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In this work, a hollow MoSe2/CuS type-II heterojunction was fabricated using hollow MoSe2 nanospheres as the basis for structural design. UV–Vis–NIR diffuse absorption tests show that MoSe2/CuS has a broad spectral absorption to extend the optical response range from UV–Vis to NIR. The light source utilization rate and interfacial area are increased by the hollow MoSe2/CuS core–shell structure. The broad absorption ability of MoSe2/CuS can facilitate the photocatalysis process. As the electrochemical impedance of MoSe2/CuS is lower than that of the MoSe2, MoSe2/CuS has a good photogenerated carrier separation efficiency. Benefiting from the synergistic facilitation effect of the multi-level 3D hollow nanosphere and the significant space charge region in type-II heterojunction, the RhB degradation efficiency of MoSe2/CuS reached 96.0% in 120.0 min under Xe (350 W) broadband spectrum light irradiation. The photocatalysis mechanism of the hollow MoSe2/CuS core–shell structure was investigated. This work provides an insight into the application of broad spectrum semiconductor heterojunctions to solve environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linker-assisted Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite (NC)-based photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized using thioglycolic acid (TGA) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as bifunctional linker molecules (LMs). The Ag–LMs–TiO2 composites showed greatly improved photocatalytic performance for the degradation of an organic dye mixture under direct sunlight over bare Ag–TiO2 NCs. The efficiencies estimated from the degradation curves for Ag–TiO2, Ag–MPA–TiO2, and Ag–TGA–TiO2 are found to be 82.9%, 90.2%, and 96.1%, respectively. Compared to Ag–MPA–TiO2, Ag–TGA–TiO2 NCs exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic activity, which can be attributed to the TGA molecule's shorter chain length and, hence, faster and more charge transfer, which is duly confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) quenching and TRPL decay curves. Furthermore, higher Stern–Volmer quenching constant values (Ksv) have been obtained for Ag–TGA–TiO2 NCs compared to the bare Ag–TiO2 and Ag–MPA–TiO2 NCs from the PL quenching and estimated Ksv values for Ag–TiO2, Ag–MPA–TiO2, and Ag–TGA–TiO2 are 1400, 1950, and 2560 l−1, respectively. Interestingly, the Ag–TGA–TiO2 recycling analysis confirmed high stability and fast photodegradation up to 40 cycles. From the obtained results, it is concluded that the interfacial electron transfer kinetics in Ag–LM–TiO2 assemblies rely on the length of the alkyl-containing molecular linkers; the shorter the length, the more the charge transfer will be, thereby improving the photocatalytic behavior of the NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor-based photocatalysts have become increasingly used in the removal of pollutants from wastewater, especially antibiotics. A series of composite-based cuprous oxide and bismuth vanadate (Cu2O/BiVO4) composite-based photocatalysts were synthesized by using the chemical method. The structure of the Cu2O/BiVO4 composite was verified by using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–visible spectra. The degradation of methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline (TC) was investigated to check the photocatalytic activity of the Cu2O/BiVO4 composite series. The quantity of Cu2O was varied from 1% to 7% by weight to prepare the series of Cu2O/BiVO4 composites. The analysis of results verified that 5% Cu2O/BiVO4 exhibits an outstanding photocatalytic activity as compared to 1%, 3%, and 7% Cu2O/BiVO4, pure Cu2O, and pure BiVO4 under visible light irradiation. The optimum value of photocatalytic degradation achieved with 5% Cu2O/BiVO4 was 97% for MB dye and 95% for TC in 120 min, which is greater than the photocatalytic degradation of pure BiVO4 (MB 45% and TC 72%), pure Cu2O (MB 57% and TC 80%), 1% Cu2O/BiVO4 (MB 72% and TC 85%), 3% Cu2O/BiVO4 (MB 83% and TC 88%), and 7% Cu2O/BiVO4 (MB 87% and TC 91%). The stability and reusability of Cu2O/BiVO4 were also investigated. To check the major role of trapping in degradation, a trapping experiment was also performed by using three trapping agents: BQ, EDTA, and tBuOH. The results showed that Cu2O/BiVO4 exhibits an improved photocatalytic activity in the degradation of antibiotics in polluted water because the recombination rate of the electron–hole pair decreased and the surface area increased, which increased the active sites for redox reactions. Such a photocatalytic composite with high efficiency has various applications, such as energy production, environmental remediation, and water remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the synthesis of La 10 Si 6 O 27 :Sm3+ nanoparticles (LSNP) with varying samarium (Sm3+) concentrations (0–8 mol%) using eco-friendly solution combustion method with urea as a fuel. Using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), we determined that the nanoparticles typically measure between 15 and 17 nm and display a spherical morphology. These rare earth (RE)-doped nanoparticles were employed as a novel photocatalyst for the degradation of malachite green (MG) dye, exhibit unprecedented photocatalytic efficiency. The release of OH radicals during the degradation process was found to vary with the chemical structure and concentration of the photocatalyst, with the 6 mol% LSNP formulation showing a significant advancement under both UV and sunlight. Electrochemical assessments revealed that these nanoparticles exhibit excellent cyclic stability and robust performance. Notably, the specific capacitance of the nanoparticles increased with the samarium concentration, reaching a peak of 261.3 F/g in 0.1 M HCl. Furthermore, graphite-modified electrodes incorporating these nanoparticles showed significant potential as sensitive materials for detecting mercury and lead in concentrations as low as 1–6 mM, underscoring the versatility and functional adaptability of the synthesized nanoparticles in environmental and electrochemical applications. The prepared La 10 Si 6 O 27 :Sm3+ nanoparticles The nanoparticles demonstrated an optimal photocatalytic efficiency of 95.5 % under UV light and 88.15 % under sunlight at 6 mol% Sm3+ doping. Additionally, a peak specific capacitance of 261.3 F/g was achieved in 0.1 M HCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel Y-NaBi(MoO 4) 2 @NaYF 4 :Yb, Tm composite was successfully synthesized for the first time by hydrothermal method. The lamellar Y-NaBi(MoO 4) 2 was dispersed on the surface of the hexagonal prism NaYF 4 :Yb, Tm without aggregation. The composite achieved a broad spectral response. The NaYF 4 :Yb, Tm absorbed near-infrared light and emitted ultraviolet and visible light by the energy transfer upconversion process. The emitted light was reabsorbed by Y-NaBi(MoO 4) 2 through the fluorescence resonance energy transfer process. Moreover, the doping of Y3+ ions enhanced the light response capability of the composite. The experimental results revealed that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CIP) reached 96.2 % after 180 min of illumination under simulated sunlight. Meanwhile, the degradation pathways and attack sites of CIP were intensively investigated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and density functional theory theoretical calculations. The upconversion process, the separation of photogenerated carriers and rare earth metal ion doping all contributed to the high effective photodegradation. This work provided a new strategy for effective utilization of solar energy for the degradation of emerging pollutants to mitigate environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of global economy and industrialization, the management and protection of water resources have become increasingly important. In this paper, a novel three-dimensional Chitosan/Fe 3 O 4 /TiO 2 @MXene photocatalyst with excellent degradation and bacterial inhibition properties was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method using FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O, Chitosan (CS) and MXene (Ti 3 C 2) as main raw materials. TiO 2 was generated in-situ on the surface of Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets and modified by loading Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and CS films. The conformations and band gaps of the composites were modified, and then photocatalytic mechanisms, phase compositions, morphological structures, magnetic properties and photoelectrochemical properties of the photocatalysts were systematically analyzed. The degradation efficiency of the CS/Fe 3 O 4 /TiO 2 @Ti 3 C 2 composite photocatalyst can reach 95.9 % when the ration of CS to FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O is 1:3 and the hydrothermal temperature is 180 °C, which showing excellent photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, the inhibition rate of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is close to 98.91 % under the light condition. This study further reveals that