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Using electrocatalytic water reduction to produce hydrogen fuel offers significant potential for clean energy, yet its large-scale adoption depends on developing cost-effective, non-precious, and efficient catalysts to replace expensive Pt-based state-of-the-art HER catalysts. The catalytic HER performance of an active catalyst largely depends on the available catalytic active sites, conductivity, and intrinsic electrochemical kinetics, all of which can be altered by incorporating a heteroatom into the active catalyst structure. Herein, we synthesized a unique nitrogen-doped CuO@CuS (NCOS) core–shell-structured catalyst through a facile hydrothermal process followed by an efficacious nitrogenation process, and its electrochemical performance for the HER was systematically analyzed. The NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst exhibits a reduced overpotential (55 mV) and Tafel slope (107 mV dec−1) compared to the pure CuS (CS; 179 mV and 201 mV dec−1) catalyst at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Moreover, the NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst demonstrates excellent endurance for up to 50 h of chronopotentiometric testing at a driving current density rate of 10 and 100 mA cm−2. This excellent catalytic HER activity is a result of an increased electron transfer rate and a greater number of accessible active sites, attributed to a change in structural properties and the high electronic conductivity aroused from nitrogen incorporation, as evidenced from the TOF and EIS curve analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphine, as one of the most important narcotic drugs, significantly affects the nervous system and increases euphoria, which raises the likelihood of its misuse. Therefore, its measurement is of great importance. In this work, a new electrochemical sensor based on a nanocomposite of CuS/g-C3N5/AgNPs was developed for modifying Screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) and used for the measurement of morphine through cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Various analytical methods initially characterized the nanocomposite. The prepared sensor, which also has an extensive surface area, achieved a detection limit of 0.01 µM for morphine in a concentration range of 0.05–100 µM at pH 7. Besides its excellent capability in measuring morphine in real samples, the sensor exhibits good stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. The presence of CuS, due to its excellent high surface area alongside silver nanoparticles, leads to an increase in the conductivity of the g-C3N5 modified electrode, resulting in an increased oxidative current of morphine at the surface of the prepared sensor. Therefore, measuring low concentrations of morphine with this sensor was made possible. Additionally, measuring morphine without interference from various species is a strong point of the electrochemical sensor for morphine detection, and combined with the simplicity and ease of the method, it allows for morphine measurements to be conducted in the shortest possible time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Morphine, as one of the most important narcotic drugs, significantly affects the nervous system and increases euphoria, which raises the likelihood of its misuse. Therefore, its measurement is of great importance. In this work, a new electrochemical sensor based on a nanocomposite of CuS/g-C3N5/AgNPs was developed for modifying Screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) and used for the measurement of morphine through cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Various analytical methods initially characterized the nanocomposite. The prepared sensor, which also has an extensive surface area, achieved a detection limit of 0.01 µM for morphine in a concentration range of 0.05–100 µM at pH 7. Besides its excellent capability in measuring morphine in real samples, the sensor exhibits good stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. The presence of CuS, due to its excellent high surface area alongside silver nanoparticles, leads to an increase in the conductivity of the g-C3N5 modified electrode, resulting in an increased oxidative current of morphine at the surface of the prepared sensor. Therefore, measuring low concentrations of morphine with this sensor was made possible. Additionally, measuring morphine without interference from various species is a strong point of the electrochemical sensor for morphine detection, and combined with the simplicity and ease of the method, it allows for morphine measurements to be conducted in the shortest possible time.

In recent decades, electronic devices have become a crucial component of everyday life and an increasingly important aspect of national security. However, despite their convenience, the emission of electromagnetic (EM) radiation from these devices has created a pollution issue that demands urgent attention. In this study, the properties and performance of CuS/C composites as EM wave-absorbing materials were examined. The main technique employed involved modifying the surface structure and properties of a lignin biopolymer via a fiber laser to derive porous carbon as a microwave absorber in the X-band range. Flower-like CuS microspheres were integrated into the porous carbon to improve the electrical conductivity and promote internal reflections. In addition, multilayer microwave absorbers were developed using CuS/C/epoxy composites with varying weight percentages, which were fabricated through refluxing and annealing techniques. The return losses of the absorbers in single- and multi-layer modes were optimized by modified local particle swarm optimization (MLPSO). The minimum average return loss improved to −15 dB (96.8%) by optimization in the 4-layer mode with a thickness of 1.8 mm. The optimum absorption peak in the 3-layer structure was −54.52 dB at a frequency of 8.83 GHz. The shielding effectiveness assessments indicated that the CuS/C/epoxy composite significantly improved the shielding capabilities of porous C and CuS, resulting in an increase of the shielding effectiveness threshold (SET) from less than 2 dB in lignin to more than 10 dB in CuS/C/epoxy.

