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An introduction to the journal is presented in which the guest editors discuss selected papers from the Solar Asia-2015 international conference held at the Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune, India.

In the present report, TiO2 NPs were synthesized using environmental benign and cost-effective way by utilizing green route synthesis method. Structural characterization of Ficus Benjamina leaf extract-mediated TiO2 NPs [FEBLE: TiO2 NPs] revealed that as-synthesized NPs exhibit polymorphs of anatase ( I 4 2 a m d ) and rutile ( P 4 / 2 m n m ) crystal phases as confirmed through Rietveld refinement studies. FTIR spectra of biogenic TiO2 NPs shows presence of phenolic content as broadband appeared at 3400 cm−1, which confirms that Ficus Benjamina leaf extract acts as capping, reducing, and stabilizing agent. Microstructural studies depict homogeneous distribution of TiO2 grains with average grain of 22.05 ± 0.82 nm as evaluated using statistical analysis. Biosynthesized TiO2 NPs are used to detect heavy metals in industrial waste water collected from various regions of Punjab, India. The efficacy of TiO2 NPs in heavy metal detection in waste water collected from textile, steel, and chemical industries at different concentrations of 0.1 g/L, 0.5 g/L, and 1 g/L with 90–120 min of the exposure time was investigated. At a concentration of 1 g/L of TiO2 NPs, maximum efficiency for metal detection is observed in order: Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cr at 90 min of the exposure time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have measured the surface photovoltage of airborne particulate matter of size up to 10 microns (PM10) through scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) system at room temperature. The aerosol samples were collected using a dust respirable PM10 sampler located in SRM IST campus (12.81° N and 80.03° E) during September-2018 (Sep-2018) and November-2018 (Nov-2018). The morphology of the collected aerosol was characterized through HR-SEM. The chemical composition of the aerosol was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The EDX results confirmed the presence of more oxygen and absence of carbon content in the aerosol collected during Nov-2018. The vibration modes of identified chemical compositions were confirmed by Raman spectrum. Finally, the contact potential difference of both samples was measured by SKP with respect to visible light exposure. Interestingly, aerosol collected during Nov-2018 have better visible light response compared with Sep-2018 sample. This is probably due to the possibility of metal oxides formation without carbon contamination during Nov-2018. Meteorologically inferring that these pollutants have been transported from the Arabian Sea and continental India in most of the days during September- and November-2018, respectively. These results pave the way to use the metal oxides rich aerosol collected for particular month can be utilized toward optoelectronic and gas sensor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]