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In recent times, there has been a pressing need to discover or manufacture a unique material that can serve as a photocatalyst for organic pollutants that are incapable of degradation. Pure Bi 2 O 3 and Co, Cd co-doped Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 (x = 0.8) nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation method, but the new approach involves fabricating 10 % reduced graphene oxide Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO nanocomposites via the ultra-sonication route. This study investigated the effects of Co, Cd, and r-GO doping on the optical, electrochemical, structural, and photocatalytic properties of bismuth oxide. The synthesized nanomaterials were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL), and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD patterns showed the formation of a monophasic monoclinic structure belonging to space group P21/c, with an average crystallite size estimated around 22–41 nm. According to the UV–visible study, the bandgap energy of Bi 2 O 3 NPs, Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 NPs, and Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO nanocomposites were 2.64 eV, 2.37 eV and 2.06eV respectively. The cyclic voltammetry technique was used to evaluate the functioning electrodes. In contrast to un-doped Bi 2 O 3 , the synergistic effects of Co, Cd, and r-GO on the substituted material increased the specific capacitance. The pure Bi 2 O 3 , doped Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3, and Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO photocatalyst degraded 62 %, 85 %, and 95.4 % respectively of RB-5 dye after 105 min of sunlight. The phytotoxicity analysis examined the germination of Hordeum vulgare seeds in treated and untreated RB-5 dyes. Additionally, scavenging investigations using reactive species trapping to confirm the dominant reactive species were evaluated. Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO nanocomposites are better at photocatalysis and have a narrow bandgap, which makes them useful as solar-active photocatalysts for getting rid of dyes in wastewater. In future, their composites with conducting polymers may improve their electrochemical and photocatalytic behaviour as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herewith, the present work reports a facile synthesis method of Bi 2 O 3 doped 70 SiO 2.30CaO binary bioactive glass system termed as modified Bi-BG (acronymed as mBi-BG) that indicates successful incorporation of Bi3+ into the silicate glassy network, on prior complex formation of the precursor bismuth nitrate salt with acetyl acetone to address the rapid decomposition rate of precursor bismuth nitrate. The binary bioactive glass composition as above mentioned (70 SiO 2.30CaO) is named as BG/Control. The synthesis methodology addresses inherent challenges encountered in traditional sol-gel derived bismuth oxide incorporated bioactive glass (Bi-BG) synthesis wherein yellow coloured bismuth oxide gets separated from the glassy network as confirmed by XRD phase analysis. Next, mBi-BG (modified Bi-BG) was synthesized via modifying the sol gel method by introducing a chelating agent acetyl acetone to stabilize the precursor Bi (NO 3) 3 salt, and was characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM-EDX. TG-DSC and BET isotherm. In vitro bioactivity studies illustrate the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals on mBi-BG surface indicating its potential for bone repair and regeneration. Additionally, mBi-BG exhibits significant effect against Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) bacterial strain, highlighting its utility in preventing bacterial infections at surgical sites. Radiographic imaging of mBi-BG reveals excellent radiopacity comparable to human bone, rendering it suitable for image-guided surgeries and fluoroscopic procedures. In summary, mBi-BG emerges as a versatile biomaterial with enhanced bioactivity, antibacterial efficacy and radiopacity, thereby offering novel avenues in medical treatment modalities and patient care. [Display omitted] • MBi-BG is a pure amorphous glassy composition. • MBi-BG composition possess radiopacity that would be beneficial for image guided medical interventions. • It is a biocompatible and bioactive composition. • MBi-BG offers superior antibacterial efficacy against gram-positive bacterial strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium doped bismuth ferrite (BFCO) based thin films with controllable chemical composition and structural properties were grown by bipolar HiPIMS in Ar:O 2 mixt gas environment. The energy, amount and type of the accelerated ions were adjusted by varying the positive discharge pulse amplitude, duration and delay from the initial negative pulse. Bi/(Fe + Cr) compositional ratio obtained from EDX decreased as the positive pulse amplitude and duration were augmented and the delay between negative and positive pulses was diminished. XRD measurements revealed the presence of bismuth oxide secondary phases for the films exhibiting Bi overstoichiometry. The diffraction pattern of the sample with Bi/(Fe + Cr) of 1 showed peaks corresponding only to the BiFeO 3 hexagonal structure. This film presented a lower piezoresponse (d 33 = 40 p.m./V) than the BFCO sample obtained by monopolar HiPIMS where no positive discharge pulse was used and for which the EDX results revealed a Bi/(Fe + Cr) of 2.1 (d 33 = 60 p.m./V). The photo-piezocatalytic properties of both these BFCO coatings for MB dye degradation were studied. The results revealed that BFCO layer deposited on FTO substrate by monopolar HiPIMS (Bi/(Fe + Cr) = 2.1) under ultrasonic vibrations exhibited a remarkable piezocatalytic performance, with 75 % degradation of MB dye within 120 min (reaction rate constant k value 0.0124 min−1). Additionally, when both visible light and mechanical oscillations were used simultaneously, the degradation efficiency was further increased up to 80 %, with k value seven-fold higher than that of photocatalysis. The proposed approach provides an environmentally friendly and innovative way to synthesize high efficiency piezo-photocatalyst for wastewater treatment and energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel nanocomposite material consisting of Bi 2 O 3 and Bi 2 MoO 6 , named as Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 , was successfully fabricated by co-precipitation method in ethylene glycol solvent. Morphological analysis of the heat-treated sample at 400 °C for 12 h in Ar atmosphere (Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 _400 °C) showed that it contained nano-sized particles of Bi 2 O 3 and Bi 2 MoO 6 ; in addition, an amorphous phase along with a crystalline structure was also observed. When used as an anode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 _400 °C anode exhibits excellent electrochemical properties such as high Coulombic efficiency, high specific capacity, excellent capacity retention, and outstanding rate capacity. Specifically, the Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 _400 °C anode presented a reversible capacity of 786 mAh g−1 at the beginning cycle at 0.1 A g−1 and retained about 90 % of the charging capacity value after 80 cycles. The advanced electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite anode are related to the combination of many aspects such as nanostructure, existence of amorphous phase, and pseudo-behaviour of metal-based components. The structural stability and electrochemical performance of the anode material, therefore, are improved. These results demonstrate Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 _400 °C as a promising material for establishing high-performance LIB anodes. [Display omitted] • Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 powders are prepared by a facile method. • Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 powders contain amorphous and crystalline phases. • Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 materials possess nanostructures (from 20 nm to 50 nm). • Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 _400 °C anode displays high initial coulombic efficiency (>80 %). • Bi 2 O 3 @Bi 2 MoO 6 _400 °C anode shows a reversible capacity of 701 mAh g−1 after 80 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double Z-scheme Bi 2 S 3 /S-CN/Bi 2 O 3 heterojunction hollow nanotubes with defective structure were synthesized and exhibited efficient photocatalytic amine oxidation owing to the synergistic of each component, hollow nanotube structure, and unique defect-transit double Z-scheme heterostructure. [Display omitted] The rational design of Z-scheme heterojunction hybrid photocatalysts is considered a promising way to achieve high photocatalytic activity. In this study, a dual Z-scheme heterojunction with bismuth sulfide (Bi 2 S 3) nanorods and bismuth oxide (Bi 2 O 3) nanoparticles anchored Sulfur-doped carbon nitride (S-CN) nanotubes (Bi 2 S 3 /S-CN/Bi 2 O 3) is designed and fabricated through the ordinal metal ion adsorption, pyrolysis, and