Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Eucalyptus comadulensis leaves extract and its immobilization on magnetic nanocomposite (GO-Fe3O4/PAA/Ag) as a recoverable catalyst for degradation of organic dyes in water

The magnetically recyclable graphene oxide-Fe₃O₄/polyallylamine (PAA)/Ag nanocatalyst was prepared via a green route using Eucalyptus comadulensis leaves extract as both reducing and stabilizing agent. The catalytic activity of this nanocatalyst was investigated for the reduction reaction of methylene blue and methyl orange in the presence of NaBH₄ in aqueous medium at room temperature. The prepared nanocatalyst was characterized by different methods such as Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X–ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The results show that graphene oxide/PAA/Ag nanocatalyst has good activity and recyclability, and can be reused several times without major loss of activity in the reduction process. The apparent rate constants of the methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) were calculated to be 0.077 s⁻¹ (3 mg of catalyst) and 0.15 s⁻¹ (2 mg of catalyst), respectively.     

Highly dispersed Mn2O3−Co3O4 nanostructures on carbon matrix as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst

This work reports the synthesis of various carbon (Vulcan XC-72 R) supported metal oxide nanostructures, such as Mn₂O₃, Co₃O₄ and Mn₂O₃−Co₃O₄ as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts for the degradation of organic dye pollutants, namely Rhodamine B (RB) and Congo Red (CR) in wastewater. The activity results showed that the bimetallic Mn₂O₃−Co₃O₄/C catalyst exhibits much higher activity than the monometallic Mn₂O₃/C and Co₃O₄/C catalysts for the degradation of both RB and CR pollutants, due to the synergistic properties induced by the Mn−Co and/or Mn (Co)−support interactions. The degradation efficiency of RB and CR was considerably increased with an increase of reaction temperature from 25 to 45°C. Importantly, the bimetallic Mn₂O₃−Co₃O₄/C catalyst could maintain its catalytic activity up to five successive cycles, revealing its catalytic durability for wastewater purification. The structure–activity correlations demonstrated a probable mechanism for the degradation of organic dye pollutants in wastewater, involving •OH radical as well as Mn²⁺/Mn³⁺ or Co²⁺/Co³⁺ redox couple of the Mn₂O₃−Co₃O₄/C catalyst.     

Green synthesis of Fe3O4@SiO2‐Ag magnetic nanocatalyst using safflower extract and its application as recoverable catalyst for reduction of dye pollutants in water

This paper reports the green and in situ preparation of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐Ag magnetic nanocatalyst synthesized using safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) flower extract without the addition of any stabilizers or surfactants. The catalytic performance of the resulting nanocatalyst was examined for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) in an environment‐friendly medium at room temperature. The main factors such as pH, temperature and amount of catalyst influencing the nanocatalyst performance were studied. The apparent rate constants for 4‐NP, MO and MB reduction were calculated, being 0.756 min^?1, 0.064 s^?1 and 0.09 s^?1, respectively. The catalyst was recovered using an external magnet and reused several times with negligible loss of catalytic activity. The as‐synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible, Fourier transform infrared and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopies, dynamic light scattering and vibrating sample magnetometry.     

Gd2O3:Yb3+,Nd3+,Tm3+/SiO2/Ag纳米复合材料的合成及上转换发光性质

通过多步骤的化学法合成了Gd₂O₃：Yb³⁺,Nd³⁺,Tm³⁺/SiO₂/Ag纳米复合材料。利用XRD,TEM,EDS,XPS,CLSM等方法对样品进行表征。实验结果表明,具有低声子能、稳定的化学性质的Gd₂O₃作为上转换发光的基质,当掺杂的敏化剂Nd³⁺离子浓度为1.0%（n/n）,激活剂离子Tm³⁺浓度为0.5%（n/n）时,上转换发光强度达到最大值。此外,表面吸附的Ag纳米颗粒,由于表面等离激元共振耦合作用,使得上转换发光蓝光波段的强度增强1.70倍。     

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole by stable hierarchical Fe2O3/Co3O4 heterojunction on nickel foam

