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A series of 14R 2 O/MO-5ZnO-3Al 2 O 3 -40TiO 2 -38P 2 O 5 (R=Li, Na, K; M = Mg, Ca, Sr) glasses were synthesized using the traditional melt-quenching method, and controlled crystallization was used to produce glass-ceramics. The results indicate that the glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature increase when the ion radius increases within the same main group. The hardness of titanium phosphate glass shows a non-linear dependence on the cation field strength, and the highest value is obtained in the glass containing Li+ and Sr2+. The major crystalline phase of the glass-ceramics is RTi 2 (PO 4) 3 /M 0.5 Ti 2 (PO 4) 3 with NASICON structure. The crystal size and cell parameters are positively correlated with the radius of cations. The glass-ceramic containing the major crystalline phase Mg 0.5 Ti 2 (PO 4) 3 crystalline phase exhibits the lowest band gap and the best photocatalytic activity, with a dye degradation rate of 68 % at 120 min, and a reaction rate of 9.24 × 10−3 min−1 is about 5 times higher than that of the same series of low-activity samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of our research is to develop a photocatalyst capable of degrading organic molecules in water, achieved through the rare earth Yb3+ doping of Zn-Mg spinel ferrites. A key element of our approach is the use of the conventional sol-gel auto-combustion process, which has proven to be an effective method for synthesizing a high-performing, visible light-driven Zn 0.9 Mg 0.1 Fe 2- x Yb x O 4 (x = 0.000, 0.015, 0.030, 0.045, 0.060 and 0.075) nano-ferrites. Many analytical techniques were employed to evaluate the material's physicochemical characteristics, including P-XRD, EDX, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, FTIR, UV–vis, BET, VSM, EIS, and photocatalysis was carried out against the RhB. The impact of Yb3+ ion doping on the material's crystallite size and lattice parameter has been evaluated. It was found that all the samples' crystallite sizes increased between 33 and 41 nm. These magnetite nanoparticles have spherical forms and nanometric particle sizes, as revealed through field scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The FTIR spectra bands at ʋ 1 (518–535) and (401–411) ʋ 2 subsequently revealed the spinel structure of the synthesized nano-ferrites. The band gap in zinc manganese ferrite increases from 2.51 eV to 2.92 eV after adding ytterbium. The surface area of the Yb3+-doped Zn-Mg ferries ranges from 23.6 m2/g to 27.8 m2/g, making them an excellent choice for data storage. The investigation of magnetic behavior shows the superparamagnetic behavior of all the samples. The produced sample's determined squareness value indicates the magnetostatic interaction between the particles. Because of the low produced coercive field value, these materials can be used in ferrofluids and hyperthermia therapy applications. Furthermore, with a higher RhB removal of 93.80 %, the Yb3+-doped sample photocatalyst successfully separated carriers generated by sunlight. The Yb3+-doped sample (ZMY-5) photocatalyst showed outstanding stability after one cycle of the stability test, obtaining an outstanding RhB elimination of 93.80 %. Zn 0.9 Mg 0.1 Yb 0.075 Fe 1.925 O 4 photocatalyst has substantial promise for large-scale pollutant treatment due to its simple synthesis method, superior magnetic characteristics, exceptional photocatalytic activity for RhB, and excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) have unique properties that make them suitable for various applications. In this study, we used a spray pyrolysis process to develop undoped ZnO and ZnO doped with Sn thin films on a glass substrate. We aimed to investigate the effect of Sn concentration on the optical, nonlinear optical, and structural properties of ZnO:Sn thin films. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all the deposited ZnO thin films exhibit polycrystalline hexagonal structures well-oriented along the c-axis. The obtained films were transparent in the visible range, with a transmittance between 70% and 80%. The optical energy bandgap values for the films varied from 3.16 eV to 3.29 eV. We also determined the second- and third-order nonlinear susceptibilities, which decreased with increasing Sn concentration. We investigated the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO-doped Sn thin films using methylene blue dye under visible light. Sn doping enhanced the photocatalytic activity of ZnO thin films, with constant rate values of 0.00046 and 0.00074 min − 1 for ZnO and ZnO:Sn thin films, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the photocatalytic performance of ZnS/TiO2 nanocomposite was investigated through the photodegradation of Acid Blue 113 (AB113) dye under ultraviolet light exposure. TiO2 and ZnS-based nanocomposites suffer from relatively wide bandgap energy and low adsorption capacity which limit their photocatalytic applications. These problems can be suppressed by modifying the surface of nanocomposite particles by the non-thermal plasma. Herein, surface modification of the ZnS/TiO2 nanocomposite was performed using a dielectric-barrier discharge plasma under nitrogen (N2) and tetrafluoromethane (CF4) gases. The characteristics of the plasma-treated nanocomposites were evaluated by XRD, FTIR, Raman, FESEM, EDS, BET, BJH, and DRS analyses. According to the results, by applying plasma treatment, cation and anion vacancies are produced that reduces the band gap energy of the photocatalyst hence improves its performance. The results indicate that the photocatalytic efficiency of the N2-plasma-treated nanocatalyst has been almost two times higher than that of the untreated ZnS/TiO2. It was found that after 25 min of UV irradiation, the AB113 was almost completely degraded in the presence of N2-plasma-treated ZnS/TiO2 nanocomposite (about 95%), whereas, it was degraded by 64% and 46% in the presence of CF4-plasma-treated ZnS/TiO2 and untreated ZnS/TiO2, respectively. This study presents a new approach to designing cost-effective plasma-treated photocatalysts to degrade organic contaminants in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an investigation on the optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties of titanium-nitride (TiN) thin films, modified through the introduction of metal ions (Au, Ag, and Cu) during implantation, followed by thermal annealing. Employing high-resolution microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, we examined the microstructural and compositional features of the films in detail. The films exhibited a crystalline structure with distinct columnar patterns, attributed to defect release and recovery during annealing. Furthermore, metal nanoparticles were detected in samples implanted with gold and silver ions, indicating coalescence processes, while no such particles were observed in the case of Cu ions. Post-implantation annealing also led to surface oxidation and the formation of anatase TiO 2 , with a coexistence of TiO 2 , TiN, metallic Au and Ag, and CuO phases in subsurface regions. Comparative optical measurements revealed significant changes in photoluminescence efficiency and photocatalytic response of modified TiN. All implanted samples showed reduced photoluminescence intensity compared to pristine titanium-nitride, with the Au-implanted film exhibiting the most significant decrease, due to the presence of surface Au nanoparticles, thus resulting in the slower electron-hole recombination rates and enhanced photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, summarise the characterization and synthesis of the pure and Eu:WO 3 nanoparticles and their applications in photocatalytic and antibacterial activity. The monoclinic phase confirmed by the XRD analysis of the prepared specimens. SEM and HR-TEM scrutiny revealed nanoplate morphology scrutiny. EDS and XPS scrutiny confirmed the composition of elements of Eu, O, and W. FTIR analysis likely used for additional confirmation of functional groups. UV–Vis Analysis determined the band gap energy (Eg) of the nanoparticles, which decreased with raising the concentration of Eu doping. Optical properties of the band gap energy decreased with raising the concentration of Eu doping. Photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles exhibited high photocatalytic activity, with a 95.3 % methylene blue (MB) dye split when exposed to visible light. The Eu:WO 3 (7 wt%) nanoparticles showed the best photocatalytic property within 120 min. The Eu:WO 3 (7 wt%) nanoparticles showed the maximum antibacterial efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus , with a zone of embarrassment of 19 mm. Overall, the study demonstrates the successful synthesis of Eu-doped WO 3 nanoparticles and their potential applications in photo catalysis and antibacterial activity, with promising results particularly at higher Eu doping concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the influence of Cr3+ dopant on the structural, morphological, optical, photocatalytic, dielectric and magnetic properties of ZnO was investigated for various applications. Pure ZnO and Cr3+ doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesised by green mediated approach. The synthesised nanoparticles examined by using XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, PL, UV–Vis spectroscopy, dielectric and magnetic analysis. XRD confirmed the wurtizte hexagonal structure of synthesised samples and also revealed that the Cr didn't alter the structure of host ZnO. