Disruption to the Skills Ecosystem of India in the Wake of the New Normal Emerging Post ‘COVID-19’

Every new scenario that has unfolded in the canvas of time has brought with it,an impetusforsociety’s progress. In this perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic, (believed to be caused by an organismof 65-125 nm) has dramatically churned the times we are into today. Businesses, Economies and systems worldwide are undergoing unprecedented dynamic changes towards ‘Adaptability’ and adoption of newer models that could increase their pace of recovery in the wake of the new normal. The Skills ecosystem in India has been no different. Ever since the inception of the Skill India movement in the early 2015, this system has evolved into a vibrant integrated mission encompassing both Academic and vocational skill training courses.In this article we present to you what has been trending in the world of IT/ITeS skills and how the new normal is expected to emerge and progress from here

Synthesis and characterization of NI(II), CU(II) and ZN(II) coordination polymers and the applications in electrochemical studies and adsorption of DYES / Bibi Sherino

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of benzylimidazole and piperazine based coordination polymers with two different linkers (adipic acid (A) and terephthalic acid (T)) namely: TBim-Ni-CP (a), TBim-Cu-CP (b), TBim-Zn-CP (c), ABim-Ni-CP (d), ABim-Cu-CP (e), ABim-Zn-CP (f), TP-Ni-CP (g), TP-Cu-CP (h), TP-Zn-CP (i), AP-Ni-CP (j), AP-Cu-CP (k), AP-Zn-CP (l). The physical and chemical characterization of these coordination polymers have been studied by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, BET surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and electrical impedance spectroscopy for conductivity analysis. The synthesized coordination polymers were used as a modifier for carbon paste electrode to study the electrochemical behaviour of ferricyanide. Electrochemical characterization revealed that the newly synthesized coordination polymers have excellent potential as electrode modifier for the redox reaction of ferricyanide. The redox reaction of ferricyanide was reversible and diffusion controlled and the calculated diffusion coefficient values were in the range of 1.89-5.96 ×10-5 cm2 s-1. BET and conductivity measurements showed that AP-Ni-CP has large pore size of 361.57 Å and high conductivity of 1.28×10-3 S/cm compared to other coordination polymers. Therefore, AP-Ni-CP was selected as electrochemical sensor to study the electrochemical detection of H2O2. Systematic optimization procedures were carried out for AP-Ni-CP/CPE by cyclic voltammetry and chrono-amperometry methods. Under optimized condition AP-Ni-CP/CPE response was linear for H2O2 in the concentration from 0.004 to 60 mM with the limit of detection of 0.0009 mM. The effect of interfering species on the reduction peak current response show a minor change of signals (>5%). The modified electrode has good repeatability due to lifetime stability. AP-Ni-CP/CPE electrode was also applied in real samples (lens cleaner solution) for the detection of H2O2 with the recoveries of 94.7 to 107%. The application of the synthesized coordination polymers has been extended to adsorption study. Adsorption behaviour of the synthesized coordination polymers towards two oppositely charged dyes (Methylene Blue and Chicago Sky Blue) were explored through batch method by UV–vis spectrophotometer. Comparison study of adsorption of dyes show that coordination polymers were more selective toward anionic dyes Chicago Sky Blue (CSB) compared to cationic dye Methylene Blue (MB) due to the presence of cationic groups in coordination polymers. The % removal for CSB and MB are in the range of 65-95% and 4-48 % respectively. ABim-Zn-CP (f) was selected for the kinetic and isotherm study of CSB and MB due to it good % removal towards both dyes. Adsorption parameters, including adsorbent dosage, pH of solution, dye concentration, and time were optimized. ABim-Zn-CP has excellent percentage capacity of 144.26 mg/g and 174.64 mg/g for CSB and MB respectively. Kinetics studies indicated that the synthesized adsorbent ABim-Zn-CP (f) followed the pseudo-second order rate model with R2 value 0.991 and 0.993 respectively, for CSB and MB. The Langmuir isotherm with high R2 value as compared to Freundlich isotherm indicated that CSB and MB adsorption for the synthesized coordination polymer follows monolayer adsorption. The adsorbent also has excellent potential application in environmental water sample with recovery of 98% for mixture of both dyes

Electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide on a new microporous Ni–metal organic framework material-carbon paste electrode

In this paper a new Ni2+ metal organic framework (based on adipic acid as the linker & piperazine as the ligand) (AP-Ni-MOF) was synthesized and has been used as an electrode material (AP-Ni-MOF/CPE) for the detection of H2O2. The morphology and formation of AP-Ni-MOF was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and TGA. AP-Ni-MOF showed high electrochemical activity for the detection of H2O2 due to high conductivity i.e 1.28 × 10−3 S/cm. Electrochemical studies were carried out for AP-Ni-MOF/CPE by cyclic voltammetry and chrono-amperometry methods. Under optimized condition AP-Ni-MOF/CPE show a dynamic range (0.004 mM to 60 mM) with the limit of detection of 0.0009 mM. The effect of interfering species on the reduction peak current response show a minor change of signals (>5%). The modified electrode has good repeatability due to lifetime stability. AP-Ni-MOF/CPE electrode was also used in real samples (lens cleaner solution) for the detection of H2O2 with the recoveries of 94.7–107%

Facile synthesis and characterization of novel dicarboxylate-Cu based MOFs materials

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of benzylimidazole (Bim) and piperazine (P) based metal organic framework (MOF) materials with two different linkers of adipic acid (A) and terephthalic acid (T) namely: ABim-Cu-MOF, TBim-Cu-MOF, AP-Cu-MOF, and TP-Cu-MOF. The physical and chemical characterization of these MOF materials were studied by elemental analysis (CHN), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), BET surface area and thermogravimetric analyses. The synthesized MOF materials were used as a modifier for carbon paste electrode to study its electrochemical behaviour towards ferricyanide. The electrochemical characterization revealed that the newly synthesized MOFs offer an excellent potential as electrode modifier for the redox reaction of ferricyanide. The reaction was reversible and diffusion controlled with the calculated diffusion coefficient values in the range of (4.86 × 10−5–2.66 × 10−5 cm2 s−1). © 2019 Elsevier B.V

Structural, electrochemical, and adsorption studies of Ni and Zn benzylimidazole coordination polymers with terephthalate linkers

Two coordination polymers, [Ni(bim)2(L1)(H2O)2]n (CP-1) and [Zn(bim)(L1)(Cl)]n (CP-2) (bim = 1-benzylimidazole, L1 = terephthalic acid), were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The Ni(II) center in CP-1 is octahedral, while the Zn(II) center in CP-2 is tetrahedral. CP-1 and CP-2 were used to modify carbon paste electrodes to assess their effect on the electrochemical behavior of ferricyanide. The redox reactions of ferricyanide on both electrodes proved to be reversible and diffusion controlled, with ferricyanide diffusion coefficients for CP-1 and CP-2 of 1.88 × 105 and 3.44 × 105 cm2 s−1, respectively. These coordination polymers were also investigated for their adsorption behavior toward two dyes: Chicago sky blue and methylene blue. CP-1 and CP-2 both rapidly adsorbed the anionic Chicago sky blue dye by different intermolecular interactions; in contrast, the cationic methylene blue dye was adsorbed to a lesser extent. The adsorption of these CPs depends on the charge but not the size of the dye. Addition of methanolic potassium nitrate solution caused the release of the adsorbed dyes