Easy fabrication of l-glutamic acid/ZnS composites for efficient photo-catalytic and supercapacitor performance

l-Glutamic acid/ZnS (L-GA/ZnS) composites were prepared by varying the amount of ZnS addition ranging from 1-5 wt% by means of an easy solvent casting approach. The morphological investigation, antimicrobial activity, photocatalytic enactment, and electrochemical properties of the composites were evaluated. The formation of L-GA/ZnS composites was confirmed by FTIR, UV-Vis, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Besides, FTIR, UV-Visible, and PL data revealed the possible incorporation of ZnS into L-GA. The L-GA/ZnS composites demonstrated similar plate-like structure of L-GA with agglomerated ZnS morphology on the plate surface with diameter in the range of 50-500 nm, confirmed by FESEM/EDS measurements. The prepared composites showed excellent photocatalytic depiction towards methylene blue (MB) degradation in comparison to L-GA and ZnS. A set of supercapacitor devices were fabricated using L-GA/ZnS composites. The performance of the supercapacitor was assessed by GCD and exhibited good energy storage capacity. The prepared composites showed promising prospects for hybrid supercapacitor application. These outcomes may offer new insight into the fabrication of L-GA/ZnS composites as photocatalysts for organic contaminants treatment.

Gamma radiation effect on the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of PCL/MCM-48-PVA nanocomposite films

In this work, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was employed to produce a Mesoporous Composition of Matter-48 Modified (MCM-48-M or MCM-48-PVA). After surface modification, MCM-48-M was used to produce nanocomposite (NC) films with polycaprolactone (PCL) as a matrix at room temperature. PCL and MCM-48 nanoparticles (NPs) were chosen due to their great biocompatibility and low toxicity. However, MCM-48-M is more compatible with PCL than MCM-48. NC films were sterilized by gamma radiation with a dose of 25 kGy and characterized by experimental techniques to investigate their chemical, mechanical (tensile) and thermal properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) results indicated that MCM-48-M exhibited a random distribution in the PCL matrix. The PCL chemical structure was preserved in NC films as described by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy as well as the tensile and thermal properties of NC films. FT-IR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed surface modification. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that crystalline symmetries were preserved and the crystallinity of NC films had small variations in all samples before and after irradiation, respectively. But, our results did not indicate major changes showing that this method is successful for the sterilization of PCL/MCM-48-PVA NC films.

Design and identification of poly(vinyl chloride)/layered double hydroxide@MnO2 nanocomposite films and evaluation of the methyl orange uptake: linear and non-linear isotherm and kinetic adsorption models

In this work, an adsorbent based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) for the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye is proposed.

Simple Fabrication of PVA-ZnS Composite Films with Superior Photocatalytic Performance: Enhanced Luminescence Property, Morphology, and Thermal Stability

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-ZnS composite films were prepared by varying the composition of PVA ranging from 1-5 wt % through a simple solvent casting method. The photocatalytic enactment of the composites was evaluated along with the investigations of their photoluminescence (PL), optical transparency, morphology, and thermal properties. The firm interaction between the ZnS and PVA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, UV-vis, and PL spectroscopies. PVA-ZnS composites showed enhanced luminescence property than PVA. The composites exhibited very good optical transparency regardless of the amount of PVA addition. The thermogravimetric analysis data indeed exhibited better thermal stability of the composites. The glass transition temperature (T _g), melting temperature (T _m), enthalpy of melting (ΔH _m), and crystallinity were evaluated for such composites. The composites demonstrated morphological variations depending on the amount of PVA addition, although the particle size of ZnS remained similar in the nanometer range (50-120 nm) for all composite samples. The prepared composite films exhibited superior photocatalytic performance in the degradation of methylene blue compared with the bare ZnS and PVA. This study may give a new insight into the fabrication of PVA-ZnS photocatalysts for the treatment of organic pollutants.

Using sonochemistry for the production of poly(vinyl alcohol)/MWCNT–vitamin B1 nanocomposites: exploration of morphology, thermal and mechanical properties

Functionalized MWCNTs with vitamin B₁ as a green material were applied for the enhancement of poly(vinyl alcohol) properties.