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We successfully synthesized tetragonal FeS with various Fe:S molar ratios using a hydrothermal method, and the EDS and XRF results confirmed that FeS exhibits superconductivity within the Fe and S element ratio range of 1.155–1.274, rather than a strict stoichiometric ratio. The reaction temperature can not only play a crucial role in determining the purity of the obtained FeS phase but also significantly alter its micromorphology. Significantly, by analyzing the relationship between the Fe:S actual molar ratio and Tc as well as the Fe:S actual molar ratio and unit cell volume, FeS exhibits dome-shaped superconductivity and shows a negative correlation with Tc and chemical pressure. Furthermore, considering the correlation between anion height (hanion) and Tc, Tc reaches the maximum value of 4.53 K for hanion ≈ 1.28 Å, a behavior distinct from that of observed in Fe-pnictide superconductors. In short, our experimental results provide a unique perspective to deepen our understanding of FeS superconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace-level detection of isopropanol is important for human health monitoring and air quality surveillance. In this work, we report synthesis of high surface area two-dimensional (2D) nanoflakes of CuAl 2 O 4 using surfactant-assisted hydrothermal process and its application in ppb level detection of isopropanol. X-ray diffraction revealed the polycrystalline nature of the spinel and a nano crystallite size of 42 nm. The 2D morphology of CuAl 2 O 4 was confirmed using field emission scanning electron microscope whereas BET revealed the mesoporous nature and a high surface area of 41.8 m2g-1. The surface oxidation states of the material were found through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The 2D CuAl 2 O 4 demonstrated excellent sensing towards isopropanol with its response varying from 11.8 to 84.5 % (500 ppb–10 ppm) at 300 °C. The limit of detection of the spinel was found to be 56 ppb at its optimum operating temperature of 300 °C. In addition, the sensing layer was found to have response times in range 1101 s for 500 ppb to 168 s for 10 ppm and recovery times in the range 300 s for 500 ppb to 570 s for 10 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel neptunyl(VI) phosphate compound, (NpO2)3(PO4)2(Terpy), was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca21 with unit-cell parameters a = 13.9944 Å, b = 12.1989 Å, c = 13.1277 Å, V = 2241.1 Å3, and Z = 4. Related to the layered structure of the uranophane topology, it contains the first reported (NpVIO2)2(PO4)22− sheets, which are bonded via π–π interactions between the NpVIO2(Terpy)2+ ligands that are perpendicular to the sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The woven carbon fibers (WCF) fabrics were functionalized by growing copper-oxide (CuO) nanostructures using Seed-assisted hydrothermal technique. The effective growth of CuO on surface hydrolyzed WCF samples were achieved by seeding followed by growth treatment in the prepared precursor solution. The impact of hydrothermal process parameters such as number of seeding cycles, duration of growth treatment and molar concentration of growth solution were studied by performing 96 set of experiments with three repetitions. In this work detailed analysis of structural, morphological, and elemental attributes of the CuO-coated WCF fabrics samples have been done. The WCF fabrics were uniformly coated with monoclinic CuO nanostructures having nanopellets, nanoflakes, nanowires, and nanoflowers morphologies. Different characterization techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric analyzer were used to study different attributes of CuO-modified WCF samples. The number of seeding treatments and the length of growth treatment had a significant impact on growth of CuO nanostructures on WCF. The detailed analysis exhibits that the developed CuO-modified WCF samples may enhance interfacial surface area, bonding capacity and reduce void content by allowing nanostructures to cross-link together and with polymer matrix while fabricating composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-butanol, a volatile organic compound prevalent in numerous industrial processes, poses significant risks to human health and the environment if not properly monitored. Consequently, the development of high-sensitivity n-butanol sensors is imperative. For this reason, NdFeO 3 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method and used for the detection of n-butanol. They were fully analyzed using characterization techniques such as XRD, BET, EDX, SEM, TEM and XPS. The test results revealed that the prepared samples exhibited a granular structure with an average diameter of approximately 65 nm. The specific surface area measured 15.415 m2/g, and the pore size was determined to be 16.638 nm. The NdFeO 3 sensor responds up to 441 for 100 ppm n-butanol at 260 °C, response and recovery times were 33 s and 7 s respectively. The response value of the NdFeO 3 sensor is still 4.3 for 1 ppm n-butanol with a minimum detection limit of 0.024 ppm. Simultaneously, the NdFeO 3 sensor has excellent selectivity, stability and moisture resistance. These good sensing properties indicate that this work provides a possible strategy for developing an economical and repeatable high performance gas sensor for the detection of n-butanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO is a promising thermoelectric ceramic material, but the low electrical conductivity and high thermal conductivity restrict its satisfactory thermoelectric performance. Chemical doping is an effective way to improve the thermoelectric properties of ZnO. Due to the valence states and similar ionic radii of Fe3+ and Zn2+, Fe was selected as the effective dopant for ZnO. In this work, Fe-doped ZnO samples were prepared using hydrothermal synthesis and microwave sintering technology under oxygen-depleted conditions. The electrical conductivity of sintered Fe-doped ZnO was greatly improved owing to the energy band adjustment. The maximum power factor of 3108 μW/mK2 at 800 K was obtained from Zn 0.997 Fe 0.003 O, which is about 4.4 times greater than that of pure ZnO. Meanwhile, the small grain size (300–500 nm) and residual pores resulted from microwave rapid sintering in an oxygen-depleted environment, as well as the point defects caused by Fe3+ substituting for Zn2+, significantly reduced the thermal conductivity. Finally, the highest ZT value of 0.91 has been achieved in Zn 0.997 Fe 0.003 O at 800 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Designing and developing suitable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts with high activity and stability remain challenging in electrolytic water splitting. Hence, NiFe@NC@MoS 2 core-bishell composites wrapped by molybdenum disulphide (MoS 2) and nitrogen-doped graphene (NC) were prepared using hydrothermal synthesis in this research. NiFe@NC@MoS 2 composite exhibits excellent performance with an overpotential of 288 mV and a Tafel slope of 53.2 mV·dec−1 at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 in 1 M KOH solution, which is superior to commercial RuO 2. NC and MoS 2 bishells create profuse edge active sites that enhance the adsorption ability of OOH* while lowering the overall overpotential of the product and improving its oxygen precipitation performance. The density function theory(DFT) analysis confirms that the layered MoS 2 in NiFe@NC@MoS 2 provides additional edge active sites and enhances electron transfer, thus increasing the intrinsic catalytic activity. This research paves a novel way for developing OER electrocatalysts with excellent catalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the extensive use of organic dyes has caused great pollution to the water environment. Zinc silicate with excellent adsorption and photocatalytic properties has been widely used in the treatment of organic dye wastewater. Therefore, we successfully prepared zinc silicate nanomaterials by simple hydrothermal method using zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4·7H2O) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as raw materials, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant, and applied them to the treatment of organic dye wastewater. The composition, morphology and specific surface