visible light is a cost-effective way to treat pollution in terms of degradation and bacteriostatic inhibition, and the composite photocatalysts can be efficiently recycled and reused under the action of a magnetic field. [Display omitted] • CS/Fe 3 O 4 /TiO 2 @MXene with excellent degradation and bacteriostatic properties was synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method. • Fe 3 O 4 formed Schottky heterojunction with TiO 2 generated in situ, CS formed a double-layer film regulation system with Ti 3 C 2. • Bacteriostatic system was built: Nanoparticles brought ROS, loaded on sharp sheets, wrapped by CS with positive charges. • The material also has outstanding cyclic degradation performance, can be easily recycled and reused due to its magnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to develop an efficient, easily recoverable membrane-based photocatalyst for removing organic pollutants from aqueous solutions. This study documents the effective synthesis of a novel composite photocatalyst comprising WO3/g-C3N4 (WCN) loaded onto cellulose acetate (CA). The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanocomposites were validated using a range of techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. SEM analysis revealed that the WCN particles exhibited a well-decorated arrangement on the CA surface in the form of spherical particles. The successfully synthesized film was utilized as a potential adsorbent for removing organic pollutants such as Rhodamine B (Rh-B) and Methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions under UV light illumination. The results showcased the significant potential of the WCN@CA nanocomposite, achieving a remarkable 83% and 85% efficiency in eliminating Rh-B and MB. The pseudo-first-order kinetic models were found to be appropriate for both dye adsorption onto the WCN@CA nanocomposite. The WCN@CA catalyst, capable of being reused five times without significant loss of efficiency, shows great potential for decomposing toxic organic pollutants. The novelty of this work lies in the innovative combination of WCN with CA, resulting in a highly efficient and reusable photocatalyst for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest problems in the ecosystem is wastewater contaminated with industrial dyes. These pollutants have a very stable chemical structure, which causes complicated removal. However, a possible alternative for wastewater treatment is zinc oxide semiconductor nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The approach of this study was the implementation of a green synthesis methodology for the obtention of ZnO nanoparticles employing Ipomoea stans (TV) leaves as extracts. The properties of the ZnO nanoparticles synthesized at 1 %, 2 %, and 4 % w/v (weight/volume) concentration of the extract were obtained from the characterization using different techniques. The FTIR analysis determined the presence of the active functional groups attached to the surface, which capped and stabilized the ZnO NPs; a band located in the range of 500-390 cm−1 confirms the presence of the Zn–O bond. The UV absorption spectra of all ZnO NPs samples were determined by executing the ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy technique, with a characteristic signal located at ∼370 nm and energy gap values between 3.036 eV and 3.101 eV. In addition, XRD patterns determined the average crystallite sizes to be 30.78 nm for ZnO-TV 1 %, 18.68 nm ZnO-TV 2 %, and 11.96 nm ZnO-TV 4 %, respectively. Furthermore, the results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) displayed the following values of mean particle size of 21 nm, 24.4 nm, and 10.16 nm for ZnO-TV 1 %, ZnO-TV 2 % and ZnO-TV 4 % with S.D. 9.10, 12.5 and 3.6. Finally, the photocatalytic activity was evaluated utilizing the industrial dyes Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue, Rhodamine B, Malachite Green, and Congo Red. Obtaining outstanding results in the degradation of all industrial dyes. All syntheses achieved degradation greater than 91 % for methyl orange, methylene blue, and rhodamine B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical anodization, under a constant voltage of 45 V and for 15, 30, and 45 min, was performed to fabricate highly ordered TiO 2 nanotubes. Depending on the processing paramters, the diameter of the TiO 2 nanotubes was found to be around 95 ± 6 nm, while the thickness of TNT layer exhibited a change with anodizing time, varying from 1 to 4 μm. Subsequent to the anodization α-Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 heterogeneous structure was created by the spin coating of iron precursor based solutions on TiO 2 nanotubes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were utilized to ascertain the phase structure and morphology of TiO 2 nanotubes. The change of optical band gap values depending on the processing parameters was calculated using UV–Vis spectrophotometer data. The photocatalytic performances of the samples, namely the degradation rates and kinetics, were evaluated by examining the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB). The (TC15) sample, obtained by anodizing for 15 min and decorated with α-Fe 2 O 3 , exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, with a degradation efficiency of 70 % at the end of 7 h of light exposure. On the other hand, the inhibition percentages of bacterial growth were examined and it was seen that the TC30 sample with the highest value was 88.89 % for E.coli bacteria and 70.57 % for S.aureus. To assess the mechanism of antimicrobial activity, ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) Analysis were perfomed on T30 and TC30 groups and the ROS amount of TC30 was higher than T30. According to the results of the L929 mouse fibroblast cytotoxicity experiment with indirect contact according to ISO 10993-5 standards, all samples showed a successful performance in terms of cell viability. The cell viability of TC15 was higher in comparison to the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Zirconium‐modified Engelhard Titanium Silicate 4 (Na−K‐ETS‐4/xZr) catalysts were synthesized and evaluated for their photocatalytic efficiency in degrading crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, WDXRF, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The results confirmed the successful incorporation of Zr into the ETS‐4 framework, with the highest Zr content reaching 9.2 wt %. The photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation was studied at varying pH levels. The Na−K‐ETS‐4/6.3Zr catalyst exhibited the highest photodegradation efficiency for CV (76.6 %), while Na−K‐ETS‐4/8.9Zr achieved 86.6 % efficiency for MB. A combination of Engelhard Titanium Silicate 10, Na−K‐ETS‐10/6.3Zr and Na−K‐ETS‐4/8.9Zr significantly enhanced dye degradation, achieving up to 96.5 % efficiency for MB. Kinetic studies indicated that the degradation process follows a non‐linear pseudo‐first‐order model. The catalysts also demonstrated excellent reusability, with minimal efficiency loss after five cycles, and full recovery after an ethanol wash. These findings suggest that Na−K‐ETS‐4/xZr is a promising candidate for environmental water treatment applications due to its efficient photodegradation performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review explores synthesis methodologies for ZnO nanostructures, emphasising green synthesis and doping techniques. Researchers, driven by environmental sustainability, have utilised various bio-reducing agents in synthesising both pristine and doped ZnO nanostructures. The study delves into the involvement of these structures in photo-assisted degradation of organic pollutants, showcasing the pivotal role of green-synthesised ZnO and its doped derivatives in photocatalysis. The review meticulously details alterations induced by dopants in the parent ZnO structure, highlighting their potential to enhance dye degradation efficiency. Mechanisms underlying the green synthesis approach are elucidated, exploring the interplay between surface reactions, photo energy, charge carriers, and energy band structures. Additionally, the synergistic effects of dopants on ZnO nanostructures when exposed to light are outlined, impacting various organic pollutants such as dyes, antibiotic effluents, organic solvents, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).Drawing from recent research papers predominantly from 2018–24, this review is a consolidated source on the current state-of-the-art. Its focus on doped ZnO nanostructures, commitment to sustainable synthesis, and exploration of efficiency augmentation through doping techniques distinguish it. Beyond summarising advancements, the review addresses future possibilities and challenges, significantly contributing to understanding photocatalytic excellence in green-synthesised ZnO nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon nanotubes/zinc oxide (CNTs/ZnO) nanocomposites were immobilized on the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membrane for highly reutilization rate in photocatalytic degradation of RhodamineB (RhB) based on the combination of electrospinning and ultrasonication treatment. The results revealed that the CNTs are successfully compounded with ZnO, and the surface of nanofibers was uniformly covered with CNTs/ZnO nanoparticles. Under visible light irradiation, the CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites displayed excellent photocatalytic activity with 98.4% of RhB degradation rate within 3 h illumination. In comparison with pure PVA, and CNTs/ZnO with equivalent loading capacity on CNTs/ZnO@PVA film suspended in aqueous solution, the synthesized CNTs/ZnO@PVA film degrades RhB dye more efficiently. