Facile preparation of environmental benign LED white light active humic acid nanolayer coated titanium dioxide photocatalyst for bisphenol A degradation

Natural organic matter is a mixture of microbial decomposition products widely found in surface and groundwater. These organic materials have great potential as carbon-based precursors for chemical synthesis. This work demonstrated the development of a green photocatalyst via a facile adsorption process that combined colloidal titanium dioxide (TiO2) with humic acid. The resulting photocatalyst was visible light active and able to completely degrade 5 mg/L of BPA within 6 h under the irradiation of energy-efficient LED white light. The first-order kinetic rate constant of the reaction was determined to be 1.7 × 10-2 min-1. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the decreased band gap energy and effective charge separation that limits the photogenerated electron-hole recombination. The outcome of this research opened an opportunity for the development of sustainable functional materials using natural organic matter.

Selectivity of Sol-Gel and Hydrothermal TiO2 Nanoparticles towards Photocatalytic Degradation of Cationic and Anionic Dyes

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have been extensively studied for catalyzing the photo-degradation of organic pollutants, the photocatalyst being nonselective to the substrate. We, however, found that TiO2 nanoparticles prepared via the sol-gel and hydrothermal synthetic routes each possess a definite specificity to the charge of the substrate for photodegradation. The nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and UV-visible spectra, and the photocatalytic degradation under UV-B (285 nm) irradiation of two model compounds, anionic methyl Orange (MO) and cationic methylene blue (MB) was monitored by a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Untreated sol-gel TiO2 nanoparticles (Tsg) preferentially degraded MO over MB (90% versus 40% in two hours), while after calcination at 400 °C for two hours (Tsgc) they showed reversed specificity (50% MO versus 90% MB in one hour). The as-prepared hydrothermal TiO2 nanoparticles (Tht) behaved in the opposite sense of Tsg (41% MO versus 91% MB degraded in one and a half hours); calcination at 400 °C (Thtc) did not reverse the trend but enhanced the efficiency of degradation. The study indicates that TiO2 nanoparticles can be made to degrade a specific class of organic pollutants from an effluent facilitating the recycling of a specific class of pollutants for cost-effective effluent management.

Synergistic effect of TiO2 nanostructured cathode in microbial fuel cell for bioelectricity enhancement

Nano-bedecking of electrode with nanoparticles is an effective method to improve power generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, different concentrations (0.25 mg cm^-2, 0.50 mg cm^-2, 0.75 mg cm^-2 and 1.0 mg cm^-2) of TiO₂ nanoparticles of size 10-25 nm were overlaid on the carbon cloth (CC) using spray pyrolysis technique and used as catalytic cathode in a dual-chambered microbial fuel cell treating distillery wastewater. Results evidenced that TiO₂ nanoparticles modified cathode increased the power generation and recorded a highest power and current density of 162.5 ± 2 mW m^-2 and 1.4 ± 0.005 A m^-2, respectively. Carbon cloth coated with 0.50 mg cm^-2 TiO₂ nanoparticles showed 2.8 and 7.3 times higher current and power density as compared to uncoated cathode. MFC operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) and organic loading rate (OLR) of 72 h and 59.2 g COD L^-1 d^-1 showed a maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 72.3% which was 15.3% higher than the control MFC. Likewise, the coulombic efficiency of control and modified MFC was 33% and 44%, respectively. The maximum NO₃^-- N, NO₂^-- N and NH₄⁺- N removal efficiency of 77.3%, 49.9% and 59.4% were observed for TiO₂ nanoparticles modified electrode which was 19.3%, 11.4% and 10.5% higher than control. TiO₂ modified cathode was effective in enhancing the bioelectricity generation in MFCs.

Effect of experimental parameters on photocatalytic degradation efficiency of TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by electrochemical method towards Rhodamine B dye solution under natural sunlight

In this study, ~ 40 nm anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a simple electrochemical method by using succinic acid as a non-ammonia-based electrolyte solution and titanium sheets as electrodes. The effect of experimental parameters such as conductivity (2-12 mS/cm), pH of the initial solution (5-9), current applied (0.05-2 A), and reaction time (1-4 h) on catalyst productivity has been investigated. The analysis shows that at an optimum conductivity of 8 mS/cm and pH 7, an increase in applied current and reaction time maximizes the productivity of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The obtained catalyst was used for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under natural sunlight irradiation. The effect of experimental parameters on photocatalytic degradation has also been studied. The result displayed that degradation efficiency was enhanced by ~ 3 times in the alkaline region compared to the normal pH condition and increased with an increase in catalyst loading and decreased with the initial concentration of RhB dye. Investigation of the photocatalytic mechanism by radical trapping experiments showed that RhB photocatalytic degradation was mainly dominated by hole and superoxide radicals, whereas hydroxyl radical plays a minor role. Moreover, the catalyst reusability analysis revealed good stability and showed excellent degradation up to four consecutive cycles with nearly negligible loss of photocatalytic efficiency. Thus, the present work offers a new opportunity in terms of maximization of productivity as well as sunlight-driven photocatalytic activity of the catalyst for their industrial application.