area of zinc silicate nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The results show that the phase composition of the products has a transformation from hemimorphite Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O to vermiculite Zn2SiO4, and the morphology has also an obvious change from nanosheets, nanoflowers to nanoparticles with the increase of TEOS content. The specific surface area and pore volume are 199.8 m2/g and 0.441 cm3/g for the flower-like zinc silicate nanomaterials. The zinc silicate nanomaterials show excellent adsorption and photocatalytic properties for organic dyes from aqueous solutions, and the maximum removal efficiencies can reach 89.8% and 96.2% for rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone loss in the alveolar ridge is a factor widely studied by dentists in implant surgeries, as it poses a major challenge for aesthetic and functional recovery in patients with large maxillary bone defects. Synthetic biomaterials function as grafts designed to replace and remodel bone tissue. Calcium phosphate is a biomaterial that has good properties such as biocompatibility and bioactivity, making it a reference in bone replacement treatments. A synthetic biomaterial such as calcium phosphate can be obtained by various synthesis techniques. The microwave hydrothermal method (HTMO) is a pathway that allows changes in synthesis parameters and significantly increases the transmission efficiency of materials such as synthetic calcium phosphate derivatives. The study proposes obtaining a biomaterial for bone grafting based on calcium phosphate by the microwave HTMO and evaluating its microstructural and physicochemical characteristics. The parameters tested in this process were temperature and reaction time. The calcium phosphate particulates were obtained by the microwave HTMO at temperatures of 110°C and 130°C for 60 min and calcined at 300°C, 500°C, and 700°C. Microstructural and physicochemical characterization analyses were carried out using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and X‐ray diffraction. The results obtained showed the presence of more than one calcium phosphate biological interest phase, as hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), and octacalcium phosphate (OCP), highlighting with increasing calcination temperature, the β‐TCP phase becomes evident. The proposed synthesis method was efficient in obtaining a biomaterial with suitable physical and chemical characteristics, with an association of crystalline phases of biological interest related to the increase in synthesis temperature and calcination temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of research unveiled the unlimited potential of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Nevertheless, the hazardous and expensive production involving massive amounts of organic solvents has severely limited their widespread industrial adoption. Herein, the advantages of two eco-friendly strategies, base-assisted synthesis and modulated hydrothermal chemistry, were complementarily integrated, with the acetate anion introduced as a mild and efficacious modulator to regulate the coordination and tailor the crystallization pathway(s). The green, rapid, and scalable synthesis of a dual-ligand Zn-MOF was thereby achieved in water media, featuring an unprecedented space–time yield of 24 ton per m3 per day and a batch size exceeding a kilogram (i.e., 1.2 kg). Owing to its strong affinity toward CH4, the acquired Zn-MOF demonstrated a considerable CH4/N2 separation capacity under ambient conditions. This study not only facilitates the green and scalable production of MOFs but also offers a cost-effective adsorbent for CH4 recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alkaline treatment synthesis of titania/titanate nanotubes (TNTs) requires highly concentrated alkaline solutions (≥ 10 mol/L), which pose environmental and productivity limitations. In contrast, a bottom-up synthesis method for peroxo-titanate nanotubes (PTNTs) has been developed. This method offers two advantages: it can synthesize materials using low-concentration alkaline solutions (1.5 mol/L) and produce photocatalytic materials that are responsive to visible light. In general, the higher the crystallinity of a catalyst, the better its properties. However, PTNTs synthesized at temperatures close to their boiling point (around 100 °C) exhibit low crystallinity. This study hypothesizes a hydrothermal synthesis method at higher temperatures will enhance the crystallinity and photocatalytic performance of PTNTs, synthesizing them at temperatures ranging from 120 to 200 °C using a method capable of exceeding the boiling point. Higher synthesis temperatures resulted in improved morphological and crystallographic properties of the PTNTs. However, the formation of peroxo-bonding, crucial for visible light responsiveness, decreased. Nevertheless, peroxo-bonding formation was still achievable at the highest temperature of 200 °C, and the sample exhibited the best Rhodamine B (Rh B) photodegradation performance under visible light due to its enhanced specific surface area and crystallinity. This study highlights the novelty and environmental significance of hydrothermally synthesized PTNTs as superior photocatalysts by optimizing the synthesis temperature while using lower concentration alkaline solutions. Highlights: High-temperature hydrothermal synthesis significantly enhances the crystallinity and surface area of peroxo-titanate nanotubes (PTNTs). Optimized PTNTs achieve a 98.2% Rhodamine B degradation rate under visible light, outperforming conventional photocatalysts. The use of low-concentration alkaline solutions in PTNT synthesis presents a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods. This study demonstrates the potential of PTNTs as superior photocatalysts by balancing crystallinity and peroxo-bonding formation through temperature optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employment of yeasts as bio-templates to obtain hollow structured microspheres is recognized as a promising strategy in the view of resource utilization and sustainable development. In this study, carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 hollow microspheres with rich oxygen vacancies were successfully prepared via in situ hydrothermal synthesis instead of removing yeast templates by calcination. As-obtained samples were characterized using SEM, EDS, TEM, XRD, XPS, EPR and UV–vis DRS analysis. It was shown that carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 hollow microspheres, with a diameter of 2.2 μm, inherited the ellipsoidal shape from primitive yeast templates. In situ hydrothermal synthesis not only resulted in the integration of yeast-derived carbon into the Bi 2 MoO 6 structure through Bi–O–C and Mo–O–C bonds, but also produced oxygen vacancy defects in the sample. Under visible light irradiation, the carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 photocatalyst exhibited an excellent degradation efficiency, achieving 87.0 % removal of methylene blue (MB) within 100 min. With photoelectric tests and active species trapping experiments, the potential mechanism for the remarkable photocatalytic performance of carbon modified Bi 2 MoO 6 /Bi 2 S 3 was discussed preliminarily. This work explored an economical, simple and feasible approach for the multi-strategy modification of photocatalysts, and provided a new cognition on the versatile application of biological templates in material design and fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study proposes the utilization of microwave-assisted methods for converting neutralization slag (NS) into hydroxyapatite (HAP), offering an alternative to the conventional hydrothermal method. The microwave-assisted approach addresses the challenges encountered in hydrothermal reactions, such as particle agglomeration, reduced specific surface area, prolonged reaction time, high temperature requirements, and inadequate saturation adsorption capacity. By employing the response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design, the study found that the microwave-assisted method significantly reduced the synthesis time from 90 to 25 min and the temperature from 120 °C to 56 °C. Furthermore, the microwave method consumed only 1/43 of the energy utilized in hydrothermal synthesis. To assess the performance of the synthesized HAP, various detection methods were utilized, including XRD, SEM-EDS, FTIR, Zeta potential, and ICP, which analyzed the crystal structure, crystallinity, morphology, chemical composition, and surface charge of HAP. The BET method was used to measure the specific surface area, further confirming the successful synthesis of HAP. The HAP synthesized through this microwave-assisted method exhibited a saturation adsorption capacity of up to 98.4 mg/g of fluoride ions from vanadium industrial raffinate. This study demonstrates that the microwave-assisted method provides a viable solution for reducing energy consumption and enhancing HAP synthesis efficiency for wastewater treatment in the vanadium industry. