Search

We report a facile and inexpensive method to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles with different particle size and shape using Achyranthes aspera and Couroupita guianensis leaf extracts as the reducing agent and zinc nitrate as a precursor. The prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles were analyzed by various characterization methods and obtained results evidently revealed that crystalline parameter, purity, optical absorption, band gap, particle size and shape of the ZnO nanoparticles significantly influenced by the type of leaf extract used as reducing agent. Further, photocatlytic activity study obviously demonstrates that prepared samples exhibits superior photocatlytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue dye by creating superoxide anion radicals and OH radicals under photonic irradiation. Hence, prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles by plant extract mediated synthesis can be applied as a photocatlyst for the possible waste water treatment in textile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile approach for the synthesis of La2CuO4, CeO2, La2CuO4/CeO2 and novel La2CuO4/CeO2/rGO hybrid nanocomposites were demonstrated via solvothermal assisted homogeneous precipitation method. The surface morphology, phase and crystal structure of the synthesized materials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photocatalytic performance to oxidize a target pollutant RB160 dye and inactivation of bacteria in aqueous solution was investigated under the illumination of visible light. Absorption range and band gap energy were investigated by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The combination of rGO with La2CuO4/CeO2 nanocomposites leads to a better photocatalytic activity than other bare synthesized materials. Typically, 10 mg/l of RB160 could be almost completely oxidized in 150 min and 0.01 g/l of La2CuO4/CeO2/rGO, exhibiting a promising application of the photocatalyst in the degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. The efficiency of RB160 decomposition increased with increasing pH (5-11) and catalyst dosage (0.01-0.03 g/l), but it gets decreased with increasing initial RB160 concentration (10-30 mg/l) and from that the optimum condition for the better photocatalytic performance was identified. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of La2CuO4/CeO2/rGO hybrid nanocomposite was also investigated by using two different bacteria in typical aqueous medium and the results were showed highly efficient visible light driven photocatalytic antibacterial activity. The enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of La2CuO4/CeO2/rGO is promising for the further application of visible light driven photocatalyst in polluted water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we synthesized g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS photocatalyst by hydrothermal assisted precipitation method. The structure and morphology of the prepared photocatalyst were characterized and also the optical properties of the photocatalyst were investigated as well. The visible-light-driven g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance towards TC degradation. In particular, the g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS photocatalyst showed the highest photocatalytic degradation rate performance, which was superior to that observed 8.95 times for g-C 3 N 4 , 3.11 times for BiOBr and 3.18 times for BiOBr/CdS composite, and it also displayed good stability during recycling experiments. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency was mainly attributed to rapid charge transfer at the g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS interfaces, which promotes the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers and improves optical absorption. Furthermore, a possible photocatalytic mechanism of the g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS photocatalyst is proposed based on the experimental studies. The present research work would provide new insight into the design and fabrication of visible-light-driven photocatalyst for energy storage and environmental protection applications. Unlabelled Image • g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS photocatalysts were successfully synthesized. • The visible-light driven g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS photocatalysts exhibit enhanced TC degradation. • Rapid charge transfer at the dual interface contributed to high photocatalytic activity. • g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr/CdS photocatalyst displayed high photostability during recycling experiment. • A possible photocatalytic mechanism was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SnO 2 and SnO 2 /rGO nanostructures were successfully synthesized using the facile hydrothermal synthesis technique. The prepared nanostructures were well studied using different techniques such as XRD, XPS, UV-DRS, FT-IR, EDX, SEM and HR-TEM analysis. The crystalline nature of SnO 2 and SnO 2 /rGO was confirmed by the XRD technique. The formation of highly pure SnO 2 and SnO 2 /rGO nanostructures was confirmed by EDX analysis. The morphological results show the good agglomeration of several spherical nanoparticles. The optical properties were studied through the UV-DRS technique and the bandgap energies of SnO 2 and SnO 2 /rGO are estimated to be 3.12 eV and 2.71 eV, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation percentage in presence of SnO 2 and SnO 2 /rGO against RhB was found to be 96% and 98%, respectively. The degradation of TTC molecules was estimated as 90% and 88% with SnO 2 /rGO and SnO 2 , respectively. The degradation of both RhB and TTC molecules was well suited with the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The results of successive experiments clearly show the enhancement in the photocatalytic properties in the SnO 2 /rGO nanostructures. [Display omitted] • SnO 2 and SnO 2 /rGO were successfully synthesized using hydrothermal technique. • Visible light absorption ability of SnO 2 and SGO is confirmed by UV-DRS analysis. • Photocatalytic activity of SnO 2 and SnO 2 /rGO was studied against Rhodamine B and Tetracycline. • Photocatalytic degradation mechanism is proposed based on optical properties and band edge positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]