[Display omitted] In recent years, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as a prominent research topic due to their inherent safety attributes, relatively low cost, and comparatively higher energy density. However, the challenges associated with the zinc metal anode in the form of dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, and severe side reactions have proven to be particularly vexing. Thus, it is imperative to investigate novel intercalation-type anode materials for ZIBs that exhibit exceptional structural properties and appropriate redox potentials based on conversion mechanisms. In this work, through adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surfactant to precursors and tailoring reaction time, hierarchical CuS hollow spheres are successfully constructed by a facile one-step hydrothermal process. When applied as an anode in ZIBs, the hollow hierarchical CuS with large surface area can effectively reduce the transport distance of electrons and Zn2+ and alleviate volume expansion during the insertion/extraction of Zn2+. The hierarchical CuS hollow spheres prepared over 8 h (CuS-8) exhibit a specific capacity of 126 mAh/g and long-term cycle life (1500 cycles) at a current density of 3 A/g. In addition, CuS-8//MnO 2 @CNTs full-cell shows a capacity retention of 117 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 1 A/g current density, which proves the advantage of hierarchical CuS hollow spheres in serving as an efficient and durable anode material for ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have synthesized a nanostructured core–shell framework of carbon-coated copper sulfide (C@CuS) through a one-step precipitation technique. The carbon sphere template facilitated the nucleation of CuS nanostructures. The synthesized nanocomposites have demonstrated remarkable lithium-ion storage capabilities when utilized as an anode in lithium-ion batteries. Notably, they exhibit an impressive rate capability of 314 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 5000 mA g−1, along with excellent long-term cycle stability, maintaining 463 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 after 800 cycles. This superior performance is due to the core–shell architecture of the composite, where the carbon core enhances the conductivity of CuS nanoparticles and mitigates volume expansion, thus preventing capacity loss. Our study not only elucidates the significance of carbon in the construction of nano-heterojunctions or composite electrodes but also presents a practical approach to significantly boost the electrochemical performance of CuS and other metal sulfides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Interfacial solar steam generation is considered as economical and more effective implementation of Solar steam generation (SSG) where solar energy is concentrated at the liquid surface via the utilization of heat localization materials (HLM). Herein we report the fabrication of an HLM constituted of a nanocomposite absorber of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and covellite copper sulfide (CuS) supported on a mixed cellulose ester membrane, with a substrate of air laid paper-wrapped polystyrene foam. This structure allowed for strong broad-spectrum absorbance, increased hydrophilic character and minimal thermal losses. The HLM system absorbed 98% of the material and had an evaporation rate of 2.58 kgs per square meter per hour. This is twice the evaporation rate of water tested under the same conditions. Moreover, as fabricated HLM was also incorporated in a solar still in order to assess its practical performance in solar distillation. Initial studies proved that HLM modified solar still was more effective than conventional solar stills.

Abstract Copper indium sulfide (CuInS2) exhibits strong visible light absorption and thus has the potential for good photocatalytic activity; however, rapid charge recombination limits its practical usage. An intriguing strategy to overcome this issue is to couple CuInS2 with another semiconductor to form a heterojunction, which can improve the charge carrier separation and, hence, enhance the photocatalytic activity. In this study, photocatalysts comprising CuInS2 with a secondary CuS phase (termed CuInxSy) and CuInxSy loaded with ZnS (termed ZnS@CuInxSy) were synthesized via a microwave-assisted method. Structural and morphological characterization revealed that the ZnS@CuInxSy photocatalyst comprised tetragonal CuInS2 containing a secondary phase of hexagonal CuS, coupled with hexagonal ZnS. The effective band gap energy of CuInxSy was widened from 2.23 to 2.71 as the ZnS loading increased from 0 to 30%. The coupling of CuInxSy with ZnS leads to long-lived charge carriers and efficient visible-light harvesting properties, which in turn lead to a remarkably high activity for the photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green (95.6% in 5 h) and conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-nitrophenolate ions (95.4% in 5 h). The active species involved in these photocatalytic processes were evaluated using suitable trapping agents. Based on the obtained results, photocatalytic mechanisms are proposed that emphasize the importance of h+, O2 •–, and OH− in photocatalytic processes using ZnS@CuInxSy.

The transition from fossil fuels to carbon-neutral energy sources is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and combat climate change. Hydrogen (H2) provides a promising path to harness fossil fuels to reduce emissions in sectors such as transportation. However, regional economic analyses of various H2 production techniques are still lacking. We selected a well-known fossil fuel-exporting region, the USA's Intermountain-West (I-WEST), to analyze the carbon intensity of H2 production and demonstrate regional tradeoffs. Currently, 78 % of global H2 production comes from natural gas and coal. Therefore, we considered steam methane reforming (SMR), surface coal gasification (SCG) and underground coal gasification (UCG) as H2 production methods in this work. We developed the cost estimation frameworks of SMR, SCG and UCG with and without carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS). In addition, we identified optimal sites for H2 hubs by considering the proximity to energy sources, energy markets, storage sites and CO2 sequestration sites. We included new production tax credits (PTCs) in the cost estimation to quantify the economic benefit of CCUS. Our results suggest that the UCG has the lowest levelized cost of H2 production due to the elimination of coal production cost. H2 production using the SMR process with 99 % carbon capture is profitable when the PTCs are considered. We also analyzed carbon utilization opportunities where CO2 conversion to formic acid is a promising profitable option. This work quantifies the potential of H2 production from fossil fuels in the I-WEST region, a key parameter for designing energy transition pathways.

Using electrocatalytic water reduction to produce hydrogen fuel offers significant potential for clean energy, yet its large-scale adoption depends on developing cost-effective, non-precious, and efficient catalysts to replace expensive Pt-based state-of-the-art HER catalysts. The catalytic HER performance of an active catalyst largely depends on the available catalytic active sites, conductivity, and intrinsic electrochemical kinetics, all of which can be altered by incorporating a heteroatom into the active catalyst structure. Herein, we synthesized a unique nitrogen-doped CuO@CuS (NCOS) core–shell-structured catalyst through a facile hydrothermal process followed by an efficacious nitrogenation process, and its electrochemical performance for the HER was systematically analyzed. The NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst exhibits a reduced overpotential (55 mV) and Tafel slope (107 mV dec−1) compared to the pure CuS (CS; 179 mV and 201 mV dec−1) catalyst at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Moreover, the NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst demonstrates excellent endurance for up to 50 h of chronopotentiometric testing at a driving current density rate of 10 and 100 mA cm−2. This excellent catalytic HER activity is a result of an increased electron transfer rate and a greater number of accessible active sites, attributed to a change in structural properties and the high electronic conductivity aroused from nitrogen incorporation, as evidenced from the TOF and EIS curve analyses.