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon quantum dots (CQDs), are excellent candidates for antibacterial agent development as they are cost-effective. Nitrogen-doped CQDs (N-doped CQDs) exhibit antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria. However, investigation of N-CQDs and their efficacy against the selected bacterial strains under visible light irradiation has not been carried out. Here, we aimed to evaluate N-CQDs for their efficacy as a photosensitizer for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). N-CQDs were synthesized using the hydrothermal method with 1,3,6-trinitropyrene (TNP) as the nitrogen and carbon source. Antimicrobial tests of N-CQDs were conducted against gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis NCIB 3610, Staphylococcus aureus Newman, and S. aureus USA300) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli K12) bacteria at different concentrations (0–100 mg/L). The N-CQDs exerted a moderate growth-inhibitory effect on gram-positive bacteria in the dark. However, in the presence of white light generated using 20-W light-emitting diode, N-CQDs could completely kill the bacteria at a low concentration of 20 mg/L. The minimal inhibitory concentration of N-CQDs for the two S. aureus strains (Newman and USA300) was 20 mg/L under light conditions, whereas that for B. subtilis was 100 mg/L. The results demonstrate that N-CQDs may be used as a photosensitizer in aPDT and as an antibacterial agent. [Display omitted] • Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were produced by the hydrothermal method. • N-CQDs exerted moderate growth-inhibitory effect on gram-positive bacteria in dark. • Incubation with N-CQDs under the white light could completely kill the bacteria. • N-CQDs may be used as an antibacterial agent in antibacterial photodynamic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, SAPO-11, SAPO-11-γ-Al2O3 and SAPO-11-ZSM-5-γ-Al2O3 molecular sieve supports were prepared by static hydrothermal synthesis, which SAPO-11-γ-Al2O3 and SAPO-11-ZSM-5-γ-Al2O3 supports were loaded with Co and Mo as active metal components. The hydroisomerization properties of n-hexadecane on SAPO-11, SAPO-11-γ-Al2O3 and SAPO-11-ZSM-5-γ-Al2O3 molecular sieves were investigated, as well as the effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, solid–liquid ratio and reaction pressure on the hydroisomerization properties. The results demonstrated that the SAPO-11 molecular sieves synthesized under the ratios of 1Al2O3:2P2O5:0.6TEOS:1.2DPA:55H2O, crystallization time of 48 h, and crystallization temperature of 180 °C had high crystallinity and uniform size distribution, and the pore structure was more obvious. After loading metals onto the SAPO-11-γ-Al2O3 molecular sieves, the charged metals partially block the pores or pore openings of the molecular sieves, leading to a reduction in specific surface area and pore volume. As a result, some acidic sites become occupied by the metals, weakening the acidity. The results of the hydroisomerization experiments showed that the SAPO-11 molecular sieves achieved maximum isoparaffin selectivity and isoparaffin yield, reaching values of 31.26% and 28.32%, respectively, at 340 °C over a reaction time of 60 min. The selectivity and yield reached maximum of 51.02% and 43.76% at liquid–solid ratio up to 25:1. The selectivity and yield reached maximum values of 55.82% and 51.2% at an initial reaction pressure of 5 MPA. For the SAPO-11-γ-Al2O3 supports, the selectivity and yield the maximum values of 79.50% and 71.49% at a metal Co: Mo loading ratio of 1:3 was achieved. For the SAPO-11-ZSM-5-γ-Al2O3 supports, the selectivity and yield the maximum values of 55.44% and 54.05% were achieved with ZSM-5 loading of 30 wt%. These catalysts have the potential for a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a groundbreaking technique for controllably synthesizing nanosized semiconductive two‐dimensional (2D) (Cu–S)n metal–organic framework (MOF)/graphene nanocomposites for electrochemical sensing of neurotransmitter 2‐phenethylamine (PEA). The (Cu–S)n MOF size is controlled by graphene oxide proportions, enhancing electrocatalytic activity. The modified electrode exhibits a surface area increase from 0.0639 to 0.1906 cm2 and impressive limit of detection (0.0156 and 0.004 μM) within linear ranges of 15–200 μM and 1–10 μM, offering exceptional selectivity, reproducibility, and repeatability for biosensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A palladium (Pd)-doped rGO/ZnO nanocomposite was prepared using the hydrothermal method. The nanocomposite underwent various analytical assessments to determine its structural, optical, and morphological properties. The analytical results confirmed the successful formation of the Pd-doped rGO/ZnO composite. This composite, referred to as Pd-rGO/ZnO, was employed for the photocatalytic degradation of Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 (CBR) dye. The prepared photocatalyst, Pd-rGO/ZnO, exhibited a remarkable 93% efficiency in degrading CBR dye within 150 min under UV light. The enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activities were achieved by modifying rGO and introducing Pd, which effectively increased the reactive surface area and facilitated electron transfer. Moreover, the composite also displayed significant antibacterial activity in a dose-dependent manner. Dye degradation over Pd-rGO/ZnO photocatalyst under UV light irradiation (DM – Dye molecules). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photocatalysis system is widely regarded as the most renewable approach to environmental treatment since sunlight is a long-term source of energy for the planet. This study assessed the efficacy of a photocatalyst graphitic carbon nitride/bismuth oxychloride (g-C3N4/BiOCl) by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photo-luminance, photocurrent density, and X-ray diffraction to characterize the photocatalyst. The results showed an improvement in morphology and enhanced photodegradation of pharmaceutical residues such as Nitenpyram, Tetracycline, and Rhodamine B. For a wavelength range of 655 to 420 nm, the synthesized photocatalysts were good at the absorption of visible light. A photodegradation proficiency of 64.72% was observed with tetracycline, 48.91% nitenpyram, and 98.70% with Rhodamine B in 30 min. The g-C3N4/BiOCl displayed a significant photocatalytic activity due to high load separation and transition. This study shows that g-C3N4/BiOCl photocatalyst has been confirmed as one of the most intriguing contenders for innovative photocatalyst designs and can potentially be used in treating wastewater and the environment at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During this endeavor, a hetero structured photocatalyst of hexagonal boronnitride@ZnO-TiO2 Nanocomposites that was effectively developed using the hydrothermal processing approach. The h-BN@ZnO/TiO2 hybrid junctions substantially suppressed the conjugation of photoinduced electrons and vacancies, as well as the migration of voids through nanoparticles composed of ZnO/TiO2. Thereby, the h-BN@ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposites exhibit improved photocatalytic capabilities and high resilience for the decomposed of methyl orange (MO) during visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the h-BN@ZnO/TiO2 NPs exhibited superior MO removal efficiency of 99.2% in only 20 min which was approximately 20 times enhancement in photocatalytic activity compared to pristine h-BN under the visible light irradiation. This high degradation performance was attributed to the extended light absorption, narrowed band gap and effective suppression of electron–hole recombination through an addition of ZnO-TiO2 NCs. According to the findings, a putative photocatalytic process of h-BN@ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposites showed promise as an effective modern photo catalyst for use in the decomposition of organic pigments in sewage for environmental cleanup was postulated and addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the facile hydrothermal synthesis of pure Bi2WO6 and Bi2WO6\MWCNTs nanocomposite at specific molar ratio 1:2.5 of Bi2WO6:MWCNTs and elucidates their role in modulating the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway via autophagy induction. