Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science

About: Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science is a education organization based out in Kolkata, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Excited state. The organization has 3867 authors who have published 10457 publications receiving 220098 citations.

Band Gap Tuning of ZnO/In 2 S 3 Core/Shell Nanorod Arrays for Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysis

Abstract: We report an efficient and environmentally benign one-dimensional ZnO/In2S3 core/shell nanostructure to be used as a photocatalyst to overcome the drawback of low photocatalytic efficiency brought by electron–hole recombination and narrow photoresponse range. In2S3 nanoparticles were successfully grown on the ZnO nanorods by the surface functionalization method using citric acid as a surface-functionalizing agent. The photocatalytic activity under visible light to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) was enhanced by these core/shell nanostructures due to the formation of heterojunctions, which prolong the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. The photocatalytic degradation of RhB dye was found to be 83.7, 2.7, and 35.0% for the ZnO/In2S3 core/shell nanorod arrays, ZnO nanorods, and In2S3 nanoparticles, respectively, under visible light irradiation. Photoconductivity studies showed a 6-fold enhancement in photocurrent (compared to the dark current) for the core/shell nanorod arrays. Moreover, these core/s...

Competing Endogenous RNA: The Key to Posttranscriptional Regulation

Abstract: Competing endogenous RNA, ceRNA, vie with messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for microRNAs (miRNAs) with shared miRNAs responses elements (MREs) and act as modulator of miRNA by influencing the available level of miRNA. It has recently been discovered that, apart from protein-coding ceRNAs, pseudogenes, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs act as miRNA “sponges” by sharing common MRE, inhibiting normal miRNA targeting activity on mRNA. These MRE sharing elements form the posttranscriptional ceRNA network to regulate mRNA expression. ceRNAs are widely implicated in many biological processes. Recent studies have identified ceRNAs associated with a number of diseases including cancer. This brief review focuses on the molecular mechanism of ceRNA as part of the complex post-transcriptional regulatory circuit in cell and the impact of ceRNAs in development and disease.

Solvation Dynamics of Coumarin 480 in Micelles

Abstract: The picosecond time-resolved Stokes shift of the laser dye, coumarin 480 (I) is studied in neutral (Triton X-100, TX), cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB), and anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) micelles. Above critical micellar concentration (cmc) for all three micelles I exhibits wavelength dependent fluorescence decays and a distinct growth at the long wavelengths. The time dependent Stokes shift studies indicate that the water molecules in the Stern layer of the micelles relax on the time scale 180−550 ps, which is slower than the subpicosecond relaxation dynamics observed in ordinary bulk water.

Metal Semiconductor Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Conversion of Light Energy

Abstract: For fast separation of the photogenerated charge carriers, metal semiconductor heterostructures have emerged as one of the leading materials in recent years. Among these, metal Au coupled with low bandgap semiconductors remain as ideal materials where both can absorb the solar light in the visible region. It is also established that on excitation, the plasmonic state of gold interacts with excited state of semiconductor and helps for the delocalization of the photogenerated electrons. Focusing these materials where electron transfer preferably occurs from semiconductor to metal Au on excitation, in this Perspective, we report the latest developments in the synthetic chemistry in designing such nano heterostructures and discuss their photocatalytic activities in organic dye degradation/reduction and/or photocatalytic water splitting for generation of hydrogen. Among these, materials such as Au-CZTS, Au-SnS, Au–Bi2S3, Au-ZnSe, and so forth are emphasized, and their formation chemistry as well as their photo...