Ultrathin two-dimensional WSe2 has attracted huge attention due to its potential applications in future wearable electronics. Here, we demonstrate the flexible and high-performance photodetector using high-yield sonochemical exfoliation technique. An efficient and low cost fabrication strategy using Whatman filter paper is adopted for the first time for fabrication of a photodetector based on WSe2 nanodots (NDs). The WSe2 NDs have hexagonal lattice structure with P63/mmc and have indirect band gap of 1.63 eV. The exfoliation and number of layers in WSe2 NDs is confirmed by Raman, absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Subsequently, the photodetector based on WSe2 NDs is fabricated. The device shows excellent photoresponse with response time of 0.68 s and photoresponsivity of 17.78 mAW–1 and detectivity of 5.86 × 1010 Jones for 5 V. The device is analyzed for bias of 0 to 100 V and responsivity is enhanced up to 796.18 mA W–1 at 100 V bias. Furthermore, the paper-based detector exhibited great flexibility and air stability. The performance of the photodetector was also recorded in the spectral range 390 to 880 nm. Over all, the performance paper-based device advocates a novel pathway for flexible and intelligent electronics.

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A novel bacterial strain capable of decolorizing textile dyes was isolated from dye contaminated soil obtained from industrial estate of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The bacterial isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa NBAR12 was capable of decolorizing 12 different dyes tested with decolorization efficiency varying in the range of 80 to 95%. Maximum extent as well as rate of Reactive Blue 172 (RB 172) decolorization was observed when glucose (2 g x l(-1)) and yeast extract (2.5 g x l(-1)) were supplemented in the medium. The optimum dye pH and temperature for dye decolorization was found to be 7 and 40 degrees C, respectively. The decolorizing activity was found to increase with increasing the dye concentration from 50 to 400 mg x l(-1). The dye decolorization was strongly inhibited at 500 mg dye l(-1) in the medium. High performance thin layer chromatography analysis indicated that dye decolorization occurred due to the breakdown of dye molecules into colorless end products.

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SYNOPSISThe thermal degradation of virgin and HC1-treated PVC in powder form, as well as of PVC films of different thicknesses, has been studied as a function of time and temperature. The rate of dehydrochlorination was determined conductimetrically and from the polyene sequence distributions as obtained by UV spectroscopy. Increases in the rate of dehydrochlorination, ranging between 30 and 45%, were observed at all temperatures for the samples pretreated with HCl, while the corresponding activation energies were found to be lower by about 20%. For the PVC films, the rate increased with thickness, i.e., with longer residence time of evolved HCl within the sample. The results offer insight regarding the autocatalytic role of evolved HC1.