alumina structures has attracted the attention of the scientific community because of their interesting features, which can be leverged for energy storage and many other applications of nanotechnology [1-2]. To fabricate porous anodic alumina, one uses electrochemical etching (anodization) of aluminum in acidic electrolyte. Most anodization procedures that generate straight pores are done at temperatures below 5˚C in sulfuric, oxalic and/or phospheric acids, as reported in the literature [3]. However in this work, we introduce a novel, simple one -pot synthesis method to develop thin walls of aluminum oxide that conatian lithium ions, for Li-ion battery applications. The anodization of Al fil ms was conducted in a supersaturated mixture of lithium phosphate and 0.75 M phosphoric acid, as a matrix for the Li-composite electrolyte. For this purpose, aluminum films, a few micrometers thick, were fabricated. Our results show that both the anodization rate and current density, in the transient curve, decreased as the concentration of LiH 2PO4 in H3PO4 increased. Moreover, the wall thickness becomes thinner for samples anodized in higher concentration of LiH2PO4 in H3PO4. References [1] L.G. Vivas et al., Nanotech., 24 (10), (2013) 105703. [2] Hui Wu et al., Macromol. Chem. Phys., 215 (7), (2014) 584. [3] G.D. Sulka et al., Electrochem. Soc., 151 (5), (2004) B260.

Electrochemical oxidation of high-purity aluminum (Al) films under low anodizing voltages (1–10) V has been conducted to obtain anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with ultra-small pore size and inter-pore distance. Different structures of AAO have been obtained e.g. nanoporous and mesh structures. Highly regular pore arrays with small pore size and inter-pore distance have been formed in oxalic or sulfuric acids at different temperatures (22–50 °C). It is found that the pore diameter, inter-pore distance and the barrier layer thickness are independent of the anodizing parameters, which is very different from the rules of general AAO fabrication. The brand formation mechanism has been revealed by the scanning electron microscope study. Regular nanopores are formed under 10 V at the beginning of the anodization and then serve as a template layer dominating the formation of ultra-small nanopores. Anodization that is performed at voltages less than 5 V leads to mesh structured alumina. In addition, we have introduced a simple one-pot synthesis method to develop thin walls of oxide containing lithium (Li) ions that could be used for battery application based on anodization of Al films in a supersaturated mixture of lithium phosphate and phosphoric acid as matrix for Li-composite electrolyte.

Electrochemical oxidation of high-purity aluminum (Al) films under low anodizing voltages (1–10) V has been conducted to obtain anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with ultra-small pore size and inter-pore distance. Different structures of AAO have been obtained e.g. nanoporous and mesh structures. Highly regular pore arrays with small pore size and inter-pore distance have been formed in oxalic or sulfuric acids at different temperatures (22–50 °C). It is found that the pore diameter, inter-pore distance and the barrier layer thickness are independent of the anodizing parameters, which is very different from the rules of general AAO fabrication. The brand formation mechanism has been revealed by the scanning electron microscope study. Regular nanopores are formed under 10 V at the beginning of the anodization and then serve as a template layer dominating the formation of ultra-small nanopores. Anodization that is performed at voltages less than 5 V leads to mesh structured alumina. In addition, we have introduced a simple one-pot synthesis method to develop thin walls of oxide containing lithium (Li) ions that could be used for battery application based on anodization of Al films in a supersaturated mixture of lithium phosphate and phosphoric acid as matrix for Li-composite electrolyte.

Electrochemical oxidation of high-purity aluminum (Al) films under low anodizing voltages (1–10) V has been conducted to obtain anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with ultra-small pore size and inter-pore distance. Different structures of AAO have been obtained e.g. nanoporous and mesh structures. Highly regular pore arrays with small pore size and inter-pore distance have been formed in oxalic or sulfuric acids at different temperatures (22–50 °C). It is found that the pore diameter, inter-pore distance and the barrier layer thickness are independent of the anodizing parameters, which is very different from the rules of general AAO fabrication. The brand formation mechanism has been revealed by the scanning electron microscope study. Regular nanopores are formed under 10 V at the beginning of the anodization and then serve as a template layer dominating the formation of ultra-small nanopores. Anodization that is performed at voltages less than 5 V leads to mesh structured alumina. In addition, we have introduced a simple one-pot synthesis method to develop thin walls of oxide containing lithium (Li) ions that could be used for battery application based on anodization of Al films in a supersaturated mixture of lithium phosphate and phosphoric acid as matrix for Li-composite electrolyte.

