The method of preparing biogenic silver nanoparticles includes preparing an aqueous plant extract by boiling cut leaves of Alternanthera bettzickiana (Regel) G. Nicholson in distilled water, retaining the aqueous extract. The aqueous plant extracts were mixed with aqueous solutions of silver ions derived from different silver salt precursors (e.g., silver nitrate, silver sulfate, etc.). The resulting biogenic silver nanoparticles exhibit antimicrobial activity against various strains of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, including some strains of drug-resistant microorganisms. The biogenic silver nanoparticles also exhibit anticancer activity against certain human cancer cell lines. Surprisingly, biogenic silver nanoparticles prepared from nitrate precursor exhibited greater anticancer activity than nanoparticles from sulfate precursor, while biogenic silver nanoparticles prepared from sulfate precursor exhibited greater antibacterial activity than nanoparticles from nitrate precursor.

Methods of manufacturing a 3D micro-scale structure. A 2D net including a plurality of panels and a plurality of hinges is provided. The panels are arranged in a pattern. The hinges interconnect immediately adjacent ones of the panels within the pattern. An energy source remote from the 2D net is powered to deliver energy to the 2D net. The delivered energy triggers the 2D net to self-fold into a 3D micro-scale structure. The delivered energy creates an eddy current within at least one component of the 2D net, with the eddy current generating heat sufficient to melt at least one of the hinges. The melting hinge causes the corresponding panels to fold or pivot relative to one another. In some embodiments, the energy source is a microwave energy source. In other embodiments, the energy source delivers a magnetic field.

Inefficient dissipation of heat limits the performance of electronic devices. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) can be used in electronic devices to dissipate heat more effectively and efficiently. Nanocomposites have been prepared using functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS). The incorporation of soft-ligand functionalized BNNS in a metal matrix was used to nanofabricate kinetically-trapped nanocomposites TIMs.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of blue-fluorescence emitting carbon dots (CDTs) from sub-bituminous tertiary high sulfur Indian coals. More particularly, the present invention relates to the production of characteristics carbon dots from low-quality Indian coals by an ultrasonic-assisted wet-chemical method. Also, the present invention provides a simple and environmentally benign method for fabrication of characteristics and size-controlled carbon dots.

Techniques for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer are described herein. In one example, an agitation stimulus level such as an electrical agitation stimulus is applied to a lipid bilayer wherein the agitation stimulus level tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, a change in an electrical property of the lipid bilayer resulting from the formation of the nanopore in the lipid bilayer is detected, and a nanopore has formed in the lipid bilayer is determined based on the detected change in the lipid bilayer electrical property.

Methods of manufacturing a 3D micro-scale structure. A 2D net including a plurality of panels and a plurality of hinges is provided. The panels are arranged in a pattern. The hinges interconnect immediately adjacent ones of the panels within the pattern. An energy source remote from the 2D net is powered to deliver energy to the 2D net. The delivered energy triggers the 2D net to self-fold into a 3D micro-scale structure. The delivered energy creates an eddy current within at least one component of the 2D net, with the eddy current generating heat sufficient to melt at least one of the hinges. The melting hinge causes the corresponding panels to fold or pivot relative to one another. In some embodiments, the energy source is a microwave energy source. In other embodiments, the energy source delivers a magnetic field.

Techniques for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer are described herein. In one example, an agitation stimulus level such as an electrical agitation stimulus is applied to a lipid bilayer wherein the agitation stimulus level tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, a change in an electrical property of the lipid bilayer resulting from the formation of the nanopore in the lipid bilayer is detected, and a nanopore has formed in the lipid bilayer is determined based on the detected change in the lipid bilayer electrical property.

The present application provides a method for producing a graphene quantum dot using thermal plasma, comprising injecting a carbon source into a thermal plasma jet to pyrolyze the carbon source so as to form a carbon atomic beam and allowing the carbon atomic beam to flow in a tube connected to an anode to produce a graphene quantum dot. The present application also provides an isolated graphene quantum dot from different types of graphene quantum dots and method for obtaining each of an isolated graphene quantum dot from different types of graphene quantum dots.

This invention relates to a method for exfoliating inorganic layered compounds to form two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds. The exfoliation is carried out in aqueous media in the present of polycyclic aromatic compounds. The invention also relates to aqueous suspensions of two-dimensional compounds which arise from the exfoliation method. The invention further relates to methods of forming thin films of two-dimensional compounds from suspensions and to devices comprising thin films of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds.

A stabilized quantum dot composite includes a plurality of luminescent semiconducting nanoparticles embedded in a matrix comprising an ionic metal oxide. A method of making a stabilized quantum dot composite includes forming a mixture comprising a plurality of luminescent semiconducting nanoparticles dispersed in an aqueous solution comprising an ionic metal oxide. The mixture is dried to form a stabilized quantum dot composite comprising the plurality of luminescent semiconducting nanoparticles embedded in a matrix comprising the ionic metal oxide.