A facile approach was successfully employed to prepare Fe₂O₃/Co₃O₄ nanosheet arrays on nickel foams (Fe₂O₃/Co₃O₄@NF), which owned such advantages as narrow band gap energies and high separation rate of photoexcited electron-hole pairs. The combination of Fe₂O₃ and Co₃O₄ dramatically enhanced the photocatalytic activity towards sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) degradation, with the highest catalytic efficiency of k = 0.0538 min⁻¹, which was much higher than that of Fe₂O₃@NF (0.0098 min⁻¹) and Co₃O₄@NF (0.0094 min⁻¹). The introduction of Ni foam could not only act as the support to anchor photocatalyst, but also work as the electron mediator to promote the transition of electron-hole pairs. Reactive species trapping experiments combined with electron paramagnetic resonance analysis confirmed ^•O₂⁻ was primarily responsible for SMZ degradation. Furthermore, Fe₂O₃/Co₃O₄@NF was effective and almost unaffected by inorganic cations and anions in aqueous solution. This study could provide a facile and promising path for the construction of self-supported metal oxide-based heterojunction with high efficiency and strong stability.     

Green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/Fe3O4/Ag ternary nanohybrid and its application as magnetically recoverable catalyst in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol

Materials having both magnetic and catalytic properties have shown great potential for practical applications. Here, a reduced graphene oxide/iron oxide/silver nanohybrid (rGO/Fe₃O₄/Ag NH) ternary material was prepared by green synthesis of Ag on pre‐synthesized rGO/Fe₃O₄. The as‐prepared rGO/Fe₃O₄/Ag NH was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, transmission electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. rGO sheets were covered with Fe₃O₄ (8–16 nm) and Ag (18–40 nm) nanoparticles at high densities. The mass percentages were 13.47% (rGO), 62.52% (Fe₃O₄) and 24.01% (Ag). rGO/Fe₃O₄/Ag NH exhibited superparamagnetic behavior with high saturated magnetization (29 emu g⁻¹ at 12 kOe), and efficiently catalyzed the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) with a rate constant of 0.37 min⁻¹, comparable to those of Ag‐based nanocatalysts. The half‐life of 4‐NP in the presence of rGO/Fe₃O₄/Ag NH was ca 1.86 min. rGO/Fe₃O₄/Ag NH could be magnetically collected and reused, and retained a high conversion efficiency of 94.4% after the fourth cycle. rGO/Fe₃O₄/Ag NH could potentially be used as a magnetically recoverable catalyst in the reduction of 4‐NP and environmental remediation.     

Gd2O3:Yb3+,Nd3+,Tm3+/SiO2/Ag纳米复合材料的合成及上转换发光性质

通过多步骤的化学法合成了Gd_2O_3:Yb~(3+),Nd~(3+),Tm~(3+)/SiO_2/Ag纳米复合材料。利用XRD,TEM,EDS,XPS,CLSM等方法对样品进行表征。实验结果表明,具有低声子能、稳定的化学性质的Gd2O3作为上转换发光的基质,当掺杂的敏化剂Nd3+离子浓度为1.0%(n/n),激活剂离子Tm3+浓度为0.5%(n/n)时,上转换发光强度达到最大值。此外,表面吸附的Ag纳米颗粒,由于表面等离激元共振耦合作用,使得上转换发光蓝光波段的强度增强1.70倍。     

Synthesis and catalytic evaluation of Fe3O4/MWCNTs nanozyme as recyclable peroxidase mimetics: Biochemical and physicochemical characterization

In this research, the nanocomposite of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and magnetic metal oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/MWCNTs), as enzyme mimetic, was synthesized using an in situ chemical reduction method. The structure, composition and morphology of the prepared Fe₃O₄/MWCNT nanocomposite materials were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, FT‐IR and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, respectively. The magnetic properties of the nanocomposite were investigated by the vibrating sample magnetometer. A colorimetric system involving nanozyme, phenol/4‐aminoantipyrine and H₂O₂ was utilized for the determination of peroxidase mimetic catalytic assay. The obtained results confirmed that the synthesis of Fe₃O₄/MWCNTs nanostructures was successful. It was found that Fe₃O₄/MWCNTs nanohybrid exhibited peroxidase‐like activity without any pH limitation. Colorimetric data demonstrated that the prepared nanocatalyst had higher catalytic activity toward H₂O₂ than MWCNTs. The kinetic parameters of the nanozyme, K_m and V_max, were estimated to be 8.3 mm and 1.4 mm min^?1, respectively. The Fe₃O₄/MWCNTs nanostructures were also successfully applied for glucose detection. In addition, peroxidase‐like activity of the nanozyme increased in the presence of butyl‐imidazolium bromide ionic liquid. These biomimetic catalysts have some advantages, such as simplicity, stability, reusability and cost effectiveness, which makes them great candidates to be used in various fields of biotechnology applications.     