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of Cr ions in ZnO structures. Doping of Cr ions improved the optical absorbance of ZnO and the optical band gap showed the blue shift with increasing concentration of Cr. The synthesised Cr doped nanoparticles show the outstanding photocatalytic efficiency under solar irradiation against MG pollutant dye. The dielectric constant (ε) improves and dielectric loss (tan (δ)) reduces at lower frequencies with increasing content of Cr. The AC conductivity for doped nanoparticles showed the increasing trend, especially for 4.5 % Cr doped ZnO nanoparticles. The ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature of Cr doped ZnO nanoparticles confirmed by VSM. The obtained results from all investigations make the Cr doped ZnO samples a potential choice for various applications such as, spin based electronic devices and energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society must face the challenge of creating high-value products from recycled waste polymers. This research focuses on the synthesis of nanofiber membranes from waste-expanded polystyrene (EPS) using electrospinning. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) enhance the photocatalytic activity of the fiber membrane. ZnO is a more useful alternative to TiO2 as a form of photocatalyst for degrading contaminants in water. This study systematically investigated the effects of varying amounts of ZnO NPs on fiber membrane nanostructure and photocatalytic activity. Methylene blue was used to measure the photocatalytic efficiency of fiber membranes, as they are commonly used in textile wastewater and exposed to ultraviolet light for 20 h. The results showed that the fiber membrane containing ZnO NPs with a concentration of 1% effectively degraded methylene blue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles is an important research area focused on developing innovative, cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly synthesis techniques with a wide range of applications. This study employs a straightforward and practical method to produce TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) for use in photocatalysis, antibacterial, antifungal, and antidiabetic applications. It utilizes extract-assisted biosynthesis with Moringa oleifera. To enhance the material and evaluate the impact of bioinspiration on various parameters, the resulting TiO2 NPs undergo calcination at 500 °C. Structural confirmation, bandgap analysis, and functional group studies of MO/TiO2 (Moringa oleifera/TiO2) nanoparticles are conducted using XRD, UV-DRS, FT-IR, and PL analysis. To examine the surface morphological characteristics of the anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, SEM and TEM-EDS electron microscopy analyses were accomplished. The produced TiO2 nanoparticles are also assessed for their photocatalytic and antidiabetic properties. Photocatalytic activity is determined by decolorizing methylene blue dye in the presence of sunlight, revealing that optimal conditions for complete color removal involve using 0.3 g of TiO2 and a concentration of 4 × 10− 5 M at pH 7. A total decolorization efficiency is achieved after 180 min in the presence of MO/TiO2. The biosynthesized Moringa oleifera leaf extracted TiO2 (MO/TiO2) was used for photocatalytic and biomedical applications. MO/TiO2 exhibited the best photocatalytic activity and showed maximum inhibitoin in invitro antidiabetic activity. Invivo antidiabetic activity showed the Moringa oleifera leaf-extracted TiO2 catalyst significantly reduced blood glucose levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Mesosphaerum suaveolens extracts were used for the green fabrication of fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) by the microwave-assisted method. This study unravels the effect of CQDs on improving the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB) dyes followed by the anticancer activity against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). The bio-fabricated CQDs indicated various characteristics that were analyzed, including phase, structure, functional groups, and binding energies. The CQDs displayed notable photocatalytic performance in the removal of MB (80.73%) and RhB (92.3%) dye, after 200 min of sunlight irradiation. The highest catalytic degradation activity of the CQDs is accredited to their high electron transport at the edges, which is helpful to the efficient separation of electron–hole pairs. Furthermore, the anticancer activity of CQDs was demonstrated against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). This research suggests that bio-fabricated CQDs act as active photocatalysts and hold promise as a potentially ideal material for mitigating water pollution and exploring anticancer potentials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bismuth-based photocatalytic materials have been widely used in the field of photocatalysis in recent years due to their unique layered structure. However, single bismuth-based photocatalytic materials are greatly limited in their photocatalytic performance due to their poor response to visible light and easy recombination of photogenerated charges. At present, constructing semiconductor heterojunctions is an effective modification method that improves quantum efficiency by promoting the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. In this study, the successful preparation of an In2O3/Bi2WO6 (In2O3/BWO) II-type semiconductor heterojunction composite material was achieved. XRD characterization was performed to conduct a phase analysis of the samples, SEM and TEM characterization for a morphology analysis of the samples, and DRS and XPS testing for optical property and elemental valence state analyses of the samples. In the II-type semiconductor junction system, photogenerated electrons (e−) on the In2O3 conduction band (CB) migrate to the BWO CB, while holes (h+) on the BWO valence band (VB) transfer to the In2O3 VB, promoting the separation of photoinduced charges, raising the quantum efficiency. When the molar ratio of In2O3/BWO is 2:6, the photocatalytic degradation degree of rhodamine B (RhB) is 59.4% (44.0% for BWO) after 60 min illumination, showing the best photocatalytic activity. After four cycles, the degradation degree of the sample was 54.3%, which is 91.4% of that of the first photocatalytic degradation experiment, indicating that the sample has good reusability. The XRD results of 2:6 In2O3/BWO before and after the cyclic experiments show that the positions and intensities of its diffraction peaks did not change significantly, indicating excellent structural stability. The active species experiment results imply that h+ is the primary species. Additionally, this study proposes a mechanism for the separation, migration, and photocatalysis of photoinduced charges in II-type semiconductor junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe major issue that industries have is the degradation of organic dye in wastewater. In this study, we introduce an iron-doped spinel-type photocatalyst for dye degradation. Due to advantages like a lower band gap, and favorable magnetic characteristics, iron-doped nickel aluminate can be a viable catalyst for dye degradation. Nickel aluminate and iron-doped Nickel aluminate NiAl2-xFexO4 (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0) were synthesized by the sol-gel method using citric acid as a capping agent. The obtained samples were calcined at 800 °C for 4 h. The spinel was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) which helped in the identification of the purity of the phase and the calculation of the average crystallite size. