Facile Hydrothermal Synthesis of BiVO4/MWCNTs Nanocomposites and Their Influences on the Biofilm Formation of Multidrug Resistance Streptococcus mutans and Proteus mirabilis

This study utilized a simple hydrothermal technique to prepare pure BiVO4 and tightly bound BiVO4/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite materials. The surfactant was employed to control the growth, size, and assembly of BiVO4 and the nanocomposite. Various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), photoluminescence (PL), Raman, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized to analyze and characterize BiVO4 and the BiVO4/MWCNTs nanocomposite. Through XRD analysis, it was found that the carbon nanotubes were effectively embedded within the lattice of BiVO4 without generating any separate impurity phase and had no influence on the BiVO4 monoclinic structure. TEM images confirmed the presence of MWCNTs within BiVO4. Furthermore, adding MWCNTs in the BiVO4/MWCNTs nanocomposite resulted in an effective charge transfer transition and improved carrier separation, as evidenced by PL analysis. The introduction of MWCNTs also led to a significant reduction in the optical band gap due to quantum effects. Finally, the antibacterial activity of pure BiVO4 and the BiVO4/MWCNTs nanocomposite was assessed by exposing Proteus mirabilis and Streptococcus mutans to these materials. Biofilm inhibition and antibiofilm activity were measured using a crystal violet assay and a FilmTracer LIVE/DEAD Biofilm Viability Kit. The results demonstrated that pure BiVO4 and BiVO4/MWCNTs effectively inhibited biofilm formation. In conclusion, both pure BiVO4 and BiVO4/MWCNTs are promising materials for inhibiting the bacterial biofilm during bacterial infections.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of SiC-Based Ternary Graphene Materials: A DFT Study and the Photocatalytic Mechanism

A graphene-like semiconductor composite is one of the most promising photocatalyst that does not use noble metals. These composites have excellent photocatalytic properties and have attracted great attention for water splitting. Here, a facile method called the hydrothermal method was used to prepare graphene oxide (GO)/SiC/MoS₂ composites. Under visible-light irradiation, the GO/SiC/MoS₂ composite had excellent photocatalytic production of hydrogen from water splitting. In particular, the catalyst added 8 wt % of Mo weight yielded the highest quantum of 20.45% at 400-700 nm of wavelength. A positive synergistic effect between the layered GO and MoS₂ components contributed to the enhanced photoactivity of the SiC particles. The synergistic effect reduced the recombination of photogenerated holes and electrons, enhanced the rate of electron transfer, and provided more reaction active sites for water splitting. The interactions among SiC, GO, and MoS₂ were investigated using a density functional theory. The calculations showed that the relative positions between graphene only slightly affect the stability of the interface, and the MoS₂ layers have a great influence. The photocatalytic mechanism was also discussed, and electron transfer was predicted.

Noble metal-coated MoS2 nanofilms with vertically-aligned 2D layers for visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of emerging water contaminants

Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (2D MoS2) presents extraordinary optical, electrical, and chemical properties which are highly tunable by engineering the orientation of constituent 2D layers. 2D MoS2 films with vertically-aligned layers exhibit numerous 2D edge sites which are predicted to offer superior chemical reactivity owing to their enriched dangling bonds. This enhanced chemical reactivity coupled with their tunable band gap energy can render the vertical 2D MoS2 unique opportunities for environmental applications that go beyond the conventional applications of horizontal 2D MoS2 in electronics/opto-electronics. Herein, we report that MoS2 films with vertically-aligned 2D layers exhibit excellent visible light responsive photocatalytic activities for efficiently degrading organic compounds in contaminated water such as harmful algal blooms. We demonstrate the visible light-driven rapid degradation of microcystin-LR, one of the most toxic compounds produced by the algal blooms, and reveal that the degradation efficiency can be significantly improved by incorporating noble metals. This study suggests a high promise of these emerging 2D materials for water treatment, significantly broadening their versatility for a wide range of energy and environmental applications.