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To study the antibacterial efficacy of metallic Ag nanoparticle/titania (Ag‐NP)/TiO2 composite thin films against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), COMP‐Agn with various amounts of Ag (10 mol% ≤ n ≤ 80 mol%) are fabricated on a quartz glass substrate at 600 °C using the molecular precursor method. The films are characterized by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, and UVvis techniques. The analysis reveals that the films are composed of metallic Ag‐NPs embedded in a mixture of anatase and rutile matrix, with a volumetric fraction of Ag ranging from 0.18 to 0.68. The antibacterial activity of the TiO2 thin film and COMP‐Agn are determined by disk diffusion and viable cell count methods. Neither pure TiO2 nor pure Ag films exhibit any discernible antibacterial under dark and visible light. The antibacterial of Ag content in composite films is observed to persist for a maximum increase of 70%. The model is proposed on the basis of photoexcited electron transfer from Ag NPs to the TiO2 conduction band of COMP‐Agn, which clarifies the main factors affecting the photoresponse and the excellent response to visible light via surface plasmon resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TiO2 thin film, Ag NP and three Ag‐NP/TiO2 composite thin films (COMP‐Agn;n = 20, 50, and 75 Ag mol%) were successfully fabricated on quartz glass. The optical properties of the composite electrodes were investigated, and the results indicate a surface plasmonic resonance peak at 410 nm while the electrical resistivity of the composite thin films improved up to 6.9 × 10−5 Ω cm. The photo‐response threshold of the Ag‐NP/TiO2 composite thin films was enhanced and shifted into the visible and near‐infrared when the chlorophyll dye was adsorbed onto them. The hall effect was performed on the fabricated thin films and the charge carrier concentrate value confirmed that the Ag/TiO2 with Ag concentrate >45% are found to be p‐type. The n‐types were observed till the Ag content in TiO2 was increased up to 45 mol%. COMP‐Ag75 has a charge carrier concentration of 1.3 × 10−19 cm−3 as a p‐type electrode was then employed to construct a p‐DSSC. Such enhancement on photovoltaic activity can be attributed to the generated Z‐scheme system in the anatase/rutile phase‐junction Ag/TiO2 photocathode enhances the separation, diffusion, and transformation of electron/hole pairs inside the structure. This p‐DSSC exhibits a photon‐electrical conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.37%. The PCE recorded is equal to or greater than those of traditional high‐efficiency n‐DSSCs. This allows the creation of a new generation of photocathodic p‐DSSCs with previously unheard‐of unprecedentedly high concentrations of Ag (up to 80 mol%) evenly scattered in a TiO2 matrix, and this efficacy is the highest ever reported for a p‐type working Ag/TiO2/chlorophyll/iodine electrode. This may enable the use of this electrode as a component of photosensitizer tandem devices. Highlights: ▪The 75 mol% Ag/TiO2 composited higher conductive p‐type electrode was fabricated.▪The Electrode found to have a visible plasmon peak at 410 nm and electrical conductivity of 6.7 × 10−5 cm.▪This p‐type electrode was then employed as a working electrode to construct a p‐DSSC.▪This p‐DSSC exhibits a photon‐electrical conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.37%.▪Although the PCE is lower, this electrode can be a component of photosensitizer tandem devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the enhancement of the photo-response threshold in Ag-NP/TiO2 composite thin films by adsorbing chlorophyll dye extracted from mopane leaves onto them. This advancement allows for the creation of photocathodic p-DSSCs with high concentrations of Ag evenly scattered in a TiO2 matrix. The efficacy of this electrode is the highest ever reported for a p-type working Ag/TiO2/chlorophyll/iodine electrode, which may have potential applications in photo-sensitizer tandem devices. The article is authored by Likius S. Daniel, Rocha T. Kaffer, Loini M. Kalipi, Ateeq Rahman, Mbela Kalengay, and Veikko Uahengo. [Extracted from the article]

A benzotrithiophenes (BTT) based colorimetric sensor (2) was synthesized via a simple one-step reaction process, and its recognition properties towards several biologically important anions and cations were investigated by naked eye observation and spectroscopic methods of UV-vis and 1H NMR analysis in DMSO. The molar addition of anions such as F−, AcO−, and H2PO4- induced a marked red shift of the charge transfer band (Δλ=94 nm, from 440 nm to 534 nm) concomitant with a clearly visible “naked eye” detectable colorimetric activities (from orange to pink). However, the molar addition of H2PO4- did not induce significant spectral changes, compared to F− and AcO−. Furthermore, the molar addition of Hg2+ to 2 resulted in hypochromic shift at 440 nm and the eventual disappearance of a low energy band at 534 nm, concomitant with the colorimetric activities (from orange to yellow). Moreover, both spectral and color changes induced by the addition of anions (F− and AcO−) were all reversible by the molar addition of metal cations of 3d5–10. The reversibility properties triggered the logic operation studies, and, subsequently, the complementary IMP/INH logic functions based on color and spectral switching (ON/OFF) were confirmed. Conclusively, 2 can thus be utilized as a colorimetric molecular switch modulated by AcO−/MII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dinitrophenyl hydrazone colorimetric anion sensor (receptor 1) was synthesized and its recognition properties towards various anions were investigated by naked eye observation and spectroscopic methods, namely UV-vis and 1H NMR titrations in DMSO. The addition of AcO−, F− and H2PO4− to receptor 1 resulted in marked red shift of the charge-transfer absorbance band (Δ λ=91 nm, 407 nm to 498 nm) concomitant with a 'naked-eye' detectable colour change from yellow to pink. However, both the colour and spectral changes were reversible by the addition of cations (MII) of 3d5-10 as well as CdII, HgII, MgII and CaII. Subsequently, complementary IMP/INH logic functions based on colour and spectral switching (ON/OFF) were affirmed. The sensor can, thus be utilized as a colorimetric molecular switch modulated by F−/MII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]