An open-source repository of basic building block models design files for writing chemical formulas, equations, and ionic states are provided. Writing chemical symbols, molecules, and ions in their correct oxidation state or valency in chemical equations is an essential and integral part of learning. For a visually impaired student, it is very difficult to write the molecule arrangements, balance chemical equations, and grasp the knowledge of valence electrons available for bonding and interactions. It is important to provide such students an easy way to understand their formation and manipulation. Emerging technologies like three-dimensional (3D) printing enable us to provide such methods which can help us create working modular molecular and chemical models for tactile perception. The provided scalable models can be readily printed as per the quantity required, to aid sighted learners and blind or low-vision (BLV) learners so that they can learn, understand, and represent elemental and molecular reactions. All the provided models are scalable and identified with Braille labels along with alphanumerical impressions. Further, we have conducted a small survey using the newly created models with BLV learners, and the students responses are also reported here.

Learning to write chemical formulas of compounds is a basic and indispensable part of understanding and studying chemistry. However, it is hard for students with visual impairment to assess and learn molecular arrangements and formulas. For the convenience of such students with special needs, it is necessary to come up with easy, comprehensive, and efficient solutions to make them independent, self-reliant, and be able to control their progress at their own pace. This can be achieved with the aid of emerging new technologies such as 3D printing. In the current research work, a 3D printed model was designed and developed. The open-source repository of 3D printable model design files for the basic building blocks to represent chemical formulas of different elements such as carbon, hydrogen, other elements, and related organic as well as inorganic compounds are being shared freely. These models feature a lock and key design, like jigsaw puzzle pieces, along with Braille and print notation that allow learning to be more interactive, engaging, productive, and effective as the sense of touch (tactile) is one of the primary ways through which visually impaired people perceive physical entities. Each elemental piece in the model is designed specifically as per its available bonding electrons, i.e., valency, allowed only to connect with another complementary element in a unique configuration to ensure their correct arrangement and representation using the lock-and-key feature. The concept of hybridization is also included for enhanced learning.

Fluorescent silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) might be one of the excellent candidates for use as optical markers in optical sensing, biological profiling, and diagnostic applications.

Three indigenous systems—the underwater arc discharge setup, the inert environment arc discharge system, and the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system—for the gram-scale production of carbon nanotubes were designed and fabricated. In this study, a detailed description of the development and fabrication of these systems is given. Carbon nanotubes were synthesized by using all the three systems, and comparative analyses of the morphology, composition, and purity were done. The synthesized materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy images show agglomerated tubed fiberlike structures in samples from the arc discharge setup, whereas samples from the CVD system do not show any tubelike structures decorated around the carbon nanotubes. Structural investigations done using powder XRD revealed the presence of the hexagonal crystallographic phase. Furthermore, the presence of the G and 2D bands reveals sp2 hybridization and confirms the presence of carbon nanotubes in samples. In conclusion, carbon nanotubes synthesized via the CVD system is of high quality and quantity. Moreover, the CVD is a cheap, easy to operate, and energy-saving synthesis method compared with the other two methods.

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are investigated for use in various biomedical applications such as in the treatment of cancer because of their high targeting potential. Zinc oxide nanomaterials when conjugated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) show enhanced properties. In our present work, nano-conjugation between zinc oxide nanoflowers (ZnO NFs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes has been successfully achieved. Here, we have used a two-electrode electrochemical setup for preparation as well as conjugation between ZnO nanoflowers and MWNT. The x-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, and transmission electron microscopy imaging for the ZnO NFs/MWNT nano-conjugate shows the successful synthesis of the nano-conjugate. The electrochemical method used here is a single step, economical, and without the use of any additional surfactant or capping agents. The only use of pure zinc electrodes as a precursor material favors high purity, easy and a less time-consuming purification process.