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Organic-effluents of industrial and agricultural mess are a severe menace to the environs and human-health. Accomplishing consistent photocatalytic-disintegration of organic-effluents under sunlight conditions would have thrilling insinuations for practical manure-treatment. We were fabricated the highly ordered one dimensional Ni nanorods through simple and economical approach via electro-deposition of commercially available Nickel nitrate powder [Ni(NO3)2·6H2O] inside the aluminum template. The fabricated Ni nanorods were evaluated for their potential application as photocatalyst system to disintegrate the synthetic dyes (Methyl Red and Methyl Orange) under sunlight irradiation. The morphology (size and shape), crystalline nature, chemical constituents, band gap energy data, topographical and nanomechanical properties of the fabricated Ni nanorods were characterized through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-Ray, UV–Visible spectroscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) which were corroborated the successful formation of desired Nickel nanorods. Furthermore, the results of photocatalytic activity were confirmed the photocatalytic nature of the fabricated Ni nanorods. The fabricated Ni nanorods were significantly disintegrated the Methyl red and Methyl orange under sunlight irradiation to their respective products in reduced period. Hence, the fabricated Ni nanorods would be prove beneficial photocatalyst system keeping the environment safe from the threats of noxious pollutants produced by different industrial sectors.

We have developed novel formazan dyes (18–23) of enhanced fastness properties with cost-effectiveness in an aqueous system, without employing any Buffers and organic solvents. Their development was entailed of the synthesis of 2-((phenyl (2-(4-sulfophenyl) hydrazono) methyl) diazenyl) benzoic acid followed by the diazotization of 2-aminobenzoic acid that further reacted with the 4-[(2Z)-2-benzylidenehydrazinyl] benzene sulfonic acid. The multi-chromic (1:1 and 2:1) metal complexes of 2-((phenyl (2-(4-sulfophenyl) hydrazono) methyl) diazenyl) benzoic acid had been developed with the salts of Cr, Fe, Co, Cu and Ni; and they were characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray crystallography, Ultraviolet–visible, Fourier transforms infrared, Proton nuclear magnetic resonance and C13-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. Density functional theory (DFT) studies of all dyes (18–23) were performed to evaluate the most stable geometries and structural parameters as well. The synthesized formazan dyes were evaluated for their different fastness (light, wash, perspiration), exhaustion and fixation properties on goat leather fabric and were revealed to have virtuous fastness properties (3–5, 4–5, 3–5, and 4–5) with high percentage value of exhaustion and fixation ranged from 91 to 97% and 90–98% respectively. The synthesized formazan dyes (18–23) were developed different colors such as Red, Brown, Green, Black, and Blue on leather. Synthesized formazan dyes were also evaluated for their antibacterial propensity on leather substrate and in solution by agar well diffusion method. The metal complex formazan dye (21) was demonstrated the significant bactericidal propensity against E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella and B. subtilis in solution and on leather by exhibiting maximum ZOIs (19 ± 0.05 mm, 25 ± 0.07 mm, 23 ± 0.09 mm, 27 ± 0.03 mm) and percentage reduction in bacterial growth (60 ± 0.03%, 69 ± 0.07%, 80 ± 0.05% and 86 ± 0.08%) respectively. Hence, newly synthesized formazan dyes (18–23) have efficient optical and antibacterial properties that would be proved valuable for the development of new industrial products to be commercialize.

