Prof. Ruquan Ye, from city University of Hong Kong and his collaboration with Prof. Chunlei Zhu, Ben Zhong Tang, and their research team have developed photo-thermally laser-induced graphene as a wearable mask with superior antibacterial capacity. Face masks have become a life-sustaining role in fighting against the outbreak of diseases like EBOLA and COVID-19. However, improper usage and disposal of masks may lead to secondary transmission around the globe. The vital role of the mask is a primary source to prevent us from COVID-19. In this pandemic situation, we must be alert about the used mask materials. The materials should safeguard us from COVID-19 as well as it must be bio-degradable material to safeguard around the world.       The masks, currently available in the market are of single-use with/without filtering layers of thermoplastic materials like polypropylene. The degradation of these used...

Prof. Youzhi Li, from Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China and his research team have recently published, “Total concentrations and sources of heavy metal pollution in global river and lake water bodies from 1972 to 2017”. They discussed on heavy metals like lead (Pb)  cause a severe threat to living beings because of its toxicity and bioaccumulation. Heavy metals like lead (Pb) cause a severe threat to living beings because of its toxicity and bioaccumulation. Amongst the heavy metals, lead (Pb) is the well-known one for its historical use in paints, petrol, and fuse joints in water pipes. Though the tradition of using Pb has been considerably decreased in recent years, Pb in drinking water still remains to be a problem for many societies around the world [ 1 ]. Hence, it is one of the supreme importance to monitor the levels of Pb in drinking water, so that contamination can be promptly identified and moderated. The World Health Organization (WHO) mentions a guideline l...

The electron-deficient azaarenes organic compounds are a ubiquitous theme in natural products with interesting biological properties and widely used in drug discovery. The functionalization of azaarenes (quinoxaline, pyrazine, quinoline or isoquinoline) types of organic compounds is of considerable interest, affording new procedures to introduce new skeleton of bioactive molecules such as Timapiprant (an anti-asthmatic and anti-inflammatory agent), Papaverine (a smooth muscle relaxant), Emetine (an anti-protozoan) and it opens the door to the development of new libraries of bioactive compounds. In this case of the [2+2] photocycloaddition of double bonds to generate cyclobutanes is one of the most employed reactions in photochemical synthesis. In particular, the [2+2] cycloaddition followed by retroaldol condensation reaction was used for the synthesis of 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds.   In this new regards, the [2+2] photocycloaddition followed by a ring-opening rearomatization rea...

This article content is the continuation of our earlier Scientific News Blog (SNB).  Prof. Hashem Shahroosvand and his research team, from the University of Zanjan, Iran, Group for Molecular Engineering of Advanced Functional Materials (GMA) have surveyed about on Polypyridyl ligands that can be used for solid-state light-emitting devices ( SS-LEDs). Among all of the emitters reported to-date, cyclometalate complexes have attracted significant and considerable interest in the novel photophysical properties which are well suited for a broad range of applications [ 1 , 2 ]. Hundreds of organometallic compounds have been reported, since the first discovery of highly efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) prepared from cyclometalate Ir(III) complexes [ 3 ]. Cyclometalate complexes have the general formula [M(X) 3-n (Y) n ] x+  which are comprised of a metal cation (M x+ ), a bidentate chelating ligand involved in at-least one organometallic carbon-to-metal bond, as well a...

Solid-state lighting (SSL) is a type of lighting that uses semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments, plasma (used in arc lamps such as fluorescent lamps), or gas. Prof. Hashem Shahroosvand from Molecular Engineering of Advanced Functional Materials (GMA), University of Zanjan, Iran and his research team has discovered polypyridyl ligands as a versatile platform for solid-state light-emitting devices (SSLED). One of the major scientific breakthroughs that have impacted on everyday human lives on a global scale was the discovery of solid-state lighting (SSL). SSL is based on the concept of electroluminescence, where light is produced by the radioactive deactivation of excitons generated by efficient electron-hole recombination in the bulk of semiconducting materials [ 1, 2 ]. Hence, in contrast to traditional lighting devices where light is a by-p...

Postdoctoral Researchers play a vital role in the research productivity of several countries and serving as leaders, mentors, guides, teachers, and scientists. These researchers have developed their own skills and preparing themself for their scientific research careers with various research groups worldwide. Even performing in a short term, they need to spend additional years in some special cases for succession in their research careers. Senior research investigators or leaders who have promised to their younger colleagues or students for a long term contract in the academics should find a new pathway to make it possible to stay and plan for their long-term career. Also, these investigators should be more flexible, patience, and supportive for everyone in their research groups. But the main key point which they should focus on that was the researchers who want to pursue fulfilling careers in science elsewhere need to be supported in all means, whatever matters, whoever may be, the ta...

The term “Biomimetics” derived from Ancient Greek, refers to life imitation. It is an interdisciplinary field in which comes from biology, engineering, and chemistry concepts. Biomimetics is applied to the synthesis of  machines, or devices, which have functions that mimic real-life biological processes.  Prof. Fan Zhiyoung , Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China, and his team (from the University of California and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA) has reported on the effective biological eye results with a new development “Biomimetic Eye” with supportive components such as hemispherical shape retina and perovskite nanowires  [1] .  Our eyes possess exceptional image and sensing nature, which selectively express the wide field of view, resolution, and sensitivity [2] . A specialty of biomimetic eye parts with such highlighted characteristics is a desirable one, speci...