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites did not change significantly even after five recycles, indicating a certain degree of reusability. The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed. The as‐prepared flexible CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites could be employed as a promising material for the practical photocatalytic degradation of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, highly ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-16) were synthesized by a one-step sol–gel method, relating to the interaction with the self-assembly of the non-ionic surfactant, pluronic F127 under an acidic condition without the hydrothermal process. SBA-16 was further incorporated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) with varied Si/Ti ratios (11.2, 2.8 and 0.7) to optimize a suitable condition for producing SBA-16/TiO2 composites. After calcination, the composites were characterized by using various techniques to evaluate pore characteristics, morphologies and phase present. Typically, the highly ordered porous structure of the synthesized SBA-16 was confirmed by low angle X-ray analysis (LAXRD) and N2 adsorption isotherms. TiO2 nanoparticles were found at the surfaces of SBA-16 of each composite based on the HR-TEM images. Diuron herbicide in aqueous solutions (50 ppm of the initial concentration) was used as a polluted model for studying on the photocatalytic activity of the composites under an artificial UV illumination for 24 h. Experimental results revealed that SBA-16 could assist on diuron reduction in the dark condition by the adsorption process. Diuron in the solutions were fully degraded by the synthesized TiO2 and the SBA-16/TiO2 composite (0.7 Si/Ti ratio) within 24 h of the UV illumination. In addition, it revealed that SBA-16 could assist on diuron reduction in the dark condition by the adsorption process. The degradation was calculated and followed to the first order kinetic model. Finally, a mechanism of the degradation was discussed and proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports the synthesis of an ordered mesoporous network of heterophase TiO2 monoliths as a visible light-responsive photocatalyst using tri-block copolymers of Pluronic F108, P123 and F127 as structure-directing agents (SDAs) and temperature-controlled calcination (450–650 °C) has been carried out by direct templating-assisted hydrothermal approach. The structural/surface morphology and topographical properties of the photocatalyst are characterized using FE-SEM-EDAX, HR-TEM-SAED, p-XRD, VB-XPS, PLS, TG/DTA, UV-Vis-DRS, BET/BJH and zeta potential analysis. The undoped heterophase mesoporous TiO2 monoliths with in-built lattice/surface defects exhibit visible light photocatalytic properties, successfully dissipating Reactive Brown 10 (RB-10) dye. The influence of physicochemical parameters, such as SDAs, temperature, pH, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, photosensitizers and light intensities, are optimized for maximum photocatalytic performance at a shorter timespan. The F127-assisted mesoporous TiO2 monolith (550 °C) exhibits superior degradation kinetics (15 min) for RB-10 dye solution (20 ppm) at pH 2.0–3.0 using a photocatalyst dosage of 50 mg and 2 mM of KBrO3, irradiated with 150 W/cm2 tungsten lamp. The photocatalysts are fabricated without complicated chemical modifications and display topmost efficiency in quickly decontaminating persistent pollutants. The photoproducts from RB-10 photocatalytic degradation are investigated using HR-MS analysis. The photocatalyst can be reused efficiently for six cycles, even under extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents nanostructured composite Bi2MoO6/MXene heterostructure by using hydrothermal method for photodegradation of the congo-red dye and also for energy storage devices. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) were performed to examine the structural properties along with surface area and porosity of the material. Due to addition of MXene the larger surface area and improved pore size help to quickly break down additional organic pollutants by adsorbing them. The band gap of Bi2MoO6/MXene nanostructured composite reduced to 2.4 eV suggesting transfer of electrons from VB to CB. Bi2MoO6/MXene exhibits a high (92.3%) photocatalytic degradation rate for a duration of 16 min which was verified using UV-visible spectroscopy, also scavenger test was conducted to ascertain the reactive agent along with the degradation pathway was confirmed by LCMS. Elemental content was also established by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For estimating energy storage capacity cyclic voltammetry (CV) was performed. It was observed Bi2MoO6/MXene nanostructured composite electrodes had specific capacitance of 642.91Fg− 1, power density of 1.24 kWkg− 1, and energy density of 22.32 Whkg− 1 at a current density of 5Ag− 1 also it exhibited 64.42% capacity retention having current density 20 Ag− 1 throughout 10,000 Galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) cycles. High electrical conductivity of Bi2MoO6/MXene electrode was again examined by Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These findings demonstrate the potential of Bi2MoO6/MXene nanostructured composites in both photodegradation and energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photovoltaic performance of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is often hindered by trap‐induced non‐radiative recombination and photochemical degradation occurring at the upper interfaces and the grain boundaries of perovskite films. Herein, ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐isomers of fluorophenylethylammonium iodine (F‐PEAI) organic spacer molecules are evaluated for the construction of perovskite quantum wells (2D or quasi‐2D, PQWs) to encapsulate 3D perovskites. Among the three variants, p‐F‐PEAI leads to the most symmetric charge distribution and the weakest steric hindrance which resulting in reinforced interactions with PbI2 and perovskite, the enhanced out‐of‐plane orientation is confirmed by Grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS) results. Density functional theory and crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) calculations further confirm that p‐F‐PEAI engages most strongly with the perovskite structure. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization is used to illustrate that p‐F‐PEAI‐assisted 2D PQWs effectively passivate both the grain boundaries and surfaces of perovskites. This configuration facilitates effective surface passivation, improves charge carrier transport, and significantly suppresses non‐radiative recombination. The resultant inverted PSCs achieve an excellent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.03% with a fill factor (FF) of 85.11%. The unencapsulated devices exhibit enhanced long‐term stability under ambient environments and continuous light illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven water evaporation is considered as the sustainable approach to alleviate freshwater resource crisis through direct use of solar energy. However, it is still challenging to achieve the multifunctional solar evaporators equipped with both high evaporation and purification performance to handle practical complex wastewater. Here, a simple and cost‐effective multifunctional 3D solar evaporator is prepared by alternately decorating the commercial sponge with FeOOH quantum dots (FQDs) supported MXene sheets composites and chitosan hydrogel coatings for enabling the solar water evaporation and organic wastewater photodegradation simultaneously. MXene composites allow the solar evaporator with excellent photothermal conversion performance, the hydrophilic chitosan hydrogel coated interconnecting skeleton structures of sponge serve as the mass transfer and water transport channels. The Fenton‐catalytic FQDs anchored on the MXene sheets surface accept the photo‐generated electrons of MXene sheets to induce the organic pollutant photo‐Fenton degradation reaction under sunlight irradiation. The resulting evaporator possesses both excellent water evaporation rate of 2.54 kg m−2 h−1 and high degradation efficiency (99.24% for methylene blue), coupled with durable salt‐resisting performance during long‐term seawater desalination (20 wt.