YIn0.9Mn0.1O3-ZnO nano-pigment exhibiting intense blue color with impressive solar reflectance

The current study reports on the synthesis and characterization of a new inorganic nano-pigment with an intense blue color and high solar radiation reflective properties (70%). The nano-pigment YIn0.9Mn0.1O3-ZnO was synthesized by a sol-gel combustion method and characterized with the aid of X-Ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Magnetic susceptibility, Transmission electron microscopy, UV ndash;vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and CIE-1976 L*a*b* color measurements. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD patterns of the developed nano-pigment disclosed the existence of YIn0.9Mn0.1O3 and ZnO in a 1:1 ratio with hexagonal crystal structures. For comparison, YIn0.9Mn0.1O3 was also synthesized by the sol gel combustion route and its optical properties compared with that of YIn0.9Mn0.1O3-ZnO. It is interesting to note that the developed YIn0.9Mn0.1O3-ZnO nano-pigmeht exhibits superior blue hue (b* = -40.55) and solar reflectance (R* = 70%) values as compared to the YIn0.9Mn0.1O3 nano-pigment (b* = -22.28, R* = 50%). Most importantly, the potential utility of the nano-pigment as a ``Cool Pigment'' was demonstrated by coating onto roofing materials like aluminum roofing sheets. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flower-like porous cobalt(II) monoxide nanostructures as anode material for Li-ion batteries

In the present study, a microwave-assisted, solution-based route has been employed to obtain porous CoO nano structures. Detailed characterization reveals that the flower-like nanostructures comprise petal-like sheets, each of which is made of an ordered, porous arrangement of crystallites of CoO measuring about 6 nm. TEM analysis shows that each ``petal'' is an oriented aggregate of CoO nanocrystals, such aggregation promoted by the hydroxyl moieties derived from the solution. The structure provides a large specific area as well as the porosity desirable in electrodes in Li-ion batteries. Electrochemical measurements carried out on electrodes made of nanostructured CoO show excellent Li ion-storing capability. A specific capacitance of 779 mAh g(-1) has been measured at a specific current of 100 mA g(-1). Measurements show also excellent cyclability and coulombic efficiency. Impedance spectroscopy provides evidence for charge transfer occurring in the porous networks. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Connecting Active-Site Loop Conformations and Catalysis in Triosephosphate Isomerase: Insights from a Rare Variation at Residue96 in the Plasmodial Enzyme

Despite extensive research into triosephosphate isomerases (TIMs), there exists a gap in understanding of the remarkable conjunction between catalytic loop-6 (residues 166-176) movement and the conformational flip of Glu165 (catalytic base) upon substrate binding that primes the active site for efficient catalysis. The overwhelming occurrence of serine at position96 (98% of the 6277 unique TIM sequences), spatially proximal to E165 and the loop-6 residues, raises questions about its role in catalysis. Notably, Plasmodium falciparum TIM has an extremely rare residuephenylalanineat this position whereas, curiously, the mutant F96S was catalytically defective. We have obtained insights into the influence of residue96 on the loop-6 conformational flip and E165 positioning by combining kinetic and structural studies on the PfTIM F96 mutants F96Y, F96A, F96S/S73A, and F96S/L167V with sequence conservation analysis and comparative analysis of the available apo and holo structures of the enzyme from diverse organisms.