The real-time photothermal degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye was studied using CuS thin film (TF) as a photocatalyst. The polycrystalline CuS TFs were fabricated on precleaned glass substrates by an aqueous solution of copper chloride and thiourea using a fully automated spray pyrolysis technique by varying temperatures (250–400°C). The properties of deposited films were studied by XRD, SEM, UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and Hall measurement. XRD results show that the CuS TFs crystallized in the cubic phase with an average crystallite size ~22–30 nm. CuS TF grown at higher temperatures (350°C, 400°C) exhibited very low strain of about 0.55 and 1%, respectively. Hall study revealed that films deposited at 400°C had good electrical parameters with mobility (μ) of 0.866 cm2 V−1 s−1, Carrier concentration (p) of 5.21 × 1019 cm−3 and conductivity (σ) of 49.4 Ω-cm−1. The estimated optical bandgap of films were found to be in the range of 2.10–2.26 eV, revealing blue shift due to quantum size effects. The PL spectra showed two characteristic bands of the CuS films, at 422 nm and an intense green band at 504 nm. The copper sulphide TF showed high photocatalytic activities in a photo-decolourization of MB dye under irradiation of visible light, as CuS TF was able to completely decompose the dye in 160 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study reports the effects of a computationally informed and avocado-seed mediated Phyto engineered CuS nanoparticles as fertilizing agent on the ionome and amino acid metabolome of Pinto bean seeds using both bench top and ion beam analytical techniques. Physico-chemical analysis of the Phyto engineered nanoparticles with scanning-electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CuS nanoparticles. Molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction of some active phytocompounds in avocado seeds that act as reducing agents with the nano-digenite further showed that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid had a higher affinity for interacting with the nanoparticle’s surface than other active compounds. Seeds treated with the digenite nanoparticles exhibited a unique ionome distribution pattern as determined with external beam proton-induced X-ray emission, with hotspots of Cu and S appearing in the hilum and micropyle area that indicated a possible uptake mechanism via the seed coat. The nano-digenite also triggered a plant stress response by slightly altering seed amino acid metabolism. Ultimately, the nano-digenite may have important implications as a seed protective or nutritive agent as advised by its unique distribution pattern and effect on amino acid metabolism. Graphical abstract

The CuAP aerogel has excellent photothermal evaporation performance, reaching a maximum rate of 1.57 kg m−2 h−1 in pure water, and has also shown excellent desalination performance in real seawater evaporation tests. [Display omitted] Solar-driven water purification is a promising technology that can effectively utilize solar energy for seawater desalination. However, poor materials are unable to meet the dense energy of solar steam generation in natural sunlight for real-time practical applications. Therefore, the demand for energy density can be increased by using improved semiconductor aerogel materials. Here, we report a simple chemical method to obtain a CuS@ATP/PS composite aerogel (named CuAP), which was made of attapulgite (ATP) and CuS loaded onto it using an N -template to give it good photothermal characteristics (CuS@ATP), and then cross-link it with potato starch (PS). The evaporation rate of CuAP-15 aerogel in pure water at 1 kW m−2 solar radiation is 1.57 kg m−2 h−1. Meanwhile, CuAP-15 aerogel showed excellent salt resistance with an evaporation rate of 1.35 kg m−2 h−1 in 20 wt% NaCl solution. And also exhibited excellent cycling durability in cycling stability tests. More importantly, the freshwater yield can reach 6.54 kg m−2 under natural light irradiation for 11 h. Therefore, CuAP aerogel has a great prospect of application in the field of seawater desalination in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, copper sulfide (CuS) nanostructure was deposited on a porous silicon wafer for the visible light by spray pyrolysis method. Through this, a series of devices were suggested as a part of the deposit concentration of CuS on n-type porous silicon. Simultaneously, the physical features of the attained film were illustrated. FESEM exhibited that the average nanoparticle diameter increased with the concentration of CuS at orientation (100) and was found to be 47.84 nm, 56.36nm and 71.32nm, while the average diameter at (111) orientation was found to be 37.64 nm, 41.46nm, 55.22 nm of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5M respectively. In addition to the atomic force microscope (AFM) showed the roughness and uniformity of the CuS/PSi fabricated decreased with increasing concentration of CuS, In detail, the attained photo-responsivity and specific detectivity were observed to be 210 mW/A, 340 mW/A and 3x1010 Jones, 4.2x1010 Jones at orientation (100 )using concentration of 0.1M and 0.5M respectively . On the other hand, the photo-responsivity and specific detectivity were observed to be 260 mW/A, 380 mW/A and 1.8 x1010 Jones, 4.5x1010 Jones at orientation (111) using concentrations of 0.1M and 0.5M respectively. The presented work shows a substitutional system for an economical and environmentally friendly optoelectronic scheme. The photo-responsive considered to be in a positive linear relationship with the used concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full potential all-electron density functional method within generalized gradient approximation is used herein to investigate correlations of the electronic, elastic and thermo-electric transport properties of cubic copper sulphide and copper selenide. The electronic band structure and density of states suggest a metallic behaviour with a zero-energy band gap for both materials. Elastic property calculations suggest stiff materials, with bulk to shear modulus ratios of 0.35 and 0.44 for Cu2S and Cu2Se, respectively. Thermo-electric transport properties were estimated using the Boltzmann transport approach. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and power factor all suggest a potential p-type conductivity for α-Cu2S and n-type conductivity for α-Cu2Se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cranial ultrasonography (CUS) has become an important tool to depict normal brain anatomy and to detect the ischemic and hemorrhagic brain injury patterns in high-risk neonates. The present study aimed to assess the utility of CUS to diagnose the spectrum of brain injury patterns in high-risk preterm and term neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to find the association of CUS findings in various adverse antenatal and perinatal feto-maternal factors. Results Out of the 200 neonates, 76 (38%) neonates had abnormal CUS findings and 124 (62%) had a normal CUS. Germinal matrix hemorrhage-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH) (28/76; 36.8 %) was the commonest abnormality with GMH (grade 1) in 14/76 (18.4%), grade 2 in 7 (9.2%), grade 3 in 5 (6.5%), and grade 4 in 2 (2.63%). The other findings observed were cerebral edema (14/76; 18.4%), thalamic hyperechogenicity (10/76; 13.1%), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) (4/76; 5.2%), and congenital anomalies (8; 10.5%). Abnormal CUS findings had a statistically significant association with birth weight

