Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Suma Das, Avijit Chowdhury
Summary: Heterogeneous photocatalysis using advanced oxidation processes has a wide range of applications in water purification and environmental remediation. One promising material for this purpose is graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a metal-free polymer with excellent structural and physicochemical properties. However, challenges such as high recombination rate of electron-hole pairs, smaller specific surface area, and lower electrical conductivity limit the catalytic efficacy of g-C3N4. To overcome these challenges, magnetic nanocomposites (NCs) have been used to enhance the efficiency and reusability of the catalyst. This review summarizes the latest progress in the design and development of magnetic g-C3N4-based NCs and their applications in photocatalytic systems.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Bojana Simovic, Zeljko Radovanovic, Goran Brankovic, Aleksandra Dapcevic
Summary: In this study, the optimal CeO2 content in ZnO powders was determined to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO. The hydrothermally synthesized ZnO and CeO2/ZnO nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques. It was found that CeO2 nanoparticles with a large surface area were distributed onto the ZnO surface and the ZnO exhibited a unique 3D morphology. The nanocomposite with 5 mol% CeO2 showed significantly improved photocatalytic efficiency compared to other samples. The kinetics and mechanism of photocatalytic degradation were also proposed based on the experimental results.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shahid Iqbal, Naveed Ahmad, Mohsin Javed, Muhammad Azam Qamar, Ali Bahadur, Shahid Ali, Zahoor Ahmad, Rana Muhammad Irfan, Guocong Liu, Muhammad Bilal Akbar, Muhammad Abdul Qayyum
Summary: In this study, a series of ternary composites were synthesized by integrating 7% silver-mixed ZnO nanoparticles with sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride in different proportions. The unique ternary composite between Ag/ZnO and S-g-C3N4 was found to generate a large number of catalytic active sites for photocatalytic degradation. The synergistic effects of the ternary composite enhanced photocatalytic activity and demonstrated successful photo-corrosion resistance.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Seyed Morteza Hosseini-Hosseinabad, Sara Minaeian, Ahmad Tavakoli, Milad Sabaei, Mojtaba Yousefi Zoshk, Reza Laripour, Samira Ramezani, Mohsen Hoseini, Mohsen Chamanara
Summary: Photocatalytic antibacterial coats, such as the g-C3N4/ZnO nanocomposite coating introduced in this study, offer a durable solution to bacterial contamination of fabrics. The CNZ nanopowders were synthesized and directly coated onto cotton fabric using a thermal synthesis process and sonication technique. The CNZ-coated fabric exhibited significant photocatalytic antibacterial activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, even after multiple washing cycles.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chuanfeng Zang, Hao Chen, Xiangye Han, Wei Zhang, Junfang Wu, Fanghua Liang, Jiamu Dai, Hongchao Liu, Guangyu Zhang, Ke-Qin Zhang, Mingzheng Ge
Summary: PVDF/ZnO/CuS photocatalysts with ZnO/CuS heterojunctions were synthesized, which showed improved visible-light photocatalytic efficiency and excellent recyclability.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Na Mao
Summary: In this study, poly[(pyrene-1,3,6,8-yl)-phenyl-1,4-yl)-tri-phen] (PPyPP) loaded g-C3N4 nanocomposites were synthesized by one-step in situ thermal condensation method. The composites were characterized and compared to pure g-C3N4. The results showed that PPyPP/g-C3N4 composites exhibited significantly improved H-2 evolution rate (HER) and degradation of neutral red (NR) under visible light irradiation, due to the formation of a polymer heterojunction and effective charge transfer between PPyPP and g-C3N4.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoqian Ai, Shun Yan, Chao Lin, Kehong Lu, Yujie Chen, Ligang Ma
Summary: CeO2@ZnO nanocomposites were prepared by pyrolyzing Ce@Zn metal-organic frameworks, which showed improved photocatalytic performance due to the formation of a nanoheterojunction structure. The effects of the Zn:Ce ratio on the microstructure, morphology, and optical properties of the nanocomposites were studied. The prepared photocatalysts exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than previously reported CeO2@ZnO nanocomposites, suggesting their potential in environmental remediation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Laura-Madalina Cursaru, Sorina Nicoleta Valsan, Maria-Eliza Puscasu, Ioan Albert Tudor, Nicoleta Zarnescu-Ivan, Bogdan Stefan Vasile, Roxana Mioara Piticescu
