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In the current investigation, HA nanorods and nanoplates with a high surface area have been synthesized using the chemical precipitation method via alcogel formation employing L -arginine as a crystal growth modifier. The prepared HA particles have been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis. A representative morphology-dependent catalysis of the synthesized HA particles has been attempted using the Henry reaction under solventless conditions. The HA nanorods have been found to catalyze the Henry reaction with 100% conversion and 84.1% yield while the nanoplates were found to be catalytically inactive. A plausible mechanism supported by DFT studies has been proposed for the observed morphology-dependent catalysis of Henry reaction signifying the importance of surface Ca2+ ions in lowering the LUMO levels of the substrate besides assembling the reactants to proximity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deteriorating quality of water owing to the existence of toxic chemicals in ecological water sources due to industrial effluents has become a cause for concern these days. An electrocatalytic device was fabricated for the detection of the haematotoxic pollutant quinol (QL) using barium titanate nanoparticles (BaTiO3 NPs). A sustainable co-precipitation method was employed to synthesize the BaTiO3 NPs. Then, their physical characteristics were confirmed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction to elucidate their crystalline nature, scanning electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy to study their surface morphology, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to analyze their elemental composition. The prepared BaTiO3 NPs were applied over a disposable screen-printed electrode and used for the determination of QL with a wide dynamic response range (0.001–340 μM), low detection limit (0.009 μM) and excellent sensitivity (1.19 μA μM−1 cm−2). The superior electrical conductivity of the BaTiO3 NPs/SPCE is associated with a low s-value and high number of non-bridging oxygen ions present in the nanoparticle structure. The proposed sensor displays excellent selectivity, reproducibility and storage stability as a QL sensor. Additionally, the superior sensing performance of the BaTiO3 NPs was effectively applied in water samples, with acceptable recovery values towards hazardous environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]