Ag2O-decorated electrospun BiVO4 nanofibers with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Unprecedented iron-assisted room temperature synthesis of AgCN using acetonitrile

A straightforward and convenient approach for producing AgCN at room temperature using acetonitrile as a source has been developed, employing various iron salts. To date, there have been no prior studies documenting the synthesis of AgCN by cleaving the C-CN bond in acetonitrile with the use of iron salts. The resulting highly crystalline material was subjected to characterization through XRD and FT-IR analysis. Additionally, the same process was used for C-CN bond breaking using Ag2S or via the formation of an AgSxOy composite. Consequently, this report is primarily dedicated to exploring the efficacy of different iron salts in breaking the C-CN bond in CH3CN. A theoretical investigation of the proposed experimental scheme has also been performed to confer the feasibility of the reaction.

Synergistic role of metal oxide loading cocatalysts on photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and inactive bacteria over template-free ZnFe2O4 nanocubes

For wastewater treatment, a highly reliable and ecologically friendly oxidation method is always preferred. This work described the production of a new extremely effective visible light-driven Ag₂O_x loaded ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposties photocatalyst using a wet impregnation technique. Under visible light irradiation, the produced Ag₂O_x loaded ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposties were used in the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and Reactive Red 120 (RR120) dyes. Analysis using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that Ag₂O_x nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of ZnFe₂O₄ NPs and that the Ag₂O_x loaded ZnFe₂O₄ NPs were created. When compared with bare ZnFe₂O₄ NPs, Ag₂O_x-loaded ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites showed better photocatalytic activity for RhB and RR120 degradation under visible light (>420 nm) illumination. The reaction kinetics and degradation methodology, in addition to the photocatalytic degradation functions of Ag₂O_x-loaded ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites, were thoroughly investigated. The 3 wt% Ag₂O_x loaded ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites have a 99% removal efficiency for RhB and RR120, which is about 2.4 times greater than the ZnFe₂O₄ NPs and simple combination of 1 wt% and 2 wt% Ag₂O_x loaded ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites. Furthermore, the 3 wt% Ag₂O_x loaded ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites demonstrated consistent performance without decreasing activity throughout 3 consecutive cycles, indicating a potential approach for the photo-oxidative destruction of organic pollutants as well as outstanding antibacterial capabilities. According to the findings of the experiments, produced new nanoparticles are an environmentally friendly, cost-efficient option for removing dyes, and they were successful in suppressing the development of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Ag2O and NiO Decorated CuFe2O4 with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance to Improve the Degradation Efficiency of Methylene Blue

Dye wastewater is a serious threat to human health and life. It is an important task for researchers to treat it efficiently. Among many treatment methods, the photo-Fenton method can rapidly degrade organic pollutants. In this study, a ternary photocatalyst, Ag2O-NiO/CuFe2O4, was prepared and applied for a photo-Fenton reaction to degrade methylene blue (MB). MB had the best degradation effect when 10 mg of the catalyst were used in an 80 mL reaction system for measurement. The degradation rate of MB was up to 96.67% in 60 min with a high degradation rate constant k=5.67×10-2min-1. The total organic carbon (TOC) degradation rate was 78.64% with a TOC degradation rate constant of k=2.57×10-2min-1. Therefore, this study fully proves that Ag2O-NiO/CuFe2O4 can catalyze the photo-Fenton reaction and effectively degrade MB.

Z-scheme BiVO4/Ag/Ag2S composites with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency under visible light

The Z-scheme BiVO4/Ag/Ag2S photocatalyst was fabricated via a two-step route. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, HRTEM, XPS and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results of PL and photocurrent response tests demonstrate that the ternary BiVO4/Ag/Ag2S composites had a high separation and migration efficiency of photoexcited carriers. As a result, the ternary photocatalyst exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity for decomposing Rhodamine B (RhB) under LED light (420 nm) irradiation. The results of trapping experiments demonstrate both h+ and ˙OH play crucial roles in decomposing RhB molecules. Additionally, the energy band structures and density of states (DOS) of BiVO4 and Ag2S were investigated via the density functional theory (DFT) method. Finally, a Z-scheme electron migration mechanism of BiVO4 → Ag → Ag2S was proposed based on the experimental and calculated results.