Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) create imitation photosynthesis by using chemical reactions to produce electricity from sunlight. DSSC has been pursued in numerous studies due to its capability to achieve efficiencies of up to 15% with artificial photosensitizer in diffuse light. However, artificial photosensitizers present a limitation because of the complex processing of metal compound. Therefore, various types of sensitizers were developed and synthesized to surpass the artificial sensitizer performances such as natural sensitizers from bio-based materials including plants, due to simple processing techniques and low environmental impact. Thus, this study examines the potential and properties of natural sensitizers from the waste of bio-based materials from Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen fruit) and Archidendron pauciflorum (jering fruit). Both fruits pericarps have dark color pigments as dark purple and dark brown, respectively, which promise a good absorption and has potential to be used as sensitizer for DSSC. Each pericarps dye extracted using cold extraction method in methanol solvent. Electrochemical properties and photovoltaic properties of the natural photosensitizers were studied. The highest peaks of photoluminescence spectra of mangosteen and jering sensitizers were at 490 and 670 nm, respectively, due to their different types of dye pigment extracted. We also obtained the absorption spectra for both mangosteen and jering sensitizers at 380-500 and 400-600 nm, respectively, in blue shift behavior. The redox reaction was also studied using cyclic voltammetry and identify their energy levels. The DSSC device with mangosteen sensitizer achieved an efficiency of 0.38% with 35.43% (IPCE at 337 nm) and 37.75 Ω (Rs), whereas that with jering sensitizer has efficiency of 0.07% with 25.31% (IPCE at 337 nm) and 490.70 Ω (Rs). Performance studies for both photosensitizers were weak due to their HOMO-LUMO levels, but the results show that both natural dyes can be potentially applied as photosensitizer in DSSC.
In this study, the sonochemical degradation of phenol in water was investigated using two types of ultrasonic wave generators; 20 kHz ultrasonic processor and 40 kHz ultrasonic cleaner bath. Mineralization rates were determined as a function of phenol concentration, contact time, pH, power density, and type of ultrasonic generator. Results revealed that sonochemical degradation of the phenol conversion was enhanced at increased applied power densities and acidic conditions. At 10 mg/L initial concentration of phenol, pH 7, and applied power density of 3000 W/L, the maximum removal efficiency of phenol was 93% using ultrasonic processor at 2h contact time. Whereby, it was 87% using and ultrasonic cleaner bath at 16h contact time and 150 W
... Show MoreIn this investigative endeavor, a novel concrete variety incorporating sulfur-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine modification was developed, and its diverse attributes were explored. This innovative concrete was produced using sulfur-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine modification and an array of components. The newly created sulfur-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine modifier was synthesized. The surface texture resulting from this modifier was examined using SEM and EDS techniques. The component ratios within concrete, chemical and physical traits derived from the sulfur-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine modifier, chemical and corrosion resistance of concrete, concrete stability against water absorption, concrete resilience against freezing, physical and mechanical p
... Show MoreThe Ant System Algorithm (ASA) is a member of the ant colony algorithms family in swarm intelligence methods (part of the Artificial Intelligence field), which is based on the behavior of ants seeking a path and a source of food in their colonies. The aim of This algorithm is to search for an optimal solution for Combinational Optimization Problems (COP) for which is extremely difficult to find solution using the classical methods like linear and non-linear programming methods.
The Ant System Algorithm was used in the management of water resources field in Iraq, specifically for Haditha dam which is one of the most important dams in Iraq. The target is to find out an efficient management system for
... Show MoreThe research aims to identify the possibility of applying environmental fines to commercial shops and restaurants to reduce the environmental pollution represented by the wastes generated from them. The research sample was divided into two groups, including the first (20) commercial shops (meat shops and slaughter it, fruits & vegetables, legumes and accessories) and second (30) Restaurant in the city of Baghdad on both sides of Karkh and Rusafa. The quality of the waste was classified into carton, plastic, aluminum, glass, paper, cork and food waste. The study revealed the possibility of applying environmental fines to restaurants and shops to reduce the waste generated from them throughout the year and to apply continuous monitorin
... Show MoreThe aquatic crude extract of Silybum marianum dry grains prepared by melting them in distil water by the method of soak and shake. The effect of Silybum marianum crude extract studied in vitro on three tumor cell line the Hep-2, AMN-3 and RD for 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure, and one cell line of normal cells REF for 72 hr exposure. The results showed that the prescence of toxic effect of the aquatic crude extract on the cell lines of Hep-2, AMN-3 and RD at 10 and 100 µg/ ml upto the higher concentrations when they exposed to the extract for 48 hr. as compared with the control treatment, and when the exposure period increased to 72 hr. the toxic effect started at low concentrations (5 and 10 µg/ ml) as compared with the control g
... Show MoreObjective: Per-implantitis is one of the implant treatment complications. Dentists have failed to restore damaged periodontium by using conventional therapies. Tissue engineering (stem cells, scaffold and growth factors) aims to reconstruct natural tissues. The paper aimed to isolate both periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and use them in a co-culture method to create three-layered cell sheets for reconstructing natural periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue. Materials and methods: BMMSCs were isolated from rabbit tibia and femur, and PDLSC culture was established from the lower right incisor. The cells were co-cultured to induce BMMSC differentiation into PDL cells. Cell morphology, stem cel
... Show MoreThe Purpose of this study is mainly to improve the competitive position of products economic units using technique target cost and method reverse engineering and through the application of technique and style on one of the public sector companies (general company for vegetable oils) which are important in the detection of prices accepted in the market for items similar products and processing the problem of high cost which attract managerial and technical leadership to the weakness that need to be improved through the introduction of new innovative solutions which make appropriate change to satisfy the needs of consumers in a cheaper way to affect the decisions of private customer to buy , especially of purchase private economic units to
... Show MoreThe current study included details of the anatomical characteristics of vegetative parts including the root, stem, leaf in cultivated Iraq for the species Brassciaaleraceacabbage, where the study dealt with the stomatal index and the rate of both the length and width of the stomatal complex and the thickness of the periderm, the tissue, cortex, vascular cylinder and pith. The parts were taken and measured after the plant was treated with brassinolide and the treated species with brassinolide and non-treated were measured and the study showed that there was a clear variation in the properties above.
Wastewater discharge containing organic dyes may pose a hazard to the environment, which necessitates that dye removal must occur prior to wastewater release into water bodies. Herein, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were prepared by a green precipitation method to enable decolorization of a cationic dye (methyl violet; MV) from aqueous media. Complementary tools were employed to characterize the CuO NPs adsorbent: spectroscopy (FTIR and UV-VIS), microscopy (FESEM and TEM), XRD, BET surface area analysis, and point of zero charge (pHPZC) via potentiometry. The FTIR bands at 722, 663, 569, and 465 cm−1 correspond to the vibrational modes of CuO NPs, along with the optical absorbance band at 275 nm that supports the formation of Cu
... Show MoreWastewater discharge containing organic dyes may pose a hazard to the environment, which necessitates that dye removal must occur prior to wastewater release into water bodies. Herein, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were prepared by a green precipitation method to enable decolorization of a cationic dye (methyl violet; MV) from aqueous media. Complementary tools were employed to characterize the CuO NPs adsorbent: spectroscopy (FTIR and UV-VIS), microscopy (FESEM and TEM), XRD, BET surface area analysis, and point of zero charge (pHPZC) via potentiometry. The FTIR bands at 722, 663, 569, and 465 cm1 correspond to the vibrational modes of CuO NPs, along with the optical absorbance band at 275 nm that supports the formation of CuO NPs.
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