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra confirmed the presence of iron in the octahedral site; (SEM-EDAX) Scanning Electron Microscopy facilitated the surface morphology and Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis provided the elemental confirmation and UV-DRS techniques assisted in the calculation of the band gap using the Tauc plot method. Photocatalytic efficiency was investigated against the cationic dye Methylene blue under UV and Visible light. The results showed degradation of 94.25% under UV light and 83.51% under visible light in 90 min and 150 min respectively using iron-doped nickel aluminate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C3N4/AlFeO3 photocatalysts were synthesized successfully via a sol-gel route and low temperature calcination process. When C3N4 is coupled with AlFeO3 to form a special heterojunction, the crystal structure, composition and optical band gap of the main lattice phase are not changed. However, its surface morphology, optical absorption coefficient and photocatalytic activity are greatly improved compared with pure C3N4 and AlFeO3. Photocatalytic experiments confirmed that the C3N4/AlFeO3 photocatalyst showed high photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation, and its degradation rate was 9.40 times that of C3N4 and 5.13 times that of AlFeO3. The optimal catalyst content, dye concentration and pH value are 1 g/L, 20 mg/L and 5, respectively. Capture and stability experiments confirmed that the C3N4/AlFeO3 photocatalyst is recyclable, and holes, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals are the main active species in the photocatalysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, tin oxide nanoparticles doped with various concentrations of cobalt (0%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) have been synthesized via cost effective green method using Annona muricata leaf extract for the first time. The obtained nanopowder was analyzed by various characterization techniques such as XRD, FTIR, XPS, HRTEM, SAED, SEM, EDX, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The XRD pattern reveals cobalt ions are successfully incorporated into the tetragonal rutile structure of SnO2 with high phase purity. The stretching vibration of Sn-O has been confirmed through FTIR spectra. XPS measurement illustrates that Co2+ ions were effectively substituted by Sn4+ ions. Also, SEM and TEM micrograph of nanoparticles exhibit jasmine bud-like and spherical shape morphology. The presence of Sn, Co, and O in EDX spectra indicate purity of samples. Bandgap energy spectra shows as the dopant concentration increases, the optical band gap energy decreases. However, the obtained nanoparticles exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans, and A. niger. Moreover, SnO2 nanoparticles demonstrate significant antioxidant activity through DPPH-free radical scavenging. Also, the photocatalytic effect of SnO2 and Sn0.93Co0.07O2 nanoparticles shows effective degradation of methylene blue in the presence of sunlight irradiation. Hence, our results demonstrate that plant extract-mediated synthesis of pure and cobalt-doped SnO2 nanoparticles could be used for biomedical and waste water management applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of 2D polygonic ZnO microplatelets for application as UV filters in sunscreens. ZnO microplatelets are obtained via a simple method involving chemical precipitation, aging, and calcination. XRD, SEM, and TEM analyses confirm the successful formation of ZnO microplatelets. DRUV‐Vis studies indicate that the ZnO microplatelets have a band gap energy value of 3.2 eV and exhibit good UV radiation absorption, similar to a commercial ZnO reference sample. Furthermore, in methylene blue photodegradation studies, the ZnO microplatelets show significantly lower photocatalytic activity than the ZnO reference sample. Under UV irradiation of 254 nm and 365 nm wavelengths, the dye in contact with ZnO microplatelets is photodegraded by only 38 % and 69 % after 5 h, compared to the reference sample, which photodegraded the dye by 87 % and 97 %, respectively. The performance of a sunscreen formulation containing the ZnO microplatelets (at 10 wt %), in terms of the photoprotection factors and photostability, is on par with that of a formulation containing the ZnO reference sample. Due to their microplatelet structure, good UVR absorption capacity, and relatively lower photocatalytic activity, the ZnO microplatelets show potential for application as UV filters in sunscreen products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The auto-combustion method synthesized CuO NPs and Ag/CuO NPs. The Ag/CuO NPs were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy instrumental analyses. The energy band gap, as determined by DRS properties, decreases from 3.82 to 3.50 eV for pure CuO and 10% Ag/CuO NPs, respectively. The photodegradation efficiency of Rhodamine-B & Carmine by 10% Ag/CuO NPs was nearly 98.9 and 97.8%, respectively. Antimicrobial trials revealed that the antimicrobial efficacy of Ag/CuO NPs at several dosages (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 µg/mL) against human pathogens was initially assessed using the agar well-diffusion method, and then the broth dilution method. Noticeably, the minimum inhibitory concentration of Ag/CuO NPs for all pathogens ranged from 100 to 120 µg/ml, was determined. Generally, the observed minimum microbicide concentration has a wide range of Ag/CuO NPs doses, ranging from 150 to 300 µg/ml, which helps kill (99.99%) all tested pathogenic cells. The largest relative inhibitory activities (%) were recorded against Escherichia coli (81.45 ± 1.39) at 120 g/mL of Ag/CuO NPs and 100 μg/mL (80.43 ± 0.59), followed by 80 µg/mL (72.33 ± 0.82). Additionally, the lowest relative inhibitory activities (%) were monitored versus fungal cells and Gram-positive bacteria at 120 µg/mL of Ag/CuO NPs as 52.17 ± 1.49 and 53.42 ± 1.71; respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals (CZTS NCs), MoS2 nanosheet (NS) and MoS2-CZTS nanocomposite (NC) have been synthesized using solvothermal route. Structural characterization of samples have been done by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, HR-TEM. Samples have optically characterized by UV-Vis absorption, photoluminescence (PL) and time co-related single photon counting (TCSPC) study. The XRD, HR-TEM and Raman spectroscopy established tetragonal kesterite phase for both CZTS NCs and MoS2-CZTS NC. Enhancement of efficiency of CZTS NCs to degrade methylene blue (MB) dye, illuminated by visible light, have been observed by loading 1 wt.% MoS2 NS and found to be ~100% in only 15 minutes. This is due to efficent transfer of charge carriers at p-CZTS and n-MoS2 heterojunction interface, confirmed by quenching of PL intensity and decrease in average lifetime of carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis is a promising method for methylene blue (MB) degradation due to its effectiveness and environmental compatibility. Among the photocatalysts, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely used for MB degradation due to its exceptional photocatalytic activity. However, the wide bandgap limits the degradation efficiency of TiO2 under visible light. Here, an interstitial nitrogen-doped TiO2 (5%NT/TiO2) used thiourea as the N source was fabricated for visible light-derived MB degradation. The 5%NT/TiO2 exhibited an extended absorption range of visible light. Moreover, photoelectrochemical measurements showed an improvement in the photocurrent response and charge transfer behavior on N/TiO2. Thus, 5%NT/TiO2 had enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with pristine TiO2 and substitutive N-doped TiO2 (5%NAB/TiO2). The accelerated photocatalytic MB degradation process on N/TiO2 could be mainly attributed to the interstitial N doping, which caused the appearance of new energy states and extended optical properties. Through comparing the impact of interstitial and substitutive in TiO2 activity, our work proposes a suitable form of element doping to enhance the optical properties and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and even other semiconductors, providing guidance for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the doping of SrTiO3 with Mn4+ was performed in order to evaluate the potential application as a photocatalyst for the degradation of organic dye pollutants. Since photocatalytic activity depends on grain microstructure, fractal analysis was used to estimate the Hausdorff dimension to provide a more thorough investigation of Mn@SrTiO3 morphology. Structural analysis by infrared spectroscopy indicated the incorporation of Mn4+ into the SrTiO3 lattice, while by using x-ray diffraction, the crystallite size of 44 nm was determined. The photocatalytic activity test performed on complex ethyl violet organic dye revealed potential for Mn@SrTiO3 application in water treatment. Based on fractal regression analysis, a good estimate was obtained for the reconstruction of grain shape, with a Hasudorff dimension of 1.13679, which was used to find the best kinetics model for the photodegradation reaction. The experimental data showed a nearly linear fit with fractal-like pseudo-zero order. These findings and applications of fractal dimensions could contribute to future characterizations of photocatalysts, providing a deeper understanding of surface properties and their influence on photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and feasible approach was used