Synthesis, Property Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of the Polyaniline/BiYTi₂O₇ Polymer Composite

Aluminium doped ZnO nanostructures for efficient photodegradation of indigo carmine and azo carmine G in solar irradiation

Aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanomaterials (AlxZn1-xO) with x fraction varying as 0.02 and 0.04 were synthesized using the auto-combustion method using glycine as a fuel. The synthesized catalysts were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Raman spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). XRD results showed that synthesized materials possessed good crystallinity, while UV–VIS was employed to find the band gaps of synthesized materials. Raman was used to determine the vibrational modes in the synthesized nanoparticles, while TEM analysis was performed to study the morphology of the samples. Industrial effluents such as indigo carmine and azo carmine G were used to test the photodegradation ability of synthesised catalysts. Parameters such as the effect of catalyst loading, dye concentration and pH were studied. The reduction in crystallite size, band gap and increased lattice strain for the 4% AZO was the primary reason for the degradation in visible irradiation, degrading 97 and 99% equimolar concentrations of indigo carmine and azo carmine G in 140 min. The Al doped ZnO was found to be effective in faster degradation of dyes as compared to pure ZnO in presence of natural sunlight.

The Validity and Reliability of the Short Form of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Japan

Background

A brief measure of dispositional mindfulness is important for applied research on mindfulness. Although short forms of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), which measures the five aspects of mindfulness (i.e., observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity), have been developed worldwide, the validity and reliability of the Japanese version has not been examined. This study aims to examine the validity and reliability of the 24-item and 15-item versions of the FFMQ in Japan, which are the most widely used versions worldwide.

Methods

Online surveys were conducted for 889 adults in Japan through an online survey company using self-reported questionnaires including the FFMQ to confirm the factor structure and validity. To examine construct validity, we examined the relationship between the short form of FFMQ and mind wandering, interoceptive awareness, experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, openness, neuroticism, self-compassion, depression, and anxiety, which have been theoretically or empirically shown to be related to mindfulness. In addition, 137 adults responded to the FFMQ again, after four weeks, for the test-retest reliability.

Results

The correlated five-factor and four-factor (excluding observing) models and the higher-order factor hierarchical model did not show sufficient goodness of fit, while the 24-item version showed acceptable fit when uncorrelated method factors loaded on by the positive and negative (reverse-scored) items were added. However, the 15-item version did not show acceptable fits for any of the models. Regarding reliability, the 24-item version showed acceptable values. In terms of the relationship between the original and the shortened version of the FFMQ, the 24-item version shared approximately 80% of the variance with the original one. In addition, although the wording effects of positive and negative items seemed to affect the correlations between the FFMQ and the other scales, the associations with related concepts were as predicted generally, supporting the construct validity of the short form of the FFMQ.

Conclusion

In Japan, the 24-item version of FFMQ showed acceptable validity and reliability similar to the original version, and we recommend that the 24-item version be used.

Preparation and characterization of an Ag3PO4/GaOOH composite with enhanced photocatalytic performance toward rhodamine B

A highly efficient Ag₃PO₄/GaOOH composite was innovatively prepared and its photocatalytic performance was evaluated through degrading rhodamine B (RhB) under illumination, in this paper.

Synthesis of a GaOOH/ZnBiTaO5heterojunction photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic performance toward enrofloxacin

In this work, a GaOOH/ZnBiTaO₅ heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized innovatively and characterization techniques including XRD, SEM-EDS, XPS, FT-IR, PL and UV-Vis DRS were carried out to analyse the structural and morphological properties of the GaOOH/ZnBiTaO₅ heterojunction photocatalyst. The GaOOH is dispersed on the surface of ZnBiTaO₅ to form a heterojunction structure according to the SEM image. The band gaps of 10 wt%, 25 wt% and 50 wt% GaOOH/ZnBiTaO₅ heterojunction photocatalysts were calculated to be 3.21 eV, 3.22 eV and 3.23 eV, respectively, which were between the band gaps of pure ZnBiTaO₅ (3.19 eV) and pure GaOOH (4.76 eV). The photocatalytic performance of the GaOOH/ZnBiTaO₅ heterojunction photocatalyst was investigated by degrading enrofloxacin under ultraviolet light. The results showed that the as-prepared 25 wt% GaOOH/ZnBiTaO₅ presented optimal photocatalytic performance and could remove 58.27% of enrofloxacin in 60 min, which was higher than that of pure ZnBiTaO₅ (53.7%) and pure GaOOH (35.4%). In addition, it was confirmed that ˙O₂⁻, h⁺ and ˙OH were all the active radicals during the degradation process. Finally, the possible degradation mechanism of enrofloxacin was discussed in detail. This work provided a viable strategy for improving the photocatalytic performance of wide band gap semiconductors.

A GaOOH/ZnBiTaO₅ heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized innovatively and characterized by XRD, SEM-EDS, XPS, FT-IR, PL and UV-Vis DRS to analyse the structural and morphological properties of the GaOOH/ZnBiTaO₅ heterojunction photocatalyst.

Structure and photocatalytic performance of rice husk-like Ba-doped GaOOH under light irradiation

The effects of Ba-doping on the structure and photocatalytic performance of GaOOH were investigated for the first time in this paper. XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UPS, FT-IR, UV-Vis DRS, PL, BET and EPR characterizations were carried out to analyze the properties of Ba-doped GaOOH. The results showed that GaOOH crystallized well with the orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pbnm. The lattice parameters of GaOOH were found to be a = 4.509526 Å, b = 9.771034 Å and c = 2.969284 Å. The transition in the structural morphology of GaOOH before and after Ba-doping was observed in SEM pictures in which the morphology of GaOOH varied from wood-like to rice husk-like. At the same time, the specific surface area of 4 wt% Ba-doped GaOOH (21.5854 m² g⁻¹) was 3.42 times that of pure GaOOH (6.3047 m² g⁻¹). Ba-doping caused a red shift of the band gap according to UV-Vis DRS results. The enhanced defect states caused by Ba-doping was confirmed by PL results, which decreased the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and photogenerated holes. Compared with pure GaOOH, when GaOOH with different Ba content was used as photocatalyst, the removal rate of enrofloxacin was increased by more than 20% only by illumination for 60 min. In addition, Ba-doped GaOOH had excellent stability and could be reused, which could reduce costs and increase the potential of its practical application.

The effects of Ba-doping on the structure and photocatalytic performance of GaOOH were investigated for the first time. Compared with pure GaOOH, when GaOOH with different Ba content was used, the removal rate of enrofloxacin was increased by more than 20% in 60 min.