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including XRD, Raman, UV.Vis PL,FESEM,EDS and TEM, revealed the successful incorporation of MWCNTs into the Bi2WO6 structures, leading to enhanced crystattlinity, reduced band gap energy (2.4 eV) suppressed charge carrier recombination and mitigated nanoparticles aggregation. Notably, the reduced band gap facikitaed improved visible light harvesting, a crucial attribute for photocatalytic applications. Significantly, the nanocompsoite exhibited a remarkable capacity to augment autophagy in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), consequently down-regulating the NLRP3 inflammasom activation and IL-1β secretion upon LPS and ATP stimulation. Immunofluorescence assays unveiled increased co-localization of LC3 and NLRP3, suggestion enhanced targeting of NLRP3 by autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA reversed these effects, confirming the pivotal role of autophagy induction. Furthermore, the nanocomposite attenuated caspase-1 activation and ASC oligomerzation, thereby impeding inflammasome assembly. Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of Bi2WO6\MWCNTs nanocompsite as a multifaceted therapeutic platform, levering its tailored optoelectronic properties and sbility to modulate the NLRP3 infalmmasome via autophagy augmentation. This work covers the way for the development of advanced nanomaterials with tunable functionalities for combating inflammatory disorders and antimicrobial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese purple (CP), an ancient traditional pigment, represents the rich cultural and scientific heritage of an ancient civilization. To achieve high‐purity CP pigment in a more economical and efficient manner, we synthesized CP using a low‐temperature hydrothermal route. Interestingly, we observed the emergence of an emission peak at 894 nm in CP under irradiation at λex = 650 nm. Additionally, it was noted that the CP powder exhibited a significant photothermal effect when exposed to near‐infrared light irradiation. A photothermal conversion efficiency of 19% was achieved in the CP pigment. This study not only sheds light on the enigmatic nature of this ancient pigment but also highlights its potential as a critical photothermal conversion material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure of a new polymorph of metaboric acid, δ-HBO2 (s.g. Pnma, a = 14.7578(9), b = 9.3973(5), c = 3.6352(2) Å) is described. The structure consists of flat six-membered B3O3(OH)3 rings forming chains linked to each other by hydrogen bonds. Also, the stability of δ-HBO2 phase was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform and minuscule Ru particles confined in NaY zeolite (Ru@NaY) are prepared via a simple in situ synthesis technique. Transmission electron microscopy studies indicate that the Ru particles are encapsulated within the micropores of NaY zeolite and form a uniform size of 1.5–3.5 nm. Thanks to the effective confinement of Ru particles within the NaY zeolite, as well as the high concentration of B-5 sites and basic sites, the prepared Ru@NaY catalysts show excellent NH 3 decomposition activity and highly efficient H 2 formation. Notably, the 0.1Ru@NaY catalyst achieves a 92.7% NH 3 conversion and a H 2 formation rate of 690 mmol min−1·g Ru −1 at 500 °C and GHSV = 9000 mLNH 3 ·g cat −1·h−1 and shows outstanding stability throughout a 95-h lifetime test. The encapsulation synthesis of Ru clusters in zeolites endows the catalysts with exceptional catalytic activities and excellent stability, thus providing new prospects for the production of H 2 from NH 3 decomposition. [Display omitted] • Ru particles confined within NaY zeolite were prepared via hydrothermal synthesis. • Ru nanoparticles are uniformly sized, highly distributed, and thermally stable. • Ru@NaY catalysts showed high activity and stability for ammonia decomposition. • High level B-5 sites and basic sites accounts for the superior activity of Ru@NaY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quartz glass powder is a type of silicon-rich industrial waste. Accumulation of this waste has led to resource wastage and environmental pollution. In this paper, quartz glass powder is used as raw material for preparing xonotlite through hydrothermal synthesis. The effects of Ca/Si (C/S) molar ratio, liquid/solid ratio, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the conversion of quartz are studied. The phase and structural changes of glass powder are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on this, the conversion mechanism of quartz in glass powder is explained. The dissolution rate of quartz in an alkaline solution is a critical factor that restricts hydrothermal reactions. The conversion rate of quartz can be effectively increased by raising reaction temperature and extending reaction time. When the reaction temperature is 240 °C and the reaction time reaches 14 h, the conversion of quartz can reach 94.5 wt%. This study reveals the conversion mechanism of quartz in hydrothermal reactions and provides a theoretical basis for the efficient utilization of glass powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs), as a kind of zero‐dimensional nanomaterials, have been widely synthesized by bottom‐up methods from various precursors. However, the formation mechanism is still unclear and controversial, which also brings difficulty to the regulation of structures and properties. Only some tentative formation processes were postulated by analyzing the products obtained at different reaction times and temperatures. Here, the effect of crosslinking on the formation of carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) is explored. Crosslinking‐induced nucleation and carbonization (CINC) is proposed as the driving force for the formation of CPDs. Under hydrothermal synthesis, the precursors are initiated to polymerize and crosslink. The crosslinking brings higher hydrophobicity to generate the hydrophilic/hydrophobic microphase separation, which promotes dehydration and carbonization resulting in the formation of CPDs. Based on the principle of CINC, the influence factors of size are also revealed. Moreover, the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation is employed to support this formation mechanism. This concept of CINC will bring light to the formation process of CPDs, as well as facilitate the regulation of CPDs' size and photoluminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, perovskite oxides have recognized to be an ideal alternative to platinum‐based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts due to their excellent stability, cost‐effectiveness, and tailorable properties. Herein, an ABO3 type LaFeO3 perovskite was doped at its B‐site to form electrochemically active LaFeB′O6 (B′=Cr, Zn, Co) by one‐pot hydrothermal synthesis process. Due to the synergistic effects of increased surface area and electrochemically active sites, Cr‐doped LaFeO3 largely improves the mass transfer kinetics for ORR in both conditions, alkaline (0.1 M KOH) and acidic (0.5 M H2SO4) with a positive onset Eon of 0.80 and 0.81 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Similarly, a half‐wave (E1/2) potential of 0.68 and 0.63 V (vs Ag/AgCl), which was comparable to the commercial 20 % Pt/C. Moreover, the La‐based perovskites were able to catalyze ORR with an electron transfer number (n)>3.6 signifying the superior 4‐electron pathway. Doped and undoped LaFeO3 exhibited remarkable stability in the chronoamperometry studies with a relative current of 92–95 % sustained over 8 h. Additionally, the La‐based electrocatalysts was unaffected by the crossover effect of methanol in both acidic and basic conditions, contrary to the commercial 20 % Pt/C. The present work serves as a useful strategy to maximize the efficiency and reliability in perovskites for energy‐related electrocatalytic applications and for alternative fuel generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cube‐like copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanocrystallines are produced by the hydrothermal method without using any surfactant. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) are used to characterize the morphology, structure, and phase of the samples. CuFe2O4 nanocubes show the superior catalytic performance of reduction 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) to 4‐aminophenol (4‐AP). 20 mg CuFe2O4 nanocubes can totally convert 4‐NP to 4‐AP in 30 s at room temperature. Moreover, the reaction kinetics of 4‐NP catalytic reduction are also studied. Hence, this innovative CuFe2O4 nanocube has a lot of potential for organic pollutant destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sonohydrothermal (SHT) treatment is an innovative technique allowing the simultaneous coupling of low frequency ultrasound and hydrothermal conditions for the synthesis of materials. The aim of the present work was to investigate, for the first time, the synthesis of zeolite A and its formation mechanism under SHT conditions. The zeolite synthesis was carried out under sonohydrothermal conditions using a specially designed reactor that allows the application of ultrasonic irradiation at 20 kHz in an autoclave-type reactor heated up to 200 °C under autogenous pressure. The conversion kinetics of the amorphous hydrogel to zeolite A and its further conversion to sodalite were studied. Syntheses were performed in the SHT reactor at 80 and 100 °C, varying the synthesis time from 15 minutes to several hours. The required time to obtain fully crystalline zeolite A under sonohydrothermal conditions was only 25 minutes, highlighting a significantly improved crystallization rate compared to silent conditions (a 9.6-fold kinetic gain). In addition, the resulting zeolite A has smaller particles and a more homogeneous particle size distribution than the zeolite synthesized by hydrothermal treatment. These results can be explained by the sonofragmentation of the amorphous gel and the concomitant enhanced mass transfer of the building units at the interface between the crystallite surface and the solution resulting from the acoustic cavitation activity under SHT conditions. Compared to classical hydrothermal heating, a drastic kinetic increase of the transformation of zeolite A into the more stable sodalite phase was also observed under sonohydrothermal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New cesium cerium(IV) iodate Cs2Ce(IO3)6 was successfully prepared by applying a hydrothermal technique from starting reagents CsF, CeO2, H5IO6 and HIO3 at 230 °C. Cs2Ce(IO3)6 was analyzed via single crystal and powder XRD, EDX, IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The new compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 14.0652(3) Å, b = 8.1890(2) Å, c = 17.7211(4) Å, β = 103.601(2)°, V = 1983.99(8) Å3, and Z = 4. The crystal structure of Cs2Ce(IO3)6 consists of CeO8 square antiprisms sharing their apexes and edges with trigonal pyramidal IO3− groups to form layers [Ce(IO3)6]2− parallel to the ab plane. These layers are further stabilised by a 12-vertex polyhedron, CsO12, situated in their voids. The IR spectrum of Cs2Ce(IO3)6 displays iodate group bands. According to DTA analysis, cesium cerium(IV) iodate exhibits high thermal stability in the air at temperatures up to 414 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured iron (III) oxide was prepared by a facile hydrothermal method using poly(triazine imide) (PTI) as a sacrificial template. The physicochemical properties of pristine iron oxide and its analogue obtained in the presence of PTI confirmed strong effect of the latter as the morphology improving agent. Moreover, application of nitrogen rich semiconducting polymer during hydrothermal synthesis increased number of defects. The obtained sample was used as an electroactive additive for carbon‐paste electrode. PTI‐modified sample demonstrated 1.52 times higher oxidation current, and 1.39 lower charge transfer resistance compared to hematite obtained without PTI, as was confirmed by CV and EIS data. Therefore, it was proposed to use the as a sensor for the detection of gallic acid. The developed method showed excellent linearity within a concentration range of 67 nM to 17.7 µM with a detection limit equal to 44 nM and limit of quantification of 132 nM. Stablitity and reproducibility tests, as well as real sample analysis confirmed applicability of the proposed sensor for practical application. Excellent electrochemical properties of the submicron hematite particles are attributed to the developed lattice defects, which served as reaction centers and charge transducing points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 3D metal/semiconductor nanostructured surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)‐active substrate is constructed through Ag nanoparticles decoration of flower‐like ZnO nanorods (fZnOs) on a buckled substrate. A thermal treatment is applied to induce substrate buckling and is followed by ZnO hydrothermal synthesis and Ag reduction, resulting in the production of a buckled Ag/fZnOs SERS‐active device. In addition to providing a high areal density of hotspots, surface buckling enhanced the hydrophilicity of the Ag/fZnO composite surface, which aided the adsorption of probe molecules. Buckling also facilitated the formation of eddies in the depressions on the surface, promoting the capture and accumulation of chemicals. Compared with flat Ag/fZnOs, the buckle‐enhanced SERS effects can increase their enhancement factor by over 103 times. The buckled Ag/fZnOs SERS‐active device is recyclable, stable, and inexpensive and is found to be highly sensitive for the detection of Rhodamine 6G and commercial pesticides, achieving a low detection limit of 10−9 m and a high enhancement factor of 2.43 × 108. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MXene Ti3C2Tx was synthesized using hydrofluoric acid and an improved multilayer method in this study. Subsequently, a Bi2O3/Ti3C2Tx composite material was produced through hydrothermal synthesis. This composite boasts a unique layered structure, offering a large surface area that provides numerous contact and reaction sites, facilitating the adsorption of ammonia on its surface. The prepared Bi2O3/Ti3C2Tx-based sensor exhibits excellent sensing performance for ammonia gas, including high responsiveness, good repeatability, and rapid response–recovery time. The sensor's response to 100 ppm ammonia gas is 61%, which is 11.3 times and 1.6 times the response values of the Ti3C2Tx gas sensor and Bi2O3 gas sensor, with response/recovery times of 61 s/164 s at room temperature, respectively. Additionally, the gas sensitivity mechanism of the Bi2O3/Ti3C2Tx-based sensor was analyzed, and the gas sensing response mechanism was proposed. This study shows that the sensor can effectively enhance the accuracy and precision of ammonia detection at room temperature and has a wide range of application scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel approach to addressing environmental issues by developing fish-scale carbon nanoparticles (FSCNPs) with a wide range of colors from discarded fish scales. The process involves hydrothermally synthesizing raw tamban (Sardinella) fish scales sourced from Universal Canning, Inc. in Zamboanga City, Philippines. The optimization of the synthesis was achieved using the response surface methodology with a Box–Behnken design. The resulting FSCNPs exhibited unique structural and chemical properties akin to carbonized polymer dots, enhancing their versatility. The solid-state fluorescence of these nanoparticles can be modulated by varying their concentration in a polyvinylpyrrolidone matrix, yielding colors such as blue, green, yellow, and red-orange with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.23, 0.38), (0.32, 0.43), (0.37, 0.43), and (0.46, 0.48), respectively. An analysis of the luminescence mechanism highlights cross-linking emissions, aggregation-induced emissions, and