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: Excited state & Catalysis. The organization has 3867 authors who have published 10457 publications receiving 220098 citations.

Synthesis of Spongy Gold Nanocrystals with Pronounced Catalytic Activities

Abstract: A simple and easier chemical method for preparing spongy gold nanocrystals has been developed on the basis of a modified-citrate reduction technique of the corresponding gold salt at 25 °C in the absence of template. These nanocrystals possessed autocatalytic behavior and exhibited pronounced catalytic activity in the borohydride reduction of 4-nitrophenol due to their unique spongy morphology.

pH-Responsive, Bolaamphiphile-Based Smart Metallo-Hydrogels as Potential Dye-Adsorbing Agents, Water Purifier, and Vitamin B12 Carrier

Abstract: A protein amino acid, phenylalanine-based bolaamphiphile 1 containing a centrally located oligomethylene group has been found to be a hydrogelator at nearly physiological pH (pH 6.5−7.2) in the presence of divalent metal salts (such as MnCl2, CoCl2, CuSO4, and NiCl2) on sonication. Other structurally related synthetic bolaamphiphiles 2−4 do not form hydrogels under similar conditions. The metallo-hydrogels have been characterized using transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies and FT-IR studies. TEM study of these metallo-hydrogels indicates a network of nanofibrilar morphology that might be responsible for gelation. The pH sensitivity of these metallo-hydrogels can be potentially utilized for entrapment and slow release of biologically important molecules. It has been demonstrated that one of these gels entraps and slowly releases vitamin B12 molecules depending upon the pH of the medium. Moreover, these metallo-hydrogels can efficiently adsorb various toxic dyes including Crystal Violet and Naphth...

A new aromatic amino acid based organogel for oil spill recovery

Abstract: An aromatic amino acid (phenylglycine) based amphiphile with amide and ester groups and a long fatty acyl chain has been found to form organogels selectively in the fuel hydrocarbon solvents including hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, diesel, kerosene and pump-oil at room temperature. Organogels have been well characterized morphologically by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Morphological studies of these xerogels have revealed the presence of fascinating right-handed twisted nanoribbons (in n-heptane and n-octane). Involvement of different non-covalent interactions among the gelator molecules within the gel matrix has been studied using FT-IR and XRD. The organogel in diesel is mechanically stable with high yield stress (177.8 Pa) and storage modulus (>104 Pa) values, as has been evidenced from the rheological studies. Interestingly, this gelator compound exhibits phase selective gelation properties and the phase selective gelation occurs efficiently and quickly (within 90 s), in oil–water mixtures and the gelator molecule can be recovered and reused several times easily, indicating its applicability in oil spill cleaning.