Nanotheranostic fabrication of iron oxide for rapid photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and antifungal potential

This research work includes the fabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃ NPs) by green construction approach using Wisteria sinensis leaves extract. Due to its eco-friendly approach, the synthesis of iron oxide NPs (Fe₂O₃ NPs) using various plant sources, such as plant parts, and microbial cells have gained a lot of attention in recent years. Cost-effectiveness and ease of availability make Wisteria sinensis leaves extract a potential candidate for the construction of iron oxide NPs. The various key features like biocompatibility, non-toxicity capping, and stabilizing agents present in biological sources are advantageous for usage in a variety of applications. The phytoconstituents present in the leaf extract of Wisteria sinensis serve as reducing and stabilizing agents. The biologically fabricated (Fe₂O₃ NPs) were analyzed using FT-IR, XRD, UV–vis spectroscopy, and SEM. In the present work, the antioxidant and photocatalytic dye degradation efficiency of Fe₂O₃ NPs has been studied. The dye degradation efficiency of methylene blue dye was found to be 87% at 180 min upon exposure to sunlight. The capacity of Fe₂O₃ NPs to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate free radicals (DPPH) was examined using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The study compared the radical scavenging activity (RSA) of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) with that of the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid. The results demonstrated that Fe₂O₃ NPs have a greater ability to scavenge radicals than ascorbic acid. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Fe₂O₃ NPs was observed to range from 0.12 to 0.17. Furthermore, Fe₂O₃ NPs displayed the highest antifungal activity, with an inhibition zone of 26.8 mm against F. oxysporum. These findings suggest that the biologically synthesized Fe₂O₃ NPs possess potent antimicrobial and dye degradation properties.     

纳米氧化锌光催化降解有机染料性能的研究

用自制的纳米ZnO在室外阴天、太阳光照射、室内紫外灯照射等条件下对不同有机染料的降解性能作了系统的研究。结果表明纳米ZnO在太阳光照射条件下对弱碱性有机染料溶液的降解效果较好。本文还比较了自制纳米ZnO与纳米TiO2对有机染料的降解性能，结果表明ZnO的降解效果优于TiO2。     

Aspect-ratio-dependent photoinduced antimicrobial and photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation efficiency of ZnO nanorods

The photo-antimicrobial and photocatalytic performance of ZnO nanorods as a function of aspect ratio are presented. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized ZnO nanorod samples against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively) was determined by shake flask method with respect to time. ZnO nanorods with high aspect ratio showed superior antimicrobial and photocatalytic activity. These results are supported by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) studies. Degradation of methylene blue dye as model organic pollutant was used to assess their photocatalytic activity. Pseudo-first-order rate kinetics was used to calculate the photocatalytic reaction rate constant. The mechanisms for both antimicrobial and photocatalytic activity are elucidated.     

Hematite-based nanomaterials for photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs): A short review

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Synthesis of ZnO microcrystals and their photocatalytic ability in the degradation of textile azo dyes

Flower and broken sheet-like zinc oxide (ZnO) microcrystals have been prepared via a thermal decomposition process, using Zn₅(CO₃)₂(OH)₆ as the precursor in the presence of glycerol at 300 and 600 °C. The ZnO products were examined as a photocatalyst for the UV-induced degradation of Yellow 181 and Red 245 (textile azo dyes) in water solution. The applicability of the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic equation revealed that the degradation of dyes occurred mainly on the surface of the photocatalyst.     

Fe2O3/ZnO/ZnFe2O4 composites for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under visible light

In this study, novel ternary Fe₂O₃/ZnO/ZnFe₂O₄ (ZFO) composites were successfully prepared through a simple hydrothermal reaction with subsequent thermal treatment. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) measurement, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS). The photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (Rh B) under visible light irradiation indicated that the ZFO composites calcined at 500 °C has the best photocatalytic activity (the photocatalytic degradation efficiency can reach up to 95.7% within 60 min) and can maintain a stable photocatalytic degradation efficiency for at least three cycles. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of ZFO composites toward dye decomposition follows the order cationic Rh B > anionic methyl orange. Finally, using different scavengers, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were identified as the primary active species during the degradation reaction of Rh B.     