A novel approach was employed for the synthesis of un-doped tinoxide and Cobalt-doped tinoxide (Co-doped SnO2) nanoparticles (NAPs) by using aqueous extract of Clerodendrum inerme with the help of eco-friendly superficial solution combustion method. Synthesized NAPs were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques and results from XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX and UV–Vis examines confirmed the successful synthesis, crystalline nature and spherical structure of un-doped SnO2 and Co-doped SnO2 NAPs with the average grain size of 30 and 40 nm; and band gap energy of 3.68 and 2.76 eV respectively. Antimicrobial propensity of the synthesized NAPs was determined by agar well assay, SEM, TEM and confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis against various bacterial and fungal strains. Synthesized Co-doped SnO2 NAPs were unveiled the extraordinary antibacterial and antifungal activities against E. coli, B. subtilis, A. niger, A. flavus, and C. albicans with the zone of inhibitions of 30 ± 0.08 mm and 26 ± 0.06 mm, 17 ± 0.04 mm, 23 ± 0.08 mm and 26 ± 0.06 respectively which were also evidenced from SEM, TEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In addition, green synthesized Co-doped SnO2 NAPs were demonstrated the substantial antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH, significant in vitro anticancer and in vivo antitumor activity on breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) and Ehrlich ascites tumor cell lines respectively than standard. The hemolytic activity disclosed low cytotoxicity of fabricated NAPs (0.89 ± 0.05%) at 5 mg/mL, which was indicated their biocompatibility potential. Hence, the multi-purpose properties of synthesized NAPs presented in the current study can be further deliberated for pharmaceutical and nanomedicine applications.

In the present study, green synthesis and determination of the antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and photocatalytic properties of the resultant Cu-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (NAPs) were carried out. A superficial method (solution combustion method) was employed for the synthesis of un-doped ZnO NAPs from aqueous extract of Abutilon indicum, and synthesis of Cu-doped ZnO NAPs from aqueous extracts of Clerodendrum infortunatum (M1 NAPs) and Clerodendrum inerme (M2 NAPs). The synthesized un-doped ZnO, M1 and M2 NAPs were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques like Ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis), Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial and antifungal activities of M1 and M2 NAPs were determined by agar diffusion method, while their antioxidant properties were assessed through DPPH radical scavenging and ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and assays. Under sunlight irradiation, photocatalytic disintegration potential of M1 and M2 NAPs were determined by the degradation of Acid Black 234 dye. Results from FT-IR, XRD, EDX and SEM confirmed successful synthesis, crystalline nature, and spheroid-to-rod-like shapes of un-doped ZnO, M1 and M2 NAPs, with grain sizes of 16.72 nm, 17.49 nm and 20.73 nm; and band gap energies of 3.37 eV, 3.36 eV and 3.31 eV, respectively. The NAPs were good catalysts for effective degradation of Acid Black 234. They also exhibited remarkable antioxidant and anticancer activities. Significant antibacterial activity was shown by M2 NAPs against E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella and B. subtilis, with zones of inhibition (ZOIs) of 13 ± 0.09, 14 ± 0.01, 18 ± 0.07 and 20 ± 0.10, respectively. Significant antifungal potential was also produced by M2 NAPs at 5 mg with ZOIs of 17 ± 0.07 and 24 ± 0.08 against A. niger and T. harzianum, respectively. These results indicate that aqueous extracts of A. indicum, C. infortunatum and C. inerme are effective reducing agents for green synthesis of un-doped ZnO, and Cu-doped ZnO NAPs with significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antifungal potential. Thus they are good candidates for future therapeutic applications.

We herein report the facile synthesis of ternary hybrid g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) via a simple physical mixing method. The synthesized g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO NCs were successfully characterized using different spectroscopic techniques such as X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-Visible (UV–Vis), steady-state photoluminescence (PL), and electron spin resonance (ESR). Antibacterial performance of the synthesized NCs was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus salivarius, and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity was determined against methylene blue (MB) dye under sunlight irradiation. Results demonstrated that the ternary hybrid g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO NCs showed an excellent Z-scheme photocatalytic degradation of MB and significant antibacterial performance against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as compared to Ag-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), g-C3N4 nanosheets (NSs), g-C3N4@ZnO NCs and (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 60%, and 75%) g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO NCs. Moreover, the ternary hybrid g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO NCs exhibited tremendous stability and recyclability with a high degree of photocatalytic MB degradation for ten successive catalytic cycles. ESR experiment further revealed that the superoxide (.O2−) and hydroxyl (.OH) radicals were the leading species liable for MB deterioration. The superior photocatalytic activity and exceptionally improved antibacterial performance of the ternary hybrid g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO NCs attributed to the interface's synergic effect developed between Ag-ZnO NPs and g-C3N4 NSs. Hence, our current study recommends that the synthesized ternary hybrid g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO NCs could prove a valuable photocatalytic system for the degradation of organic pollutants and disinfectant for destroying the pathogenic bacterial species from wastewater.