Facile preparation of Ti3C2Tx sheets by selectively etching in a H2SO4/H2O2 mixture

MXenes and MXene-based composite materials have potential applications in a wide range of areas due to their unique physical and chemical characteristics. At present, it is still a major challenge to develop a simple, safe, and efficient route to prepare MXenes without using fluorinated etchants. Herein, we design a facile method to prepare Ti₃C₂T_x MXene sheets by selectively etching Ti₃AlC₂ powders in an aqueous diluted H₂SO₄ solution with H₂O₂ as an oxidant. In a system of H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂, an aqueous H₂SO₄ solution with a concentration of 6 mol/L is a strongly acidic medium with no volatility, and 30% H₂O₂ acts as a strong green oxidizer without harmful by-products. The experimental process is safe and convenient to conduct in a beaker under a water bath of 40°C. The etching process can be completed in 1 h under the air atmosphere conditions. The experimental results confirmed that the etched Ti₃AlC₂ powders can be successfully separated into Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets under ultrasound treatment without using any intercalation agent. The relevant etching mechanism is may be attributed to the synergy effect of H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂, which triggers sequential selective etching of Al layers from the Ti₃AlC₂ phase. It may provide a new green way to prepare MXene-based materials without using toxic HF or HF-containing etchants.

Ag@TiO2 Nanocomposite as an Efficient Catalyst for Knoevenagel Condensation

In the present study, a new series of different heterocycles was synthesized through base-free Knoevenagel condensation of various aldehydes and active methylene-containing compounds using the hydrothermal developed Ag@TiO₂ as a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst was synthesized by mixing TiO₂ (P25) with AgNO₃ and hydrothermally treated in ethanol at 180 °C for 12 h. The developed Ag@TiO₂ catalyst was directly applied for Knoevenagel condensation, and the optimized procedure involved stirring the aldehydes and active methylene-containing compounds with Ag@TiO₂ in ethanol at 65 °C. The reaction scope was investigated for various aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes with active methylene-containing compounds, and the isolated yields were significantly high. The reusability of the catalyst was investigated for up to five cycles, where an insignificant decrease in the catalyst's reactivity was observed. Also, the reaction could proceed in water as a solvent, and the isolated yield was 40%. Hence, this protocol features mild reaction conditions, a facile procedure, and clean reaction profiles.

Photocatalytic activity of ZrO2/TiO2/Fe3O4 ternary nanocomposite for the degradation of naproxen: characterization and optimization using response surface methodology

In this study, ZrO₂, TiO₂, and Fe₃O₄ components were synthesized by co-precipitation, sol–gel, and co-precipitation methods, respectively. In addition, solid-state dispersion method was used for synthesizing of ZrO₂/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ ternary nanocomposite. The ZrO₂/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was characterized by different techniques including XRD, EDX, SEM, BET, FTIR, XPS, EELS, and Photoluminescence (PL). The FTIR analysis of ZrO₂/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ photocatalyst showed strong peaks in the range of 450 to 700 cm⁻¹, which represent stretching vibrations of Zr–O, Ti–O, and Fe–O. The results of FTIR and XRD, XPS analyses and PL spectra confirmed that the solid-state dispersion method produced ZrO₂/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites. The EELS analysis confirmed the pure samples of Fe₃O₄, TiO₂ and ZrO₂. The EDAX analysis showed that the Zr:Ti:Fe atomic ratio was 0.42:2.08:1.00. The specific surface area, pores volume and average pores size of the photocatalyst were obtained 280 m²/g, 0.92 cm³/g, and 42 nm respectively. Furthermore, the performance of ZrO₂/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was evaluated for naproxen removal using the response surface method (RSM). The four parameters such as NPX concentration, time, pH and catalyst concentration was investigated. The point of zero charge of the photocatalyst was 6. The maximum and minimum degradation of naproxen using photocatalyst were 100% (under conditions: NPX concentration = 10 mg/L, time = 90 min, pH = 3 and catalyst concentration = 0.5 g/L) and 66.10% respectively. The stability experiment revealed that the ternary nanocatalyst demonstrates a relatively higher photocatalytic activity after 7 recycles.