non-covalent interactions, which contribute to concentration-dependent fluorescence and tunable emission colors. These optical characteristics suggest that FSCNPs have significant potential for diverse applications, particularly in opto-electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic pollutants entering water bodies lead to severe water pollution, posing a threat to human health. The activation of persulfate advanced oxidation processes using carbon materials derived from MOFs as substrates can efficiently treat wastewater contaminated with organic pollutants. This research uses NH2-MIL-101(Fe) as a substrate, doped with Fe2+ and Co2+, to prepare Fe/Co-CNs through a one-step carbonization method. The surface morphology, pore structure, and chemical composition of Fe/Co-CNs were investigated using characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FT-IR, BET, and Raman. A comparative study was conducted on the performance of catalysts with different Fe/Co ratios in activating PMS for the degradation of organic pollutants, as well as the effects of various influencing factors (the dosage of Fe/Co-CNs, the amount of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), the initial pH of the solution, the TC concentration, and inorganic anions) on the catalyst's activation of persulfate for TC degradation. Through radical quenching experiments and post-degradation XPS analysis, the active radicals in the FeCo-CNs/PMS system were investigated to explain the possible mechanism of TC degradation in the Fe/Co-CNs/PMS system. The results indicate that Fe/Co-CNs-2 (with a Co2+ doping amount of 20%) achieves a degradation rate of 93.34% for TC (tetracycline hydrochloride) within 30 min when activating PMS, outperforming other Co2+ doping amounts. In addition, singlet oxygen (1O2) is the main reactive species in the reaction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we reported the synthesis of honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom-derived nanoparticles via a hydrothermal method. This method not only ensures the preservation of the bee venom's bioactive components but also enhances their potential stability, thus broadening the scope for their applications in the biomedicinal field. The synthesis method started with the homogenization suspension of bee venom, followed by its hydrothermal process to synthesize bee venom nanoparticles (BVNPs). The successful synthesis of BVNPs was characterized using various characteristic techniques such as Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transforms Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Zeta Potential (ZP), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The synthesis of BVNPs through biosynthesis is shown by the visible violet-brown color development at 347 nm by UV–Vis spectroscopy. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of several functional groups in the BVNPs, including alcohols (–OH), phenols (C6H5–), carboxylic acids (–COOH), amines (–NH2, –NH–), aldehydes (–CHO), ketones (–CO–), nitriles (–CN), amides (–CO–N–), imines (–CNH–), esters (–COO–), and polysaccharides. These functional groups, as confirmed by their specific stretching and bending vibrational modes, contribute to the diverse biological activities of BVNPs, including cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The ZP of the BVNPs indicated good colloidal stability at − 45 mV. LCMS analysis confirmed the presence of major bioactive molecules, including melittin & apamin and TEM analysis shows the BVNPs exhibited a quasi-spherical shape with good dispersion, the average size was approximately 25 nm, with some being smaller (quantum dots) and interplanar spacing of 0.236 nm indicated a highly ordered crystalline structure. Moreover, the anticancer efficacy of the BVNPs was ascertained through in vitro assays against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, showing a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect. The findings of this study underscore the viability of hydrothermal synthesis in producing biologically active and structurally stable BVNPs, with a significant potential for anticancer activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure and Co (10 mol %)-doped α-Fe2O3 (Hematite) nanostructures have been effectively synthesized by hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) have been used for the analysis of crystallography, morphology and functional groups of synthesized samples. The banding nature of synthesized samples is analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Powder XRD results reveal the formation of rhombohedral structured α-Fe2O3 nanostructures. Effect of dopant and synthesis conditions, such as precursor change and time duration of heating temperature has been investigated on the morphology of pure and Co (10 mol %)-doped α-Fe2O3 nanostructures. It has been observed that the addition of dopant, change of precursor and time duration of the heating temperature of hydrothermal treatment can effectively control the morphology of NPs. Methylene dye (MB) has been used as a test contaminant in aqueous solution to determine the photo-catalytic potential of Fe2O3 nanostructures under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chirality in inorganic nanostructures has recently stimulated the attention of many researchers, both to unravel fundamental questions on the origin of chirality in inorganic and hybrid materials, as well as to introduce novel promising properties that are originated by the symmetry breaking. MoS2 is one of the most investigated among the large family of layered transition metal dichalcogenides. In particular, the metastable metallic 1T−MoS2 phase is of large interest for potential applications. However, due to thermodynamic reasons, the synthesis of 1T−MoS2 phase is quite challenging. Herein, we present the first synthesis of chiral 1T−MoS2 phase which shows remarkably high chiroptical activity with a g‐factor up to 0.01. Chiral 1T−MoS2 was produced using tartaric acid as a chiral ligand to induce symmetry breaking during the material's growth under hydrothermal conditions, leading to the formation of distorted hierarchical nanosheet assemblies exhibiting chiral morphology. Thorough optimization of the synthetic conditions was carried out to maximize chiroptical activity, which is strongly related to the nanostructures' morphology. Finally, the formation mechanism of the chiral 1T−MoS2 nanosheet assemblies was investigated, focusing on the role of molecular intermediates in the growth of the nanosheets and the transfer of chirality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the bromide anion exchange (BAE) green method to obtain carbon‐supported nanoparticles, Pt(LaOx)/C was successfully prepared under mild conditions. This material, containing LaOx species generated in situ during the synthesis, was efficiently used as an anode to perform glycerol oxidation in alkaline medium in batch mode and at room temperature. In a direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC), this catalyst was able to boost the glycerol‐to‐glycerate conversion with a 49% selectivity and a 28% power density higher than the same system using a BAE‐synthesized Pt/C anode. The increase in catalytic activity may be due to the interaction of LaOx with the Pt active sites, acting as a bifunctional electrode. Furthermore, when used as an anode in an electrolysis setup, the selectivity of glycerol toward glycerate increased up to 67%. In situ FTIR and HPLC analyses confirmed the formation of the value‐added glycerol oxidation products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FER zeolites have a unique framework structure and acid distribution, and are widely studied as a catalyst for reactions such as n-butene skeletal isomerization and dimethyl ether carbonylation. The Brönsted acid site (BAS) located in the 10-member ring (10-MR) of FER zeolites serves as the active site for the isomerization reaction of skeletal n-butene to produce isobutene. This study prepared five types of FER zeolites using different methods: using pyrrolidine (PY) alone as a template; using Na-form FER as seeds (SN) or H-form FER as seeds without organic structure directing agents (OSDAs); and combining the seeds of SN or SH with PY as OSDAs. The differences in the structure and acid distribution of the five zeolites