Application of ZnO‐Al2O3 Nanocomposite as Nanocatalyst for Photodegradation of Acid Violet 5B

ZnO‐Al₂O₃ nanocomposite (ZANC) is used as nanocatalyst for photodegradation of acid violet 5B (AV5B) as an industrial dye. The experimental data shows that the degradation of AV5B is accelerated by ZANC and UV light. The effects of various parameters such as pH, hydrogen peroxide and ethanol are investigated on the photodegradation efficiency. Photocatalytic degradation rate of AV5B is increased by ethanol and hydrogen peroxide. Based on the kinetic studies, the rate constant of the photodegradation reaction is estimated 2.829 × 10^‐1 min^‐1.     

Photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination of organic dyes over g-C3N4/MgAl2O4 nanocomposite

Using a grinding method, nanocomposites of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and magnesium aluminate (MgAl₂O₄) spinel were successfully synthesized for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). Variously formulated g-C₃N₄/MgAl₂O₄ nanocomposites were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and surface area and micropore analysis (BET surface area). The g-C₃N₄ powder exhibited a nanosheet structure whereas the MgAl₂O₄ spinel comprised agglomerated nanoparticles. The optical properties of the g-C₃N₄/MgAl₂O₄ nanocomposites were investigated by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). As the g-C₃N₄ loading content increased from 0 to 30%, the optical band gap energy of the nanocomposite decreased from 3.84 to 2.86 eV, the specific surface area decreased from 153.78 to 114.45 m²/g, and the porosity decreased from 0.447 to 0.347 cm³/g. A 20%g-C₃N₄/MgAl₂O₄ nanocomposite proved to be the most effective photocatalyst and degraded MB faster and more completely than MO. The degradation rates of both MO (0.0107 min^?1) and MB (0.0386 min^?1) in a mixed MO-MB system were greater than the degradation rates in their single systems. The key factor that improved the photocatalytic degradation of MO was the synergistic effect whereas the synergistic effect and photosensitization were the key factors that enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of MB. The g-C₃N₄/MgAl₂O₄ nanocomposite is suitable for the photocatalytic degradation of mixed dyes because its point of zero charge is neutral and it is stable and recyclable.     

Investigation of photocatalytic chlorpyrifos degradation by a new silica mesoporous material immobilized by WS2 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles: Application of response surface methodology

In the present research, Fe₃O₄ and WS₂ nanoparticles immobilized on or in KIT-6 (KIT: Korea Institute of Science and Technology) pores (KIT-6/WS₂-Fe₃O₄) were synthesized and studied as a photocatalyst for degradation of representative chlorpyrifos as an organophosphorus pesticide. In addition, the KIT-6/WS₂-Fe₃O₄ photocatalyst was characterized by different methods such as TEM, FESEM-EDS-Mapping, XRD, and N₂ adsorption/desorption surface area, in order to understand their morphology, structural, and physical properties. The photocatalytic performance of this photocatalyst was investigated for degradation of chlorpyrifos by visible light irritation. The effects of variables such as chlorpyrifos concentration, KIT-6/WS₂-Fe₃O₄ nanocatalyst amount, pH, and irradiation time on chlorpyrifos degradation efficiency was studied by central composite design with response surface methodology. The optimum conditions for CP degradation were obtained by 50 mg KIT-6/WS₂-Fe₃O₄ nanocatalyst, and 7.2 ppm chlorpyrifos solution with pH = 6, at 52 min. The pseudo-first-order model with rate constants equal to 0.069 min⁻¹ as best choice efficiency described the chlorpyrifos degradation process according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic.     