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs), as one of the most promising candidates for efficient energy storage devices with high energy, power density and high safety, have attracted increasing attention. However, searching for suitable cathode materials with fast diffusion kinetics and exploring their magnesium storage mechanisms remains a great challenge. CuS submicron spheres, made by a facile low-temperature synthesis strategy, were applied as the high-performance cathode for RMBs in this work, which can deliver a high specific capacity of 396 mAh g−1 at 20 mA g−1 and a remarkable rate capacity of 250 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1. The excellent rate performance can be assigned to the nano needle-like particles on the surface of CuS submicron spheres, which can facilitate the diffusion kinetics of Mg2+. Further storage mechanism investigations illustrate that the CuS cathodes experience a two-step conversion reaction controlled by diffusion during the electrochemical reaction process. This work could make a contribution to the study of the enhancement of diffusion kinetics of Mg2+ and the reaction mechanism of RMBs.

Being social animals, rats exhibit a range of social behaviors that help them build social bonds and maintain group cohesion. Behavior is influenced by multiple factors, including stress exposure, and the expression of the impact of stress on both social and non-social behaviors may also be aected by the living conditions of rats. In this study, we explored the physiological and behavioral eects of chronic unpredictable stress on group-housed rats in the PhenoWorld (PhW), a socially and physically enriched environment closer to real-life conditions. Two independent experiments were performed: one in the control condition (PhW control, n = 8) and one in the stress condition (PhW stress, n = 8). Control animals remained undisturbed except for cage cleaning and daily handling procedures. Stress group animals were all exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. Data confirm that stress exposure triggers anxiety-like behavior in the PhW. In terms of home-cage behaviors, we found that stress aects social behaviors (by decreased playing and increased huddling behaviors) and non-social behaviors (as shown by the decrease in rearing and walking behaviors). These results are of relevance to expand our knowledge on the influence of stress on social and non-social behaviors, which are of importance to understand better species-typical behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, well-defined hollow CuS microspheres assembled from nanosheets were successfully synthesized through a facile solvothermal method. Hollow CuS microspheres have an average diameter of 1.5 μm; moreover, the primary CuS nanosheets have an ultrathin thickness of about 10 nm and are bound by {0001} polar facets. When used as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), hollow CuS microspheres exhibit excellent electrochemical properties, including a large discharge capacity (610.1 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C), an excellent rate capability (207.6 and 143.4 mAh g−1 at 1 and 5 C), and a superior cyclic stability (196.3 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 500 cycles). When used as photocatalysts for Rhodamine B (RhB), hollow CuS microspheres can degrade more than 99% of the initial RhB within 21 min. These excellent Li-ion storage properties and photocatalytical performances are attributed to their unique hierarchical hollow structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The latest view suggests the inactive core, surface pulverization, and polysulfide shuttling effect of metal sulfides are responsible for their low capacity and poor cycling performance in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Whereas overcoming the above problems based on conventional nanoengineering is not efficient enough. In this work, erythrocyte-like CuS microspheres with an elastic buffering layer of ultrathin polyaniline (PANI) were synthesized through one-step self-assembly growth, followed by in situ polymerization of aniline. When CuS@PANI is used as anode electrode in SIBs, it delivers high capacity, ultrahigh rate capability (500 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and 214.5 mAh g−1 at 40 A g−1), and superior cycling life of over 7500 cycles at 20 A g−1. A series of in/ex situ characterization techniques were applied to investigate the structural evolution and sodium-ion storage mechanism. The PANI swollen with electrolyte can stabilize solid electrolyte interface layer, benefit the ion transport/charge transfer at the PANI/electrolyte interface, and restrain the size growth of Cu particles in confined space. Moreover, finite element analyses and density functional simulations confirm that the PANI film effectively buffers the volume expansion, suppresses the surface pulverization, and traps the polysulfide.

Being social animals, rats exhibit a range of social behaviors that help them build social bonds and maintain group cohesion. Behavior is influenced by multiple factors, including stress exposure, and the expression of the impact of stress on both social and non-social behaviors may also be affected by the living conditions of rats. In this study, we explored the physiological and behavioral effects of chronic unpredictable stress on group-housed rats in the PhenoWorld (PhW), a socially and physically enriched environment closer to real-life conditions. Two independent experiments were performed: one in the control condition (PhW control, n = 8) and one in the stress condition (PhW stress, n = 8). Control animals remained undisturbed except for cage cleaning and daily handling procedures. Stress group animals were all exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. Data confirm that stress exposure triggers anxiety-like behavior in the PhW. In terms of home-cage behaviors, we found that stress affects social behaviors (by decreased playing and increased huddling behaviors) and non-social behaviors (as shown by the decrease in rearing and walking behaviors). These results are of relevance to expand our knowledge on the influence of stress on social and non-social behaviors, which are of importance to understand better species-typical behaviors.