sulfidation processes using supramolecular rods as precursor. Compared with pristine Bi 2 S 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , and CN, the dual Z-scheme tube-shaped Bi 2 S 3 /S-CN/Bi 2 O 3 catalyst exhibited a significantly improved photocatalytic activity in amine oxidation. The optimized Bi 2 S 3 /S-CN/Bi 2 O 3 nanostructure exhibits a 97.6 % benzylamine conversion and 99.4 % imine selectivity within 4 h under simulated solar light irradiation. The excellent activity of Bi 2 S 3 /S-CN/Bi 2 O 3 nanotubes can be attributed to the characteristic hollow defect band structure and efficient charge separation and transfer achieved by the dual Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism, which was systematically studied using electron spin resonance spectroscopy, Kelvin probe force microscope, and other techniques. The optimized dual Z-scheme heterojunction hybrid photocatalyst maintains the high oxidizing ability of Bi 2 S 3 and Bi 2 O 3 and the excellent reducing ability of CN, thereby significantly enhancing the photocatalytic activity. This research provides a facile and feasible synthesis strategy for designing dual Z-scheme heterojunctions with defect band structure to improve the photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D‐printed biomaterial implants are revolutionizing personalized medicine for tissue repair, especially in orthopedics. In this study, a radiopaque bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) doped polycaprolactone (PCL) composite is developed and implemented to enable the use of diagnostic X‐ray technologies, especially spectral photon counting X‐ray computed tomography (SPCCT), for comprehensive tissue engineering scaffold (TES) monitoring. PCL filament with homogeneous Bi2O3 nanoparticle (NP) dispersion (0.8 to 11.7 wt%) is first fabricated. TES are then 3D printed with the composite filament, optimizing printing parameters for small features and severely overhung geometries. These composite TES are characterized via micro‐computed tomography (µCT), tensile testing, and a cytocompatibility study, with 2 wt% Bi2O3 NPs providing improved tensile properties, equivalent cytocompatibility to neat PCL, and excellent radiographic distinguishability. Radiographic performance is validated in situ by imaging 4 and 7 wt% Bi2O3 doped PCL TES in a mouse model with µCT, showing excellent agreement with in vitro measurements. Subsequently, CT image‐derived swine menisci are 3D printed with composite filament and re‐implanted in corresponding swine legs ex vivo. Re‐imaging the swine legs via clinical CT allows facile identification of device location and alignment. Finally, the emergent technology of SPCCT unambiguously distinguishes the implanted meniscus in situ via color K‐edge imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To surpass the constraints associated with conventional therapeutic methods in clinical therapy, nanoparticles have been rapidly prepared and developed as a separate treatment method for diseases. In this study, we have synthesized bismuth oxide nanoparticles (BiNPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Mentha arvensis (M. arvensis) as a biogenic approach. The formation of BiNPs was confirmed by the characteristic peak observed at 276 nm in the UV–vis spectrum and PXRD analysis exhibited the crystalline nature with monoclinic phase. The TEM images revealed the quasi‐spherical shape of BiNPs with an average particle size of 12 nm. For biomedical studies, BiNPs exhibited significant cytotoxicity against A431 cell line (lung cancer) with IC50 value of 92.45 µg/mL. Further studies revealed significantly higher apoptosis, antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities of the biosynthesized BiNPs. The collective results from the study suggest that the M. arvensis mediated synthesis of multifunctional BiNPs enhances their biological potential, positioning it as a potential candidate for the multimodal therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase stability of (Bi 1-x Y x) 2 O 3 (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.275) solid state electrolytes synthesized using the sol-gel method was investigated over prolonged periods under ambient conditions. The cubic polymorph was found to be metastable under ambient conditions, particularly for 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.15 where significant cubic-to-tetragonal transformation occurred. Spontaneous minor formation of both the rhombohedral polymorph and a bismuth subcarbonate phase was evident across the doping range but with varied reproducibility. Aging was significantly more prevalent for samples that had only been calcined (at 450 °C) as compared to those that were subsequently annealed (at 750 °C). The more highly substituted annealed materials (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.275) were initially phase pure cubic and far more stable, yet some rhombohedral and bismuth subcarbonate phase formation was also seen. Although the initial source of carbon which leads to the formation of the subcarbonate phase is not known at this stage, several suggestions are made. Pelletisation with additional sintering, as well as annealing powder samples under an inert atmosphere, was also shown to enhance the long-term phase stability characteristics of the cubic phase. This is the first longer term (over 2 years) ambient phase aging study of substituted bismuth oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide-based gas sensors have promising advantages, such as low cost and high sensitivities, but the high working temperature (150°C–300 °C) hinders their practical applications. Herein, this study demonstrated a Zinc (Zn)-doped approach to achieve defect-enabled room-temperature acetone gas sensors based on bismuth oxide (Bi 2 O 3) thin film. Through a simple chemical bath deposition method, the varying substitutional doping of zinc (2 wt% to 8 wt%) can induce the morphological transformation of Bi 2 O 3 nanosheets to a cauliflower-like nanostructure, leading to enhanced surface area and active sites. The incorporation of Zn ions can result in oxygen vacancies in the Bi 2 O 3 lattice and the rising of the depletion layer, facilitating the interaction toward acetone molecules at ambient temperatures, leading to an increment of response ∼6. The Zn-doped cauliflower-like Bi 2 O 3 electrode exhibits a superior sensing performance of acetone gas with a low detection limit of 1 ppm and high stability over 90 days. This work underscores the potential of controlled doping of Zn for oxygen vacancy-riched Bi 2 O 3 thin film as a promising room-temperature acetone gas sensor, offering new avenues for the detection of hazardous gases with improved sensitivity. [Display omitted] • Zn-doped Bi 2 O 3 chemiresistive sensors were developed for room-temperature acetone gas sensing. • The controlled morphological transformation of nanosheets to a cauliflower-like Bi 2 O 3 nanostructure. • Significantly increased acetone sensing response by 339 % was achieved with the 6 wt% Zn-doped Bi 2 O 3 sensor. • Induced oxygen vacancy defects contribute to enhanced interaction with acetone molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes an original method that reveals the transformation dynamics of nanosized Bi films into semiconductor films of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and the factors affecting the low‐energy cold plasma on the electro‐optical properties of Bi2O3. In the plasma microreactor with a photosensitive GaAs:Cr electrode, the transformed Bi films 400–1100 nm thick are analyzed by X‐ray diffraction to determine the crystal structure of Bi2O3 and by an electron probe microanalyzer to explore the evolution of the composition. The morphological properties of the Bi films exposed to electron–ion flow are examined by processing the scanning electron microscope images. It is found that as a result of the combined effect of photoactive illumination, charged particles, and active plasma components: 1) an absorption spectrum of a new substance is formed in the range λ = 330–1100 nm; 2) the optical width of the bandgap of the resulting substance is Eg ≈ 3 eV, which satisfactorily coincides with the width of the bandgap of Bi2O3; and 3) to overcome the potential barrier and formation of semiconducting Bi2O3 film energy is required, which is provided by the combined kinetic energy of electrons and negatively charged oxygen ions bombarding on the Bi film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the synthesis of MnO₂‐based Zn (5%)‐doped Bi₂O₃ nanocomposites via coprecipitation, highlighting significant improvements in photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties. XRD confirmed the tetragonal β‐Bi₂O₃ phase with reduced crystallite size postdoping, while FESEM showed spherical particles of 8.61 nm. A decreased band gap of 2.61 eV and defect‐related PL emissions were observed, enhancing photocatalytic activity. The material demonstrated 92.4% and 99.50% efficiency for methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rh.B) degradation under sunlight, outperforming undoped Bi₂O₃. The I–V