Straightforward Synthesis of Mn3O4/ZnO/Eu2O3-Based Ternary Heterostructure Nano-Photocatalyst and Its Application for the Photodegradation of Methyl Orange and Methylene Blue Dyes

Zinc oxide-ternary heterostructure Mn₃O₄/ZnO/Eu₂O₃ nanocomposites were successfully prepared via waste curd as fuel by a facile one-pot combustion procedure. The fabricated heterostructures were characterized utilizing XRD, UV–Visible, FT-IR, FE-SEM, HRTEM and EDX analysis. The photocatalytic degradation efficacy of the synthesized ternary nanocomposite was evaluated utilizing model organic pollutants of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) in water as examples of cationic dyes and anionic dyes, respectively, under natural solar irradiation. The effect of various experimental factors, viz. the effect of a light source, catalyst dosage, irradiation time, pH of dye solution and dye concentration on the photodegradation activity, was systematically studied. The ternary Mn₃O₄/ZnO/Eu₂O₃ photocatalyst exhibited excellent MB and MO degradation activity of 98% and 96%, respectively, at 150 min under natural sunlight irradiation. Experiments further conclude that the fabricated nanocomposite exhibits pH-dependent photocatalytic efficacy, and for best results, concentrations of dye and catalysts have to be maintained in a specific range. The prepared photocatalysts are exemplary and could be employed for wastewater handling and several ecological applications.     

Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-Derived Electron-Transfer Enhanced Homogeneous PdO-Rich Co3O4 as a Highly Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis and 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

Developing a bifunctional catalyst with low cost and high catalytic performance in NaBH₄ hydrolysis for H₂ generation and selective reduction of nitroaromatics will make a significant impact in the field of sustainable energy and water purification. Herein, a low-loading homogeneously dispersed Pd oxide-rich Co₃O₄ polyhedral catalyst (PdO-Co₃O₄) with concave structure is reported by using a metal–organic framework (MOF)-templated synthesis method. The results show that the PdO-Co₃O₄ catalyst has an exceptional turnover frequency (3325.6 mol_H2 min⁻¹ mol_Pd⁻¹), low activation energy (43.2 kJ mol⁻¹), and reasonable reusability in catalytic H₂ generation from NaBH₄ hydrolysis. Moreover, the optimized catalyst also shows excellent catalytic performance in the NaBH₄ selective reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminiphenol with a high first-order reaction rate of approximately 1.31 min⁻¹. These excellent catalytic properties are mainly ascribed to the porous concave structure, monodispersed Pd oxide, as well as the unique synergy between PdO and Co₃O₄ species, which result in a large specific surface area, high conductivity, and fast solute transport and gas emissions.     

Magnetic retrievable Ag/AgBr/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst for efficient removal of organic pollutant under visible light

In the present work, a visible-light-driven Ag/AgBr/ZnFe₂O₄ photocatalyst has been successfully synthesized via a deposition–precipitation and photoreduction method. The crystal structure, chemical composition, morphology and optical properties of the as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescence. The photocatalytic activities of the Ag/AgBr/ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites were evaluated through the photodegradation of gaseous toluene and methyl orange (MO) under visible light. The results revealed that the as-prepared Ag/AgBr/ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity. The degrading efficiency of MO could still reach 90% after four cycles, and the Ag/AgBr/ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite could be recycled easily by a magnet. Additionally, the enhanced photocatalytic mechanism was discussed according to the trapping experiments, which indicated that the photo-generated holes (h⁺) and •O₂⁻ played important roles in photodegradation process. At last, a possible photocatalytic oxidation pathways of toluene was proposed based on the results of GC–MS. The Ag/AgBr/ZnFe₂O₄ composites showed potential application for efficient removal of organic pollutant.     

MWNT/C/Mg1.03Mn0.97SiO4 hierarchical nanostructure for superior reversible magnesium ion storage

We first design and synthesize a MWNT/C/Mg_1.03Mn_0.97SiO₄ hierarchical nanostructure composed of MWNTs pinning the surface of the Mg_1.03Mn_0.97SiO₄ nanoparticles, with simultaneous tethering to Mg_1.03Mn_0.97SiO₄ particles via an interfacial amorphous carbon phase bonding, through a facile CVD method. It is further demonstrated that the nanocomposite exhibits a reversible capacity as high as 300 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 C and a stable cycling performance at 0.5 C when utilized as a cathode material for rechargeable magnesium batteries.     