to develop visible-light-driven-type Dion–Jacobson perovskites by the modification of the RbLaTa2O7 host (RbLTO) with FeCl2 through the molten salt route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization showed that FeCl2-modified layered perovskite (e.g., Fe@RbLTO) preserved its lamellar structure. SEM micrographs confirmed the layered morphology of both RbLTO and Fe@RbLTO perovskite materials. The UV-Vis spectra illustrated a significant red shift of the absorption edge after Fe2+ modification, with the band gap energy reducing from 3.88 to 1.82 eV. H2-TPR measurements emphasized the anchorage of Fe2+ species located on the surface of the layered perovskite as well as in the interlayer space. The synthesized materials were valorized as photocatalysts for the degradation of phenol under both Xe lamp and simulated solar irradiation (SSL) conditions. The photocatalytic reaction follows first-order kinetics. By-product formations during phenol (Ph) degradation were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Hydroquinone, 1,2-dihydroxi-benzene, benzoquinone, and pyrogallol were identified as the main Ph degradation intermediates. Pristine RbLaTa2O7 exhibited a phenol conversion value of about 17% using an Xe lamp, while a ≈ 11% conversion was achieved under SSL. A substantial increase in Ph conversion and selectivity was perceived after Fe2+ modification. Fe@RbLTO demonstrated superior photocatalytic performances (43% conversion of phenol under an Xe lamp, and 91% selectivity to aromatic intermediate compounds) at optimized reaction conditions. The stability of the Fe@RbLTO photocatalyst when exposed to an Xe lamp was also assessed. These results suggest that the existence of iron species on the layered perovskite's surface is responsible for the improved redox properties of Fe@RbLTO, resulting in a valuable material for environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination is one of the most critical environmental issues, necessitating the development of effective wastewater treatment methods. The utilization of TiO2 photocatalysts for pollutant removal in wastewater has gained significant attention. This study aims to explore the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 modified through the introduction of different metal dopants, thus altering its electronic structure. Using the density functional theory (DFT) method, we examined the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 clusters doped with metals carrying charges of +3, +4, and +5. Our findings indicate that the incorporation of these metals led to reduced energy and increased stability for the majority of TiO2 clusters. The calculated UV-vis absorption results revealed that the wavelengths of Model B were extended further in the metal cation-doped TiO2 clusters compared to Model A. Our DFT calculations demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 structure was enhanced upon doping with metals of +3, +4, and +5 valence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation reports the environmentally benign, cost-effective approach to the fabrication of valuable ZnO NPs. In this green synthesis approach, the isolated extract of the lichen (permelia perleta) plays a pivotal role. A prominent absorption peak is displayed at 320 nm in the recorded UV spectra of the created nanomaterials. XRD analysis of the fabricated nanostructure expressed that the particle size was esteemed to be 30 nm. The SEM micrograph of the developed nanostructure depicted that most of them have spherical shape. Photocatalytic investigation result demonstrates that newly developed nanostructure photocatalyst removes both dye from the water sample effectively under UV light (310 nm) irradiation. The developed ZnO NPs removed acridine orange and eriochrome black-T with the efficiency of 87.8 and 82.3%, respectively, in 90 min of UV (310 nm) irradiation. Furthermore, the newly created nanostructure shows a significant antibacterial activity against tested microorganism. The highest antibacterial potential was exhibited against the E.coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread presence of textile dye pollutants as byproducts in water bodies has raised serious concerns about the impact on the environment and human health. In this study, a nanocomposite material was made and its performance as a photocatalyst was looked at under different optimal conditions. The La2O3/CeO2 nanocomposite was created at room temperature using a simple and cost-effective co-precipitation method. In this study, different characterization tools, such as XRD, FE-SEM, UV-Drs, XPS, FT-IR, PL, and EDS, were used to look at the nanoparticles' structures, shapes, and optical properties. In the photocatalytic activity investigation, methylene blue (MB) dye was employed as a chosen pollutant, and illumination was delivered by a 450-Watt mercury vapor UV lamp. The La2O3/CeO2 nanocomposite removed 93% of the methylene blue dye in 100 min, compared to pure La2O3 and CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs). When the catalyst concentration was optimized at 25 mg/L and the pH was set to 12, 93% of the methylene blue was degraded in 100 min. The recyclability studies also revealed that the La2O3/CeO2 photocatalyst maintained an 84% degradation efficiency up to the fourth cycle, indicating that it is a stable and effective catalyst. Studies that used scavengers found that hydroxyl radicals were responsible for the breakdown of MB. Thus, La2O3/CeO2 photocatalysts may be regarded as a viable option for degrading organic dye pollutants in aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic coatings have the potential to contribute to the purification of water via an advanced oxidation process (AOP). A commonly used method for analyzing the mechanism of the photocatalytic performance of a given reactor type is to document the degradation behavior in a solution containing methylene blue. However, since methylene blue is rather unstable, the degradation results should be viewed critically. In this work, the degradation behavior of a test solution with methylene blue on quartz glass surfaces coated with photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2) of the anatase modification was investigated through a variety of different light sources. The coating was deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) with the reactive pulsed DC magnetron sputtering ion plating (MSIP) method described in the study by Desch and Lake, while the quartz glasses were coated with a 100 nm thick TiO2 coating on the outside. The same glasses were used for all experiments with TiO2. In the determination of the degradation rate, additional experiments were performed using pure quartz glass without any coating, which made it possible to examine the influence of different light sources on the degradation rate of methylene blue in general. Three different light sources, namely UV‐A, UV‐C, and simple fluorescent lamps were used in this study. The concentration of methylene blue was recorded by photo spectrometer in 10‐min increments throughout the experiment and the experiments were performed for 24 h in all cases. Our data indicates that the methylene blue test is a poor method because the degradation rate is not clearly differentiable due to the low stability of the test substance. Without including reference testing in the absence of a catalyst, data may be subject to misinterpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have applied a green chemistry approach for the synthesis of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) using Copper (II) nitrate trihydrate and the leaf extract of Alternanthera dentata plant (ADLE). The UV-vis, FTIR and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of ADLE revealed the presence of a wide variety of bioactive phytochemical constituents in ADLE. In addition to that, we have used the Density Functional Theory (DFT) in order to investigate the stability of CuO bio-nanocomposites. The study of orbital energies of phytochemicals with their highest norm percentage shows that the charge transfers between Distearyl Thiodipropionate to CuO are more dominant as compared to the other phytochemical constituents. Furthermore, it has the highest molecular weight compared to the other phytocompounds. Therefore, these reveal that Distearyl Thiodipropionate is responsible for the stability of CuO nanostructures. The average crystalline size of the CuO NPs is found to be 7.38 nm with 0.27 nm inter-planer spacing with the (110) plane. The fabricated nanoparticles are then employed for the degradation of Congo Red (CR), Malachite Green (MG) and their mixed dye (MD) in the presence of UV light. We have achieved more than 96% degradation with 30 mgL-1 of CuO NPs in the case of all dye solutions, which is the best result to date. Furthermore, the nanoparticles showed prominent activity against pathogenic bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC1705) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538p) which signifies that the antibacterial activity of the CuO NPs is directly proportional to their concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic photocatalytic materials exhibiting a highly efficient response to ultraviolet-visible light spectrum have become a subject of widespread global interest. Nanocomposite metal oxides, particularly Nickel Oxide (NiO) and Zinc Oxide (ZnO), have gained attention for their diverse applications in gas sensing and photocatalytic processes. In this work, ZnO-NiO (ZnO0.6NiO0.4 and ZnO0.4NiO0.6) binary nanocomposites were synthesized by hydrothermal technique. The binary nanocomposites were analyzed by UV-Visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD pattern revealed that the nanocomposites, the peaks of both ZnO and NiO are present indicating the presence of both crystal structures hexagonal wurtzite and cubic. The miller indices, crystallite size, microstrain and dislocation density were determined from the XRD plot. FESEM and TEM analyses showed the spherical morphology of the synthesized composites with an approximate size of 10nm. The detailed analysis of ZnO–NiO binary nanocomposite sensor characteristics in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, response and recovery time were carried out and the nanocomposites were found to be highly sensitive to CO2 100 ppm at 350∘C and Cl2 at 200∘C. The photocatalytic degradation outcome showed 52% degradation of methylene blue at 10 ppm and 90w/m2. These results suggest the potential utility of these binary nanocomposites in photocatalytic applications for the degradation of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compatible nanoparticle properties in photocatalytic applications are crucial. Within the scope of this investigation, we constructed a nanocomposite of ZnO and CuCo 2 O 4 (ZnO/CuCo 2 O 4) to boost the photocatalytic properties of ZnO by constructing ZnO/CuCo 2 O 4 nanocomposite using Artocarpus altili s leaves extracts (AALE). Essential secondary metabolites contribute to the origin of weak bases and capping agents to form the spherical shape of ZnO/CuCo 2 O 4. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), scanning electron microscope - energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) are some of the techniques that are utilized for the validation of nanocomposite properties, such as vibrational, crystallinity, band gap, morphology, particle size, and elemental composition. The formation of ZnO/CuCo 2 O 4 decreased the bandgap energy and enhanced the photocatalytic performance by 93.01 % under visible light irradiation for 2 h. ZnO/CuCo 2 O 4 followed pseudo-second-order kinetic in the photodegradation of malachite green (MG). It is noted that the increase in photocatalytic characteristics can be brought about by the narrower band gap of ZnO and increased kinetic rate toward dye degradation. Radical species analysis was of utmost importance in acknowledging that holes (h+) were the most crucial species that were indispensable to MG degradation. The photodegradation efficiency of the recycled catalyst only declines by approximately 12 % after five cycles of consumption. This study demonstrates a compelling method using plant extracts to prepare visible-light response ZnO-based nanocomposites for better photocatalytic activity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of silver-doped zinc oxide (SZO) were deposited at room temperature using a DC reactive magnetron co-sputtering technique using two independent Zn and Ag targets. The crystallographic structure, chemical composition and surface morphology of SZO films with different silver concentrations were correlated with the photocatalytic (PC) properties. The crystallization of the SZO films was made using millisecond range flash-lamp-annealing (FLA) treatments. FLA induces significant structural ordering of the wurtzite structure and an in-depth redistribution of silver, resulting in the formation of silver agglomerates. The wurtzite ZnO structure is observed for silver contents below 10 at.% where Ag is partially incorporated into the oxide matrix, inducing a decrease in the optical band-gap. Regardless of the silver content, all the as-grown SZO films do not exhibit any significant PC activity. The best PC response is achieved for samples with a relatively low Ag content (2–5 at.%) after FLA treatment. The enhanced PC activity of SZO upon FLA can be attributed to structural ordering and the effective band-gap narrowing through the combination of silver doping and the plasmonic effect caused by the formation of Ag clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, novel Fe2O3/TiO2 photocatalytic composites were synthesised by combining traditional oxidation roasting with the sol-gel method, using low-cost metallurgical waste (iron scales) as the raw material. The characterisation results revealed that the oxidised iron scales could be transformed into high-purity and porous Fe2O3 particles through oxidation roasting, thereby providing additional sites for the adsorption process and thus serving as an effective carrier for TiO2-based photocatalytic materials. During the sol-gel process, TiO2 was loaded onto the synthesised Fe2O3 particles, generating core-shell heterostructure Fe2O3/TiO2 photocatalytic composites. Under visible light irradiation for 90 min, the Fe2O3/TiO2 photocatalytic composites achieved a remarkable methylene blue removal rate (97.71%). This reaction process followed the quasi-first-order kinetic model with a rate constant of 0.038 min−1. The results have demonstrated that this combination of various components in the Fe2O3/TiO2 photocatalytic composites improved the adsorption, light utilisation, and charge separation effect of the photocatalysts. Moreover, the material exhibited favourable stability and recyclability, making it a decent candidate for the treatment of wastewater from the biochemical industry. Therefore, this study provides a new strategy for improving the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and expanding the high value-added utilisation of iron scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the present study, citrus pectin-stabilized copper/iron bimetallic nanoparticle (NP) catalyst has been used for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in wastewater produced from the food industry. Methods: The P@Cu/Fe composites were synthesized by co-precipitation and the sol-gel methods. Results and discussion: The characterization of the composites was carried out using UV, FTIR, SEM, and XRD techniques, revealing that P1@Cu/FeNPs synthesized through co-precipitation had a particle size of 150-35 nm with an irregular spherical and hexagonal shape. P2@Cu/FeNPs, synthesized using the gel combustion method using triethylamine as fuel, proved to be a better nanocatalyst with spherical particles having a uniform structure and size distribution of 105-23 nm. The mean zeta potential value of P1@Cu/FeNPs was found to be between 0 and 5mv, showing the composite to be less stable and 13 mv for more stable P2@Cu/FeNPs. The degradation of MB by P1@Cu/FeNPs was recorded up to 23.57% after 35 min and the nanocomposite synthesized by the sol-gel method exhibited 97.28% degradation in 30 min. The P2@Cu/FeNPs performed the best degradation due to their synergistic impact. In essence, this research represents a step toward the synthesis of bimetallic NPs using a biomaterial (citrus pectin) with improved synergistic photocatalytic potential that can induce different features in nanomaterials. Pectin-functionalized NPs using different metals should be synthesized and tested for different catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanocomposite of CaO:MgAl2O4 was synthesized through a straightforward and cost-effective sol–gel method. The investigation of the novel CaO:MgAl2O4 nanocomposite encompassed an examination of its morphological and structural alterations, as well as an exploration of its photocatalytic activities and electrochemical characteristics. XRD analysis revealed a nanocomposite size of 24.15 nm. The band gap, determined through UV studies, was found to be 3.83 eV, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) illustrated flake-like morphological changes in the CaO:MgAl2O4 samples. TEM, HRTEM, and SAED studies of a CaO:MgAl2O4 nanocomposite would reveal important details about its morphology, crystallography, and nanostructure. Photocatalytic activity was quantified by studying the degradation of Acid Red-88 (AR-88) dye in a deionized solution, achieving a 70% dye degradation under UV irradiation in 120 min. Plant growth examinations were carried out using dye degraded water to test its suitability for agriculture. The electrochemical energy storage and sensing applications of the prepared nanocomposite were examined using CaO:MgAl2O4 modified carbon paste