In this paper, a novel S-scheme CuS/Bi5O7I heterojunction was successfully constructed using a two-step approach comprising the alkaline hydrothermal method and the adsorption–deposition method, and it consisted of Bi5O7I microrods with CuS particles covering the surface. The photocatalytic antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli (E. coli) were systematically examined with visible light exposure. The results suggested that the 3%-CuS/Bi5O7I composite showed the optimal antibacterial activity, completely inactivating E. coli (5 × 108 cfu/mL) in 180 min of irradiation. Moreover, the bacterial inactivation process was scientifically described. •O2− and h+ were the major active species for the inactivation of the bacteria. In the early stages, SOD and CAT initiated the protection system to avoid the oxidative destruction of the active species. Unfortunately, the antioxidant protection system was overwhelmed thereafter, which led to the destruction of the cell membrane, as evidenced by the microstructure changes in E. coli cells. Subsequently, the leakage of intracellular components including K+, proteins, and DNA resulted in the unavoidable death of E. coli. Due to the construction of the S-scheme heterojunction, the CuS/Bi5O7I composite displayed the boosted visible light harvesting, the high-efficiency separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, and a great redox capacity, contributing to an outstanding photocatalytic disinfection performance. This work offers a new opportunity for S-scheme Bi5O7I-based heterojunctions with potential application in water disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ouabain (OUA) is a cardiotonic steroid that modulates Na+, K+ -ATPase activity. OUA has been identified as an endogenous substance that is present in human plasma, and it has been shown to be associated with the response to acute stress in both animals and humans. Chronic stress is a major aggravating factor in psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. The present work investigates the effects of the intermittent administration of OUA (1.8 μg/kg) during the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) protocol in a rat's central nervous system (CNS). The results suggest that the intermittent OUA treatment reversed CUS-induced HPA axis hyperactivity through a reduction in (i) glucocorticoids levels, (ii) CRH-CRHR1 expression, and by decreasing neuroinflammation with a reduction in iNOS activity, without interfering with the expression of antioxidant enzymes. These changes in both the hypothalamus and hippocampus may reflect in the rapid extinction of aversive memory. The present data demonstrate the ability of OUA to modulate the HPA axis, as well as to revert CUS-induced long-term spatial memory deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-performance electrode materials with a far-from-enough energy density has still been crucial for the real applications of supercapacitor technology. In this paper, the N-doped and derivatized-carbon-intercalated Ti3C2Tx, abbreviated as N–Ti3C2Tx/C, was firstly fabricated using ZIF-67 as an intermediate precursor. Then N–Ti3C2Tx/C/CuS was prepared by further intercalation with CuS nanoparticles through a room-temperature-in-situ-reaction route. The doped pyridine N and pyrrolic N, together with derivatized carbon, optimized the surface charge distribution of Ti3C2Tx with increased active sites. In addition, CuS nanoparticles were observed distributed on the surface and between layers of single/multi-layered two-dimensional N–Ti3C2Tx/C nanosheets, forming a heterogeneous three-dimensional structure. Therefore, the specific capacitance of the N–Ti3C2Tx/C/CuS composite at a current density of 1 A g−1 reached 1205.8 F g−1, about 5 times that of N–Ti3C2Tx/C and 2 times of CuS, also much higher than other composite reported in the literature. The energy density and power density of N–Ti3C2Tx/C/CuS, as a symmetric supercapacitor electrode, are 77.22 Wh·kg−1 and 649.54 W kg−1, respectively. More importantly, N–Ti3C2Tx/C/CuS has an excellent stability after 3000 cycles, surpassing that of similar electrode materials reported in literature. This study opens a new direction for enhancing the energy density of supercapacitors with modified electrode materials through a MOF-mediated strategy.