plots revealed reduced electrical resistance and increased photosensitivity (8.58%), indicating potential in optoelectronic applications. Antifungal tests showed inhibition zones of 16 and 11 mm against Fusarium and Aspergillus, respectively. Compared to previous studies, this work offers improved photocatalytic and antifungal performance, attributed to the reduced crystalline size, increased surface area, and enhanced defect formation, positioning it as a promising material for environmental and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel solid electrolyte system consisting of co-doped cubic phase stabilised bismuth oxide was successfully synthesized via the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that all synthesized samples exhibited stable cubic fluorite-type structures. Notably, as the dopant ion radius decreased, a trend of increasing full width half maximum (FWHM) of the main (111) peak and crystal microstrain, along with a decrease in the average crystallite size and lattice constant, was observed. Interestingly, the sample Bi 1.8 Gd 0.1 Er 0.05 Pr 0.05 O 3 , possessing a dopant ion radius closest to Bi3+ (1.17 Å), exhibited exceptional electrical properties, achieving a high conductivity of 0.347 S cm−1 at 800 °C and a low activation energy of 0.20 eV for the high-temperature regions (HTR). This superior performance was attributed to the significant role played by the grain boundary volume and conductivity in facilitating ionic conduction, thus explaining the variations in conductivity among the different samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the design, simulation, and evaluation of photovoltaic (PV) parameters for a solar cell structure (Au/CuBi2O4/PCBM/ITO/Ag) with copper bismuth oxide (CuBi2O4) as the absorber layer and PCBM as the electron transport layer (ETL), using SCAPS-1D software. The PV parameters of the cell were evaluated with varying thicknesses of CuBi2O4 and PCBM layers from 0.1 µm to 2 µm, and 100 nm to 500 nm, respectively. The effects of the variations in doping concentrations, the defect density of the absorber and ETL (1012–1020 cm−3), series resistance (Rs), shunt resistance (Rsh), the band gap of the absorber layer (1.3–1.8 eV), and operating temperature on the PV parameters were also evaluated. The optimized cell exhibited photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 32.16% with open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.32 V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 27.46 mA/cm2, and fill factor (FF) of 88.69% with an optimum absorber layer thickness of 1 µm and ETL of 200 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of bismuth oxide nanoparticles through sono-cavitation using citrus lemon extract as a simple, eco-friendly and cost-efficient method was evaluated. The aqueous extract of citrus lemon acted as a bio-reducing and capping/stabilizing agent in the single-step biosynthesis of bismuth oxide nanoparticles. Different instrumental techniques have been used to characterize the biosynthesized bismuth oxide nanoparticles, including UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). UV–vis spectroscopy revealed the formation of stable bismuth oxide nanoparticles at λmax of 400 nm with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band. TEM revealed that the biosynthesized bismuth oxide nanoparticles were rod shaped with a particle size of 26 nm. A potential mechanism for the formation of bismuth oxide nanoparticles with the influence of sono-cavitation has been suggested based on the observed findings. These catalytic capabilities of the bio-synthesized bismuth oxide nanoparticles were then evaluated by degradation of toxic azo dyes under different laboratory conditions. The azo dye Congo red (CR) was effectively degraded to 86% within 30 min under optimum experimental conditions using 0.12 g/mL catalyst. Thus, the phytochemical citrus lemon offers a cheap and eco-friendly solution for the synthesis of catalytic nanoparticles to degrade highly toxic organic compounds such as azo dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxyfluoride‐based sodium‐aluminum‐phosphate glasses with a fixed 7 mol% content of Gd2O3 and various amounts of CeF3 were fabricated by the melt quenching process. The fabricated glasses (NAPGCe) were studied by physical, optical, scintillation, and light yield properties. In NAPGCe glasses, intense emission peaks were observed at 312 nm (6P7/2 → 8S7/2) for Gd3+ and 336 nm (5d → 4f) for Ce3+ ions in both photoluminescence (275 and 294 nm) and radioluminescence (X‐ray) spectra. Upon excitation with 275 nm ultraviolet radiation, a decrease in Gd3+ emission and an increase in Ce3+ emission intensity lead to efficient energy transfer (ET) from Gd3+ to Ce3+ ion in NAPGCe glasses. The bi‐exponential function was applied to fit the non‐exponential decay curves of NAPGCe glasses and then calculated their lifetimes in the order of fast (18.25–16.94 ns) and slow (72.99–67.74 ns) decay times. An overall integrated scintillation efficiency of about 67% was estimated for NAPGCe0.10 glass compared to bismuth germanate oxide (BGO:Bi4Ge3O12) crystal. Under 241Am α‐ray (5.5 MeV) source, the light yield of the NAPGCe1.00 glass was obtained by comparing it with a commercial Li‐glass scintillator (GS20), and it was found to be 26 photons MeV−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a novel investigation that demonstrates the synthesis of silver-doped bismuth oxide (ABO), holmium-doped bismuth oxide (HBO), nanostructured bismuth oxide (BO), and silver-holmium co-doped bismuth oxide (CDBO) by a cost-effective and straightforward surfactant-assisted co-precipitation technique. In comparison to the BO, ABO, and HBO samples, the optical tests revealed that the CDBO sample exhibited superior photocatalytic characteristics. This is possibly attributed to the physical, optical, and structural properties of the material tailored by the synergistic effect of the adopted strategies, i.e., nanotechnology, oxygen vacancies, and co-doping. The microstructures, physicochemical properties, morphological characteristics, and compositional attributes of the synthesized materials were investigated using sophisticated characterization techniques. The intrinsic conductivity of the bismuth oxide was enhanced with the incorporation of Ag and Ho as co-dopants, as shown by the results obtained from two probe current-voltage experiments. The co-doped sample exhibited the highest efficacy in decomposing rhodamine B dye, with a degradation rate of 91 % during a mere 70-min exposure to W-lamp illumination. The most ideal settings for CDBO photocatalytic activities were identified by comprehensive parameter optimization research. These parameters include a basic pH, a catalyst dosage of 25 mg, a dye concentration of 15 ppm, and an operating temperature of 30 °C. The co-doped and nanostructured photocatalyst also showed an outstanding capability to break down orange II and phenol dye. The trapping experiments' results indicate that the hydroxyl and superoxide radicals play a significant role in the mineralization of the tested dye. [Display omitted] • Co-doped Bi 2 O 3 NPs have been prepared via wet route. • Synthesized samples were characterized via PXRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, and I–V studies. • Co-doping create structural defects and reduced the band gap. • Current-voltage study confirms improved current conductivity. • Co-doped Bi 2 O 3 effectively mineralized the RhB, Orange II and phenol dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a modification of g-C3N4 was carried out by combining non-metal doping with the construction of heterojunctions, and a type II heterojunction composite, S/g-C3N4@β-Bi2O3, was prepared. The phase structure, morphology, elemental composition, valence band structure, and light absorption performance of the photocatalyst were analyzed using characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS). The performance of the composite photocatalyst in the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene, one of the typical volatile organic compounds (VOCs), under simulated solar light was studied. The effects of preparation conditions, toluene concentration, and recycling on the photocatalytic performance of the composite photocatalyst were investigated. The results show that under the optimal preparation conditions, S/g-C3N4@β-Bi2O3 achieved a degradation efficiency of 74.0% for 5 ppm toluene after 5 h of light irradiation. Although the degradation efficiency decreased to 61.2% after five cycles, it maintained 83% of its initial activity, indicating good stability of the composite photocatalyst. Free radical quenching experiments demonstrated that h+ was the main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of toluene, followed by ·O2−. Based on all experimental results, the migration law of photo-generated charges was analyzed, and a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. In this study, a new material was obtained for the photocatalytic removal of VOCs by improving the photocatalytic properties of g-C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure the safety of medical personnel in healthcare organizations, radiation-shielding materials like protective clothing are used to protect against low-dose radiation, such as scattered rays. The extremities, particularly the hands, are the most exposed to radiation. New materials that can be directly coated onto the skin would be more cost-effective, efficient, and convenient than gloves. We developed protective creams using eco-friendly shielding materials, including barium sulfate, bismuth oxide, and ytterbium oxide, to avoid harmful effects of heavy metals like lead, and tested their skin-protective effects. Particularly, the radiation-shielding effect of ytterbium oxide was compared with that of the other materials. As shielding material dispersion and layer thickness greatly affect the efficacy of radiation-shielding creams, we assessed dispersion in terms of the weight percentage (wt%). The effective radiation energy was reduced by 20% with a 1.0-mm increase in cream thickness. Ytterbium oxide had a higher radiation-shielding rate than the other two materials. A 28% difference in protective effect was observed with varying wt%, and the 45 wt% cream at 63.4 keV radiation achieved a 61.3% reduction rate. Higher content led to a more stable incident energy-reducing effect. In conclusion, ytterbium oxide shows potential as a radiation-shielding material for creams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common solution for protecting p‐type semiconductors against photocorrosion in a photo‐electrochemical (PEC) cell is by applying a TiO2 over‐layer via atomic layer deposition (ALD). However, for the case of CuBi2O4 (CBO), this approach leads to a significant decline in electrode performance, despite the small conduction band offset between CBO and TiO2. Here, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) under light illumination is used to study how to enhance charge transport in CuBi2O4/TiO2 photocathodes. A 15 nm TiO2 overlayer enables a small charge transfer resistance to the electrolyte while preserving the performance and stability of the CBO film. When increasing the TiO2 thickness from 15 to 20 nm, the photogenerated currents decrease by 74%. The EIS data are fit with an equivalent circuit model that enabled to extract the charge transfer resistances, capacitances, and time constants that influence the PEC performance of the electrode as a function of the TiO2 layer thickness, together with the flat‐band potentials and doping densities of both the CBO and TiO2 layers under light illumination. The decline in performance is attributed to accumulation and recombination of photogenerated carriers at the CBO‐TiO2 interface, due to a band mismatch between the two semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and Bi2O3–supported Kaolin were synthesized using household microwave–assisted methods (350 W, 5 min), with catalyst characteristics analyzed. XRD patterns confirmed the monoclinic structure of Bi2O3. Incorporating 20%w/w Kaolin increased the specific surface area of Bi2O3 from 6.2879 to 16.1345 m2/g, observed in FESEM images showing a hierarchical flower-like morphology resembling French fries alongside Kaolin plates. XRF analysis identified elements in Kaolin contributing to self–doping in band structure of Bi2O3, reducing its band gap and PL intensity. Kaolin/Bi2O3 composites demonstrated enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light, attributed to Bi2O3-generated radicals and increased surface area. The composite photocatalyst can be recycled up to three times. This research not only enhances the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3 but also increases the value of a local waste material, Kaolin clay. Such enhancements could potentially extend to other metal oxides and abundant waste materials within the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study examined the leaching and cytotoxicity of bismuth from ProRoot MTA and aimed to identify whether bismuth leaching was affected by the cement base and the immersion regime used. Methodology: The leaching profile of bismuth was examined from ProRoot MTA and compared with hydroxyapatite containing 20% bismuth oxide as well as hydroxyapatite and tricalcium silicate to investigate whether bismuth release changed depending on the cement base. Bismuth leaching was determined after 30 and 180 days of ageing immersed in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) using mass spectroscopy (ICP‐MS). The media were either unchanged or regularly replenished. The pH, surface microstructure and phase changes of aged materials were assessed. Wistar rat femoral bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and cutaneous fibroblasts were isolated, cultured and seeded for cell counting (trypan blue live/dead) after exposure to non‐aged, 30‐ and 180‐days‐aged samples in regularly replenished DMEM. Aged DMEM in contact with materials was also used to culture BMSCs to investigate the effect of material leachates on the cells. Gene expression analysis was also carried out after direct exposure of cells to non‐aged materials. Differences between groups were statistically tested at a significance level of 5%. Results: All materials exhibited alterations after immersion in DMEM and this increased with longer exposure times. The bismuth leached from ProRoot MTA as detected by ICP‐MS. Aged ProRoot MTA samples exhibited a black discolouration and surface calcium carbonate deposition. ProRoot MTA influenced cell counts after direct exposure and its 180‐days leachates reduced BMSC viability. After direct BMSC contact with non‐aged ProRoot MTA an upregulation of metallothionein (MT1 and MT2A) expression and down‐regulation of collagen‐1a (Col‐1a) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) expression was identified. Conclusions: Bismuth leaching was observed throughout 180‐days observation period from all materials containing bismuth oxide. This negatively influenced cell viability and gene expression associated with bismuth exposure. This is the first study to report that metallothionein gene expression was influenced by exposure to ProRoot MTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving lead-free flexible materials with excellent γ-ray shielding as well as good mechanical properties are of significance to radiation protection safety and wear comfort of wearable articles. In this paper, polydopamine (PDA) is coated on Bi2O3 particles to form a typical core–shell structure Bi2O3@PDA, which is used to intensely bond bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) with chloroprene rubber (CR). It promotes the interface interaction between Bi2O3 and CR matrix, leading to the uniform dispersion of the filler and rich interfacial compatibility in CR/Bi2O3@PDA composite with as high as 50 wt% filling. Furthermore, 50 wt% CR/Bi2O3@PDA composite displays 53.6% shielding rate for 105 keV γ-rays. Meanwhile, its tensile strength and elongation at break are 9.6 MPa and 1424.8%, respectively, which are without sacrificing too much in comparison with the neat rubber. We propose a versatile route to prepare superior integrated properties of flexible materials, which can be used as wearable articles for radiation shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding excessive metal oxide doping to a powder batch is a known way to compensate for the loss of volatile cation species during high temperature sintering. An important case in the piezoelectric ceramics is the bismuth oxide in the lead-free ferroelectric ceramic bismuth sodium titanate (BNT). Building from the earlier knowledge about excessive bismuth oxide's influences on the properties of BNT, we further note that varying the sintering temperature can both control the distribution of excessive Bi3+ and impact the relaxor/normal ferroelectric behaviors and corresponding phase transition. In addition to the nature of polarization, the sintering temperature also significantly manipulates the electrical conductivity. A hypothetical mechanism for the resistive grain boundary is proposed, based on inferences from electrical—microstructure—processing relations in 85% Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-15% BaTiO3 with batched Bi2O3 excess and acceptor Mg2+ in a co-doped strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The special interlocking structure of bismuth oxide enhances CO 2 adsorption and electron transfer. • In the flow cell, FE formate reached 91.5 %, 86.3 % and 84.22 % at 1.0 A, 1.5 A and 2.0 A, respectively. • In the solid electrolyte-type cell, produce pure formic acid in a rate of 15.48mmol/h at 1.0 A. • Hundred grams of catalysts were one-pot synthesized without affecting catalytic performance. Carbon dioxide electroreduction is a green technology for artificial carbon sequestration, which is being delayed from industrialization due to the lack of efficient catalysts at high current conditions. Herein, the Bi 2 O 3 nanoflakes were uniformly grown on a defective porous carbon (PC). This self-assembling Bi 2 O 3 /PC catalyst was applied to drive CO 2 electroreduction at 1.0 A, 1.5 A and 2.0 A while