electrode through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In conclusion, the synthesized CaO:MgAl2O4 nanocomposite demonstrated promising morphological and structural characteristics, efficient photocatalytic activity, and potential applications in electrochemical energy storage, highlighting its versatility for various technological and environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser texturing seems to be a promising technique for reducing bacterial adhesion on titanium implant surfaces. This work aims to demonstrate the possibility of obtaining a functionally orientated surface of titanium implant elements with a specific architecture with specific bacteriological and photocatalytic properties. Femtosecond laser-generated surface structures, such as laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, wrinkles), grooves, and spikes on titanium, have been characterised by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activity of the titanium surfaces produced was tested based on the degradation effect of methylene blue (MB). The correlation between the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 coatings and their morphology and structure has been analysed. Features related to the size, shape, and distribution of the roughness patterns were found to influence the adhesion of the bacterial strain on different surfaces. On the laser-structurised surface, the adhesion of Escherichia coli bacteria were reduced by 80% compared to an untreated reference surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural flexibility of the perovskite blocks in the Dion-Jacobson family of layered perovskite oxides has successfully resulted in the generation of KPrNa n-2 Nb n O 3n+1 and KPrCa n-2 Nb 2 Ti n-2 O 3n+1 (n = 3, 4). The stabilization of K+ ions preferring a six coordination in the interlayer region is significant compared to the facile formation of layered perovskite oxides possessing bigger Rb+ or Cs+ ions with an eight coordination in the interlayer. The structure of the n = 3 members, KPrNaNb 3 O 10 (S. G. Cmcm ; a = 3.8858(1) Å, b = 29.6553(9) Å, c = 7.7635(3) Å) and KPrCaNb 2 TiO 10 (S. G. Cmcm ; a = 3.8634(2) Å, b = 29.4808(2) Å, c = 7.6945(5) Å) were confirmed respectively using the Rietveld and Le Bail methods utilizing the powder X-ray diffraction data. The n = 4 members, KPrNa 2 Nb 4 O 13 and KPrCa 2 Nb 2 Ti 2 O 13 are synthesized through high-temperature ceramic methods. The compounds are phase pure as confirmed from the X-ray diffraction data and were characterized by UV–visible diffuse reflectance measurements. These two-dimensional oxides also undergo facile topochemical ion-exchange and intercalation reactions and opens up several interesting possibilities. We have replaced the K+ ions in the interlayer by H+, Li+, Na+ ions and [CuCl]+ groups through low temperature reactions. The usefulness of various Dion-Jacobson layered perovskite oxides for potential photocatalytic applications has been explored by determining the optical band gaps, the valence band, and the conduction band energy levels based on the UV–visible diffuse reflectance measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes exhibit unique structural flexibility, excellent carrier mobility and abundant active sites, making them valuable catalysts in photocatalysis. The electronic properties and photocatalytic activity of Janus ZrMCO 2 (M = Ti, Hf) MXenes are investigated by hybrid HSE06 functional. Photocatalytic activities of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are further explored. Structural stability is proved by negative cohesive energy and elastic stiffness coefficients. ZrTiCO 2 and ZrHfCO 2 are all direct semiconductors. Ti/Hf doping makes conduction band minimum (CBM) have a redshift and induces the reduction of band gaps of Janus systems. The three systems are potential photocatalysts due to their appropriate bandgaps and significant absorption in visible region. The irradiation-generated holes and electrons can easily drive the HER or OER on ZrHfCO 2 MXene due to the small overpotential. ZrHfCO 2 and Zr 2 CO 2 are highly efficient for photocatalytic hydrogen production with STH efficient of 30.3%. Hf doping improves the photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 , while The Ti/Hf doping doesn't improve the N 2 reduction. • Ti/Hf doping induces the reduction of band gaps of Janus systems. • ZrHfCO 2 and Zr 2 CO 2 are highly efficient for photocatalytic hydrogen production with STH efficient of 30.3%. • ZrHfCO 2 and Zr 2 CO 2 can perform complete PWS reactions in acidic solution. • Hf doping can reduce the overpotential for OER and HER of Zr 2 CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective approach to enhance the photocatalytic performance of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) is the use of hydrothermal synthesis. The CuO NPs were synthesized by hydrothermal technique in the presence of anionic surfactant. Structural, functional, morphological, chemical composition and optical properties of the synthesized NPs were characterized by using XRD, FTIR, SEM, UV-visible DRS and PL. The average crystallite size for pure, 0.05 M SHMP and 0.05 M SHMP assisted CuO samples are around 13 nm, 11 nm and 10 nm respectively. It was observed that the size of particle is affected by the nature of surfactant. Additionally, in all the samples, FTIR spectra show three identical Cu-O vibration modes that indicate the presence of crystalline CuO monoclinic structure. Thus, the spherical like CuO nanostructure can be used as an ideal material for photocatalytic performance. The synthesized NPs are then used to photo-catalytically degrade the methyl violet dye in aqueous media. Surfactant-assisted CuO NPs showed better photocatalytical activity than bare CuO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the synthesis, structural characterization, and evaluation of the photocatalytic performance of two novel one-dimensional (1D) lead(II) bromide hybrids, [Co(2,2′-bpy)3][Pb2Br6CH3OH] (1) and [Fe(2,2′-bpy)3][Pb2Br6] (2), synthesized via solvothermal reactions. These compounds incorporate transition metal complex cations as structural directors, contributing to the unique photophysical and photocatalytic properties of the resulting materials. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that both compounds crystallize in monoclinic space groups with distinct 1D lead bromide chain configurations influenced by the nature of the complex cations. Optical property assessments show band gaps of 3.04 eV and 2.02 eV for compounds 1 and 2, respectively, indicating their potential for visible light absorption. Photocurrent measurements indicate a significantly higher electron–hole separation efficiency in compound 2, correlated with its narrower band gap. Additionally, photocatalytic evaluations demonstrate that while both compounds degrade organic dyes effectively, compound 2 also exhibits notable hydrogen evolution activity under visible light, a property not observed in 1. These findings highlight the role of metal complex cations in tuning the electronic and structural properties of lead(II) bromide hybrids, enhancing their applicability in photocatalytic and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of UV irradiation intensity on the rate constant of photocatalytic reaction of TiO2 coatings applied by detonation spraying on the hot‐rolled carbon steel and glass‐cloth‐base laminate (plastic) is studied. The effect of substrate material on the studied phenomenon is pronounced. The kinetic curves at different UV irradiation intensities and the rate constants of the photocatalytic reaction are obtained for different values of energy flux density varied from 3.0 to 8.0 mW/m2. The photocatalytic rate constant of coatings placed on plastic increases with an increase in the energy flux density from.038 to.055 1/h. Samples applied at a spray distance of 50 mm are characterized by a higher the photocatalytic rate constant than those applied at a distance of 40 mm. The value of photocatalytic rate constant does not change starting from a certain flow value for such samples and reaches the saturation value of about.054 1/h. Saturation is achieved quite quickly already at a density flux of about 5.5 mW/m2. Two new phenomenological models based on differential equation, the analytical solutions to which sufficiently describe experimental dependence of the photocatalytic rate constant on the energy flux density, are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium oxide (CeO2), one of the most significant heterogeneous catalysts, has attracted extensive research interest. Herein, ultrafine spherical CeO2 with a diameter of 5 nm is successfully synthesized within a reaction time of 25 min by a simple and environmentally friendly sonochemical method without any additional oxidants or high temperature and pressure conditions, and 50 nm spherical CeO2 was obtained by heat