Summary: Carbon nanotubes and zinc oxide were combined using an in-situ hydrothermal method under high-pressure conditions to form complex nanocomposite structures. Analysis suggested possible interactions and formation of physical bonds between CNT and ZnO. The best ZnO:CNT composition showed potential as pastes for extrusion-based 3D printing.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ashmalina Rahman, Mohammad Mansoob Khan
Summary: Chalcogenides, as narrow-band gap semiconductors, are widely used as photocatalysts to efficiently absorb solar energy and generate e(-)/h(+) pairs under visible light irradiation. These pairs have been utilized for water splitting and pollutant degradation, showing remarkable photocatalytic activity enhancement. Future prospects for chalcogenides as photocatalysts and chalcogenide-based heterostructures were also discussed in the review.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shahid Iqbal, Ali Bahadur, Shahid Ali, Zahoor Ahmad, Mohsin Javed, Rana Muhammad Irfan, Naveed Ahmad, Muhammad Azam Qamar, Guocong Liu, Muhammad Bilal Akbar, Muhammad Nawaz
Summary: Integrating silver-decorated zinc oxide nanocomposites with sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride forms a unique heterostructure, leading to improved efficiency in photocatalytic degradation.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jian Song Gan, Xiao Bing Li, Umar Arif, Farman Ali, Amjad Ali, Fazal Raziq, Nisar Ali, Yong Yang, Zugang Wang
Summary: Industrial wastewater can lead to negative impacts on aquatic life and the environment, with organic dyes being a major source of pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to degrade organic dyes and their derivatives with heterogeneous photocatalysts before discharging them into wastewater. In this study, three different photocatalysts were synthesized using a low-cost material, melamine, and characterized by various electro-analytical techniques. The photocatalysts showed promising results in the degradation of organic dyes under UV light, with Ag-ZnO/C3N4 exhibiting the highest degradation efficiency for both Bromophenol Blue (BBP) and Methylene Blue (MB). Additionally, the effects of different parameters such as contact time, dye dose, photocatalyst dose, and pH were investigated.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nguyen Dac Dien, Pham Thi Thu Ha, Xuan Hoa Vu, Tran Thu Trang, Trinh Duc Thanh Giang, Nguyen Thi Dung
Summary: CuO/ZnO nanocomposites with different components were synthesized and exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance compared to pristine CuO or ZnO. The effect of the ZnO-to-CuO weight ratio on photocatalytic activity was examined, and it was found that the nanocomposite with a ratio of 4:6 showed the highest photodegradation activity for methylene blue. The photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and discussed, and the CuO/ZnO nanostructures were shown to be valuable for the degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solutions and environmental purification.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mu Xiao, Yalong Jiao, Bin Luo, Songcan Wang, Peng Chen, Miaoqiang Lyu, Aijun Du, Lianzhou Wang
Summary: Coupling graphitic carbon nitride (CN) with carbonaceous materials enhances photocatalytic performance by improving exciton dissociation and charge transfer. The enhanced light absorption from carbon has little contribution to H-2 evolution activity.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Wenjun Wang, Chengyun Zhou, Yang Yang, Guangming Zeng, Chen Zhang, Yin Zhou, Jingnan Yang, Danlian Huang, Han Wang, Weiping Xiong, Xiaopei Li, Yukui Fu, Ziwei Wang, Qingyun He, Meiying Jia, Hanzhuo Luo
Summary: This review summarizes the research on modified g-C3N4 photocatalysts for solar photocatalytic disinfection, providing insight into the prospects and challenges of using g-C3N4-based photocatalysts in environmental disinfection.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaodong Chen, Zhong-Tao Yang, Nannan Wang, Xin Gao, Gang Wang, Chunyu Song, Yunfeng Liu, Lifeng Cui
Summary: ZnO nanomaterials with stereochemical structure have attracted attention in photocatalytic materials research, but their sensitivity to UV light restricts their application; composites of ZnO with other nanomaterials can enhance photocatalytic activity. TiO2/ZnO cube nanocomposites and Ag/ZnO hollow spheres were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal reaction and chemical deposition, respectively, with the Ag/ZnO hollow spheres showing higher RhB degradation activity under visible light.
NANOTECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
K. Bhuvaneswari, G. Palanisamy, T. Pazhanivel, T. Maiyalagan, P. Shanmugam, Andrews Nirmala Grace
Summary: A Metal organic framework (MOF) supported layered triple hydroxide (LTH) 2D/2D hybrid material was prepared using a simple hydrothermal method, and its photophysical properties were analyzed through various methods. The degradation efficiency of the MOF-5/LTH hybrid sample was found to be significantly higher, attributed to enhanced visible light absorption and efficient separation and transportation of photoinduced electrons and holes.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Keiji Nagai, Mabrook S. Amer, Mohamed A. Ghanem, Rajabathar Jothi Ramalingam, Abdullah M. Al-Mayouf
Summary: The article mainly focuses on the application of heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysts in photoelectrochemical water splitting, emphasizing the different materials composing the photocatalysts and their significant impact on the device's conversion efficiency.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jimmy Nelson Appaturi, Rajabathar. Jothi Ramalingam, Muthu Kumaran Gnanamani, Govindasami Periyasami, Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Rohana Adnan, Farook Adam, Mohammed D. Wasmiah, Hamad A. Al-Lohedan
Summary: The review article focuses on the role of ionic liquid-modified hybrid materials in cycloaddition reactions, with a special emphasis on the synthesis of cyclic carbonates. Factors such as reaction temperature and CO2 partial pressure are found to play a key role in cyclic carbonate formation. Solvent effect is also discussed as an influential parameter in the conversion of cyclic/aromatic oxides to polycarbonates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mu. Naushad, Tansir Ahamad, Mohd Ubaidullah, Jahangeer Ahmed, Ayman A. Ghafar, Khalid M. Al-Sheetan, Prabhakarn Arunachalam
Summary: The study successfully fabricated cost effective nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) anchored in cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanocomposite, exhibiting high specific surface area and pore volume, showing good electrochemical performance, especially with high specific capacitance and energy density in KOH electrolyte.
JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
K. Karuppasamy, P. Santhoshkumar, Tassawar Hussain, Dhanasekaran Vikraman, Chang-Joo Yim, Sajjad Hussain, P. Shanmugam, Akram Alfantazi, Sivakumar Manickam, Hyun-Seok Kim
Summary: In this study, various morphologies of FeSe2 catalysts were synthesized through a wet chemical strategy, showing superior catalytic performance in degrading CR and MB dyes. The FeSe2 nanostructures demonstrate potential for efficient detoxification of wastewater.
