Sputter -coated N-enriched mixed metal oxides (Ta2O5-Nb2O5-N) composite: A resilient solar driven photocatalyst for water purification

Aloe vera Extract-Based Carbon Quantum Dots-Modified Mixed-Phase TiO2 Nanoflowers for Photocatalytic Degradation of Benzo(a)pyrene in Smoked Sausages and Smoke Environments

To remove benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) from smoked meat products and smoky environments, carbon quantum dots (CQDs)-modified TiO2 nanoflowers (TiO2-CQDs) have been considered an effective method. The excellent photocatalytic performance of the TiO2-CQDs nanoflowers was attributed to their broad photocatalytic surface and effective separation of the photogenerated carriers. DFT calculations adequately confirmed the preparation of the TiO2-CQDs nanoflowers and explained their chemical bonding interactions and adsorption energies. In addition, films (TCFs) based on TiO2-CQDs nanoflowers were prepared, which demonstrated excellent activity and adsorption capacity for degrading B(a)P. The application of the photocatalytic films reduced B(a)P in smoked sausages by 49.7-70.9%, respectively, and PM2.5-B(a)P emitted into the atmosphere was reduced by 69.8%. Finally, the degradation pathways and intermediates of B(a)P were analyzed in detail, and their toxicities were evaluated. This method has practical applications for controlling B(a)P in smoked foods and environments.

Extraordinary Structural Reconstruction of Nanolaminated Ta2FeC MAX Phase for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Performance

Renewable energy technologies, such as water splitting, heavily depend on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Nanolaminated ternary compounds, referred to as MAX phases, show great promise for creating efficient electrocatalysts for OER. However, their limited intrinsic oxidative resistance hinders the utilization of conductivity in Mn+1Xn layers, leading to reduced activity. In this study, a method is proposed to improve the poor inoxidizability of MAX phases by carefully adjusting the elemental composition between Mn+1Xn layers and single-atom-thick A layers. The resulting Ta2FeC catalyst demonstrates superior performance compared to conventional Fe/C-based catalysts with a remarkable record-low overpotential of 247 mV (@10 mA cm-2) and sustained activity for over 240 h. Notably, during OER processing, the single-atom-thick Fe layer undergoes self-reconstruction and enrichment from the interior of the Ta2FeC MAX phase toward its surface, forming a Ta2FeC@Ta2C@FeOOH heterostructure. Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, this study has found that the incorporation of Ta2FeC@Ta2C not only enhances the conductivity of FeOOH but also reduces the covalency of Fe─O bonds, thus alleviating the oxidation of Fe3+ and O2-. This implies that the Ta2FeC@Ta2C@FeOOH heterostructure experiences less lattice oxygen loss during the OER process compared to pure FeOOH, leading to significantly improved stability. These results highlight promising avenues for further exploration of MAX phases by strategically engineering M- and A-site engineering through multi-metal substitution, to develop M2AX@M2X@AOOH-based catalysts for oxygen evolution.

Innovative enhancement of electron tunneling synergy in carbon-doped Ta2O5CuO photocatalyst with nematic liquid crystal for safe drinking water

This study focuses on enhancing the photocatalytic properties of carbon-doped Ta2O5CuO (C-Ta2O5CuO) nanocomposites for drinking water purification. The nanocomposites were fabricated by depositing C-Ta2O5CuO onto Nematic Liquid Crystal Polaroid (NLCP) obtained from a discarded laptop monitor, employing the sputter deposition method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) determined the nanocomposite thin films' crystallinity and structural properties. The EDX and XPS analyses confirmed the elemental composition and reality of the Cu-incorporated Ta2O5 nanocomposites, respectively. The combination of electron tunneling enhancement provided by the NLCP and graphitic carbon led to exceptional photocatalytic performance. This was particularly evident in the efficient degradation of P-Rosaniline Hydrochloride (PRH) dye in an aqueous medium. C-Ta2O5CuO catalytic activities were estimated at various dye concentrations, repeatability, reusability with time, and kinetics. Coating's stability and long-term activity in photocatalysis reactions were also tested. Additionally, Cu present in the C-Ta2O5CuO and ˙OH radicals exhibited remarkable bactericidal activity. They displayed significant antibacterial efficacy against both gram-positive Escherichia coli (E. coli) and gram-negative Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. These findings have significant implications for the development of advanced materials with potent photocatalytic and antibacterial properties, holding promise for improving drinking water quality and addressing environmental and health challenges.