treating the 5 nm spherical CeO2 in 400°C air atmosphere condition for 3 h. By controlling the ultrasonic condition, a specific surface area of up to 194.2 m2/g and a bandgap as low as 2.2 eV are achieved in the CeO2 nanoparticles without any heat treatment. Further study has shown that the as‐prepared spherical CeO2 without heat treatment exhibits remarkable photocatalytic and antibacterial activities under visible light conditions. The study is beneficial for energy conservation in fabricating ultrafine photocatalytic and antibacterial nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of ternary nanocomposites of BiFeO 3 -Graphene-KNbO 3 through simple solution method has been made at various concentrations of graphene ranging 0.025–0.1 % mole fraction. The obtained nanocomposite powders with varying content of graphitic phase were subjected to different characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman, SEM/EDX/Elemental mapping, HR-TEM, UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, dielectric and photodegradation measurements. All above studies have provided the collective impression of the existence of all entities in the prepared ternary composites. Dielectric studies revealed that progressive loading of graphene content led to the increased pathway for the conduction of electrons in the sample. However, the loading of graphene at appropriate concentration has brought out increased dye degradation capacity of BiFeO 3 -Graphene-KNbO 3 ternary nanocomposites towards methylene blue dye. The results obtained from various studies have been discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes were obtained by the anodization process, applying a potential of 30 V for 2 h in an electrolyte composed of NH4F, H2O and ethylene glycol. The nitrogen doping of the obtained nanostructures was studied and the influence of the use of different temperatures during the thermal treatments 400, 500 and 600°C, on the formed nanotubes were evaluated. The morphology and crystalline structure of the obtained materials were determined by field emission gun scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The optical properties were evaluated by UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and the photoelectrochemical properties by linear sweep voltammetry curves. The photocatalytic activity of nanotubes was evaluated by degradation of glycerol in aqueous medium using UV and visible radiation. TiO2 nanotubes developed photoactivity, photoelectrochemical behaviour and presented catalytic activity for glycerol degradation, which is more evident with UV radiation. The sample thermally treated at 500°C was the one that presented superior photoelectrochemical behaviour and superior photocatalytic activity when exposed to both UV and visible radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile method has been employed to synthesize pristine and Cr-doped SnS2 (Cr: SnS2) nanoplates (Sn1-xCrxS2, here x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) and Cr: SnS2 nanoplates (NPs) were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal method. The nanoplates' structure was hexagonal, with a preference for orientation along the (001) plane; there was no evidence of additional undesirable phases. FTIR and EDX were used to observe the existence of functional groups in the samples where Sn-S bonds were present in each of the produced pristine and Cr: SnS2 nanoplates. XPS measurements demonstrated the existence of Sn, S, and Cr. FESEM revealed that the morphological properties of the nanoplates included several hexagonal grains. Magnetic characterizations showed that with increasing doping concentration of Cr, SnS2 nanoplates become superparamagnetic from ferromagnetic. The band gap values for the pristine and Cr: SnS2 nanoplates calculated from the absorbance spectra decreased from 2.53 to 2.08 eV with an increase in doping concentration. The photoluminescence spectra of the pristine SnS2 and Cr: SnS2 nanoplates exhibit two strong emission peaks at around 562 and 666 nm for an excitation wavelength of 420 nm. The Cr: SnS2 nanoplates have demonstrated the resistive behavior of the sample. The Cr: SnS2 nanoplates have shown good photocatalytic activity towards the decolorization of rhodamine B under visible irradiation.Article highlights: Hydrothermally synthesized pristine SnS2 and Cr: SnS2 nanoplates exhibit hexagonal crystal structures and the hexagonal shape of layered nanoplates is apparent in both cases. The ferromagnetic order is introduced by Cr doping in SnS2 which increases the formation of dilute magnetic semiconductors that can therefore be used in spintronic devices. The Sn0.6Cr0.4S2 photocatalyst shows the highest photocatalytic activity and a degradation efficiency of 71%, which is 3.4 times higher than the pure SnS2 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, the green synthesis of nanomaterials has emerged as an environmentally friendly and sustainable technology for effectively decolourization of dyes. Polysaccharides, recognized for their affordability and efficacy, have become ideal materials for nanoparticle synthesis. The study used a green method to make platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) from the sesbania polysaccharide, for photocatalytic activities. Different instrumental methods were used to describe the synthesized SPtNPs, including FTIR, FESEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS analysis. XPS analysis played a crucial role in examining the purity and chemical stability of the synthesized SPtNPs. TEM micrographs revealed the homogeneous and spherical shape of the nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of the SPtNPs was assessed in the organic dyes, with a particular focus on Rose Bengal in wastewater treatment. The SPtNPs exhibited a high photodegradation capacity for the anionic dye, degrading 98.5% of Rose Bengal within 60 min under Visible light. Additionally, a notable achievement in catalyst recyclability was observed. The catalyst having a higher degradation efficiency of 94.8% in after 3 cycles and revealing a calculated rate constant (k) of 0.3408 min−1. This study emphasizes the competitive advantage of environmentally friendly technology over traditional physical and chemical approaches in SPtNP synthesis, emphasizing its efficacy. This technology's green and efficient nature holds significant potential for diverse industrial applications. Furthermore, it shows that it is possible to make nanomaterials in a way that is both sustainable and good for the environment. Specifically, the biosynthesis of SPtNPs is a groundbreaking way to create useful and good products for the environment. Schematic presentation of green synthesized SPtNPs and photocatalytic dye degradation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves of the Murraya koenigii aromatic plant contain various specific phytochemicals, including lutein, β-carotene, vitamin C, nicotinic acids, and other polyphenols, which act as reducing agents to produce metallic nanoparticles from their respective precursors. In this study, we report the green synthesis of iron–cobalt bimetallic nanoparticles (Fe–Co BMNPs) using natural resources of reducing and capping agents from aqueous extract of Murraya koenigii leaves. The synthesized Fe–Co BMNPs were characterized using SEM, EDS, BET surface area, TGA, XRD, TEM, and VSM techniques, revealing their crystalline structure with a surface area of 83.22 m2 g−1 and particle sizes <50 nm. Furthermore, the photocatalytic ability of the synthesized Fe–Co BMNPs was examined concerning methylene blue dye (MBD) aqueous solution. The synthesized Fe–Co BMNPs exhibited promising potential for dye removal from aqueous solution in acidic and basic medium (>97% of 10 mg L−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study intends to create TiO2 foam, SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), and SiO2@TiO2 core‐shell nanostructure (CSN) with improved photocatalytic durability for the quick degradation of the textile industrial water pollutant in the presence of sunlight. The sol‐gel, Stöber, and chemical co‐precipitation methods have been used to synthesize TiO2 foam, SiO2 NPs, and SiO2@TiO2 CSN. X‐ray diffraction results have revealed the anatase phase of TiO2 foam, the amorphous nature of SiO2 NPs, and the amorphous nature of SiO2@TiO2 CSN due to equal wt.