the Faradaic efficiency of formate reaches 91.50 %, 86.30 % and 84.22 %, respectively. Density functional theory calculations revealed the intrinsic defect of carbon is able to give electron to Bi through O bridge, which increased the electron aggregation of Bi and lowered the generation energy barrier of *OCHO intermediate. Additionally, the unique 3D network of staggered Bi 2 O 3 enhances the CO 2 adsorption and favors the electron transportation. By integrating all above advantages into a solid electrolyte-type cell, we are able to produce pure formic acid in a rate of 15.48 mmol h−1 at ampere current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Defectivation of Bi 2 O 3 and compositing with rGO is simultaneously realized by a one-step reducing method. • The Bi 2 O 3 -rGO-100 anode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 1053F/g at 1 A/g. • The Ni 3 Co 2 -rGO//Bi 2 O 3 -rGO-100 battery-type pouch-cell supercapacitor achieves an energy density of 118.5 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 850 W kg−1. • Two series-connected pouch-cell supercapacitor successfully illuminate 88 LED lamps for 12 min. We prepare bismuth oxide-reduced graphene oxide (Bi 2 O 3 -rGO) composite anode using a one-step chemical precipitation/reduction method. Under a reducing atmosphere, oxygen atoms on the surface of Bi 2 O 3 are gradually removed and neighboring oxygen atoms migrate to the surface, leaving oxygen vacancies. Defective Bi 2 O 3 enhances the number of active sites, providing additional pseudocapacitive performance. The transition metal oxide-based Bi 2 O 3 acts as an anode, providing capacitive performance that far exceeds that of conventional carbon materials. Moreover, the introduction of rGO forms a conductive network for Bi 2 O 3 , improving capacitive contribution and ion diffusion capabilities for the electrode. The Bi 2 O 3 -rGO-100 (GO added at 100 mg) exhibits a high specific capacitance of 1053F/g at 1 A/g, significantly higher than that of Bi 2 O 3 (866F/g). The Bi 2 O 3 -rGO-100 anode and Ni 3 Co 2 -rGO cathode are assembled into a battery-type supercapacitor. The coin-cell device achieves an energy density of 88.2 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 850 W kg−1. The Ni 3 Co 2 -rGO//Bi 2 O 3 -rGO-100 pouch-cell device demonstrates an extremely low R ct of 0.77 Ω. At a power density of 850 W kg−1, the energy density reaches 118.5 Wh kg−1, and remains 67.4 Wh kg−1 at 8500 W kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Within the scope of this study, bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple method, and the usability of these nanoparticles as adsorbents has been investigated. For this purpose, Bi2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical method. These particles were characterized by various methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The nature of the synthesized nanoparticles was confirmed by characterization results and the synthesized particles were found to be nanoscale. As a result of the characterization, the average particle diameters and surface areas were found to be 22.24, 32.24 and 49.98 nm, and 5.95, 3.54 and 0.75 m2 g−1 for different calcination temperatures of 105, 250 and 600 °C, respectively. Adsorption parameters such as initial quetiapine concentration, bismuth oxide nanoparticle dosage, temperature, equilibrium contact time, and pH were also studied. Moreover, kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamics modeling of adsorption have been performed to account for the adsorption mechanism of quetiapine by Bi2O3 nanoparticles. RESULTS: The thermodynamic study has specified that adsorption has been spontaneous and exothermic. The kinetic study has pointed out that a pseudo‐second‐order model (R2 = 0.9853) has been favorable to the data. Furthermore, a Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.8258) has been better fitted to the experimental adsorption results. The maximum adsorption capacity and percentage of adsorption values were 27.38 mg g−1 and 76.81%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The outcomes demonstrate that synthesized Bi2O3 nanoparticle is an influential adsorbent for removing quetiapine. Also, the obtained results enabled us to estimate the possibility of using Bi2O3 nanoparticles to remove active pharmaceutical ingredients by adsorption. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly applied across various fields, including chemistry, for molecular design and optimizing reaction parameters. Yet, applying ML to experimental data is challenging due to the limited number of synthesized samples, which restricts its broader application in device development. In energy harvesting, photoanodes are crucial for solar-driven water splitting, generating hydrogen and oxygen. We explored electrodes like hematite and bismuth vanadate for photocatalytic uses, noting varied photoelectrochemical performances despite similar preparations. To understand this variability, we applied a data-driven ML approach, predicting photocurrent values and identifying key performance influencers even with limited experimental data in the research development of inorganic devices. We have utilized multiple machine learning algorithms to predict the target value in the calculation process, where the contributions of the dominant descriptors were unknown. We introduced a novel methodology, incorporating clustering to manage multicollinearity from correlated analytical data and Shapley analysis for clear interpretation of contributions to performance prediction. This method was validated on hematite and bismuth vanadate, showing superior predictability and factor identification, and then extended to tungsten oxide and bismuth vanadate heterojunction photoanodes. Despite their complexity, our approach achieved determination coefficients (R2) with a prediction accuracy over 0.85, successfully pinpointing performance-determining factors, demonstrating the robustness of the new scheme in advancing photodevice research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, it was shown that the nanocrystallization of B i 2 O 3 glasses with the addition of S i O 2 and A l 2 O 3 leads to the stabilization of the δ -like B i 2 O 3 phase at least down to room temperature, which is significantly below its stability range in bulk form. In this research, we investigated the properties of bismuthate glasses synthesized with various glass-forming agents such as S i O 2 , G e O 2 , B 2 O 3 , and A l 2 O 3 . It was demonstrated that vitrification of all these systems is possible using a standard melt quenching route. Furthermore, we investigated the crystallization processes in pristine glasses upon increasing the temperature and the thermal stability of arising phases using thermal analysis and high-temperature XRD in situ experiments. It was shown that it is possible to stabilize crystallites' isostructures with δ - B i 2 O 3 embedded in a residual glassy matrix down to room temperature. The temperature range of the appearance of the δ -like phase strongly depended on the nominal composition of the glasses. We postulate that the confinement effect depends on the local properties of the residual glassy matrix and its ability to introduce sufficient force to stretch the structure of the δ -like B i 2 O 3 phase in the nanocrystallites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic membranes are crucial in addressing membrane fouling issues. However, the grafting amount of the catalyst on the membrane often becomes a key factor in restricting the membrane's self-cleaning capability. To address the challenge, this manuscript proposes a method for solving membrane fouling, featuring high grafting rates of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and acrylic acid (AA), significant contaminant degradation capability, and reusability. A highly photocatalytic self-cleaning microfiltration membrane made of polyvinylidene fluoride bismuth oxide and acrylic acid (PVDF-g-BA) was prepared by attaching nano Bi2O3 and acrylic acid onto the polyvinylidene fluoride membrane through adsorption/deposition and UV grafting polymerization. Compared with pure membranes and pure acrylic grafted membranes (PVDF-g-AA), the modified membrane grafted with 0.5% bismuth oxide not only improves the grafting rate and filtration performance, but also has higher self-cleaning ability. Furthermore, the degradation effect of this membrane on the organic dye methyl violet 2B under visible light irradiation is very significant, with a degradation rate reaching 90% and almost complete degradation after 12 h. Finally, after repeated filtration and photocatalysis, the membrane can still significantly degrade contaminants and can be reused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercalation chemistry is pivotal in discovering the dimension-dependent properties of 2D materials and expanding their applications. Layered bismuth oxide with composition Bi 0.775 Ln 0.225 O 1.5 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu) has been demonstrated to intercalate both aliphatic and aromatic amines, resulting in the unit cell