% NaCl). This work provides a simple and feasible strategy for designing multifunctional solar evaporators to meet the potential application scenarios in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on the photodegradation of profoxydim, a low-toxicity cyclohexanedione herbicide commonly used in rice crops, under simulated sunlight conditions. Profoxydim's behavior in paddy field conditions is not well understood, and this research aimed to fill that gap, particularly examining the effect of commonly utilized organic amendments such as biochar (BC) on its degradation. Results indicated that profoxydim degrades rapidly, with a half-life of 2.4 ± 0.3 h in paddy water and 1.03 ± 0.1 h in paddy soil. However, when BC was introduced, the degradation slowed significantly, extending the half-lives to 3.1 ± 0.2 h in water and 3.07 ± 0.5 h in soil. The study identified five degradation products (DPs) using TOF mass accuracy measurements and MS/MS spectra fragmentation. Two of these DPs were found to be more stable than profoxydim itself. Additionally, the research proposed a novel photodegradation pathway, highlighting processes such as homolytic C-N bond cleavage, photoisomerization, and photoinduced oxidation. The study's findings contribute new insights into the environmental fate of profoxydim, offering a deeper understanding of its transformation in rice paddy fields and aiding in the assessment of potential risks associated with its residues in agricultural environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although there are many uses for metal–organic framework (MOF) based nanocomposites, research shows that these materials have received a lot of interest in the field of water treatment, namely in the photodegradation of water contaminants, and disinfection of some pathogenic bacteria and fungi. This is brought on by excessive water pollution, a lack of available water, low-quality drinking water, and the emergence of persistent micro-pollutants in water bodies. Photocatalytic methods may be used to remove most water contaminants, and pathogenic microbes, and MOF is an excellent modifying and supporting material for photocatalytic degradation. Methods: This work involved the fabrication of a unique Cu-MOF based nanocomposite that was exposed to gamma radiation. The nanocomposite was subsequently employed for photocatalytic degradation and as an antimicrobial agent against certain harmful bacteria and fungi. The produced Cu-MOf nanocomposite was identified by XRD, SEM, and EDX. Growth curve analysis, UV lighting impact, and antibiofilm potential have been carried out to check antimicrobial potential. Additionally, the membrane leakage test was used to determine the mechanism of the antimicrobial action. In an experimental investigation of photocatalytic activity, a 50 mL aqueous solution including 10.0 ppm of Rhodamine B (RB) was used to solubilize 10 mg of Cu-MOF. It has been investigated how pH and starting concentration affect RB elimination by Cu-MOF. Ultimately, RB elimination mechanism and kinetic investigations have been carried out. Results: SEM images from the characterization techniques demonstrated the fact that the Cu-MOF was synthesized effectively and exhibited the Cu-MOF layers' flake-like form. Uneven clusters of rods make up each stratum. The primary peaks in the Cu-MOF's diffraction pattern were found at 2θ values of 8.75◦, 14.83◦, 17.75◦, 21.04◦, 22.17◦, 23.31◦, 25.41◦, and 26.38◦, according to the XRD data. After 135 min of UV irradiation, only 8% of RB had undergone photolytic destruction. On the other hand, the elimination resulting from adsorption during a 30-min period without light was around 16%. Conversely, after 135 min, Cu-MOF's photocatalytic breakdown of RB with UV light reached 81.3%. At pH 9.0, the greatest removal of RB at equilibrium was found, and when the amount of photocatalyst rose from 5 to 20 mg, the removal efficiency improved as well. The most sensitive organism to the synthesized Cu-MOF, according to antimicrobial data, was Candida albicans, with a documented MIC value of 62.5 µg mL−1 and antibacterial ZOI as 32.5 mm after 1000 ppm treatment. Cu-MOF also showed the same MIC (62.5 µg mL−1) values against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and 35.0 and 32.0 mm ZOI after 1000 ppm treatment, respectively. Ultimately, it was found that Cu-MOF (1000 µg/mL) after having undergone gamma irradiation (100.0 kGy) was more effective against S. aureus (42.5 mm ZOI) and E. coli (38.0 mm ZOI). Conclusion: From the obtained results, the synthesized MOF nanocomposites had promising catalytic degradation of RB dye and high antimicrobial potential which encouraging their use in wastewater treatment against some pathogenic microbes and polluted dyes. Due to the exceptional physicochemical characteristics of MOF nanocomposites, it is possible to create and modify photocatalytic nanocomposites in a way that improves their recovery, efficiency, and recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of the current work is the study of the effect of the photo-catalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic destruction of methylene blue dye, a common water contaminant, was used to assess the photocatalytic efficiency of the ZnO nanoparticles from its aqueous solution by using ZnO nanoparticles thin film under UV light and laser irradiation. Sol–gel methods prepared ZnO nanoparticle thin films. X-ray diffraction and a field-emitted scanning electron microscope were utilized to examine the structure of the produced ZnO nanoparticles. An extended characterization by laser-based fluorescence and UV–visible spectroscopic techniques. The effects of operational parameters such as photo-catalyst load and contact time on photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue were investigated. The recent study's findings showed that irradiation with a UV laser increases with power density 25 µW/cm2, the photo-catalytic rate. The UV spectra show decay for the band at 664nm decreased and the concentration of M.B. in monomer form decayed to 26% of the original concentration in 24 h, while the band at 612 which is related to the dimer M.B. molecules was not affected. The laser irradiation did the same for monomer M.B. molecules in only 3 h, while the dimer decreased to 28% of its original concentration. The reaction mechanism has been discussed by molecular modelling. Quantum mechanical calculations at B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) level indicated that methylene blue changed from dimers to monomers in the existence of ZnO. The current results present a method for degrading M.B. not only in wastewater but also in the industrial waste scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the photochemical degradation of malachite green (MG), a cationic triphenylmethane dye used as a coloring agent, fungicide, and antiseptic. UV photolysis was ineffective in the removal of MG as only 12.35% degradation of MG (10 mg/L) was achieved after 60 min of irradiation. In contrast, 100.00% degradation of MG (10 mg/L) was observed after 60 min of irradiation in the presence of 10 mM H2O2 by UV/H2O2 at pH 6.0. Similarly, complete removal (100.00%) of MG was observed at 30 min of the reaction time by UV/H2O2/Fe2+ employing [MG]0 = 10 mg/L, [H2O2]0 = 10 mM, [Fe2+]0 = 2.5 mg/L, and [pH]0 = 3.0. For the UV/H2O2 process, the degradation efficiency was higher at pH 6.0 than at pH 3.0 as the k obs values were 0.0873 and 0.0690 min−1, respectively. However, UV/H2O2/Fe2+ showed higher reactivity at pH 3.0 than at pH 6.0. Chloride and nitrate ions slightly inhibited the removal efficiency of MG by both UV/H2O2 and UV/H2O2/Fe2+ processes. Moreover, three degradation products (DPs) of MG, (i) 4-dimethylamino-benzophenone (DABP), (ii) 4-amino-benzophenone (ABP), and (iii) 4-dimethylamino-phenol (DAP), were identified by GC-MS during the UV/H2O2 treatment. These DPs were found to demonstrate higher aquatic toxicity than the parent MG, suggesting that researchers should focus on the removal of target pollutants as well as their DPs. Nevertheless, the results of this study indicate that both UV/H2O2 and UV/H2O2/Fe2+ processes could be implemented to alleviate the harmful environmental impacts of dye and textile industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of visible light in photocatalytic semiconductors is restricted by the presence of a wide energy bandgap and fast electron–hole pair recombination. This study aims to address this limitation by synthesizing nitrogen- and cation-doped Cs0.68Ti1.83O4 at varying temperatures and subsequently analyzing the photocatalytic performance and mechanism. The optical experimental findings indicate that the co-doping of N/M (where M represents Zn, Co, or Cu) can considerably decrease the energy bandgap of Cs0.68Ti1.83O4 by regulating the energy band position and effectively suppressing the recombination of photogenerated carriers. Notably, at a temperature of 600 °C, the N/Cu co-doped Cs0.68Ti1.83O4 exhibits the smallest energy bandgap of 1.98 eV, thereby demonstrating superior photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic degradation test of pollutants shows that the degradation efficiency of methylene blue solution in 120 minutes under light was 84%, which is the result of the interaction between ˙OH and ˙O2−. This study provides new possibilities