The excessive consumption of fossil fuels leads to a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO 2) being released into the atmosphere, destroying the natural balance of the carbon cycle system, causing the greenhouse effect, and aggravating global climate change. Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction (E-CO 2 R) to produce value-added chemicals and synthetic fuels can not only solve the excessive emission of CO 2 but also realize the regeneration of carbon fuel. Given the unclear relationship between morphology and performance of copper-based catalysts for E-CO 2 R. The morphology of CuS nanomaterials prepared under different sulfur sources is different, which affects the performance of E-CO 2 R. In this study, a series of CuS nano-catalysts with multiple morphologies were prepared by using different sulfur precursors and surfactants based on morphology and structure regulation strategies, and E-CO 2 R performance tests were conducted to determine the structure-activity relationship between morphology and formate selectivity. Flower spherical morphology exhibited better Faraday efficiency for formate, followed by nanoparticles and finally nanospheres. After the surfactant was added, the morphology of CuS changed differently, such as adjusting the particle size of nano-flowers, alleviating the agglomeration of nano-particles, and forming hollow nano-spheres or composite morphology. These changes increased the electrochemical surface area and improved the performance of the electrocatalytic preparation of formate from CO 2 R. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to explain the reaction mechanism of E-CO 2 R to formate on different Cu surfaces, and the linear relationship between the work function corrected by sulfur content on each surface and the binding energy of *CO 2 was quantified. Bader charge analysis demonstrated that the stability of *OCHO was related to the algebraic sum of S and intermediate charges on each surface, and the formation energy of CO product intermediate *COOH was linear with that of HCOOH product intermediate *OCHO. [Display omitted] • Morphology-controlled CuS catalyst for selective electrochemical CO 2 reduction of formate. • The Faraday efficiency of formate formation reached 79.7 % at －1 V vs RHE. • DFT reveals the mechanism of S doping on Cu surface for electroreduction of CO 2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposing of active crystal facets plays a crucial role in tailoring the electrochemical properties of nanocrystals. Herein, CuS hexagonal nanoplates with exposed (110) planes (CuS-P) were synthesized via a microwave-assisted homogeneous precipitation route. Structural characterization, including XRD and TEM, revealed that the CuS nanoplates were (110) facet exposed and that their morphologies could be mediated through polyvinylpyrrolidone coordination. These CuS-P nanoplates possessed excellent electrochemical properties and demonstrated good catalytic activity in the electro-oxidation of glucose. The (110) crystal facets on CuS improve the adsorption and activation of glucose, accelerating the electrochemical reaction. A novel nonenzymatic glucose sensor was fabricated by modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with CuS-P nanoplates. The sensor exhibited an ultrafast response rate (< 0.1 s), a low detection limit of 0.38 µM and a wide linear range of 10 µM ∼ 15.0 mM. In addition, the developed method showed good anti-interference capability and outstanding stability. When the nonenzymatic sensor was adopted to detect glucose in human serum, the recoveries ranged from 98.8 % to 101.4 %, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 2.0 %, indicating its practical use. This study offers an in-depth understanding of the crystal facet effect in the construction of high-performance electrochemical sensors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of great significance for ushering in the hydrogen energy age to synthesize super active non-noble-metal electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst. Herein, we reported a P-doped low-cost and facile synthesized P-CuS as an electrocatalyst synthesized by a solvothermal strategy. Obtained more active sites offered the catalytic space that significantly lowered barriers to response, which results in the electrocatalyst exhibiting excellent catalytic activity. The overpotential of P-CuS-1 for optimal electrochemical performance was 280 mV @ 10 mA cm−2 and the Tafel slope was 138.24 mv dec−1. Additionally, the double-layer capacitance of the sample was calculated to be 17.77 mF cm−2, which increased by 15.21 mF cm−2 over the pre-doped CuS, along with good cycling stability upon 22 h. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that P-doping enhances OER activity by optimising the adsorption free energy of oxygenated intermediates. It indicated that P-doped CuS electrocatalyst can improve the OER electrochemical performance significantly compared to CuS. This study provides an effective way to tune the electronic structure of CuS using P-doping. • Pure CuS and P-CuS OER catalysts were synthesised by one-pot method under laboratory conditions. • By electrochemical testing, the overpotential of P-CuS-1 is as low as 280mV@10mA cm-2. • It demonstrates that P-doping can enhance the catalytic activity of OER-inert copper sulfide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction is an excellent method for the resource utilization of CO 2. However, challenges such as inferior product yields and poor selectivity still exist. In this investigation, a novel composite catalyst of S-type heterojunction Ga 2 S 3 /CuS was formulated and synthesized using a facile two-step hydrothermal method. The CH 4 product yield of 30 wt% Ga 2 S 3 /CuS reached 18.8 μmol·g−1·h−1. The reaction pathways were investigated through in-situ DRIFTS and DFT calculations, revealing the internal built-in electric field at the S-type heterojunction induces migration of the Cu atomic d -band center towards the Fermi energy level. The elevation of the Cu d orbital energy levels enables electron contributions from the d xz orbital to facilitate the formation of π* bonds with CO 2 , thereby promoting the adsorption of both CO 2 and intermediate species to produce CH 4. This study emphasizes the influence of the intrinsic electric field at the interface on product yield and selectivity. [Display omitted] • Under visible light irradiation, Ga 2 S 3 /CuS achieves effective photocatalytic conversion of CO 2 to CH 4. • The unique electron transfer pathway of the S-type heterojunction synergistically participates in CO 2 activation. • The selective enhancement of CH 4 generation by Ga 2 S 3 /CuS was explained using crystal field theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunlight-driven interfacial evaporation has been considered an effective solution to address water scarcity and seawater desalination with minimal environmental impact. We designed a sunlight-driven interfacial evaporation device using the porous melamine foam (MF) as the carrier to stabilize the loading of metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) derived CuS nanosheets. The MOFs-derived CuS nanosheets (M-CuS) have a full-spectrum solar light absorption rate of 95 % and the porous channels existing inside M-CuS effectively improve the light capturing ability and contribute to the rapid thermal response of M-CuS. The M-CuS was loaded on the MF through the adhesion of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to obtain an integrated M-CuS/MF aerogel with a stable structure. PVA further improves the hydrophilicity of MF and ensures a continuous supply of water to M-CuS/MF during the evaporation process. The unique porous structure of M-CuS/MF further promotes the absorption of sunlight, and the low thermal conductivity of MF (0.036 Wm−1K−1) could reduce the radiative and convective heat loss from the material to the surrounding environment. The evaporation rate and photothermal conversion efficiency of CuS/MF are 1.46 kg m−2h−1 and 86 % under one sunlight, respectively. The continuous seawater evaporation cycle experiments (15 times) show that the device can maintain a stable evaporation rate. The excellent salt blocking performance of M-CuS/MF suggest the promising long-term stable desalination applications. [Display omitted] • Interfacial evaporation device consists of MF and M-CuS nanosheets. • M-CuS nanosheets exhibit a full-spectrum solar light absorption rate of 95 %. • The evaporation rate of M-CuS/MF is 1.46 kg m−2h−1 under one sunlight. • The low thermal conductivity of MF reduces the heat loss. • M-CuS/MF suggest the promising long-term stable desalination applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full potential all-electron density functional method within generalized gradient approximation is used herein to investigate correlations of the electronic, elastic and thermo-electric transport properties of cubic copper sulphide and copper selenide. The electronic band structure and density of states suggest a metallic behaviour with a zero-energy band gap for both materials. Elastic property calculations suggest stiff materials, with bulk to shear modulus ratios of 0.35 and 0.44 for Cu2S and Cu2Se, respectively. Thermo-electric transport properties were estimated using the Boltzmann transport approach. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and power factor all suggest a potential p-type conductivity for α-Cu2S and n-type conductivity for α-Cu2Se.

This work describes a successful approach to dope copper sulfide with different amounts of Co2+ ions and combine it with TiO2 through a simple one-step hydrothermal process. Compared with the bare CuS, the synthesized Co-CuS@TiO2 heterostructures promote charge transport and restrict the recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes. The intrinsic properties of Co-CuS@TiO2 samples are systematically examined through experimental characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations. Photocatalytic degradation tests under simulated solar light irradiation were performed using sulfamethoxazole degradation as a model emerging persistent antibiotic. The photocatalytic performance was enhanced after cobalt doping, and the heterostructure doped with 3% of Co exhibited the best degradation with an apparent rate constant of 0.0216 min−1. This sample also showed a much faster settling than bare TiO2, which indicates a much easier separation of the reaction media after being used. The enhancement of degradation is attributed to the increased light absorption and the more efficient charge transfer and separation. The plausible photocatalytic degradation mechanism of sulfamethoxazole was also proposed. This study presents a novel strategy to prepare potential photocatalysts for the elimination of emerging pollutants.