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. G. Ramu, Ahmad Umar, Ahmed A. Ibrahim, Hassan Algadi, Yousif S. A. Ibrahim, Yao Wang, Marlia M. Hanafiah, P. Shanmugam, Dongjin Choi
Summary: A 2D-Porous NiO decorated graphene nanocomposite was synthesized to monitor the concentration of epinephrine, showing excellent electrochemical activity and high sensitivity, allowing for accurate detection in human biological fluids.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maged N. Shaddad, Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Mabrook S. Amer, Abdullah M. Al-Mayouf, Mahmoud Hezam, Haneen A. Aloraij, Sixto Gimenez
Summary: This study demonstrated the synergistic catalytic behavior of ZrO2 and cobalt phosphate on anodized TiO2 nanotubes, significantly enhancing the performance of visible-light-driven water splitting reactions. The addition of ZrO2/CoPi decorated TNTs improved the surface reaction kinetics, charge transfer efficiency, and photocurrent density, making it promising for developing solar fuel electrodes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Norah M. BinSaeedan, Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Abdullah M. Al-Mayouf, Maged N. Shaddad, Mabrook S. Amer, Abeer M. Beagan, Francisco Fabregat-Santiago, Juan Bisquert
Summary: This study focuses on the development of cost-efficient materials for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production, with the introduction of surface oxygen vacancies in mesoporous SnO2 electrodes proven to enhance their selectivity and performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Renathung C. Ngullie, Paramasivam Shanmugam, Mohamed H. Mahmoud, Usan Pathinathan Saleth Prabhakar, M. L. Aruna Kumari, M. Shaheer Akhtar
Summary: In this study, magnetic carbon aerogel composites were prepared by simple hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods, and their antibacterial and antifungal activity was investigated. The results showed that the synthesized composites exhibited significant inhibitory effects against various bacteria and fungi. Additionally, these composites also showed potential applications in energy storage devices, removal of toxic dyes and heavy metals, and catalysis in the pharmaceutical field.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Mabrook S. Amer, Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Abdulaziz M. Alsalman, Abdullah M. Al-Mayouf, Zeyad A. Almutairi, Saba A. Aladeemy, Mahmoud Hezam
Summary: The development of stable and cost-effective electrocatalysts for urea electro-oxidation reactions is crucial for promoting urea removal in wastewater treatment and advanced energy conversion devices. In this study, nickel-iron borate electrocatalysts supported on carbon paper were synthesized and characterized. The optimized catalyst showed superior activity in alkaline solution and outperformed traditional catalysts in terms of performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Haneen A. AlOraij, Mabrook S. Amer, Mahmoud Hezam, Maged N. Shaddad, Jagannathan Madhavan
Summary: In this study, controlled NiPi/TiO2 nanotube arrays were successfully fabricated, leading to enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting. The incorporation of NiPi nanoparticles on the TNTs surface improved charge separation, reduced carrier recombination, and enhanced water oxidation kinetics, resulting in significantly increased photocurrent density and photoconversion efficiencies.
JOURNAL OF SAUDI CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Saleh O. Alaswad, Amira S. Mahmoud, Prabhakarn Arunachalam
Summary: The rising significance and rapid progress of biopolymers, a distinctive class of polymeric materials, have been driven by their tunable electrical conductivity and biodegradability characteristics. This article discusses the recent advancements and applications of biodegradable polymers, with a focus on their use in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Mabrook S. Amer, Haneen A. AlOraij, Abdullah M. Al-Mayouf, Mahmoud Hezam, Matar Al-Shalwi
Summary: This study presents a facile approach to fabricate a composite electrode of titanium dioxide nanotubes decorated with silver phosphate nanoparticles. The fabricated electrode showed significantly enhanced photocurrent response and efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tony Augustine, S. Roy, J. Sahaya Vijay, Jain Maria Thomas, P. Shanmugam
Summary: Fullerenes are carbon allotropes that form polyhedral cages. Their chemical properties can be studied using their graph structure. Molecular descriptors play a significant role in analyzing molecular structures and conducting further research on their physicochemical characteristics, replacing the need for laboratory experiments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mabrook S. Amer, Prabhakarn Arunachalam, Mohamed A. Ghanem, Abdullah M. Al-Mayouf, Mark T. Weller
Summary: Photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting using semiconductor electrodes is a promising method for converting solar energy into hydrogen fuel. In this study, strontium titanium oxynitride (STON) with anion vacancies was prepared via solid phase synthesis and used as a photoelectrode for alkaline water oxidation. The PEC efficiency was improved by depositing a cobalt-phosphate (CoPi)-based co-catalyst on the surface of the STON electrode. The enhanced oxygen evolution kinetics and reduced surface recombination of photogenerated carriers contribute to the observed PEC enrichment. Additionally, the CoPi modification of perovskite-type oxynitrides presents a new avenue for developing efficient and stable photoanodes in solar-assisted water-splitting reactions.