for the study of co-doped modified photocatalytic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The existence of organic pollutants in aqueous media has become a vital issue and a critical threat to human health, where organic toxic dyes represent the major contaminants in wastewater. Over the past few years, photocatalytic techniques have garnered a lot of interest in dye removal from wastewater. In this study, a series of ErxTbxZn1 − 2xO nanophotocatalysts (where x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05) were synthesized and coded as ZET0, ZET1, ZET2, and ZET3 NPs (nanoparticles). The chemical and physical characteristics of the NPs were investigated using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS) techniques. Further examination by performing photocatalytic experiments, ZET1 NPs demonstrated effective Rhodamine B (RhB) dye degradation within 60 min. It was found that the kinetic rate constant values were 0.008, 0.097, 0.050, and 0.040 min−1 for ZET0, ZET1, ZET2, and ZET3 NPs, respectively. Aside from their remarkable photocatalytic degradation efficiency, these ZET1 photocatalysts are highly stable even after five consecutive cycles. In addition, the active species test revealed that the primary oxidation species involved in the photocatalytic process are holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and a possible photocatalytic mechanism for degrading RhB by ZET1 photocatalysts was tentatively proposed. The enhancement of the photocatalytic degradation efficiency is due to the low recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers, as well as a strong synergistic impact of Tb, Er, and ZnO components. Thus, the current study could offer a versatile strategy for the design of new and effective nano photocatalysts for wastewater purification in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In photocatalytic innovation, there has been a lot of interest in creating broad spectral responsive photocatalysts to get superior catalytic performance. In this study, we synthesized highly visible‐light responsive La2Ti2O7 perovskite photocatalysts by the probe ultrasonication procedure followed by high‐temperature calcination. Such materials are characterized using UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectra, powder X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to illustrate the optical absorption activities, crystalline properties, chemical composition, and microscopic features. La2Ti2O7 extends optical absorption towards the visible light spectrum and narrows the band gap. The photocatalytic efficacy of the resulting La2Ti2O7 nanostructures was investigated by performing photocatalytic degradation of persistent Congo red (CR) dye while subjected to visible photon illumination using three Osram 150 W tungsten halogen lamp ((λ≥400 nm), 5000 lm nominal luminous flux, 80,600 lx radiation intensity. With effective efficiency, the optimum degradation of the 10 ppm CR dye with a percentage of 95.9 was achieved after 90 min during exposure to the La2Ti2O7 perovskite with a catalyst dosage of 30 mg/100 mL at pH 6. Consequently, La2Ti2O7 nanostructures alone depicted 19.8 % adsorption efficiency for CR dye. In addition, OH⋅ and holes were important in degrading CR dye, which included many different reaction pathways. The treated solution can also demonstrate the environment's safety for accepting water. In summary, under natural visible light irradiation, the synthesized La2Ti2O7 showed enormous promise for eliminating different organic contaminants using photocatalytic methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ga and Al doped ZnO thin film electrodes are spray deposited and explored for photocatalytic deterioration of methylene blue dye. X‐ray diffraction unveils both films to have highly textured growth along the (002) plane. The surface morphology is found to have near spherical and distorted rectangular particles for Ga and Al dopants, respectively. Photoluminescence emission study reveals that both films have visible light emissions in the violet, blue, and green regions due to oxygen vacancy defects. The deposited films exhibit a reasonably higher transmittance of 89 and 77 % with mobility of 30.5 and 29.6 cm2/Vs for Ga and Al doped ZnO, respectively. Cyclic test and photo‐corrosion studies performed for selected samples were indicating significant stability. Based on these findings the electrodes are explored for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye and are found to have significant efficiency upon LED and sunlight irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global food security depends on agricultural development, yet excessive fertilizer and pesticide usage is harmful to the environment. These substances have a role in human health problems, environmental changes, and erosion of the soil. Although p‐nitrophenol, an organic pollutant and other organophosphorous compounds are utilised in agriculture, their usage raises major health and environmental issues. These synthetic pesticides are quite effective at getting rid of pests, but they have also been linked to serious health problems for people and animals, degraded soil, and contaminated water. One typical persistent pollutant present in industrial wastewater is the organic pollutant, which is produced by organophosphorous compounds. The primary objective of this work is to use Cu@ZIF for photoreduction of p‐nitrophenol (PNP). A UV‐visible spectrophotometer test revealed that the deterioration peak after 60 mins. An analyzer for total organic carbon (TOC) was utilised to assess the PNP mineralization. The catalyst remained same and continued in the same behaviour even after four cycles. This study evaluated the acute toxicity of PNP on the development of early‐stage zebrafish, paying particular attention to the embryonic developmental deformities. The technique of photocatalytic decontamination is safe for the environment, financially practical, and technically achievable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic nanoparticle (NP)‐decorated electrospun micro/nanofibers as an ideal photocatalytic system for the degradation of organic dyes may provide unique advantages in terms of 3D morphology with high surface area, well‐controlled porosity, low cost, good interconnectivity, and excellent flexibility. However, novel, flexible, low‐cost, and efficient fabrication methods are still demanded to obtain photocatalytic activity. In this report, for the first time, we propose gold NP (AuNP)‐decorated electrospun poly(Ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL) membrane fibers through a conformal thin layer of polydopamine (PDA). Herein, PDA could reduce the Au3+ ions and enable the adsorption of AuNPs without using any reducing agent or seed material. The proposed system could degrade methylene blue after a 6‐h of daylight exposure with a rate constant of 4.83 × 10−3 and 4.64 × 10−3 min−1 for citrate‐stabilized AuNPs and reduction of Au ions cases, respectively. Even after fifth cycle of usage, AuNP‐decorated electrospun fibers showed reasonable catalytic activity without any significant change in their morphology and chemical content. For the case of rhodamine 6G, the same systems provided 55.2% and 64.1% of dye degradation within a 5‐h exposure. The proposed system presents unique advantages regarding control, flexibility, low cost, and efficiency in various catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatiotemporally controlled two‐photon photodegradation of hydrogels has gained increasing attention for high‐precision subtractive tissue engineering. However, conventional photolabile hydrogels often have poor efficiency upon two‐photon excitation in the near‐infrared (NIR) region and thus require high laser dosage that may compromise cell activity. As a result, high‐speed two‐photon hydrogel erosion in the presence of cells remains challenging. Here we introduce the design and synthesis of efficient coumarin‐based photodegradable hydrogels to overcome these limitations. A set of photolabile coumarin‐functionalized polyethylene glycol linkers are synthesized through a Passerini multicomponent reaction. After mixing these linkers with thiolated hyaluronic acid, semi‐synthetic photodegradable hydrogels are formed in situ via Michael addition crosslinking. The efficiency of photodegradation in these hydrogels is significantly higher than that in nitrobenzyl counterparts upon two‐photon irradiation at 780 nm. A complex microfluidic network mimicking the bone microarchitecture is successfully fabricated in preformed coumarin hydrogels at high speeds of up to 300 mm s−1 and low laser dosage down to 10 mW. Further, we demonstrate fast two‐photon printing of hollow microchannels inside a hydrogel to spatiotemporally direct cell migration in 3D. Collectively, these hydrogels may open new avenues for fast laser‐guided tissue fabrication at high spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regular octahedral CdS/K 2 Nb 2 O 6 core-shell Z-Scheme heterojunction is synthesized via an approach of hydrothermal-chemical method. The CdS/K 2 Nb 2 O 6 nano-heterojunction (CdS/KNO-3) exhibits arresting enhanced photocatalytic HER (∼634.39 μmol g−1 h−1)/degradation (∼0.05428 min−1) than the monomer K 2 Nb 2 O 6 (∼27.8/14.4 folds) and CdS (∼20.3/10.0 folds), including a decent stability (average HER of ∼621.39 μmol∙g−1 h−1). It can be mainly attributed to the CdS/K 2 Nb 2 O 6 Z-Scheme heterojunction with appropriate potential gradient can promote the interface carrier driving to optimize carrier efficiency, including increasing carrier transport, extending carrier lifetime and reducing recombination. Additionally, the octahedral core-shell nanostructure can provide numerous active sites for decreasing overpotential and promoting electron diffusion, while improving the solar efficiency (high solar response of CdS), including shorting carrier pathway for photocorrosion optimization and increasing structural stability. [Display omitted] • Z-scheme heterojunction optimize carrier efficiency by greater Fermi levels gradient. • Core-shell structure can increase active sites to promote electron diffusion. • CdS nano-shell can enhance visible light response and shorten carrier pathway. • Regular octahedral nano-structure can increase structural stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for materials to treat wastewater is especially crucial. Herein, we have prepared 1D molybdenum oxide (MoO 3) nanobelts through a hydrothermal approach. The binary (MoO 3 /SiO 2) and ternary composites of MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene were synthesized via ultrasonication route. The as-prepared MoO 3 , MoO 3 /SiO 2, and MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composites were employed to investigate the photocatalytic behavior of two organic dyes, methyl orange (MO) and crystal violet (CV). The % degradation of MO in the presence of MoO 3 nanobelts and MoO 3 /SiO 2 was calculated to be 48.9 % and 74.4 %, respectively. In the case of CV dye, the degradation (%) was observed at 53.7 % and 75.9 %. The MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composite revealed the best photocatalytic behavior against both MO and CV dyes by removing 94.7 % and 97.7 % under visible light irradiation. The rate constant values of MoO 3 nanobelts, MoO 3 /SiO 2 and MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composite for MO dye were calculated to be 0.00568 min−1, 0.01156 min−1, and 0.02399 min−1 and for CV dye 0.00679 min−1, 0.01208 min−1, and 0.02798 min−1 respectively. A scavenging test was carried out to monitor the main photo-active species that take part during the photocatalysis and hydroxyl radicals were found to be the highly active species during whole photodegradation progression. The SiO 2 particles function as a good adsorbent medium and transfer the adsorbed organics toward more active sites to advance the reaction. 2D MXene nanosheets, as good conductors, reduce the recombination rate of charges, offer large surface area, and facilitate fast transfer of charges. The results suggest that MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene composite is a potential contender for wastewater remediation applications. [Display omitted] • Ternary composite (MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene) was synthesized using an ultrasonication approach, with a crystallite size of 19.48 nm. • SEM analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of MoO 3 nanobelts and their ternary composite with SiO 2 and MXene sheets. • The synthesized samples were utilized for the photodegradation of two organic dyes, Crystal Violet and Methyl Orange. • The MoO 3 /SiO 2 /MXene nanocomposite demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activity against both dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride nanorods/titanium dioxide microspheres (g-C 3 N 4 NRs/TiO 2 MSs) Z-scheme heterojunctions were simply prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method, which showed improved visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl). The photodegradation activity of g-C 3 N 4 NRs/TiO 2 MSs is 6.6 and 1.9 times better than that of pristine g-C 3 N 4 and TiO 2 , which is assigned to the unique morphology and formed heterojunction. Hydroxyl radical (⋅OH) and superoxide radical (⋅O 2 −) were the main species for TC-HCl photodegradation according to capture experiments, and a possible mechanism is proposed. This study provides an effective reference for the preparation of binary heterostructures with excellent photocatalytic activity from a simplified process. Z-scheme g-C 3 N 4 NRs/TiO 2 MSs heterojunction was successfully constructed from the simple one-step process which shows enhanced photocatalytic activity and good stability for treating refractory tetracycline hydrochloride. The enhancement is assigned to unique morphology and the formed heterojunction which facilitates charge transfer and visible light absorption. [Display omitted] • Z-scheme g-C 3 N 4 NRs/TiO 2 MSs heterojunction was simply constructed by a one-step hydrothermal method. • TiO 2 microspheres were tightly attached to the surface of g-C 3 N 4 nanorods. • g-C 3 N 4 NRs/TiO 2 MSs (0.8:1) shows 6.6-fold higher TC-HCl degradation rate than g-C 3 N 4 NRs. • The improved activity is related to the unique morphology and heterojunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report demonstrates the development of carbon fibers (CFs) decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) as an efficient photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) as a model dye. Carbon fibers were produced by carbonization of polyacrylonitrile fibers, previously produced by centrifugal spinning. Subsequently, the CFs were decorated with TiO2 NPs (CFs@TiO2) by tailored soaking protocol using aqueous TiCl4 solution with different concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 M). SEM analyses revealed that soaking in TiCl4 produced a smooth, conformal, continuous TiO2 nanoparticulate coating with thickness increasing from 40.4 ± 21.2 to 257.9 ± 63.9 nm with increasing TiCl4 concentration. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the anatase nature of TiO2. Photocatalytic decomposition rates of MB were assessed under UV light illumination for all CFs@TiO2 samples, and it was revealed that the lowest amount of TiO2 NP on C yielded the highest rates. The synergistic interaction between CFs and TiO2 NPs with a uniform morphology and a well-crystalline anatase structure, present in an optimal amount of fiber bodies, is the key reason for the remarkable photocatalytic performance. This work shows that C fibers decorated with an optimal amount of TiO2 NPs have a great potential as an effective photocatalytic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatiotemporally controlled two‐photon photodegradation of hydrogels has gained increasing attention for high‐precision subtractive tissue engineering. However, conventional photolabile hydrogels often have poor efficiency upon two‐photon excitation in the near‐infrared (NIR) region and thus require high laser dosage that may compromise cell activity. As a result, high‐speed two‐photon hydrogel erosion in the presence of cells remains challenging. Here we introduce the design and synthesis of efficient coumarin‐based photodegradable hydrogels to overcome these limitations. A set of photolabile coumarin‐functionalized polyethylene glycol linkers are synthesized through a Passerini multicomponent reaction. After mixing these linkers with thiolated hyaluronic acid, semi‐synthetic photodegradable hydrogels are formed in situ via Michael addition crosslinking. The efficiency of photodegradation in these hydrogels is significantly higher than that in nitrobenzyl counterparts upon two‐photon irradiation at 780 nm. A complex microfluidic network mimicking the bone microarchitecture is successfully fabricated in preformed coumarin hydrogels at high speeds of up to 300 mm s−1 and low laser dosage down to 10 mW. Further, we demonstrate fast two‐photon printing of hollow microchannels inside a hydrogel to spatiotemporally direct cell migration in 3D. Collectively, these hydrogels may open new avenues for fast laser‐guided tissue fabrication at high spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical substances, a pill for every ill, have become a sweet poison by remarkably boosting the global economy as well as human and animal wellness and at the same time causing environmental pollution, especially in the aquatic ecosystem, and this has led to a fatal diminution in the availability of clean water and upsurge in water insecurity. Notably, traditional techniques and materials have been employed to clean up pharmaceutical pollutants (PP) from aquatic bodies; however, they have come under controversy because they require hazardous chemicals and cannot fully mineralize stubborn PPs. Interestingly, the photocatalytic degradation approach employing eco‐benign biosynthesized nanoparticles (BNP) is an avant‐garde practice and has shown to be an eco‐sustainable method that can fully mineralize PPs into harmless molecules. Thus, this study critically explores the application of BNPs for the photocatalytic degradation of PPs. The review revealed that