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Strach A, Dulski M, Wasilkowski D, Matus K, Dudek K, Podwórny J, Rawicka P, Grebnevs V, Waloszczyk N, Nowak A, Poloczek P, Golba S. Multifaceted Assessment of Porous Silica Nanocomposites: Unraveling Physical, Structural, and Biological Transformations Induced by Microwave Field Modification. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:337. [PMID: 38392710 PMCID: PMC10893391 DOI: 10.3390/nano14040337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
In response to the persistent challenge of heavy and noble metal environmental contamination, our research explores a new idea to capture silver through porous spherical silica nanostructures. The aim was realized using microwave radiation at varying power (P = 150 or 800 W) and exposure times (t = 60 or 150 s). It led to the development of a silica surface with enhanced metal-capture capacity. The microwave-assisted silica surface modification influences the notable changes within the carrier but also enforces the crystallization process of silver nanoparticles with different morphology, structure, and chemical composition. Microwave treatment can also stimulate the formation of core-shell bioactive Ag/Ag2CO3 heterojunctions. Due to the silver nanoparticles' sphericity and silver carbonate's presence, the modified nanocomposites exhibited heightened toxicity against common microorganisms, such as E. coli and S. epidermidis. Toxicological assessments, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) determinations, underscored the efficacy of the nanocomposites. This research represents a significant stride in addressing pollution challenges. It shows the potential of microwave-modified silicas in the fight against environmental contamination. Microwave engineering underscores a sophisticated approach to pollution remediation and emphasizes the pivotal role of nanotechnology in shaping sustainable solutions for environmental stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Strach
- Doctoral School, University of Silesia, Bankowa 14, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
| | - Mateusz Dulski
- Institute of Materials Engineering, University of Silesia, 75 Pulku Piechoty 1A, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland (S.G.)
| | - Daniel Wasilkowski
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Jagiellonska 28, 40-032 Katowice, Poland; (D.W.); (A.N.)
| | - Krzysztof Matus
- Materials Research Laboratory, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Karolina Dudek
- Łukasiewicz Research Network, Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials, Cementowa 8, 31-938 Cracow, Poland; (K.D.); (J.P.)
| | - Jacek Podwórny
- Łukasiewicz Research Network, Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials, Cementowa 8, 31-938 Cracow, Poland; (K.D.); (J.P.)
| | - Patrycja Rawicka
- A. Chełkowski Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, 75 Pulku Piechoty 1, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland
| | - Vladlens Grebnevs
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Jelgavas Street 1, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, B. Krzywoustego Street 6, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Natalia Waloszczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, B. Krzywoustego Street 6, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Anna Nowak
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Jagiellonska 28, 40-032 Katowice, Poland; (D.W.); (A.N.)
| | - Paulina Poloczek
- Institute of Materials Engineering, University of Silesia, 75 Pulku Piechoty 1A, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland (S.G.)
| | - Sylwia Golba
- Institute of Materials Engineering, University of Silesia, 75 Pulku Piechoty 1A, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland (S.G.)
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Mathew J, John N, Mathew B. Graphene oxide-incorporated silver-based photocatalysts for enhanced degradation of organic toxins: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:16817-16851. [PMID: 36595177 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-25026-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination and scarcity of energy have been deepening over the last few decades. Heterogeneous photocatalysis plays a prominent role in environmental remediation. The failure of earlier metal oxide systems like pure TiO2 and ZnO as stable visible-light photocatalysts demanded more stable catalysts with high photodegradation efficiency. Silver-based semiconductor materials gained popularity as visible-light-responsive photocatalysts with a narrow bandgap. But their large-scale usage in natural water bodies for organic contaminant removal is minimal. The factors like self-photocorrosion and their slight solubility in water have prevented the commercial use. Various efforts have been made to improve their photocatalytic activity. This review focuses on those studies in which silver-based semiconductor materials are integrated with carbonaceous graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The decoration of Ag-based semiconductor components on graphene oxide having high-surface area results in binary composites with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity and stability. It is found that the introduction of new efficient materials further increases the effectiveness of the system. So binary and ternary composites of GO and Ag-based materials are reviewed in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincy Mathew
- School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, 686560, Kerala, India
| | - Neenamol John
- School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, 686560, Kerala, India
| | - Beena Mathew
- School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, 686560, Kerala, India.
