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Yavuz A, Aydin D, Disli B, Ozturk T, Gul B, Gubbuk IH, Ersoz M. Enhancing visible light photocatalytic activity of holmium doped g-C 3N 4 and DFT theoretical insights. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:44828-44847. [PMID: 38955971 PMCID: PMC11255055 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34140-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In the search of novel photocatalysts to increase the effect of visible light in photocatalysis, g-C3N4 (CN) has become a shining star. Rare earth metals have been used as dopant material to reinforce the photocatalytic activity of CN due to their unique electron configuration recently. In this present study, the pure and different amounts of Ho-doped g-C3N4 (HoCN) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using urea as a precursor by the one-pot method. Morphological, structural, optical, and vibrational properties of the synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by SEM, EDX, XRD, TGA, XPS, FTIR, PL, TRPL, Raman, DRS, and BET analyses. In addition, theoretical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were meticulously carried out to delve the changes in the structural and electronic structure of CN with holmium doping. According to calculations, the chemical potential, electrophilicity, and chemical softness are higher for HoCN, while HOMO-LUMO gap, dipole moment, and the chemical hardness are lower for the pure one. Thus, holmium doping becomes desirable with low chemical hardness which indicates more effectivity and smaller HOMO-LUMO gap designate high chemical reactivity. To determine the photocatalytic efficiency of the pure and doped CN photocatalysts, the degradation of methylene blue (MB) was monitored under visible light. The results indicate that holmium doping has improved the photocatalytic activities of CN samples. Most strikingly, this improvement is noticeable for the 0.2 mmol doped CN sample that showed two times better photocatalytic activity than the pure one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adem Yavuz
- Center for Materials Research, Integrated Research Centers, Izmir Institute of Technology, Urla, Izmir, 35430, Turkey
| | - Didem Aydin
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey
| | - Besime Disli
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey
| | - Teoman Ozturk
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey.
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey.
| | - Berna Gul
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey
| | - Ilkay Hilal Gubbuk
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Ersoz
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey
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Nnadiekwe CC, Sajid H, Abdulazeez I, Al-Saadi AA. Anodic voltage performance of conducting polymer-functionalized boron nitride nanosheets: a DFT assessment. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:13955-13964. [PMID: 38668770 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp06074h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
The search for low-diffusion barriers and high-capacity anode materials is considered a key step in boosting the efficiency of metal-ion batteries. Herein, we investigate the impact of a series of conducting polymers (CPs), namely, polyacetylene (PA), polypyrrole (PP), poly-p-phenylene (PPPh), and polythiophene (PT), on enhancing the material design and anodic performance of boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS)-based Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. For this purpose, first principle DFT simulations, utilizing both clustered and periodic models, are systematically performed to assess the stability of such nanostructures and their electronic behavior as potential anodic materials. It is revealed that frontier molecular orbitals calculated for BNNSs are stabilized upon association with the series of CPs, resulting in a reduction in the energy gaps of CP-BNNSs by nearly 50%, which in turn improves the charge transfer properties and cell reaction kinetics. A remarkable improvement in the cell voltage is predicted for PP and PT functionalized BNNSs, reaching approximately 3.5 V for Li+ and 3.0 V for Na+ ions. The outcome of the study emphasizes the influence of the size of metal ions, whether mono- or di-valent, and the nature of adsorbed conducting polymers. Manipulating the electronic features of boron nitride nanostructured surfaces through non-covalent functionalization with conducting polymers could pave the way for the design of highly efficient energy storage anodic CP-BNNS-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chidera C Nnadiekwe
- Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Hasnain Sajid
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Ismail Abdulazeez
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Membranes and Water Security, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz A Al-Saadi
- Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Refining and Advanced Chemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
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Antunes M. Application of Graphene-Based Materials. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2748. [PMID: 37887899 PMCID: PMC10609724 DOI: 10.3390/nano13202748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
This Topic on the "Application of Graphene-Based Materials", which consists of a total of twenty-six articles, including two review articles, written by research groups of experts in the field, considers the most recent research and trends on the synthesis and characterization of graphene-based materials, including nanohybrids, intended for a vast array of high-demanding technological applications, namely batteries/fuel cells, aerogels, laser technology, sensors, electronic/magnetic devices, catalysts, etc [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Antunes
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Poly2 Group, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC BarcelonaTech), ESEIAAT, C/Colom 11, 08222 Terrassa, Spain
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Haroon M, Ashraf M, Ullah N, Nawaz Tahir M, Al-Saadi AA. SERS and EC-SERS detection of local anesthetic procaine using Pd loaded highly reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite substrate. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 278:121381. [PMID: 35588604 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.121381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitations are critical towards achieving sizable spectral enhancements of the Raman scattered light. Herein, the synthesis of palladium-based highly reduced graphene oxide (Pd-HRG) with LSPR properties as an effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its utility in the highly sensitive detection of procaine are reported. The concentration detection of procaine samples was optimized by applying a set of pre-concentration parameters. The Pd-HRG nanocomposite showed a remarkable LSPR response with a Raman enhancement factor of 8.7 × 102. The Pd-HRG is employed to modify fluorine doped tin oxide electrode (Pd-HRG/FTO), resulted with an enhancement factor of 7.5 × 104 corresponding to the EC-SERS technique. The electronic and surface properties of synthesized Pd-HRG and functionalized FTO electrode were evaluated using Raman, infrared, EIS, XRD, FESEM and EDX techniques. Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to elaborate on the nature of interaction of procaine molecules with a nanostructured surface model. Pd-HRG, with an efficient and cost-effective fabrication, can be considered as a promising EC-SERS substrate for the detection of organic therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Haroon
- Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nisar Ullah
- Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Nawaz Tahir
- Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia; Interdisciplinary Research Center for Hydrogen and Energy Storage, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdulaziz A Al-Saadi
- Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia; Interdisciplinary Research Center for Refining and Advanced Chemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
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de-la-Huerta-Sainz S, Ballesteros A, Cordero NA. Quantum Revivals in Curved Graphene Nanoflakes. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12121953. [PMID: 35745291 PMCID: PMC9230044 DOI: 10.3390/nano12121953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Graphene nanostructures have attracted a lot of attention in recent years due to their unconventional properties. We have employed Density Functional Theory to study the mechanical and electronic properties of curved graphene nanoflakes. We explore hexagonal flakes relaxed with different boundary conditions: (i) all atoms on a perfect spherical sector, (ii) only border atoms forced to be on the spherical sector, and (iii) only vertex atoms forced to be on the spherical sector. For each case, we have analysed the behaviour of curvature energy and of quantum regeneration times (classical and revival) as the spherical sector radius changes. Revival time presents in one case a divergence usually associated with a phase transition, probably caused by the pseudomagnetic field created by the curvature. This could be the first case of a phase transition in graphene nanostructures without the presence of external electric or magnetic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angel Ballesteros
- Physics Department, Universidad de Burgos, E-09001 Burgos, Spain; (S.d.-l.-H.-S.); (A.B.)
| | - Nicolás A. Cordero
- Physics Department, Universidad de Burgos, E-09001 Burgos, Spain; (S.d.-l.-H.-S.); (A.B.)
- International Research Center in Critical Raw Materials for Advanced Industrial Technologies (ICCRAM), Universidad de Burgos, E-09001 Burgos, Spain
- Institute Carlos I for Theoretical and Computational Physics (IC1), E-18016 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence:
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