% of SiO2 NPs and TiO2 foam at 300 K. Field emission scanning electron microscope images show that the TiO2 foam, SiO2 NPs, and SiO2@TiO2 CSN exhibit cluster sheets, spherical, and spherical raspberry‐like homogeneous morphology. The ultraviolet spectrum confirmed that the TiO2 foam and SiO2@TiO2 CSN have a band gap of 2.9 eV and 3.4 eV. SiO2@TiO2 CSN has been shown an excellent decomposition rate of water pollutants (gentian dye) in comparison to TiO2 foam due to their better‐absorbing nature. Both NPs and CSN employed in the breakdown of gentian dye have been recycled and their original characteristics are preserved. The proposed SiO2@TiO2 CSN has a higher potential for application in developing self‐cleaning, long‐lasting, and air‐purifying materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study validates the impact of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) biosynthesized from the brown seaweed Dictyota bartayresiana (DB) and its biological applications. The phytochemicals analyzed in the seaweed extract served as a reducing, capping or stabilizing agent in the formation of nanoparticles. UV visible spectrum of nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesized from DB (DB-NiONPs) represented a prominent peak at 392 nm which validates its formation. Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) showcased the presence of functional groups in the biomolecules which aids in the stabilization of DB-NiONPs. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD) revealed the crystalline nature of DB-NiONPs and the particle size was calculated as 18.26 nm. The Scanning electron microscope (SEM) illustrates the irregularly shaped DB-NiONPs and the desired elements were depicted in energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum which confirms the purity of DB-NiONPs. The DB-NiONPs efficiently decolorised the Black B133 (BB133) dye to 86% in 25 min. The data of adsorption studies well fitted into Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model. The thermodynamic study substantiated the spontaneous, feasible and endothermic process of adsorption. DB-NiONPs revealed enhanced antimicrobial, larvicidal and nematicidal activities against the selected microbes, larva of Culex pipens and juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita respectively. The phytotoxicity studies revealed the DB-NiONPs had a positive impact on the germination and growth of green gram seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent self-cleaning coatings based on photocatalytic activity have attracted great attention in recent years owing to their promising applications in many fields, such as solar cell cover glass. This study reports a simple method to prepare transparent self-cleaning silicon dioxide (SiO2) coatings filled by boron carbide (B4C) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. A sol-gel technique was used to synthesize a SiO2 solution containing B4C and TiO2 nanoparticles, and a dip-coating technique was followed to coat the composite solution on glass slides. The SiO2 coating was successfully obtained in the presence of both semiconductor nanoparticles as confirmed by FTIR and XRD measurements. Both the photocatalytic activity and self-cleaning property of the composite coatings were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of a model dye, methylene blue, under visible light irradiation. The SiO2 coating containing both B4C and TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited an improved photocatalytic activity compared to the SiO2 coating including only B4C. In particular, a 46% degradation rate of the model dye methylene blue was achieved for the SiO2 coating containing 15 wt% B4C and 5 wt% TiO2 nanoparticles. Highly transparent composite coatings on glass slides were prepared. The SiO2 coating containing both B4C and TiO2 nanoparticles was found to exhibit ~8% reduction in the optical transmission of the glass slide and ~1% reduction in the efficiency of a solar cell containing the coated glass slide. These findings demonstrated that the SiO2 composite coatings have potential for self-cleaning applications in removing contaminants from the glass cover of the solar cell under visible light irradiation. Highlights: SiO2 was synthesized in the presence of both B4C and TiO2 nanoparticles B4C and TiO2 nanoparticle did not significantly affect the light transmission and the efficiency of the solar cell TiO2 enhanced the photocatalytic dye degradation efficiency of the SiO2 coating including B4C nanoparticles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoferrites of (Mn1-xMgx)0.8Li0.1Fe2.1O4 (x: 0–1.0, step 0.2) were synthesized by the sol–gel autocombustion method. The structural properties of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction patterns for the samples establish the nanoscale (38–54 nm) pure-phase spinel cubic structure (Fd- 3 ̅ m). Also, the particle size analysis results demonstrate the narrow distribution of their particle sizes, which range from 10 to 33 nm. The impact of Mg2+ ion concentration on the thermal, elastic, magnetic, and optical properties of these samples was studied. The saturation magnetization decreases from 56.9 to 31.1 emu/g, and the coercivity increases from 65.8 to 106.8G with the addition of Mg2+ ions, showing thin S-shaped hysteresis loops revealing the samples' soft magnetic behavior. Thermal results indicate that these samples are interesting candidates for thermoelectric applications due to their noticeably lower thermal conductivity, which ranges from 0.3572 to 0.5881 W/mK. The optical band gap values determined by using ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy range from 5.11 to 5.25 eV, where quantum confinement for crystallite size triggers a larger band gap. As the concentration of Mg2+ ions increases, their ability to degrade methyl green dye under ultraviolet radiation for 100 min rises from 13.6 to 61.1% with the addition of H2O2, an indication of their photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the optimum ferrite sample, Mn0.4Mg0.4Li0.1Fe2.1O4, maintained its photocatalytic efficiency for at least six reaction cycles. Highlights: The (MgxMn1−x)0.8 Li0.1 Fe2.1 O4 was prepared by the citrate precursor method. XRD, PSA and TEM results confirm the nanostructure of the Mn-Mg-Li ferrite samples. Soft magnetic samples are nominees for switching and memory core applications. Lower ks indicates the samples are candidates for thermoelectric applications. Photodegradation efficiency of the samples for MG dye enhanced from 13.6 to 61.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the potential of Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum as a novel source for synthesizing nickel oxide nanoparticles (RH‐NiONPs) and evaluates its biological applications. Phytochemicals in the algal extract serve as capping, reducing and stabilizing agent for nickel oxide nanoparticles. The process variables were optimized using BBD based RSM to obtain maximum RH‐NiONPs. Characterization of RH‐NiONPs using UV–Vis and FT‐IR spectroscopy reveals the plasmon resonance peak at 340 nm and the functional groups responsible for reduction and stabilization. XRD confirmed the crystalline nature while the stability and size of the RH‐NiONPs were determined by DLS and zeta potential. Toxicity assessments demonstrated the effect of RH‐NiONPs against Vigna radiata, Allium cepa and Artemia salina was low. RH‐NiONPs revealed significant zone of inhibition against the selected bacteria and fungi. The results of larvicidal activity showed that RH‐NiONPs are toxic to 4th instar larvae of Daphnis nerii. Also, RH‐NiONPs efficiently decolorized Reactive Violet 13 (92%) under sunlight irradiation and the experimental data well fits to Langmuir isotherm along with pseudo second order kinetic model. The thermodynamic studies enunciate the exothermic and non‐spontaneous photocatalytic decolorization of reactive violet 13. Thus, the current study assesses the eco‐friendly and cost‐effective nature of RH‐NiONPs along with its biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The auto-combustion method synthesized CuO NPs and Ag/CuO NPs. The Ag/CuO NPs were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy instrumental analyses. The energy band gap, as determined by DRS properties, decreases from 3.82 to 3.50 eV for pure CuO and 10% Ag/CuO NPs, respectively. The photodegradation efficiency of Rhodamine-B & Carmine by 10% Ag/CuO NPs was nearly 98.9 and 97.8%, respectively. Antimicrobial trials revealed that the antimicrobial efficacy of Ag/CuO NPs at several dosages (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 µg/mL) against human pathogens was initially assessed using the agar well-diffusion method, and then the broth dilution method. Noticeably, the minimum inhibitory concentration of Ag/CuO NPs for all pathogens ranged from 100 to 120 µg/ml, was determined. Generally, the observed minimum microbicide concentration has a wide range of Ag/CuO NPs doses, ranging from 150 to 300 µg/ml, which helps kill (99.99%) all tested pathogenic cells. The largest relative inhibitory activities (%) were recorded against Escherichia coli (81.45 ± 1.39) at 120 g/mL of Ag/CuO NPs and 100 μg/mL (80.43 ± 0.59), followed by 80 µg/mL (72.33 ± 0.82). Additionally, the lowest relative inhibitory activities (%) were monitored versus fungal cells and Gram-positive bacteria at 120 µg/mL of Ag/CuO NPs as 52.17 ± 1.49 and 53.42 ± 1.71; respectively. Graphic abstract