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ZnS:Mn-gly and C60 fullerene nanowhisker–ZnS:Mn-gly composites were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light irradiation was evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy using ZnS:Mn-gly and C60 fullerene nanowhisker–ZnS:Mn-gly composites. The C60 fullerene nanowhisker–ZnS:Mn-gly composites showed better photocatalytic activity of MB degradation than the ZnS:Mn-gly composites. The kinetics study for the photocatalytic degradation of MB with ZnS:Mn-gly and C60 fullerene nanowhisker–ZnS:Mn-gly composites as photocatalyst under UV irradiation followed a pseudo-first-order reaction rate law. The stability of the photocatalysts after the photocatalytic reaction was studied using XRD and SEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was prepared from melamine (C3H6N6) by annealing it under an electric furnace at 550 °C for 3 h. The g-C3N4 solution was prepared by dissolving powdered g-C3N4 in an aqueous solution with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). The liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation (LLIP) method was used to prepare the g-C3N4–C60 fullerene nanowhisker composites from g-C3N4 solution, C60-saturated toluene, and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the g-C3N4–C60 fullerene nanowhisker composites. These were further used for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under ultraviolet (at 254 and 365 nm) irradiation. In addition, UV–vis spectroscopy was utilized to confirm the photocatalytic degradation activity of RhB over the g-C3N4–C60 fullerene nanowhisker composites. Under UV irradiation, the kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of RhB using g-C3N4–C60 fullerene nanowhisker composites followed a pseudo first-order reaction rate law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoparticles were prepared via the reaction of gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate (Gd (NO3)3·6H2O) and ethylamine (C2H5NH2), and their surface morphology, particle size, and properties were examined by using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The Gd2O3 nanoparticles were used as the photocatalyst for the degradation of various azo dyes, such as methyl orange (MO), acid orange 7 (AO7), and acid yellow 23 (AY23) under irradiation with UV light. The effect of the experimental parameters (initial concentration of azo dyes, dosage of catalyst, and wavelength of UV light) on the photocatalytic properties of the Gd2O3 nanoparticles were investigated. At a constant H2O2 concentration, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the Gd2O3 nanoparticles for various azo dyes was in the order: methyl orange > acid orange 7 > acid yellow 23. The kinetics study showed that the photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes was followed by a pseudo first-order reaction rate law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]