the greatest degradation efficacy of BNPs was greater than 80% in most cases, and that the least amount of time required was around 10 min. In addition, the oxygen‐containing functional groups found in the biological sources used for the fabrication of BNPs contributed to the supremacy of •OH and O2• radicals in the degradation operation. Also, the photocatalytic degradation kinetic data was well modeled by pseudo‐first order, and this indicates that •OH was more involved in the PPs degradation operation than O2•. Moreso, BNPs have excellent reusability potential (>5 rounds) while maintaining inherent structural integrity. Techno‐economic analysis revealed that BNPs are cost‐effective, costing about $1.5/1,000,000 mL of pharmaceutical wastewater on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional wastewater treatment plants do not currently remove all organic compounds, including some emerging pollutants. This has prompted several efforts to develop new methods and materials—or to improve existing ones—to remove such pollutants. The technologies studied to remove contaminants from water include photochemical processes in which the photons activate a material to produce radicals, which go on to initiate a series of reactions that result in oxidation of the pollutant. Several photocatalysts and catalyst supports have been used; these include clays and pillared interlayered clays (PILC), which have shown interesting results in the photodegradation of several organic contaminants. In this review, we describe the studies that have used both clays and PILC for the photodegradation of organic compounds in aqueous solutions. The results reported are summarized and compared, thus confirming that the findings support the use of these systems as photocatalysts and that they are successful and promising materials for the removal of several organic compounds. In this aspect, new synthesis procedures for PILC materials can be proposed from Heterostructures and MOF based on clays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodegradation of Congo Red textile dye was successfully carried out using ZnO Al and ZnO Al+Mn nanoparticles synthesized using the bottom-up coprecipitation method. Powder X-ray diffraction provides information that Al and Mn doping successfully inserted in the host crystal structure while maintaining the Hexagonal Wurtzite crystal structure. However, a shift in the diffraction peak caused by the lattice distance changes with the addition of doping. FE-SEM EDS provides information that both nanoparticles are nonuniform sphere-like due to the addition of dopping, and each dopping is detected through EDS spectra. There is a decrease in the gap energy in each sample. ZnO Al nanoparticles have a gap energy of 3.29 eV, and ZnO Al+Mn nanoparticles have a gap energy of 3.28 eV. However, the decrease in the gap energy is not directly related to the percentage and kinetic rate of Congo Red photodegradation. Adding 5 mg of ZnO Al Nanoparticles powder could degrade Congo Red up to 97.9% within 120 min using UV A radiation or 0.03504/min. At the same time, adding ZnO Al+Mn Nanoparticles powder with the same parameters could only degrade 67.6% or 0.00759/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S-scheme Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions were successfully fabricated by the ultrasonic assistance method to remove norfloxacin (NOR) under visible light irradiation. The synthesized catalysts were well studied through various techniques. The obtained Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions exhibited an optimal photocatalytic degradation of 94.7% for NOR, which was 1.67 and 1.28 times higher than using Fe2O3 and g–C3N4 alone, respectively. In addition, the kinetic constant of NOR removal with Fe2O3/g–C3N4 composites was about 0.6631 h−1, and NOR photo-deegradation was still 86.7% after four cycles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be mainly attributed to the formation of S-scheme Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions with built-in electric fields, which were beneficial to the separation and transfer of photostimulated charge carriers. Furthermore, a possible photo-degradation mechanism of NOR for S-scheme Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solvothermal reactions involving cobalt ions with 5-methylisophthalic acid (H2MIP) and 1,3-bis(2-methylimidazol)propane (BMIP) yielded two cobalt(II) organic frameworks: {[Co4(MIP)4(BMIP)3]·1/2DMA}n (SNUT-31) and {[Co4(MIP)4(BMIP)3]·(EtOH)2·H2O]}n (SNUT-32) where DMA represents N,N-dimethylacetamide and EtOH signifies ethyl alcohol. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that SNUT-31 and SNUT-32 possess an isomorphic structure, featuring a unique 2-fold interpenetration of 3D frameworks in a parallel manner. Notably, both SNUT-31 and SNUT-32 demonstrate remarkable performance in electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reactions and exhibit exceptional photocatalytic degradation capabilities against a model comprising three distinct dyes: rhodamine B, methyl orange, and methyl blue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel photocatalysts were synthesized through the association of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with commercial (P25) titanium dioxide (TiO2) by sonication. The resulting TiO2/CQDs composite was then incorporated into the polyamide 66 (PA66) biopolymer nanofibers using the electrospinning technique, considering a composite nanoparticles-to-polymer ratio of 1:2 in the electrospinning precursor solution. The produced nanofibers presented suitable morphology and were tested for the photocatalytic degradation under simulated solar radiation of 10 mg L−1 of amoxicillin (AMX) and sulfadiazine (SDZ), in phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.06) and river water, using 1.5 g L−1 of photocatalyst. The presence of the photocatalyst increased the removal of AMX in phosphate buffer solution by 30 times, reducing the AMX degradation half-life time from 62 ± 1 h (without catalyst) to 1.98 ± 0.06 h. Moreover, SDZ degradation half-life time in phosphate buffer solution was reduced from 5.4 ± 0.1 h (without catalyst) to 1.87 ± 0.05 h in the presence of the photocatalyst. Furthermore, the PA66/TiO2/CQDs were also efficient in river water samples and maintained their performance in at least three cycles of SDZ photodegradation in river water. The presented results evidence that the produced photocatalyst can be a promising and sustainable solution for antibiotics' efficient removal from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation is a leading technology for complete mineralization of organic dyes in the ocean. In this work, a new viologen-bearing silver-thiocyanate-based photocatalyst, i.e., {(i-PrV)[Ag2(SCN)4]}n (i-PrV2+ = isopropyl viologen) has been synthesized and structurally determined, with results showing that it can exhibit excellent degradation performance on rhodamine B (RhB) in artificial seawater. The planar i-PrV2+ dications are confined in the free voids of the [Ag2(SCN)4]n2n− layer with a two-dimensional (6,3) mesh, and strong C-H···S hydrogen bonds contribute to its structural stabilization. This photocatalyst was further characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV-Vis, fluorescence, and photo/electrical responsive measurements, pointing to its application in visible-light-driven catalysis. Interestingly, using this photocatalyst, good photocatalytic degradation performance on rhodamine B in artificial seawater could be observed. The dye pollutant could be degraded with a high degradation ratio of 87.82% in 220 min. This work provides a promising catalyst for organic dye-type ocean pollutant treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the cellulose/zinc oxide hybrid aerogel (CA/ZnO) was successfully synthesized via different as-prepared methods. The obtained ZnO structure in CA/ZnO hybrid aerogel indicated porous hemispherical structures, cone-like, nanorod (rice grain-like shape), and flower-like morphologies. The different created structure for the as-prepared samples may be due to the different growth of zinc oxide under synthesis conditions.The as-synthesized samples were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), UV-Vis spectroscopy. Then, their effect on the removal efficiency of methyl orange (MO) solution was investigated under UV light irradiation. The BET analysis revealed that specific surface area of the as-prepared samples with using different methods was in the range of 43.70–352.82 m2/g. The obtained results indicated that the morphology of CA/ZnO hybrid aerogel plays a significant role in the photodegradation performance of MO. Among all as-prepared samples with different morphologies, the plate-like structure of ZnO demonstrated the maximum removal efficiency of MO (94.78%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ALD is a versatile method for creating functional barriers for primary packaging materials. • ALD metal oxide coatings prevented formation of extractables and leachables as analyzed by hydrolytic resistance, water conductivity and ICP-OES in