Synthesis of organic one-dimensional nanomaterials by solid-phase reaction

The synthesis of anthracene (AN) nanowires and perylene (PY) nanorods on the basis of solid-phase organic reactions under controlled conditions is discussed, and the structures are confirmed by SEM, TEM, and XRD. The dimension-dependent emission properties of the AN nanowires and PY nanorods is observed. This approach is expected to form a new general route for the controlled morphosynthesis of organic molecular materials in restricted dimensions, with controlled size and shape, the solid-state physical properties of which are of great interest. It should have outstanding potential in providing customized 1D nanomaterials for a broad range of applications for molecule devices and nanoscience and is expected to be applicable other functionalized nanomaterials (i.e., organic, inorganic, and polymer).     

Nanostructured SnO2-ZnO heterojunction photocatalysts showing enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes

Nanoporous SnO(2)-ZnO heterojunction nanocatalyst was prepared by a straightforward two-step procedure involving, first, the synthesis of nanosized SnO(2) particles by homogeneous precipitation combined with a hydrothermal treatment and, second, the reaction of the as-prepared SnO(2) particles with zinc acetate followed by calcination at 500 °C. The resulting nanocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption-desorption analyses, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The SnO(2)-ZnO photocatalyst was made of a mesoporous network of aggregated wurtzite ZnO and cassiterite SnO(2) nanocrystallites, the size of which was estimated to be 27 and 4.5 nm, respectively, after calcination. According to UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the evident energy band gap value of the SnO(2)-ZnO photocatalyst was estimated to be 3.23 eV to be compared with those of pure SnO(2), that is, 3.7 eV, and ZnO, that is, 3.2 eV, analogues. The energy band diagram of the SnO(2)-ZnO heterostructure was directly determined by combining XPS and the energy band gap values. The valence band and conduction band offsets were calculated to be 0.70 ± 0.05 eV and 0.20 ± 0.05 eV, respectively, which revealed a type-II band alignment. Moreover, the heterostructure SnO(2)-ZnO photocatalyst showed much higher photocatalytic activities for the degradation of methylene blue than those of individual SnO(2) and ZnO nanomaterials. This behavior was rationalized in terms of better charge separation and the suppression of charge recombination in the SnO(2)-ZnO photocatalyst because of the energy difference between the conduction band edges of SnO(2) and ZnO as evidenced by the band alignment determination. Finally, this mesoporous SnO(2)-ZnO heterojunction nanocatalyst was stable and could be easily recycled several times opening new avenues for potential industrial applications.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activities of ZnO thin films: a comparative study of hybrid semiconductor nanomaterials

Nanostructure single ZnO, SnO₂, In₂O₃ and composite ZnO/SnO₂, ZnO/In₂O₃ and ZnO/SnO₂/In₂O₃ films were prepared using sol?Cgel method. The obtained composite films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV?CVis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of composite films were investigated using phenol (P), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 4-aminophenol (4-AP) as a model organic compounds under UV light irradiation. Hybrid semiconductor thin films showed a higher photocatalytic activity than single component ZnO, SnO₂ and In₂O₃ films. The substituted phenols degrade faster than phenol. The ease of degradation of phenols is different for each catalyst and the order of catalytic efficiency is also different for each phenol. The use of multiple components offered a higher control of their properties by varying the composition of the materials and related parameters such as morphology and interface. It was also found that the photocatalytic degradation of phenolic compounds on the composite films and single films followed pseudo-first order kinetics.     

In-situ oxidative polymerization of aniline on hydrothermally synthesized MoSe2 for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

In this paper, we report synthesis of MoSe₂-polyaniline by in-situ polymerization method. Simple and eco-friendly hydrothermal technique is used for the synthesis of MoSe₂. Sample characterizations were done using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV–vis Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy. Photocatalytic dye degradation was performed using nanocomposite on Methylene blue (MB) and Methyl orange (MO). Photocatalytic degradation efficiency (?) was found to be ～65% and ～94% for MB and MO, respectively. Reaction kinetics were studied and fitted well with pseudo first order model because of the mesoporous structure of polyaniline (PANI). Material reusability and regenerability was also checked for number of cycles.     