Electrochemical oxidation of high-purity aluminum (Al) films under low anodizing voltages (1–10) V has been conducted to obtain anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with ultra-small pore size and inter-pore distance. Different structures of AAO have been obtained e.g. nanoporous and mesh structures. Highly regular pore arrays with small pore size and inter-pore distance have been formed in oxalic or sulfuric acids at different temperatures (22–50 °C). It is found that the pore diameter, inter-pore distance and the barrier layer thickness are independent of the anodizing parameters, which is very different from the rules of general AAO fabrication. The brand formation mechanism has been revealed by the scanning electron microscope study. Regular nanopores are formed under 10 V at the beginning of the anodization and then serve as a template layer dominating the formation of ultra-small nanopores. Anodization that is performed at voltages less than 5 V leads to mesh structured alumina. In addition, we have introduced a simple one-pot synthesis method to develop thin walls of oxide containing lithium (Li) ions that could be used for battery application based on anodization of Al films in a supersaturated mixture of lithium phosphate and phosphoric acid as matrix for Li-composite electrolyte.

Nanoparticles biosynthesis and its applications is a rapidly developing field. The biological silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being used as inhibitory and antimicrobial agents. In the current investigation, synthesis of silver nanoparticles by bacterial strain isolated from soil sample contaminated with crude petroleum oil was studied. Molecular identification of the bacterial isolate showed it as a strain of Sphingobacterium mizutaii. The biosynthesized nanoparticles characterized by the UV-Vis spectroscopy which exhibited a broad absorption spectrum band around 420 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the formation of varying size silver particles in the range from 4.5-31.6 nm. The Interaction between silver nanoparticles and proteins were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The combination effects of AgNPs with the antiseptic agent (Dettol) was then studied. The antimicrobial effect of AgNPs- Dettol combination increased significantely in case of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, B. subtilis and Candida krusei.

Nanoparticles biosynthesis and its applications is a rapidly developing field. The biological silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being used as inhibitory and antimicrobial agents. In the current investigation, synthesis of silver nanoparticles by bacterial strain isolated from soil sample contaminated with crude petroleum oil was studied. Molecular identification of the bacterial isolate showed it as a strain of Sphingobacterium mizutaii. The biosynthesized nanoparticles characterized by the UV-Vis spectroscopy which exhibited a broad absorption spectrum band around 420 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the formation of varying size silver particles in the range from 4.5-31.6 nm. The Interaction between silver nanoparticles and proteins were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The combination effects of AgNPs with the antiseptic agent (Dettol) was then studied. The antimicrobial effect of AgNPs- Dettol combination increased significantely in case of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, B. subtilis and Candida krusei.

We report an extremely sensitive and specific detection of mercuric ions (Hg2+) based on graphene assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (GALDI-MS). Combining the highly selective coordination interactions between thymine (T) and Hg2+, we present a simple, effective, and novel approach, based on π–π interactions of the T-Hg2+-T complex and G that can serve as a platform and matrix for GALDI-MS. The present sensor not only exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity (picomolar) to Hg2+ in aqueous solution, but also can elucidate the chemical structures of the metal complexes. The significant advantage in the current approach is that there is no need for a sophisticated instrument, and no sample pretreatment is required to detect the Hg2+ ions.

The design, preparation and performance for novel UV-light absorbing (room-temperature) ionic liquid matrices (UV-RTILMs) for matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) were reported. A series of UV-RTILMs was prepared by ultrasonication of equimolar of acid (mefenamic acid) and bases (aniline (ANI), pyridine (Pyr), dimethyl aniline (DMANI) and 2-methyl picoline (2-P)). The UV-RTILMs have not only significant absorbance at the desired wavelength (337 nm of the N2 Laser), but also have available protons that can easily undergo proton transfer reactions to ionize the target molecules. The novel UV-RTILMs have the ability to ionize different and wide classes of compounds such as drugs, carbohydrate, and amino acids. The new UV-RTILMs series have been successfully and selectively applied for biosensing the lysates of pathogenic bacteria in the presence of the cell macromolecules. A new strategy for biosensing pathogens was presented via sensing the pathogens lysate in the cell suspension. The new materials can effectively detect the bacterial toxins without separation or any pretreatment. They offered excellent ionization of labile oligosaccharides with protonated peaks. They could significantly enhance the analyte signals, produce homogeneous spotting, reducing spot-to-spot variation, excellent vacuum stability, higher ion peak intensity, and wide application possibility. The physical parameters such as molar refractivity, molar volume, parachor, surface tension, density and polarizability were calculated and tabulated. The new UV-RTILMs could offer excellent reproducibility and great repeatability and they are promising matrices for wide applications on MALDI-MS.

By using gamma spectrometry (NaI (Tl) 3”x3”), the concentrations of (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) were measured and its radiological hazards were presented in this paper for some building raw materials (sand, clay and limestone) collected from the quarries of Assiut cement company, Assiut, Egypt. The concentration values of (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) were in between (3.6 ± 0.4 and 16.8± 1.4), (1.1 ± 0.2 and 11.9 ± 1.6) and (4.3 ± 0.3) and (155.2 ± 9) respectively. The radiation hazard indices like: Radium equivalent (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), activity concentration index (Iex), the specific dose rates in door (D), the annual effective dose (DE) due to gamma radiation and the annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) were calculated , it was below the world average value 300 Sv y−1. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) have been calculated, its values were lower than the world’s average value of (0.29x 10−3) comparing with internationally recommended values.