were investigated, as well as their catalytic performance for the skeletal isomerization of n-butene. Experiments and characterization results showed that under hydrothermal synthesis conditions, the FER-PY+SH zeolites synthesized by using both H-form zeolites seeds and pyridine exhibited the highest aluminum concentrations at T1 and T3 sites, along with the greatest BAS located in the 10-MR. This unique composition contributed to the highest selectivity of isobutene. The FER-PY+SH catalyst was continuously used for 720 h at 350 °C, 0.1 MPa, and an n-butene mass space velocity of 2.0 h−1 for three cycles of 2160 h. During this period, the conversion of n-butene was over 39%, while the selectivity of isobutene exceeded 95%. The FER-PY+SH catalyst exhibited excellent stability and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal synthesis of CuO/NiO composites was conducted using banana fruit biomass waste. In this study, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate the crystalline properties, shape structure, and functional group characterization of CuO/NiO composites. The typical morphology of the prepared materials consisted of irregular nanoparticles arranged into clusters of less than 200 nanometers in size. In spite of this, the CuO/NiO composites showed monoclinic CuO and cubic NiO phases and were therefore successfully synthesized. It was observed that rotten banana fruit juice had a significant impact on the particle size and crystal quality of CuO/NiO composites. This was due to the presence of capping, reducing, and stabilizing agents in banana fruit juice. Under alkaline conditions, the CuO/NiO composites were found to be highly electro catalytically active toward the oxidation of urea. Sample 2, which was prepared by adding 1.2 g of CuO decorated with NiO, showed a linear increase in urea detection ranging from 0.1 mM to 17 mM, with a limit of detection of 0.004 mM. Furthermore, sample 2 of the CuO/NiO composite demonstrated exceptional stability, selectivity, and reproducibility. Consequently, sample 2 of CuO/NiO could effectively detect urea in spinach, lotus root, milk, and curd. The improved performance of sample 2 of the CuO/NiO composite can be attributed to its favorable surface properties, which contain enriched active sites and a rapid charge transfer rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a combination of increased urbanization, industrialization, and population growth, many pharmaceutical pollutants are currently being discharged into the environment. A possible strategy is critical for eliminating antibiotic pollutants from the environment, and photocatalysis has been generally recognized as an excellent method for successfully degrading antibiotics at a faster pace. In this work, we employed a hydrothermal synthesis approach to create a novel C3N5/NiCo2S4 Z-scheme-based heterojunction with better interfacial charge transfer and used it as a catalyst for the degradation of norfloxacin antibiotic. The optimized 1:1 C3N5/NiCo2S4 (50CN/NCS) shows the highest photocatalytic efficiency of 86.5% in 120 min towards the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR). Such an effective performance can be attributed to the high responsive nature of photocatalyst in the visible region and superior transfer of interfacial charges via Z-scheme transfer in heterojunction. The high charge transfer efficiency and reduced recombination of charge carriers in heterojunction was confirmed by EIS and PL results. The influence of some key factors such as pollutant concentration, catalyst dosage, pH, and coexisting ions on the photocatalytic activity is also investigated in this work. The optimized heterojunction 50CN/NCS also degraded 89.1%, 78.3%, and 93.2% removal of the other pollutants CIP, SDZ, and BPA, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic carcinogen severely harmful to humans and animals. This study fabricated SDB-6-K-9@TiO2 composites via the hydrothermal synthesis method to reduce AFB1. The structural characterization results of the photocatalytic composites showed that TiO2 was successfully loaded onto SDB-6-K-9. The different photocatalytic degradation conditions, photocatalyst kinetics, recycling performance, and photocatalytic degradation mechanism were investigated. Photocatalysis with 6 mg of 4%SDB-6-K-9@TiO2 in a 100 μg/mL AFB1 solution presented a reduction of over 95%, exhibiting excellent performance, high stability, and reusability even after five cycles of photocatalytic experiments. Active species trapping experiments confirmed that holes (h+) played the most critical role. After structural analysis and identification of the photocatalytic degradation products, the photodegradation path and photocatalytic oxidation mechanism of 4%SDB-6-K-9@TiO2 were postulated. The results show a new way to improve TiO2's photocatalytic performance, providing a certain theoretical basis for the effective AFB1 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current trends in research and development of FCC catalyst is focused on the formulation of active matrices that serve as pre-crackers, with the objective of reducing the diffusional resistance of the longer chain hydrocarbon molecule in the feed. In this study, an aluminosilicate active matrix was synthesised from metakaolin using hydrothermal method. The experimental variables that were varied were hydrothermal temperature, in the range of 80 to 110 ℃, and hydrothermal time, in the range of 12 to 72 hours, to investigate the best conditions for synthesising the active matrix. Subsequently, the active matrix was subjected to a series of analyses, including X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption, NH3-temperature programmed desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetry, with the objective of determining its composition, crystal characteristics, surface characteristics, acidity, functional groups, material structure, and thermal characteristics. Additionally, the active matrix was tested for its intrinsic cracking activity using the micro activity test (MAT). The results indicate that the best temperature for hydrothermal synthesis of the active matrix is 80 °C. The active matrix synthesised with a heating time of 24 hours demonstrated the highest light cycle oil yield, reaching 38.9 wt%. Meanwhile, the active matrix synthesised at 48 hours exhibited the most favourable characteristics, with a specific surface area of 144.23 m²/g and a pore volume of 0.9933 cm³/g, as well as the highest cracking conversion of 70.0 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewater poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. The rising demand for an easy, efficient, environment‐friendly, and cost‐effective method for wastewater treatment has paved the way for the photocatalytic degradation of wastewater. Organic dyes, which comprise a major portion of organic pollutants in industrial wastewater, are highly toxic and carcinogenic. The hydrothermal method, being economical, easily available, and environmentally friendly, is used to prepare the time‐varying KBiFe2O5 samples. KBiFe2O5 is a lead‐free (nonhazardous), low‐bandgap brownmillerite‐structured crystalline material that can use a wide range of solar spectrum. Their phase purity is also confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer (UV–Vis DRS) is done to confirm the bandgap value and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is performed to identify the chemical bonds in the material. Degrading textile organic effluent methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light and comparing its photodegradation performance are conducted to investigate the synthesized samples' photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic activity is relatively enhanced by adding H2O2 in a precise amount. So, the synthesized samples effectively demonstrate photocatalytic behavior, which has been used for wastewater remediation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystal of a thallium‐containing sulfate Tl2Pb(SO4)2 was prepared through hydrothermal crystallization starting from Tl2CO3, Pb(NO3)2 and H2SO4. The crystal structure was solved from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data: Tl2Pb(SO4)2 crystallizes in space group R3‾ ${\bar{3}}$ m with lattice parameters of a=5.5955(2) Å, c=22.1001(9) Å, and Z=3, which is also