Preparation of Er3+:YAlO3/Fe-doped ZnO composite and investigation on solar light photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

The Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Fe-doped ZnO composite, a new photocatalyst which could effectively utilize visible light, was prepared. In succession, the Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Fe-doped ZnO was characterized by XRD and SEM, respectively. Acid Red B dyes, was degraded under solar light irradiation to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Fe-doped ZnO. In addition, the effects of Er³⁺:YAlO₃ content, heat-treatment temperature and time on the photocatalytic activity of Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Fe-doped ZnO were reviewed. Otherwise, the effect of initial dye concentration, Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Fe-doped ZnO amount and solar light irradiation time on the photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red B were also investigated. It was found that the photocatalytic activity of Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Fe-doped ZnO is much higher than that of Fe-doped ZnO and pure ZnO for the similar system. Perhaps, the use of the Er³⁺:YAlO₃/Fe-doped ZnO may provide a new way to take advantage of ZnO in sewage treatment aspects using solar energy.     

一维有机微纳米光功能材料研究进展

近年来,一维有机小分子微纳材料因为其新颖的光学性能和在未来小型化器件中的广泛应用,受到了人们越来越多的关注.相比于传统无机半导体材料,有机小分子材料具有结构多样性、功能可设计性、易大量制备、易机械加工等显著优势.本文将从一维有机小分子纳米材料的制备方法、形貌调控、光学性能(如光波导、受激发射、电致发光等),及其在光学器件上的应用出发,对近十年来的相关研究进展及成果进行总结和介绍.     

用于去除有机染料的分级结构ZnO微球的简便合成

以六亚甲基四胺(HMTA)为结构导向剂,采用乙二醇辅助的溶剂热法制备了均匀分散的纳米片组装的三维分级结构ZnO微米球。可控实验证明,HMTA和溶剂在分级结构微米球的形成中起重要作用。通过二维纳米片组装来构建三维分级结构,不仅增加了产品的比表面积,而且还建立了更多的电荷传输通道。在暗室下,该样品可作为吸附剂去除水溶液中的一些有机染料。吸附结果表明,纳米片组装的分级结构ZnO微球对阴离子染料具有良好的去除率和选择性。特殊的分级结构、较大的比表面积和静电引力的协同作用,使ZnO微球对代表性染料刚果红(CR)经过5次循环吸附后的去除率仍可达95.67%。动力学研究证实,CR在ZnO微球上的吸附为物理吸附,符合准二级动力学和Langmuir等温线模型。     

用于去除有机染料的分级结构ZnO微球的简便合成

以六亚甲基四胺(HMTA)为结构导向剂,采用乙二醇辅助的溶剂热法制备了均匀分散的纳米片组装的三维分级结构ZnO微米球。可控实验证明,HMTA和溶剂在分级结构微米球的形成中起重要作用。通过二维纳米片组装来构建三维分级结构,不仅增加了产品的比表面积,而且还建立了更多的电荷传输通道。在暗室下,该样品可作为吸附剂去除水溶液中的一些有机染料。吸附结果表明,纳米片组装的分级结构ZnO微球对阴离子染料具有良好的去除率和选择性。特殊的分级结构、较大的比表面积和静电引力的协同作用,使ZnO微球对代表性染料刚果红(CR)经过5次循环吸附后的去除率仍可达95.67%。动力学研究证实,CR在ZnO微球上的吸附为物理吸附,符合准二级动力学和Langmuir等温线模型。     