Transparent diodes formed by a heterojunction between p-type CuS–ZnS and n-type ZnO thin films were fabricated by sequential chemical bath deposition and sol-gel spin coating. The diodes are transparent in the visible (≈70% at 550 nm) and exhibit a good rectifying characteristics, with If/Ir ratios of up to 800 at ±1 V, higher than most of the reported solution-processed diodes measured at a similar bias. More importantly, when operated as a self-powered (zero bias) UV photodetector, they show stable and fast (

Transparent diodes formed by a heterojunction between p-type CuS–ZnS and n-type ZnO thin films were fabricated by sequential chemical bath deposition and sol-gel spin coating. The diodes are transparent in the visible (≈70% at 550 nm) and exhibit a good rectifying characteristics, with If/Ir ratios of up to 800 at ±1 V, higher than most of the reported solution-processed diodes measured at a similar bias. More importantly, when operated as a self-powered (zero bias) UV photodetector, they show stable and fast (

There are growing interests in the development of bifunctional semiconducting nanostructures for photocatalysis and real-time monitoring of degradation process on catalysts. Defect engineering is a low-cost approach to manipulating the properties of semiconductors. Herein, we prepared CuS nanoplates by a hydrothermal method at increasing amounts of thioacetamide (CS-1, CS-2, and CS-3) and investigated the influence of sulfur vacancy (Vs) on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and photocatalysis performance. SERS intensity of 4-nitrobenzenethiol on CS-3 is 346 and 17 times that of CS-1 and CS-2, respectively, and enhancement factor is 1.34 × 104. Moreover, SERS is successfully applied to monitor the photodegradation of methyl orange. In addition, CS-3 also exhibited higher efficiency of Cr(VI) photoreduction than CS-1 and CS-2, and removal rate is 88%, 96%, and 73% under 2 h UV, 4 h visible, and 4 h near-infrared illumination, respectively. A systematic study including electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, photoelectrochemical measurements, and nitrogen adsorption isotherms were conducted to investigate the underlying mechanism. This work may help to understand the impact of vacancy defect on SERS and photocatalysis, and provide an effective and low-cost approach for the design of multifunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The JAK/STAT signal pathway is a system of intracellular proteins used by many cytokines and growth factors to express genes responsible for the process of cell activation, proliferation and differentiation. There has been numerous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases identified where the JAK/STAT signaling is disrupted; however, there are only a few papers concerning autoimmune bullous diseases published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of proteins: JAK3, STAT2, STAT4 and STAT6 in epithelium lesions in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), bullous pemphigoid (BP), oral lichen planus (LP) and chronic ulcerative stomatitis (CUS), as well as in the control group. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were used to evaluate expression of selected proteins. We found significantly higher expression of selected JAK/STAT proteins in oral mucosa lesions in study groups in comparison to the control group, which indicates participation of JAK/STAT pathway in pathogenesis of these diseases. In BP and PV there were no increased STAT2 expression, whereas in CUS and LP no increased STAT4 expression occurred. The differences in expression of JAK/STAT proteins in selected disorders have been observed. These results create new potential therapeutic targets for the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs), as one of the most promising candidates for efficient energy storage devices with high energy, power density and high safety, have attracted increasing attention. However, searching for suitable cathode materials with fast diffusion kinetics and exploring their magnesium storage mechanisms remains a great challenge. CuS submicron spheres, made by a facile low-temperature synthesis strategy, were applied as the high-performance cathode for RMBs in this work, which can deliver a high specific capacity of 396 mAh g−1 at 20 mA g−1 and a remarkable rate capacity of 250 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1. The excellent rate performance can be assigned to the nano needle-like particles on the surface of CuS submicron spheres, which can facilitate the diffusion kinetics of Mg2+. Further storage mechanism investigations illustrate that the CuS cathodes experience a two-step conversion reaction controlled by diffusion during the electrochemical reaction process. This work could make a contribution to the study of the enhancement of diffusion kinetics of Mg2+ and the reaction mechanism of RMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of a project aiming to phytoremediate contaminated soils with heavy metal Cr in Long Khanh city, Dongnai province, Southeast of Vietnam, a series of greenhouse experiments followed by field trials were performed in order to evaluate the effect of L. sphaericus on the Cr phytoextraction by S. nigrum. The results showed that L. sphaericus improved the Cr uptake efficiency of S. nigrum through changing growth parameters such as root length, height, biomass and the ability to accumulate Cr in plants. At an application rate corresponding to the T3 treatment in this experiment, L. sphaericus can stimulate the dry biomass of S. nigrum by 143%, increase the Cr concentrations in the aerial part by 70%, the content of Cr extracted in a single plant up to 293% compared to treatment without L. sphaericus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the influence of a novel magnetic activated carbon (MAC) nanocomposite coated with CuS (MAC/CuS) on the successful removal of tetracycline (TC) molecules from aqueous solutions via adsorption. The physical and structural properties of the synthesized sorbent were determined using the field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometer techniques. Equilibrium isotherms and adsorption kinetics were studied. Additionally, the effects of pH (3, 5, 7, and 9), TC concentration (5–100 mg/L), MAC/CuS dosage (0.025–2.5 g), temperature (5°C, 10°C, 20°C, 40°C, and 50°C), and contact time (from inception to 200 min) were extensively examined. Our results revealed that the highest TC removal percentage was approximately 70% under optimal conditions (pH = 9, contact time = 200 min, nanocomposite dosage = 2 g/L, and temperature = 20°C). Modelling of the experimental data using isothermal models indicated that the TC adsorption process followed the Temkin model. Thermodynamic analyses revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. A kinetic study demonstrated that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was best for describing TC adsorption. This work presents a magnetic activated carbon nanocomposite coated with CuS as a high-efficiency adsorbent for the remediation of wastewater loaded with TC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fractal, flower petal-like CuS-CuO/G-C3N4 nanocomposite is prepared and applied in a symmetric two-electrode supercapacitor. The preparation of CuS-CuO/G-C3N4 is carried out through the hydrothermal method, in which salts of copper are dissolved and mixed with a suspension of G-C3N4 nanoparticles. A symmetric two-electrode supercapacitor, formed from CuS-CuO/G-C3N4 paste on Au-plates is investigated. The measurements are carried out in diluted 0.5 M HCl, and Whatman filter paper is used as a separator. The supercapacitor electric properties are determined by measuring the charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry, impedance, and lifetime parameters. An enhancement in the charge/discharge time from 65 to 420 s was recorded while decreasing the current density (J) from 1.0 to 0.3 A/g. The cyclic voltammetry behavior is studied from 50 to 300 mV·s−1, causing a direct increase in the produced J values. The specific capacitance (CS) and energy density (E) values are 370 F/g and 37 W·h·kg−1, respectively. The magnificent properties of the prepared supercapacitor qualify it for industrial applications as an alternative to batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photo-stimuli-responsive therapeutic nanomaterials have gained widespread attention as frontline materials for biomedical applications. The photoactivation strategies are classified as single-modality (based on either reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT), hyperthermia-based photothermal therapy (PTT)), or dual-modality (which combines PDT and PTT). Due to its minimal invasiveness, phototherapy has been extensively applied as an efficient therapeutic platform for many diseases, including skin cancers. However, extensive implementation of phototherapy to address the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections remains challenging. This review focuses on copper sulfide (CuS) nanomaterials as efficient and cost-effective PDT and PTT therapeutic nanomaterials with antibacterial activity. The features and merits of CuS nanomaterials as therapeutics are compared to those of other nanomaterials. Control of the dimensions and morphological complexity of CuS nanomaterials through judicious synthesis is then introduced. Both the in vitro antibacterial activity and the in vivo therapeutic effect of CuS nanomaterials and derivative nanocomposites composed of 2D nanomaterials, polymers, metals, metal oxides, and proteins are described in detail. Finally, the perspective of photo-stimuli-responsive CuS nanomaterials for future clinical antibacterial applications is highlighted. This review illustrates that CuS nanomaterials are highly effective, low-toxic, and environmentally friendly antibacterial agents or platform nanomaterials for combatting MDR bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper sulfide (CuS) is a semiconductor widely used for quantum dot sensitized solar cell applications due to its photocatalytic activity. The hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize the copper sulfide quantum dots. The distilled water and ethylenediamine are served as solvents with different combinational ratios. According to TEM studies, the particles' size increased as the solvents' ratio decreased. XRD patterns revealed that the synthesized CuS QDs are polycrystalline with a hexagonal structure. UV–vis results showed that the absorption of CuS QDs is from 310 nm to 320 nm, and the band gap of synthesized quantum dots is found to be ∼3.7 eV. Photoluminescence spectra illustrate that the CuS quantum dot emission spectrum was observed at 475 nm (blue emission) and 570 nm (green emission). The highest power conversion efficiency (0.5390 %) was received for the 25:75 ratio of DI Water/EN using the CuS quantum dot. It is observed as better photon conversion efficiency among all the ratios with lesser charge recombination.

