Adama University

About: Adama University is a education organization based out in Nazrēt, Ethiopia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 840 authors who have published 1010 publications receiving 5547 citations. The organization is also known as: Adama Science and Technology University & ቴክኖሎጂ ዩኒቨርሲቲ, አዳማ ሳይንስና ቴክኖሎጂ ዩኒቨርሲቲ.

Magnetic-Field-Induced Electrochemical Performance of a Porous Magnetoplasmonic Ag@Fe3O4 Nanoassembly.

Abstract: The Lorentz or Kelvin force generated by an externally applied magnetic field may introduce additional convection of the electrolyte near the working electrode and consequently produces magnetocurrent (MC), which can be attributed to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow and an extra electrochemical reaction. A magnetoplasmonic (MagPlas) composite of metallic and superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) with a permanent dipole or magnetic moment have additional degree or order, which corresponds to directional correlation to electric and magnetic dipoles. In particular, an ordered self-assembly may boost up the MHD flow on a collectively reactive surface, leading to remarkable electrochemical performance. In this article, a proof-of-concept work explores the effect of the magnetic field on the electrocatalytic activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as well as [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- redox probes using a precisely controlled three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure of a silver core and a porous magnetic shell (Ag@Fe3O4) assembly. Then, the reduction current was carefully monitored in the presence of a magnetic field (B, up to 380 mT), resulting in an extraordinary increment of reduction current (IR) of [Fe(CN)6]3- by 23% and a 1.13-fold high ORR efficiency owing to the additional magnetic field (Bin) from the 3D magnetoplasmonic nanoassembly. The computational simulation explained the plausible mechanism of current enhancement from the MagPlas nanoassembly. From our experimental and computational studies, it is probable that the 3D MagPlas nanoassembly is a unique and efficient catalyst under a low external magnetic field, which would be useful for further biomedical and energy-related applications.

Removal of Methylene Blue Dye from Wastewater Using Periodiated Modified Nanocellulose

Abstract: The study was focused on the preparation and characterizations of sodium periodate-modified nanocellulose (NaIO4-NC) prepared from Eichhornia crassipes for the removal of cationic methylene blue (MB) dye from wastewater (WW). A chemical method was used for the preparation of NaIO4-NC. The prepared NaIO4-NC adsorbent was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) instruments. Next, it was tested to the adsorption of MB dye from WW using batch experiments. The adsorption process was performed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models with maximum adsorption efficiency (qmax) of 90.91 mg·g−1 and percent color removal of 78.1% at optimum 30 mg·L−1, 60 min., 1 g, and 8 values of initial concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose, and solution pH, respectively. Pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model was well fitted for the adsorption of MB dye through the chemisorption process. The adsorption process was spontaneous and feasible from the thermodynamic study because the Gibbs free energy value was negative. After adsorption, the decreased values for physicochemical parameters of WW were observed in addition to the color removal. From the regeneration study, it is possible to conclude that NaIO4-NC adsorbent was recyclable and reused as MB dye adsorption for 13 successive cycles without significant efficient loss.

Electrochemical properties of biogenic silver nanoparticles synthesized using Hagenia abyssinica (Brace) JF. Gmel. medicinal plant leaf extract

Abstract: The biogenic/green silver nanoparticles (g-Ag NPs) were synthesised by using the extract of indigenous medicinal plant of Ethiopia, Hagenia abyssinica (Brace) JF. Gmel. leaf extract for the first time, to investigate the synergistic effect of biomolecules towards the enhancement of electrochemical properties of NPs. The synthesized g-Ag NPs were characterized by UV-visible, UV-DRS, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDXA, TEM, HRTEM and SAED techniques. The maximum absorbance, λmax was found to be 461 nm for g-Ag NPs due to surface plasmon resonance. The energy gap, Eg of NPs, was found to be 2.31 eV. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds responsible for possible capping and stabilisation of g-Ag NPs. The XRD analysis revealed that the g-Ag NPs are highly crystalline exhibiting sharp peaks for (111), (200), (220) and (311) planes in the diffraction pattern. SEM and TEM micrographs showed differently shaped Ag particles in addition to spherical shape. The average particle size of NPs was found to be 24.08 nm using imageJ analysis. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of Ag in the g-Ag NPs. In addition, the SAED pattern of g-Ag NPs presented concentric patterns for 4 major planes of crystalline silver. The d-spacing values of 0.2428 nm, 0.2126 nm, 0.1483 nm and 0.1263 corresponds to d111Ag, d200Ag, d220Ag and d311Ag lattice fringes respectively. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) results suggest that g-Ag NPs possess better electrochemical properties due to its lower charge transfer resistance value of 17 Ω. EIS studies too revealed better stability of g-Ag NPs as electrode materials