Graphene based materials e.g., graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and graphene nano platelets (GNP) as well as Barium titanate (BaTiO3) are emerging reinforcing agents which upon mixing with epoxy provides composite materials with superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties as well as shielding against electromagnetic (EM) radiations. Inclusion of the aforementioned reinforcing agents has shown to improve the performance, however, the extent of improvement has remained uncertain. In this study, a computational modelling approach was adopted using COMSOL Multiphysics software in conjunction with Bayesian statistical analysis to investigate the effects of including various filler materials e.g. GO, RGO, GNP and BaTiO3 in influencing the direct current (DC) conductivity (σ), dielectric constant (ε) and thermal properties on the resulting epoxy polymer matrix composites. The simulation of epoxy composites were performed for different volume percentage of the filler materials by varying the geometry of the filler material. It was observed that the content of GO, RGO, GNPs and the thickness of graphene nanoplatelets can alter the DC conductivity, dielectric constant, and thermal properties of the epoxy matrix. The lower thickness of GNPs was found to offer the larger value of DC conductivity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity than rest of the graphene nanocomposites, while, the RGO showed better dielectric constant value than neat epoxy, and GO, GNP nanocomposites. Similarly, BaTiO₃ nanoparticles content and diameter were observed to alter the dielectric constant, DC conductivity and thermal properties of modified epoxy in several order magnitude than neat epoxy. In this way, the higher diameter particles of BaTiO₃ showed better DC conductivity properties, dielectric constant value, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity. Moreover, this research provides guidance for further computational examination on the selection of GNP and BaTiO₃ materials for the enhancement of the electrical and thermal properties of the epoxy matrix.

Biogenic nanoparticles (NPs) derived from microbes present an excellent opportunity to deal with various challenges in medicine, diagnosis, environment and agriculture. In the area of agriculture sciences, researchers are facing challenges related to excessive utilization of pesticides which can be answered by utilizing plant growth-promoting (PGP) microbes. Herein, we have employed the culture filtrate of two PBP bacteria strains, Serratia marcescens and Burkholderia cepacia to prepare biogenic silver NPs. The biogenic silver NPs were characterized by various techniques viz. UV-VIS spectroscopy, SEM, XRD and FTIR. The biogenic AgNPs were able to control the growth of phytopathogenic fungi Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium sp., and Rosellinia sp. by more than 80% as examined by in vitro growth reduction on agar medium. Very significantly, the growth inhibition of seedlings by phytopathogenic fungi was efficiently rescued using biogenic AgNPs derived from PGP bacteria. These results indicate the potential use of biogenic NPs to reduce the burden of chemical-based pesticides.

Biopolymers have attracted considerable attention in various biomedical applications. Among them, cellulose as sustainable and renewable biomass has shown potential efficacy. With the advancement in nanotechnology, a wide range of nanostructured materials have surfaced with the potential to offer substantial biomedical applications. . The progress of cellulose at the nanoscale regime (nanocelluloses) with diverse forms like cellulose nanocrystals, nanofibres and bacterial nanocellulose) has imparted remarkable properties like high aspect-ratio and high mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. The amalgamation of nanocellulose together with magnetic nanoparticles (MNC) could be explored for a synergistic effect. In this review, a brief introduction of nano cellulose , magnetic nanoparticles and the synergistic effect of MNC is described. Further, the review sheds light on the recent studies based on MNCs with their potential in the biomedical area. Finally, the review is concluded by citing the remarkable value of MNC with their futuristic applications in other fields like friction layers for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), energy production, hydrogen splitting, and wearable electronics.