Highlights: Erythrocyte-like CuS microspheres were encapsulated in ultrathin polyaniline (PANI) layer coating. PANI swollen by electrolytes stabilizes solid electrolyte interface layer and benefits the ion transport and charge transfer at the PANI/electrolyte interface. Multi-functional PANI coating ensures an outstanding comprehensive performance for sodium-ion storage. The latest view suggests the inactive core, surface pulverization, and polysulfide shuttling effect of metal sulfides are responsible for their low capacity and poor cycling performance in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Whereas overcoming the above problems based on conventional nanoengineering is not efficient enough. In this work, erythrocyte-like CuS microspheres with an elastic buffering layer of ultrathin polyaniline (PANI) were synthesized through one-step self-assembly growth, followed by in situ polymerization of aniline. When CuS@PANI is used as anode electrode in SIBs, it delivers high capacity, ultrahigh rate capability (500 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and 214.5 mAh g−1 at 40 A g−1), and superior cycling life of over 7500 cycles at 20 A g−1. A series of in/ex situ characterization techniques were applied to investigate the structural evolution and sodium-ion storage mechanism. The PANI swollen with electrolyte can stabilize solid electrolyte interface layer, benefit the ion transport/charge transfer at the PANI/electrolyte interface, and restrain the size growth of Cu particles in confined space. Moreover, finite element analyses and density functional simulations confirm that the PANI film effectively buffers the volume expansion, suppresses the surface pulverization, and traps the polysulfide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the copper sulfide synthetic approaches developed until now are still facing issues in their procedure, such as long synthesis duration, high energetic consumption, and high implementation costs. This publication reports a facile and sustainable approach for synthesizing copper sulfides on a large scale. In particular, an industrial by-product of sulfur waste was used as a sulfurizing agent for copper sulfide synthesis in a water medium. The reaction was performed in the hydrothermal environment by following a novel proposed mechanism of copper sulfide formation. The investigation of morphological and optical properties revealed that the target products obtained by using waste possess the resembling properties as the ones synthesized from the most conventional sulfurizing agent. Since the determined band gap of synthesis products varied from 1.72 to 1.81 eV, the photocatalytic properties, triggered under visible light irradiation, were also investigated by degrading the methylene blue as a model pollutant. Importantly, the degradation efficiency of the copper sulfide synthesized from sulfur waste was equivalent to a sample obtained from a reference sulfurizing agent since the value for both samples was 96% in 180 min. This very simple synthetic approach opens up a new way for large-scale sustainable production of visible-light-driven photocatalysts for water purification from organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]