expansion along the c -axis. Aliphatic amines were present in a vertical orientation, whereas aromatic amines preferred a horizontal orientation. The intercalated amine concentrations ranged from 0.15 to 0.54 mole per mole of the host. Among the chosen amines, ethylenediamine intercalation enhanced the c -axis of Bi 0.775 Pr 0.225 O 1.5 by 20 Å, justified by the high amounts of intercalant and intermolecular hydrogen bonding between them, resulting in a bilayer arrangement. The lamellar-plate-like morphology filled with intercalants and twinning collapse was noticed in the FESEM and SAED patterns after the intercalation process. The ethylenediamine intercalated Bi 0.775 Pr 0.225 O 1.5 was further evaluated for iodine adsorption from non-aqueous solutions through chemisorption following pseudo-second-order kinetics. The X-ray diffraction peaks after adsorption suggested bilayer to monolayer transformation aided by chemical alterations within the host's van der Waals gaps. The N–I vibration mode, observed in the FTIR spectrum of the iodine-adsorbed sample, further augmented the interaction between the two during adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we studied the effect of bismuth oxide particle size and its attenuation capacity as a filler additive in epoxy resins. Six samples were prepared according to the amount of microparticles and nanoparticles in the sample and were coded as ERB-1, ERB-2, ERB-3, ERB-4, ERB-5, and ERB-6. One of the composite epoxies contained Bi2O3 microparticles at a 50:50 ratio (ERB-6) and was chosen as the control composite, and the number of microparticles (MPs) was gradually decreased and replaced by nanoparticles (NPs) to produce epoxy-containing Bi2O3 nanoparticles at a 50:50 ratio (ERB-1). The morphological and thermal characteristics of the studied composites were tested. The attenuation capability of the prepared composites, which is determined by the Bi2O3 particle size, was determined experimentally using a semiconductor detector, an HPGe-detector, and three different gamma-ray point sources (Am-241, Co-60, and Cs-137). The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of ERB-3, which contained 30% nanoparticles and 20% microparticles, had the highest value compared to the other composites at all the energies discussed, while the ERB-6 composite had the lowest value at all energies. The radiation-shielding efficiency (RSE) of the prepared samples was determined at all discussed energies; at 662 keV, the radiation-shielding efficiency values were 15.97%, 13.94%, and 12.55% for ERB-3, ERB-1, and ERB-6, respectively. The statistics also proved that the attenuation capacities of the samples containing a combination of nanoparticles and microparticles were much superior to those of the samples containing only microparticles or nanoparticles. A ranking of the samples based on their attenuation capacity is as follows: ERB-3 > ERB-4 > ERB-2 > ERB-1 > ERB-5 > ERB-6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle (NP) and bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized by the thermal decomposition method. Different amounts of each NP (1% W/V, 3% W/V, and 5% W/V) were used separately to combine with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to prepare composite nanofibers using a simple, fast, and cost-effective electrospinning method. Characterization of NPs and nanofibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine morphology and size, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) to check chemical structure, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to study functional groups, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to evaluate crystal structure, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to show size and distribution size. According to the results, a mixture of 3% ZnO NPs and 3% Bi2O3 NPs incorporated in PMMA was selected as the best nanofiber due to smooth and fine morphology without any knot or adhesion with low diameter distributions. Based on the Debye–Scherrer equation, the average size was obtained for ZnO NPs, Bi2O3 NPs, and PMMA congaing 3% W/V ZnO NPs and 3% W/V Bi2O3 NP as 32.93, 76.82, and 21.52 nm, respectively. The hydrophilicity test was performed by measuring the contact angle of PMMA, PMMA congaing 3% W/V ZnO NPs, PMMA congaing 3% W/V Bi2O3 NPs, PMMA congaing 3% W/V ZnO NPs and 3% W/V Bi2O3 NPs, which were obtained 132.56°, 74.13°, 128.24°, and 132.70°, respectively. The result the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) show that PMMA congaing 3% W/V ZnO NPs, PMMA congaing 3% W/V Bi2O3 NPs can be inhibiting Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. The fabricated composite nanofibers have good potential for the treatment of skin infections, tissue engineering, and biomedical and industrial applications as a transdermal antibacterial patch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical wastewater, including antibiotics, is being increasingly detected in the environment as a form of micropollutant. Researchers have progressively concentrated on integrating the advanced oxidation process (AOPs) with photocatalysts such as bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) to degrade antibiotics. The study involved the effective synthesis of pure Bi2O3 and Copper doped Bi2O3 (CBO) thin films using the sol-gel process. These thin films were then coated using the spray coating technique, and studied for their ability to degrade levofloxacin (LFX). The characterization including UV-Vis and XRD were used to analysed the properties of all synthesized thin films. 3% CBO thin films have the good quality compared with other thin films with the lowest energy band gap is 2.54 eV and crystallite size are 28.1938 nm. The degradation efficiency of 3% CBO thin films using photocatalysis is 85.95%. The degradation kinetic rate value is 0.00637 min-1 for pseudo-first-order kinetics and 0.00676 min-1 for pseudo-second-order kinetics. The reusability of CBO thin films was also evaluated to determine the sustainability of the thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured bismuth oxide bromide (BiOBr) has attracted considerable attention as a visible light catalyst. However, its photocatalytic degradation efficiency is limited by its low specific surface area. In this study, a solvothermal approach was employed to synthesize BiOBr, which was subsequently loaded onto cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) to obtain a bismuth halide composite catalyst. The performance of this catalyst in the removal of refractory organic pollutants such as tetracycline (TC) from solutions under visible light excitation was examined. Our results indicate that BiOBr/CNF effectively removes TC from the solution under light conditions. At a catalyst dosage of 100 mg/L, the removal efficiency for TC (with an initial concentration of 100 mg/L) was 94.2%. This study elucidates the relationship between the microstructure of BiOBr/CNF composite catalysts and their improved photocatalytic activity, offering a new method for effectively removing pollutants from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) on catalysts will provide catalytic sites to activate CO2 and boost photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Herein, a Ce-doped bismuth oxide (CeBiOX) with FLPs was designed by loading [(α-SbW9O33)2Cu3(H2O)3]12− (Cu3) via strong electrostatic interactions to create oxygen vacancies (OVs). Detailed experiments and measurements showed that Cu3 could regulate the FLPs and optimize the band structure of CeBiOX to boost photocatalytic CO2 reduction. In particular, the Cu3/CeBiOX composite exhibited the highest yields of CO (42.85 μmoL g−1) and CH4 (13.23 μmoL g−1), being 6.6 and 3.3 times, and 4.9 and 6.3 times higher than those of pristine Bi2O3 and CeBiOX, respectively. This work provides a significant and mild approach to obtaining advanced catalysts with tuneable FLPs for more fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation methods have received much attention across various fields in recent years. The rare-earth lutetium tantalate (LuTaO4) doped “Bismuth Oxide (Bi2O3) thin films were deposited onto polymer substrates using a SRIM program.” The SRIM program was used to calculate some physical characteristics of Bi2O3 films at energies between 1.0 MeV and 20 MeV. The “electronic and nuclear stopping powers” of LuTaO4, Bi2O3, C10H8O4, and LuTaO4/ Bi2O3/C10H8O4 samples were investigated. These findings show that rare earth doping may improve the performance of composite materials. The interaction of ion beams with matter can result in a wide variety of phenomena. The deposition of Bi2O3 films doped with LuTaO4 on C10H8O4 led to changes in the “electronic and nuclear stopping powers” and range in the materials. Published data were compared with the results obtained and the calculations parameters were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the scope of the study, glasses co-doped with Sm3+/Gd3+ based on the B2O3–GeO2–Bi2O3 system were synthesized, covering compositions of 40B2O3–40GeO2–(15 – 17)Bi2O3–(3 – 2)Sm2O3–(2 – 1)Gd2O3 and 42.5B2O3–42.5GeO2–(11.25 – 12.75)Bi2O3–(2.25 – 1.50)Sm2O3–(1.500 – 0.075)Gd2O3. An assessment of luminescent characteristics was carried out within the temperature range of 298 – 673 K. Spectral bands of photoluminescence associated with transitions between various Stark sublevels of Sm3+ ions were identified. Redistribution of the fluorescence intensity ratio corresponding to 4G5/2 → 6H9/2 ( λ PL max = 645 nm) and 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 ( λ PL max = 597 nm) transitions was observed. Based on the obtained data, calculations of the fluorescence intensity ratio FIR, as well as relative sensitivity SR, were carried out. The obtained results indicate the promising potential of these glasses as luminescent thermometric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Currently, meglumine antimoniate is the first-choice treatment for the disease. The limited efficacy and high toxicity of the drug results in the necessity to search for new active principles. Nanotechnology is gaining importance in the field, since it can provide better efficacy and lower toxicity of the drugs. The present study aimed to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the in vitro leishmanicidal and antileukemic activity of bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs). Promastigotes and amastigotes of L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (L.) amazonensis were exposed to BiNPs. The efficacy of the nanoparticles was determined by measurement of the parasite viability and the percentage of infected cells, while the cytotoxicity was characterized by the colorimetry. BiNPs did not induce cytotoxicity in murine peritoneal macrophages and showed better efficacy in inhibiting promastigotes (IC50 < 0.46 nM) and amastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis. This is the first report on the leishmanicidal activity of Bi-based materials against L. (V.) guayanensis. BiNPs demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity against K562 and HL60 cells at all evaluated concentrations. While the nanoparticles also showed some cytotoxicity towards non-cancerous Vero cells, the effect was much lower compared to that on cancer cells. Treatment with BiNPs also had a significant effect on inhibiting and reducing colony formation in HL60 cells. These results indicate that bismuth nanoparticles have the potential for an inhibitory effect on the clonal expansion of cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the synthesis of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles with three different surfactants: Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB), Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG), and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) and their different properties. In order to study the performance of Bi2O3 based materials as negative electrodes in supercapacitor applications, the electrochemical properties of the three samples were carried out. For the electrodes of bismuth oxide covered with CTAB, PEG, and SDS, the estimated rates of diffusion were determined to be 85.6 × 10− 12 cm2 s− 1, 24.4 × 10− 12 cm2 s− 1, and 1.2 × 10− 12 cm2 s− 1 respectively. The estimated specific capacity values for the samples BOC, BOP and BOS are 549.8 C g–1, 412.7 C g–1 and 84.1 C g–1 at 5 A g–1 respectively. When compared to PEG and SDS assisted samples, the sample that was synthesized using CTAB showed the highest specific capacity. The distinctive extended rod-like morphology of BOC can be reasoned for this drastic improvement in capacity. Furthermore, even at a greater current density of 10 Ag− 1, the CTAB assisted Bi2O3 sample showed remarkable rate performance, keeping 92% of its initial capacitance after 5000 continuous GCD cycles. This finding shows that BOC has good rate and stability properties for prospective high-power supercapacitor applications. Further, asymmetric type two electrode device was fabricated and it exhibits higher energy density of 29 WhKg− 1 with a power density of 3404 Wkg− 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we have prepared six glass samples of bismuth borate using the melt-quenching method with the composition (70-x)B2O3-10CaO-20Na2O-xBi2O3; x  = 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 mol%. The density of the prepared glasses was determined using Archimedes principle. The X-ray diffraction patterns provide confirmation of the amorphous nature of the prepared samples, whereas the Fourier transform infrared measurements pointed to the existence of structural units like BO3, BO4, BiO3 and BiO6 within the glass network. An assessment of the optical absorption spectra unveiled that with the increase in the bismuth oxide content, there was a decrease observed in both the direct and indirect band gap energies. Specifically, they decreased from 3.40 to 2.79 eV and from 3.10 to 2.46 eV, respectively. The properties related to gamma ray attenuation, including the mass attenuation coefficient (μ m), effective atomic number (Z eff), half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP), were examined for all the glass samples. This investigation was carried out using the Phy-X/PSD software, covering the energy range from 0.511 to 1.332 MeV. Out of all the samples, Bi-15, featuring the highest Bi2O3 content, demonstrated the highest μ m, Z eff, the smallest HVL and MFP. These results suggest that the glass with 15 mol% of Bi2O3 offers the most effective gamma radiation shielding performance. Moreover, the glasses examined in this study exhibit superior radiation shielding characteristics compared with specific concrete types, namely, ordinary concrete, Hematite serpentine concrete and barite concrete, as well as commercial glasses such as RS-360 and RS-253. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the study of chemical, physical, and electrochemical behavior of bismuth and oxygen-based thin films, produced through an unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UMS) technique in reactive phase, is presented. The main aim of this investigation is to analyze the influence of Ar/O2 gas flow on the microstructure, chemical composition, and corrosion properties of bismuth and oxygen-based thin films. Coatings were grown keeping the power at 50 W with a mixture of Ar:O2 (80/20) as constants, while the gas flow rate was varied taking values of 12, 15, 20, 25, and 30 sccm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were carried out showing that films exhibited a polycrystalline Bi phase and no crystalline bismuth oxide phases. For elemental composition analysis, the Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) technique was used. The results suggested that film compositions were a mixture of metallic bismuth and amorphous bismuth oxide; moreover, chemical elemental distribution was studied using proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) measurements determining that before the corrosion analysis, samples exhibited a uniform distribution of Bi and O. Finally, the influence of the gas flow on the films anticorrosive properties was discussed. Potentiodynamic polarization technique results revealed that the corrosive behavior highly depends on the sample production parameters; samples grown at 20 and 30 sccm showed the best corrosion resistance represented in lower corrosion current density. This behavior is probably due to the thickness of these films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of Bismuth Oxide/Rice Husk-based Activated Carbon/Graphite (BO/RHAC/G) composites using the hydrothermal method with varying concentrations of bismuth nitrate pentahydrate has been conducted. The composites are synthesized from bismuth nitrate pentahydrate, sodium sulfate, and sodium hydroxide precursors added with activated carbon from rice husks and graphite using the hydrothermal method at 110oC for 5 hours. The characterization results show that the concentration of the added bismuth nitrate pentahydrate precursor affects the physical, chemical, and electrical properties of the resulting composites such as crystallinity, presence of functional groups, pore and surface properties, morphology, element distribution, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity. In the use of smaller bismuth nitrate pentahydrate, composite has the highest crystallinity containing mostly a-Bi2O3 having monoclinic crystal structure, small pore size and high surface area. Each composite showed different pattern of thermal decomposition. Moreover, most products have the same rod-like morphology even though the highest precursor used resulted in lumpy surface shape. The electrical conductivity of composites is higher than that of pure bismuth oxide and rice husk-activated carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-driven oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) for multi-carbon (C2+) product evolution is a promising approach toward the sustainable production of value-added chemicals, yet remains challenging due to its low intrinsic activity. Here, we demonstrate the integration of bismuth oxide (BiOx) and gold (Au) on titanium dioxide (TiO2) substrate to achieve a high conversion rate, product selectivity, and catalytic durability toward photocatalytic OCM through rational catalytic site engineering. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the lattice oxygen in BiOx is effectively activated as the localized oxidant to promote methane dissociation, while Au governs the methyl transfer to avoid undesirable overoxidation and promote carbon-carbon coupling. The optimal Au/BiOx-TiO2 hybrid delivers a conversion rate of 20.8 millimoles per gram per hour with C2+ product selectivity high to 97% in the flow reactor. More specifically, the veritable participation of lattice oxygen during OCM is chemically looped by introduced dioxygen via the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism, endowing superior catalyst stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTA) were prepared by anodization, and then bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) was deposited on TNTA by vacuum impregnation‐chemical precipitation method to prepare Bi2O3@TNTA composite electrodes, which were used to detect 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) as an electrochemical (EC) sensor. The effects of the Bi2O3 loading amount and the pH value of the detection solution on the detection performance were exhaustively studied. Under best conditions, the linear range is 5 μΜ–30 mM, the sensitivity is 0.6696 μA ⋅ μM−1 ⋅ cm−2, and the limit of detection is 0.64 μΜ. The composite electrodes are characterized by outstanding reproducibility, superior stability and strong selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs) are greatly promising next‐generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical specific capacities and energy density. However, the dissolution of lithium polysulfides (LIPs) causees low capacity and short lifespan, impeding the practical application of LSBs. To address this challenge, the composites of oxygen‐doped porous carbon nanotubes (CNTs) wrapped in Bi2O3 were synthesized by the calcinating method (CNTs@Bi2O3). The CNTs@Bi2O3 composites as absorbent immobilize LIPs via the physical limitations of porous CNTs and the chemical adsorption of Bi2O3 and carbon‐oxygen polar bond. After loading sulfur, the CNTs@Bi2O3/S composites with the encapsulated structure can provide a large space to withstand the significant volume expansion during the electrochemical reaction process, ensuring the stability of the electrode structure. Thus, the batteries with CNTs@Bi2O3/S exhibit a high capacity (1232 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C) and good cycle stability (639.1 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles at 0.5 C). This work presents an innovative design suitable for the encapsulated structure of Bi2O3, serving as a valuable reference for the development of Bi2O3 in LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoroelastomer‐based composites with nano‐sized bismuth oxide (B) and/or graphite (G) as fillers were prepared and characterized using FKM type 1 fluoroelastomer as a matrix. The effects of these fillers used singly or in combination on the crosslinking process, mechanical, thermal, dynamic mechanical, electrical, optical, and high‐energy radiation attenuation properties of FKM were investigated. The results showed that graphite significantly increased the moduli E50 (MPa) of FKM/G and FKM/GB composites by 1026% and 1459%, respectively, compared to FKM. On the other hand, bismuth(III) oxide did not affect the stiffness or elongation at break of FKM significantly. Graphite also imparted electrical conductivity to FKM (10−6 Scm−1), which was reduced by bismuth oxide to 10−12 Scm−1. Furthermore, the linear attenuation coefficients (μ), half‐value layer (HVL), and tenth‐value layer (THV) of pure FKM and FKM composites were evaluated using a 137Cs (662 keV) source, revealing that FKM/B and FKM/GB composites show 47.4% and 35.8% higher μ values, respectively, than FKM. Taking into consideration that the attenuation coefficient of FKM is 10 times higher than conventional elastomers such as natural rubber, these results indicate that thin flexible shielding against high electromagnetic radiation can be achieved to protect different sensitive equipment such as electronic devices used in nuclear power plants, gamma radiation facilities, telescopes, and artificial satellites. Highlights: A fluoroelastomer‐based composite containing 40 phr of bismuth(III) oxide nanopowder presents a gamma attenuation coefficient 47.4% higher than that of the polymer matrix.A fluoroelastomer‐based composite containing bismuth(III) presents a band gap of 2.40 eV.Bismuth(III) oxide nanopowder hinders the electrical conductivity imparted by a conducting filler contained in the fluoroelastomer‐based composite.Fluoroelastomer‐based composites containing graphite or bismuth(III) oxide present enhanced mechanical and thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic materials are promising for the ever-increasing demand in next-generation electronic devices. In this regard, we report the development and characterizations (structural, microstructural surface, dielectric, transport, impedance, resistive and current-voltage properties) of a novel complex material Ba 3 Bi 2 Fe 2 O 9. Preliminary investigation of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows the dual phase nature (cubic and tetragonal phase). The analysis of the Williamson-Hall plot illustrates the average crystallite size and micro-lattice strain are 91.37 nm and 0.002, respectively. The scanning electron microscopic spectrum examines the microstructural surface interface analysis, fractal study and topographic roughness (using the standard ISO25178). The analysis of Maxwell-Wagner dielectric dispersion, relaxation, and transport mechanisms are investigated utilizing dielectric, impedance, and conductivity spectrum accumulated within the experimental frequency (1 kHz–1 MHz) and temperature (298 K–373 K) range. The energy band of intrinsic and ionization regions with different frequencies (1 kHz and 10 kHz) indicates the semiconducting behavior of the material. The presence of non-Ohmic and space charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanisms is investigated by the varistor constant β 1 and β 2. The thermistor constant (β) is determined to be 1683.13, and the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) is −0.00903, which may be suitable for wearable NTC thermistors and other related device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large size (4 cm × 4 cm × 1 cm) Ce3+-doped high gadolinium oxyfluoride glass with density of 5.83 g/cm³ was prepared by the melt quench method at 1220 °C. The glass is colorless and transparent over the visible range. The prolonged decay time under 275 nm UV light demonstrates the energy transfer from Gd3+ ions to Ce3+ ions. The X-ray excited luminescence spectra (XEL) show the emission peak corresponds to the 5d→4f transitions of Ce3+ ion. The integral emission intensity of glass was compared with that of bismuth germanate oxide (BGO) crystals. The scintillation property of glass was studied under the γ -ray from 137Cs source and a clear energy peak was observed with light yield (LY) over 1100 ph/MeV. The scintillation decay time comprises fast and slow components. All results presented in this work indicate the appropriate potential to be high-energy rays detecting material for CEPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, we successfully synthesized bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) via simple combustion method using Artocarpous heterophyllus (Jackfruit) extract as fuel. Both α and β polymorphs of bismuth oxide NPs was prepared using same Artocarpous heterophyllus fuel but there is a variation in the addition of fuel in the range of 1 mL–6 mL. The prepared NPs were characterized by utilizing spectroscopic techniques. The photocatalytic efficiencies were found to be 84 %, 93 % for both α, β forms respectively. Methylene blue dye exhibits effective degradation for β‐phase compared to α‐phase. Furthermore, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and sensing (CV) activities were performed. The bismuth oxide modified electrodes exhibits better sensing activity towards dopamine, ascorbic acid, lead nitrate, and results obtained from EIS data revealed the super capacitor characteristics of Bi2O3 nanoparticles. This extensive investigation assessed the effectiveness of Aspergillus Niger‐fighting drugs, as well as the antibacterial effects of synthesized nanoparticles on Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli. Measurements of optical density were used to establish the MIC values for antifungals. The protein 4XUY has a strong binding affinity of −6.4 Kcal/mol, with four important hydrogen bond interactions (LYS51, HIS84, ASN131, and GLU238) revealed by molecular docking research. These results expand our knowledge of the therapeutic uses of bismuth oxide nanoparticles by highlighting their potential as effective antibacterial agents and by providing insightful information about how they work against pathogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]