standard test conditions. • Functionality, such as transparent protection from UV–Vis light or hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, could be tailored by ALD films. Novel pharmaceuticals and drug delivery devices may require better performance from the packaging material e.g., in terms of extractables and leachables, and unwanted interactions. To address this, we applied atomic layer deposition (ALD) to build nanometer-range SiO 2 , ZrO 2 and Al 2 O 3 -TiO 2 films on primary packaging glass. Controlled modification of the surface also enabled creation of functionality without affecting visual appearance of the material. ALD-coated Type I borosilicate vials were compared to uncoated ones, and tailored functionality was presented by appropriate measurements. The tested ALD coatings formed a barrier on glass against extractables and leachables, from the vial and the coating alike. A good ALD coating prevents any leakage into the stored drug product. Hydrolytic resistance results improved by 85–92 %, and these results correlated well with straightforward water conductivity measurements. Opposite to uncoated borosilicate glass vials, no extracted elements could be detected from the extracts of the coated vials with stable ALD films. Improved surface integrity was observed with electron microscopy as well. ALD films increased hydrophilicity of the surface and tuning the ALD film thickness and composition allowed precise blocking of UV light wavelengths, without affecting transparency. As a conclusion, ALD is a versatile method to create barrier and functional films on primary packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene has a large specific surface area, abundant functional groups, and low work function, which has potential in the field of photocatalytic materials. However, the manufacturing of controllable films with high photocatalytic properties and desirable transmittance is a challenging task. Herein, low‐cost, large‐scale, and rapid preparation of Ti3C2Tx/TiO2 flexible composite films have been successfully prepared by inkjet printing technology, which can be applied in complex and special environments, as well as in photoelectrically controllable places for photocatalytic performance. With the increase of the anatase TiO2, the transmittance of Ti3C2Tx/TiO2 films increases from 55.37% to 73.27% at 780 nm, corresponding to the square resistance of 1.112–206.496 kΩ sq−1 and the figure of merit of 0.48–0.005. When the amount of anatase TiO2 is 15%, the film has the best photocatalytic effect on methylene blue (MB) dye, reaching 68.94%. After five cycles of testing, the degradation efficiency of MB dye decreases by only 5.68%, showing that the film has good cycling stability. This work provides a new research direction for photoelectrically controllable photocatalytic degradation in complex and special environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 photocatalyst has the advantages of high catalytic activity, suitable energy band potential, high chemical stability, high photoelectric conversion efficiency, high safety and non-toxicity, which exhibits excellent performances in photocatalytic degradation of organic wastewater. However, it is difficult to separate and recover TiO2 photocatalyst from the reactive system. Interestingly, magnetic TiO2 prepared by combining TiO2 with superparamagnetic ferromagnetic particles can overcome this shortcoming. In this review, the preparation method and the photocatalytic mechanism of magnetic TiO2 were summarized. Moreover, the catalytic mechanisms of the modified binary, ternary and multicomponent magnetic TiO2 composite photocatalysts were compared, and the effects of different magnetic substrates on the degradation activity were discussed. Besides the applications in the wastewater treatment, the development trend and application prospects were prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores advancements, challenges, and considerations in photocatalytic dye degradation for sustainable wastewater treatment. It highlights smart photocatalyst design, visible‐light‐responsive materials, and co‐catalyst engineering, which enhance system efficacy. Despite environmental concerns, the eco‐friendly aspects of photocatalysis offer a promising alternative to traditional methods. Future perspectives emphasize nanotechnology's role in developing effective photocatalysts and integrating visible‐light and solar‐driven systems to meet sustainability goals. Efforts in co‐catalyst engineering and reactor design aim to optimize processes, addressing kinetic and scalability challenges, while economic research focuses on reducing costs to improve competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a novel Fe3O4@Ti3C2 MXene nanocomposite was prepared by a simple ultrasonic method by combining Ti3C2 MXene and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and was used for the remediation of malachite green (MG) dye, as an example of an organic pollutant, from the environment through photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation. A wide variety of techniques were used to characterize the synthesized Fe3O4@Ti3C2 MXene nanohybrid, including X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), surface area analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in addition to the optical properties and band gap analysis. The results showed that the Ti3AlC2 MAX phase's Al layer was successfully selectively etched, resulting in the two-dimensional layered Ti3C2 MXene (average diameter of 78 nm). Additionally, the results revealed the preparation of the cubic Fe3O4 phase (average particle size of 11 nm), which was distributed homogeneously on the Ti3C2 MXene surface, as indicated by XRD, SEM, and TEM analysis. Moreover, the Fe3O4@Ti3C2 MXene nanophotocatalyst exhibits good visible light absorption ability under visible light (> 420 nm) due to its huge surface area, excellent conductivity, and sufficient quantity of active sites, and the accessibility of all elements required for effective photocatalysis. Accordingly, under 300 min of visible light exposure, the Fe3O4@Ti3C2 MXene nanophotocatalyst successfully photodegraded MG dye more efficiently than the pure MXene with a removal percentage of 95.4% with 0.5 g/L loading. Overall, the current study has shown that the Fe3O4@Ti3C2 MXene nanophotocatalyst has the potential to be a valuable photocatalyst for exceptionally efficient wastewater treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the environmental problems caused by microplastics (MPs) as novel pollutants have received widespread attention, and photocatalytic technology can degrade MPs into small molecule compounds such as aldehydes and ketones. Among the existing catalysts, graphitic phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) shows great potential in degrading pollutants due to its unique properties. In this paper, the structure, preparation method, modification method, mechanism of degradation of MPs and influencing factors of g-C3N4 are systematically reviewed. It is summarized that ·OH, h+, and ·O2− are the main active species in the degradation of MPs by g-C3N4, and the external conditions such as pH, light intensity, and the morphology of MPs themselves can affect the degradation of MPs. However, g-C3N4 photocatalytic degradation of MPs is still only in the laboratory stage at this stage, and problems such as the degradation of MPs in actual water bodies have not been carried out, so how to solve the above problems is the focus of future research in the field of g-C3N4 photocatalytic degradation of MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the efficiency of charge carrier separation is crucial for improving the performance of photocatalysts, thereby offering more effective solutions to energy and environmental pollution challenges. In this study, a carbon‐deficient ultra‐thin porous g‐C3N4 (Vc‐UPCN) was synthesized and subsequently was integrated with Bi2Fe4O9 (BFO) using a sonochemical self‐assembly technique, a Bi2Fe4O9/Vc‐UPCN (BC) photocatalyst featuring a Z‐scheme heterojunction. The BC catalyst was subjected to corona poling treatment to obtain BCp, which possesses an intrinsic electric field. Compared with pure BFO and Vc‐UPCN, the BC heterojunction exhibited higher photo‐generated electron–hole separation efficiency and photodegradation ability. Upon introduction of corona polarization, the photocatalytic performance of BC was further enhanced. Specifically, BCp‐15 (BFO/BC mass fraction = 15) achieved complete degradation of methylene blue (MB) within 30 min. BCp‐15 demonstrated that its degradation efficiency for MB was 1.28 times higher than that of BC‐15, 1.85 times higher than that of Vc‐UPCN, and impressive 7.69 times higher than that of pure BFO. The coupling effect of the heterojunction and ferroelectric polarization significantly improved the separation efficiency of photo‐generated carriers in BCp. This study is expected to provide a reference for the synergistic application of heterojunction and ferroelectric polarization in traditional semiconductor photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]