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Yi Y, Guan Q, Wang W, Jian S, Li H, Wu L, Zhang H, Jiang C. Recyclable Carbon Cloth-Supported ZnO@Ag 3PO 4 Core-Shell Structure for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dye. TOXICS 2023; 11:70. [PMID: 36668796 PMCID: PMC9866964 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The extensive use of organic dyes in industry has caused serious environmental problems, and photocatalysis is a potential solution to water pollution by organic dyes. The practical application of powdery photocatalysts is usually limited by the rapid recombination of charge carriers and difficulty in recycling. In this study, recyclable carbon cloth-supported ZnO@Ag3PO4 composite with a core-shell structure was successfully prepared by solvothermal treatment and subsequent impregnation-deposition. The as-prepared carbon cloth-supported ZnO@Ag3PO4 composite showed an improved photocatalytic activity and stability for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), a model organic dye, under visible light irradiation. The decomposition ratio of RhB reached 87.1% after exposure to visible light for 100 min, corresponding to a reaction rate constant that was 4.8 and 15.9 times that of carbon cloth-supported Ag3PO4 or ZnO alone. The enhanced performance of the composite can be attributed to the effectively inhibited recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs by the S-scheme heterojunction. The carbon fibers further promoted the transfer of charges. Moreover, the carbon cloth-supported ZnO@Ag3PO4 can be easily separated from the solution and repeatedly used, demonstrating a fair recyclability and potential in practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yi
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center 100#, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qifang Guan
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center 100#, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wenguang Wang
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center 100#, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Siyuan Jian
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center 100#, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hengchao Li
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center 100#, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liangpeng Wu
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou 516000, China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center 100#, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chuanjia Jiang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China
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Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-tert-butylphenol Using Solar Light Responsive Ag2CO3. Catalysts 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/catal12121523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, Ag2CO3 was prepared via a solution-based method and was further characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM/EDS analysis, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. SEM results revealed the formation of micro-sized particles with a rectangular shape. The photocatalytic activity of the catalyst was evaluated in the degradation of 4-tert-butylphenol (4-t-BP) under simulated solar light irradiation. The effects of 4-t-BP initial concentration (2.5–10 ppm), catalyst dosage (100–300 mg/L), different types of lamp sources, and water matrix were investigated. Complete 4-t-BP (5 ppm) degradation was achieved after 60 min by Ag2CO3 (200 mg/L). The effect of anions such as CO32−, HCO3−, NO3−, and Cl- in the concentration range of 100–300 mg/L was also studied. CO32− promoted the photocatalytic degradation process, while HCO3− and NO3− exhibited an inhibition effect, which was marked with increasing HCO3− and NO3− concentrations. The presence of Cl− at the concentration of 100 mg/L increased 4-t-BP degradation, but higher concentrations inhibited the photocatalytic reaction. Cyclic experiments showed that the catalyst practically retained its catalytic activity toward 4-t-BP degradation after three successive experimental runs.
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Farhan A, Rashid EU, Waqas M, Ahmad H, Nawaz S, Munawar J, Rahdar A, Varjani S, Bilal M. Graphene-based nanocomposites and nanohybrids for the abatement of agro-industrial pollutants in aqueous environments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 308:119557. [PMID: 35709916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119557] [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: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Incessant release of a large spectrum of agro-industrial pollutants into environmental matrices remains a serious concern due to their potential health risks to humans and aquatic animals. Existing remediation techniques are unable to remove these pollutants, necessitating the development of novel treatment approaches. Due to its unique structure, physicochemical properties, and broad application potential, graphene has attracted a lot of attention as a new type of two-dimensional nanostructure. Given its chemical stability, large surface area, electron mobility, superior thermal conductivity, and two-dimensional structure, tremendous research has been conducted on graphene and its derived composites for environmental remediation and pollution mitigation. Various methods for graphene functionalization have facilitated the development of different graphene derivatives such as graphene oxide (GO), functional reduced graphene oxide (frGO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with novel attributes for multiple applications. This review provides a comprehensive read on the recent progress of multifunctional graphene-based nanocomposites and nanohybrids as a promising way of removing emerging contaminants from aqueous environments. First, a succinct overview of the fundamental structure, fabrication techniques, and features of graphene-based composites is presented. Following that, graphene and GO functionalization, i.e., covalent bonding, non-covalent, and elemental doping, are discussed. Finally, the environmental potentials of a plethora of graphene-based hybrid nanocomposites for the abatement of organic and inorganic contaminants are thoroughly covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Farhan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 38040, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ehsan Ullah Rashid
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 38040, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Waqas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 38040, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Haroon Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 38040, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Nawaz
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Junaid Munawar
- College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100013, China
| | - Abbas Rahdar
- Department of Physics, University of Zabol, P. O. Box. 98613-35856, Zabol, Iran
| | - Sunita Varjani
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, 382 010, Gujarat, India
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, 223003, China.
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Shafi A, Bano S, Sharma L, Halder A, Sabir S, Khan MZ. Exploring multifunctional behaviour of g-C 3N 4 decorated BiVO 4/Ag 2CO 3 hierarchical nanocomposite for simultaneous electrochemical detection of two nitroaromatic compounds and water splitting applications. Talanta 2022; 241:123257. [PMID: 35114490 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Development of multifunctional ternary nanocomposite based electrocatalysts for detection of toxic elements and generation of renewable energy describes an environmentally sustainable technique to address the dual challenges of pollution and energy. Herein, we adopted microwave-assisted synthesis to design a multifunctional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) decorated BiVO4/Ag2CO3 (BVG@C) hierarchical ternary nanocomposite for sensing and water splitting applications. The morphological, structural and elemental characterizations demonstrate the successful decoration of carbon nitride on the composite surface. The electrochemical activity of BVG@C modified glassy carbon electrode reveals excellent redox behaviour towards simultaneous detection of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) and 4-Nitroaniline (PNA). The modified electrode shows rapid amperometric current response with high sensitivity of 2.368 μA mM cm-2 and 1.534 mA mM cm-2 and low detection limit of 0.012 μmol L-1and 0.028 μmol L-1, respectively for 4-NP and PNA. Moreover, the modified electrode was further investigated for hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions and the electrocatalytic results show admirable activity and good stability for oxygen evolution with very low overpotential of 136 mV in alkaline medium. It is worthwhile to mention that the excellent activity of electrocatalyst can be ascribed to the decoration and electronic interaction of g-C3N4 with the BiVO4/Ag2CO3 nanocomposite, increasing its surface area, active sites, charge transfer and decreasing resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Shafi
- Environmental Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Sayfa Bano
- Environmental Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Lalita Sharma
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, 175005, India
| | - Aditi Halder
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, 175005, India
| | - Suhail Sabir
- Environmental Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Mohammad Zain Khan
- Environmental Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
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Synthesis of dual Z-scheme photocatalyst ZnFe2O4/PANI/Ag2CO3 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity and degradation of pollutants. ADV POWDER TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2021.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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