用于去除有机染料的分级结构ZnO微球的简便合成

以六亚甲基四胺(HMTA)为结构导向剂,采用乙二醇辅助的溶剂热法制备了均匀分散的纳米片组装的三维分级结构ZnO微米球。可控实验证明,HMTA和溶剂在分级结构微米球的形成中起重要作用。通过二维纳米片组装来构建三维分级结构,不仅增加了产品的比表面积,而且还建立了更多的电荷传输通道。在暗室下,该样品可作为吸附剂去除水溶液中的一些有机染料。吸附结果表明,纳米片组装的分级结构ZnO微球对阴离子染料具有良好的去除率和选择性。特殊的分级结构、较大的比表面积和静电引力的协同作用,使ZnO微球对代表性染料刚果红(CR)经过5次循环吸附后的去除率仍可达95.67%。动力学研究证实,CR在ZnO微球上的吸附为物理吸附,符合准二级动力学和Langmuir等温线模型。     

Syntheses,structures and photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes for two isostructural copper coordination polymers involving in situ hydroxylation reaction

Two copper(II) coordination polymers, {[Cu₂(btre)(hsuc)Cl(H₂O)]·1.5H₂O}_n (1) and {[Cu₂(btre)(hsuc)Br(H₂O)]·1.5H₂O}_n (2) (btre = 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethane, H₃hsuc = 2-hydroxysuccinic acid), were synthesized by the hydrothermal method via in situ hydroxylation reaction with fumarate (fum), btre and CuCl₂/CuBr₂, and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, TG and X-ray diffraction. 1 and 2 are isostructural and show a 4-connected 2-D network based on [Cu₂O] dimers. 1 and 2 show good photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes methylene blue and methyl orange under UV light irradiation.     

Electrospun Pd-doped ZnO nanofibers for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Pure and Pd-doped ZnO nanofibers were synthesized via an electrospinning technique, in which polyvinylpyrrolidone was used as the fiber template, zinc acetate/palladium chloride as the precursors, and a mixture of ethanol/acid acetate/water at ratio of 8:5:2 (v/v/v) as the co-solvent. The electrospun fibers were calcined at 600 °C in air for 2 h and characterized by various methods. The photocatalytic activity of the pure and Pd-doped ZnO nanofibers was studied through the photodegradation of methylene blue. Comparing to the pure ZnO nanofibers, the Pd-doped catalysts showed a much enhanced photodegradation efficiency. The possible mechanism was also discussed.     

Magnetically separable ZnO/ZnFe2O4 and ZnO/CoFe2O4 photocatalysts supported onto nitrogen doped graphene for photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) counting heterogeneous photocatalysis has confirmed as one of the preeminent method for waste water remediation. In the present work, we have successfully fabricated novel visible-light-driven nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) supported magnetic ZnO/ZnFe₂O₄ (ZnO/ZF/NG) and ZnO/CoFe₂O₄ (ZnO/CF/NG) nanocomposites. ZnO synthesized via direct precipitation method. Hydrothermal method was used for the preparation of nitrogen-doped graphene supported magnetic ZnO/ZF (ZnO/ZnFe₂O₄) and ZnO/CF (ZnO/CoFe₂O₄) nanocomposites. The procured materials were scrutinized by assorted characterizations to acquire information on their chemical composition, crystalline structure and photosensitive properties. The absorption and photocatalytic performance of photocatalysts were studied via UV–Visible spectra. Photodegradation performance of the synthesized nanocomposites was estimated toward mineralization of methyl orange (MO) and malachite green (MG) dyes in aqueous solution. The high surface area of ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG was suitable for adsorptive removal of MO and MG dyes. The photodegradation performance of heterojunction photocatalysts was superior to bare photocatalyst in 140 min under visible-light irradiation. Spectrophotometer, GC–MS (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) elucidation was carried out to expose the possible intermediates formed. Both ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG were rapidly isolated from the aqueous phase by applying an external magnetic field in 20 sec and 2 min, respectively. The photocatalytic performance and stability of ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG nanocomposites were confirmed by conducting 10 consecutive regeneration cycles. Owing to recyclability of ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG, these heterogeneous nanocomposites might be used as cost-effective for treatment of discarded water. The observations endorse that the synthesized ternary heterogeneous nanocomposites facilitates wastewater decontamination using photocatalytic technology.