Experimental study and thermodynamic analysis on the selective oxidation of DP1180 dual-phase steel

The selective oxidation process of dual-phase 1180 steel was investigated in this study. Annealing was carried out in Cr/Cr₂O₃ Rhines pack at 820°C for 60, 120, and 240 s, under the oxygen partial pressures of 10⁻²³, 10⁻²⁵, and 10⁻²⁹ atm, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze the experimental results. The oxides involved SiO₂, MnO, MnSiO₃, Mn₂SiO₄, and MnCr₂O₄. The amount of oxides augmented along with the increasing oxygen partial pressure. The Fe–Mn–Cr–Si–C–O₂ oxidation diagram was calculated by thermodynamic software and was used to explain the selective oxidation process of dual-phase 1180 steel. Experimental results combined with the thermodynamic computations well.     

Synthesis of Fe3O4\SiO2\Ag nanoparticles and its application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

To obtain a recyclable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) material, we developed a composite of Fe₃O₄\SiO₂\Ag with core\shell\particles structure. The designed particles were synthesized via an ultrasonic route. The Raman scattering signal of Fe₃O₄ could be shielded by increasing the thickness of the SiO₂ layer to 60 nm. Dye rhodamine B (RB) was chosen as probe molecule to test the SERS effect of the synthesized Fe₃O₄\SiO₂\Ag particles. On the synthesized Fe₃O₄\SiO₂\Ag particles, the characteristic Raman bands of RB could be observed when the RB solution was diluted to 5 ppm (1×10⁻⁵ M). Furthermore, the synthesized particles could keep their efficiency till four cycles.     

CoFe2O4/TMU‐17‐NH2 as a hybrid magnetic nanocomposite catalyst for multicomponent synthesis of dihydropyrimidines

A new magnetic metal–organic framework nanocomposite (CoFe₂O₄/TMU‐17‐NH₂) was prepared via an embedding approach by synthesis of the metal–organic framework crystals in the presence of magnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. We demonstrated that the resulting magnetic nanocomposite can serve as a recyclable nanocatalyst for one‐pot synthesis of bis‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one and 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one derivatives via three‐component reaction of 1,3‐diketone, urea or thiourea and aromatic aldehyde under solvent‐free conditions. CoFe₂O₄/TMU‐17‐NH₂ was characterized using various techniques. The recovery of the nanocomposite was achieved by a simple magnetic decantation and it was reused at least seven times without significant degradation in catalytic activity.     

Preparation of magnetic Fe3O4/TiO2/Ag composite microspheres with enhanced photocatalytic activity

The novel three-component Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/Ag composite mircospheres were prepared via a facile chemical deposition route. The Fe₃O₄/TiO₂ mircospheres were first prepared by the solvothermal method, and then Ag nanoparticles were anchored onto the out-layer of TiO₂ by the tyrosine-reduced method. The as-prepared magnetic Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/Ag composite mircospheres were applied as photocatalysis for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The results indicate that the photocatalytic activity of Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/Ag composite microspheres is superior to that of Fe₃O₄/TiO₂ due to the dual effects of the enhanced light absorption and reduction of photoelectron–hole pair recombination in TiO₂ with the introduction of Ag NPs. Moreover, these magnetic Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/Ag composite microspheres can be completely removed from the dispersion with the help of magnetic separation and reused with little or no loss of catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of KIT-5 decorated by Bi2S3-Fe3O4 photocatalyst for degradation of parathion pesticide in aqueous media: Offering a degradation model and optimization using response surface methodology (RSM)

In this research, a novel KIT-5/Bi₂S₃-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was prepared. The structure and morphology properties of the nanocomposite were well characterized by XRD, FESEM-EDS-mapping, TEM, and N₂ adsorption–desorption. Benefiting from the visible light, the as-prepared KIT-5/Bi₂S₃-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite exhibit significantly improved photocatalytic performance for the degradation of parathion. The optimum photocatalytic efficiency of KIT-5/Bi₂S₃-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was investigated with the central composite design using Design Expert software. The four critical variables affecting parathion degradation such as the concentration of parathion, pH, irradiation time, and amount of KIT-5/Bi₂S₃-Fe₃O₄ nanocatalyst. A polynomial function corresponding to degradation percent was obtained for the experimental data. The results showed that this catalyst has a good performance for the degradation of parathion.