We report the synthesis of TiO2/Graphene oxide nanocomposites (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) by liquid phase deposition of titania on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. This chemical method of synthesis was used due to hydrophobic/hydrophilic incompatibility of GO with metal oxides. The fabricated TiO2/GO nanocomposites were successfully characterized using various diffraction, electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques i.e. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Ultra-Violet Visible, Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR). Photocatalytic activity against methylene blue dye and ciprofloxacin was carried out by the synthesized nanocomposites under sun light spectrum. Results were revealed that average crystallite size (12.42 nm, and 12.50 nm) was observed for the synthesized pure TiO2 and TiO2/GO (8%) nanocomposites respectively with crystalline nature and spherical morphology. Moreover, synthesized TiO2/GO (8%) nanocomposites were found to have larger surface area (91.25 m2g-1) and narrow energy band-gap values (2.47 eV) than that of pure TiO2 (55.93 m2g-1 and 3.06 eV) respectively. Furthermore, the TiO2/GO (8%) nanocomposites exhibited fastest and highest rate of photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue among all composites (2%, 4%, and 6%) and pure TiO2 in much reduced period. Their excellent photocatalytic activity against synthetic dye and ciprofloxacin under the spectrum of visible region was attributed to thin two dimensional sheet support, larger surface area, narrow band gap, higher adsorption capacity and good electron acceptability of GO. Hence, the fabricated nanocomponents could be proved valuable photocatalytic system to safe our environs from the intimidations of toxic waste products produced by different industries.

Incorporation of a polymer material into an inorganic ion exchanger provides a class of hybrid ion exchangers with a good ion exchange capacity, high stability and high selectivity for heavy metals. In the present study, a hybrid type of ion exchanger poly(methyl methacrylate) Zr(1V) phosphate has been synthesized by mixing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) into inorganic cation-exchange material Zr(IV) phosphate. The physicochemical properties of this hybrid material were determined using AAS, elemental analysis, ICP-MS, UV–vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TGA-DTA and XRD studies. Ion-exchange capacity (IEC), chemical stability, thermal stability and distribution behavior, etc. studies were also carried out to understand the cation-exchange behavior of the material. Sorption studies showed that the composite cation-exchanger has high selectivity to Pb(II) in comparison to other metal ions. Its selectivity was examined by achieving some important binary separations like Pb(II)–Mg(II), Pb(II)–Cd(II), Pb(II)–Hg(II), Pb(II)–Cu(II), and Cu(II)–Cd(II).

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials enable the integration of useful organic and inorganic characteristics within a single molecular-scale composite. Unique ion-exchange properties of these types of materials have been observed, and many others can be envisioned for this promising class of materials. In this paper, we describe the ion-exchange and physico-chemical properties of one family of self-assembling organic-inorganic hybrid based on nylon-6,6, framework with Zr(IV) phosphate an inorganic ion-exchanger. The physico-chemical properties of this hybrid material were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), CHN elemental analysis, ICP-MS, UV-vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, TGA-DTA and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies. Ion-exchange capacity (IEC), thermal stability and distribution behavior, etc. were also carried out to understand the cation-exchange behavior of the material. On the basis of distribution studies, the material was found to be highly selective for Hg(II), a highly toxic environmental pollutant. Its selectivity was examined by achieving some important binary separations like Hg(II)-Mg(II), Hg(II)-Zn(II), Hg(II)-Fe(III), Hg(II)-Bi(III), etc. Thus, the relatively new field of "organic-inorganic" hybrids offers a variety of exciting technological opportunities to decrease the environmental pollution.