Base-Free Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of New Schiff Bases Containing Indole Moiety

Schiff bases represent an essential class in organic chemistry with antitumor, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial activities. The synthesis of Schiff bases requires the presence of an organic base as a catalyst such as piperidine. Base-free synthesis of organic compounds using a heterogeneous catalyst has recently attracted more interest due to the facile procedure, high yield, and reusability of the used catalyst. Herein, we present a comparative study to synthesize new Schiff bases containing indole moieties using piperidine as an organic base catalyst and Au@TiO2 as a heterogeneous catalyst. In both methods, the products were isolated in high yields and fully characterized using different spectral analysis techniques. The catalyst was reusable four times, and the activity was slightly decreased. The presence of Au increases the number of acidic sites of TiO2, resulting in C=O polarization. Yields of the prepared Schiff bases in the presence of Au@TiO2 and piperidine were comparable. However, Au@TiO2 is an easily separable and recyclable catalyst, which would facilitate the synthesis of organic compounds without applying any hazardous materials. Furthermore, the luminescence behavior of the synthesized Schiff bases exhibited spectral shape dependence on the substituent group. Interestingly, the compounds also displayed deep-blue fluorescence with Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) coordinates of y < 0.1. Thus, these materials may contribute to decreasing the energy consumption of the emitting devices.

Mixed Metal Fe2Ni MIL-88B Metal-Organic Frameworks Decorated on Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Robust and Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Water Oxidation

The development of cost-effective and efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts has found increasing popularity due to the sluggish kinetics of OER, which has hampered the H₂ production by H₂O electrolysis. In this study, Fe₂Ni MIL-88 (denoted FeNi) was composited by reduced graphene oxide (rGO, denoted R). Owing to the high porosity and abundant active sites of bimetallic MOF, proper conductivity of rGO, and the synergistic impact of Ni and Fe, the optimal composite (R@FeNi (1:1)) offered remarkable OER activity in alkaline environments. The obtained composite was employed in the OER, which led to a low overpotential of 264 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 with a Tafel slope of 62 mV dec^-1. Also, the bimetallic Fe₂Ni MIL-88 nanorods grown on rGO led to a reduction in the onset potential of the OER. These findings exceeded the results of standard IrO₂-based catalysts; they are also comparable or even better than the previously reported MOF-based catalysts.

Photocatalytic and bactericidal properties and molecular docking analysis of TiO2 nanoparticles conjugated with Zr for environmental remediation

Despite implementing several methodologies including a combination of physical, chemical and biological techniques, aquatic and microbial pollution remains a challenge to this day. Recently, nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention due to their extraordinary prospective for utilization toward environmental remediation. Among several probable candidates, TiO2 stands out due to its potential for use in multifaceted applications. One way to improve the catalytic and antimicrobial potential of TiO2 is to dope it with certain elements. In this study, Zr-doped TiO2 was synthesized through a sol-gel chemical method using various dopant concentrations (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt%). Surface morphological, microstructural and elemental analysis was carried out using FESEM and HR-TEM along with EDS to confirm the formation of Zr-TiO2. XRD spectra showed a linear shift of the (101) anatase peak to lower diffraction angles (from 25.4° to 25.08°) with increasing Zr4+ concentration. Functional groups were examined via FTIR, an ample absorption band appearing between 400 and 700 cm-1 in the acquired spectrum was attributed to the vibration modes of the Ti-O-Ti linkage present within TiO2 nanoparticles, which denotes the formation of TiO2. Experimental results indicated that with increasing dopant concentrations, photocatalytic potential was enhanced significantly. In this respect, TiO2 doped with 8 wt% Zr (sample 0.08 : 1) exhibited outstanding performance by realizing 98% elimination of synthetic MB in 100 minutes. This is thought to be due to a decreased rate of electron-hole pair recombination that transpires upon doping. Therefore, it is proposed that Zr-doped TiO2 can be used as an effective photocatalyst material for various environmental and wastewater treatment applications. The good docking scores and binding confirmation of Zr-doped TiO2 suggested doped nanoparticles as a potential inhibitor against selected targets of both E. coli and S. aureus. Hence, enzyme inhibition studies of Zr-doped TiO2 NPs are suggested for further confirmation of these in silico predictions.

Hierarchical CuAl-layered double hydroxide/CoWO4 nanocomposites with enhanced efficiency for use in supercapacitors with long cycling stability

A CuAl-LDH/CoWO₄ nanocomposite was used in an asymmetric supercapacitor, providing 35.87 W h kg⁻¹ energy density and 10 188 W kg⁻¹ power density.

A facile one-step route for production of CuO, NiO, and CuO–NiO nanoparticles and comparison of their catalytic activity for ammonium perchlorate decomposition

This study demonstrates a straightforward, inexpensive, high-yield, and ecofriendly route for synthesis of sphere-like CuO, NiO, and CuO–NiO (with different molar ratios) nanoparticles (NPs) through emulsion route.

Green synthesis of ZnO hollow sphere nanostructures by a facile route at room temperature with efficient photocatalytic dye degradation properties

The present work has prepared ZnO hollow spherical nanoparticles using a straightforward synthetic route and has innovatively made use of carbon spheres as a template at room temperature.