Bifunctional g-C3N4/carbon nanotubes/WO3 ternary nanohybrids for photocatalytic energy and environmental applications

Ternary nanohybrids based on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) were synthesized and presented for developing stable and efficient Hydrogen (H2) production system. Based on photocatalytic activity, optimization was performed in three different stages to develop carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and WO3 loaded g-C3N4 (CWG-3). Initially, the effect of exfoliation was investigated, and a maximum specific surface area of 100.77 m2/g was achieved. 2D-2D interface between WO3 and g-C3N4 was targeted and achieved, to construct a highly efficient direct Z-scheme heterojunction. Optimized binary composite holds the enhanced activity of about 2.6 folds of H2 generation rates than the thermally exfoliated g-C3N4. Further, CNT loading towards binary composite in an optimized weight ratio enhances the activity by 6.86 folds than the pristine g-C3N4. Notably, optimized ternary nanohybrid generates 15,918 μmol h-1. g-1cat of molecular H2, under natural solar light irradiation with 5 vol% TEOA as a sacrificial agent. Constructive enhancements deliver remarkable H2 production and dye degradation activities. Results evident that, the same system can be useful for pilot-scale energy generation and other photocatalytic applications as well.

Adsorption of lead ions from wastewater using nano silica spheres synthesized on calcium carbonate templates

Lead is a heavy metal that is bio accumulative and non-biodegradable that poses a threat to our health when it exists in excess in our bloodstream. It has found its way into wastewater from mostly chemical industrial processes. In this article, we investigated the adsorption and hence removal of lead (II) ions from wastewater in order to purify it for re-use in industrial processes or for plant and animal use. We synthesized nano silica hollow spheres (NSHS) and used them as adsorbents to remove lead ions from wastewater. When we characterized the NSHS using X-Ray diffraction, the amorphous nature of silica was evident with average crystal size of 39.5 nm. Scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the morphology of the adsorbent and the particles were found to be spherical in shape within a size range of 100–200 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to determine the mass loss of NSHS which was ~2% at 800 °C. Our experimental results from adsorption studies showed that there was a linear relationship between temperature (27–60 °C) and adsorption efficiency and an inverse relationship between initial metal concentration (50–300 mg/L) and adsorption efficiency. At a maximum temperature of 60 °C and maximum initial metal concentration of 300 mg/L, the adsorption capacity was 200 mg/g and 262 mg/g, respectively while the adsorption efficiency was 99.6% and 87.4%, respectively. Our equilibrium and thermodynamic results revealed that the process was better modelled by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm (q_max = 266.89 mg/g and b = 0.89 L/mg). The adsorption process was both endothermic (ΔH = 97 kJ/mol) and spontaneous (ΔG = -22 kJ/mol). We can conclude that we were able to successfully synthesize NSHS, use them to remove lead (II) ions and the produced NSHS have a capacity that is higher than most other adsorbents investigated by other researchers.

Synthesis and characterization of γ-ferric oxide nanoparticles and their effect on Solanum lycopersicum

γ-Ferric oxide nanoparticles are synthesized through modern and facile ayurvedic route followed by normal and special purification steps, which are both cost-effective and eco-friendly. These synthesized γ-ferric oxide nanoparticles were applied on Solanum lycopersicum to search the effect on chlorophyll content. This process involves multiple filtration and calcination steps. The synthesized samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and particle size analysis (PSA) to identify the purification step's influence on the structural, optical, morphological, magnetic, and particle size properties of ferric oxide nanoparticles (γ-phase). X-ray diffraction has revealed that ferric oxide nanoparticles have rhombohedral structure of α-phase (hematite) in initial purification process later transformed into cubic structure γ-phase (maghemite). UV-vis spectroscopy analysis has clearly shown that by repetitive purification steps, λmax has increased from 230 to 340 nm. TEM result has an intercorrelation with XRD results. γ-Ferric oxide nanoparticles were tested on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato seeds). The changes in the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total carotene were studied using spectral measurements at two different dosages-0.5 and 2 M. As a result, at 0.5-M concentration, magnetic nanoparticles exhibit fruitful results by increasing the crop yield and being more resistant to chlorosis.