corroborated by Rietveld refinement on X‐ray powder data. The crystal structure can be regarded as [Pb(SO4)2]2− sheets intercalated by double layers of Tl+ along the c‐axis. From a mineralogical perspective, Tl2Pb(SO4)2 belongs to the palmierite family and can further be classified within palmierite‐supergroup. Validation of the structure models was carried out utilizing various concepts including Bond Valence (BV), Charge Distribution (CD) and Madelung Part of Lattice Energy (MAPLE). Notably, a contrast in stereochemical activity of 6s2 lone electron pair (LEP) between Tl+ and Pb2+ is interpreted in terms of bonding behaviours as well as Wang‐Liebau Eccentricity (WLE) parameters. Moreover, an extensive investigation into the crystal chemistry of thallium‐containing sulfates was conducted for the first time, focusing on the coordination environment and bonding behaviour of Tl+ and corresponding WLE parameters. A comparative analysis of these structurally related compounds including Tl2Pb(SO4)2, Tl3H(SO4)2, TlBi(SO4)2, TlIn(SO4)2, TlRh(SO4)2, and TlAl(SO4)2 was delineated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, undoped and Ni-doped ZnS nanoparticles were fabricated using a hydrothermal method to explore their structural, optical, and surface properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the cubic crystal structure of ZnS, with the successful incorporation of Ni ions at various doping levels (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) without disrupting the overall lattice configuration. The average particle size for undoped ZnS was found to be 5.27 nm, while the Ni-doped samples exhibited sizes ranging from 5.45 nm to 5.83 nm, with the largest size observed at 6% Ni doping before a reduction at higher concentrations. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified characteristic Zn–S vibrational bands, with shifts indicating successful Ni incorporation into the ZnS lattice. UV–visible spectroscopy revealed a decrease in the optical band gap from 3.72 eV for undoped ZnS to 3.54 eV for 6% Ni-doped ZnS, demonstrating tunable optical properties due to Ni doping, which could enhance photocatalytic performance under visible light. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses confirmed the uniform distribution of Ni within the ZnS matrix, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provided further confirmation of the chemical states of the elements. Ni doping of ZnS nanoparticles alters the surface area and pore structure, optimizing the material's textural properties for enhanced performance. These findings suggest that Ni-doped ZnS nanoparticles offer promising potential for applications in photocatalysis, optoelectronics, and other fields requiring specific band gap tuning and particle size control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the effects of carbonation curing and autoclave–carbonation curing on the properties of calcium oxide–belite–calcium sulfoaluminate (CBSAC) cementitious material aerated concrete. The objective is to produce aerated concrete that adheres to the strength index in the Chinese standard GB/T 11968 while simultaneously mitigating CO2 emissions from cement factories. Results show that the compressive strength of CBSAC aerated concrete with different curing regimes (autoclave curing, carbonation curing, and autoclave–carbonation curing) can reach 4.3, 0.8, and 4.1 MPa, respectively. In autoclave–carbonation curing, delaying CO2 injection allows for better CO2 diffusion and reaction within the pores, increases the carbonation degree from 19.1% to 55.1%, and the bulk density from 603.7 kg/m3 to 640.2 kg/m3. Additionally, microstructural analysis reveals that delaying the injection of CO2 minimally disrupts internal hydrothermal synthesis, along with the formation of calcium carbonate clusters and needle-like silica gels, leading to a higher pore wall density. The industrial implementation of autoclavecarbonation curing results in CBSAC aerated concrete with a CO2 sequestration capacity ranging from 40 to 60 kg/m3 and a compressive strength spanning from 3.6 to 4.2 MPa. This innovative approach effectively mitigates the carbon emission pressures faced by CBSAC manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections originating from pathogenic microorganisms can significantly impede the natural wound-healing process. To address this obstacle, innovative bio-active nanomaterials have been developed to enhance antibacterial capabilities. This study focuses on the preparation of nanocomposites from thermally reduced graphene oxide and zinc oxide (TRGO/ZnO). The hydrothermal method was employed to synthesize these nanocomposites, and their physicochemical properties were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. Subsequently, the potential of TRGO/ZnO nanocomposites as bio-active materials against wound infection-causing bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, was evaluated. Furthermore, the investigated samples show disrupted bacterial biofilm formation. A reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay was conducted to investigate the mechanism of nanocomposite inhibition against bacteria and for further in-vivo determination of antimicrobial activity. The MTT assay was performed to ensure the safety and biocompatibility of nanocomposite. The results suggest that TRGO/ZnO nanocomposites have the potential to serve as effective bio-active nanomaterials for combating pathogenic microorganisms present in wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the sustainable growth of future generations, energy storage technologies like supercapacitors and batteries are becoming more and more common. However, reliable and high‐performance materials' design and development is the key for the widespread adoption of batteries and supercapacitors. Quantum dots with fascinating and unusual properties are expected to revolutionize future technologies. However, while the recent discovery of quantum dots honored with a Nobel prize in Chemistry, their benefits for the tenacious problem of energy are not realized yet. In this context, herein, chemical‐composition tuning enabled exceptional performance of NiCo2O4(NCO)/graphene quantum dots (GQDs) is reported, which outperform the existing similar materials, in supercapacitors. A comprehensive study is performed on the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical performance evaluation of highly functional NCO/GQDs in supercapacitors delivering enhanced energy efficiency. The high‐performance, functional NCO/GQDs electrode materials are synthesized by the incorporation of GQDs into NCO. The effect of variable amount of GQDs on the energy performance characteristics of NCO/GQDs in supercapacitors is studied systematically. In‐depth structural and chemical bonding analyses using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopic studies indicate that all the NCO/GQDs composites crystallize in the spinel cubic phase of NiCo2O4 while graphene integration evident in all the NCO/GQDs. The scanning electron microscopy imaging analysis reveals homogeneously distributed spherical particles with a size distribution of 5–9 nm validating the formation of QDs. The high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses reveal that the NCOQDs are anchored on graphene sheets, which provide a high surface area of 42.27 m2g−1 and high mesoporosity for the composition of NCO/GQDs‐10%. In addition to establishing reliable electrical connection to graphene sheets, the NCOQDs provide reliable 3D‐conductive channels for rapid transport throughout the electrode as well as synergistic effects. Chemical‐composition tuning, and optimization yields NCO/GQDs‐10% to deliver the best specific capacitance of 3940 Fg−1 at 0.5 Ag−1, where the electrodes retain ≈98% capacitance after 5000 cycles. The NCO/GQD‐10%//AC asymmetric supercapacitor device demonstrates outstanding energy density and power density values of 118.04 Wh kg−1 and 798.76 W kg−1, respectively. The NCO/GQDs‐10%//NCO/GQDs‐10% symmetric supercapacitor device delivers excellent energy and power density of 24.30 Wh kg−1 and 500 W kg−1, respectively. These results demonstrate and conclude that NCO/GQDs are exceptional and prospective candidates for developing next‐generation high‐performance and sustainable energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]