Visible light active Cu-doped iron oxide for photocatalytic treatment of methylene blue

In recent work, pure α-Fe₂O₃ (F-1) and series of 5% Cu doped Fe₂O₃ (CF-5) , 10% Cu doped Fe₂O₃ (CF-10) and 15% Cu doped Fe₂O₃ (CF-15) nanoparticles by facile chemical coprecipitation method were synthesized to study the effect of concentration of doping for photocatalytic activity. As prepared F-1, CF-5, CF-10, CF-15 nanoparticles were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) techniques to analyse the structural and functional groups features. These characterization techniques confirmed the successful doping of Cu ²⁺ ions in α-Fe₂O₃. The crystallite size of synthesized samples was calculated by Scherrer formula. Gradually decline in crystallite size from 18 to 15 nm was observed for undoped to doped samples. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis expressed that doping of Cu reduced the aggregation of particles and enhanced the surface area of nanoparticles. UV–Visible spectroscopic analysis of synthesized samples was used to calculate the bandgap energy of F-1, CF-5, CF-10, CF-15 nanoparticles i.e., 2.0, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4eV respectively. Narrowing bandgap energy of doped hematite supported to perform excellent photocatalytic activity. Maximum degradation of methylene blue was recorded via CF-10 within 140 min. Higher degradation rate of methylene blue by optimal concentration of CF-10 is due to effective electron trapping ability of photocatalyst.     

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO NRs with spray coated GO for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Zinc oxide nanorods, ZnO NRs, were synthesized on a clean glass and coated with graphene oxide (GO) using spray coating method to enhance the photocatalytic activity in wastewater treatment. The ZnO NRs were synthesized using the solution process synthesis that was optimized using Taguchi method. Several synthesis parameters have been optimized and studied to determine the best synthesis parameter to grow ZnO NRs for the photodegradation of organic contaminants. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with EDX, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, ultraviolet visible near-infrared (UV-VIS-NIR), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies were used to investigate the structural and optical properties of the produced nanorods. FESEM images revealed the vertical growth of ZnO NRs as well as layers of GO covering the ZnO NRs' top surface. The Raman study demonstrates the combination peak of GO and ZnO, hence proving the GO layer's successful coating. After the GO coating, decrease in the bandgap of the synthesized photocatalyst was detected by PL and UV–Vis absorption measurements. Under UVC exposure with treatment time of 6 h, the degradation of MB with ZnO NRs/GO photocatalyst reached a degradation percentage of 97.86%, which is greater than the degradation percentage achieved using pristine ZnO NRs, which is 93.28%. The results validated that the coating of GO enhances the photocatalytic activity of the host material, ZnO NRs.     

Efficient sunlight and UV photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange,Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B,using Citrus×paradisi synthesized SnO2 semiconductor nanoparticles

In this work, tin dioxide (SnO2) Nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through green synthesis, using Citrus × paradisi extract as a stabilizing (capping). The extract concentrations used were 1, 2 and 4% in relation to the aqueous solution. The resulting SnO2 NPs were used for the degradation of Methyl Orange (MO), Methylene Blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB), under both solar and UV radiation. The NPs were characterized via Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM-SAED), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory, Ultraviolet to Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL); while the photocatalytic degradation was evaluated using UV-VIS. The results showed that the Citrus × paradisi extract is a good medium for the formation of SnO2 NPs. These NPs presented quasi-spherical morphology, particle sizes of 4–8 nm, with a rutile phase crystalline structure, and with banned gap of 2.69 at 3.28 eV. The NPs had excellent photocatalytic properties under solar radiation, degrading 100% of the OM in 180 min. Furthermore, under UV radiation, 100% degradation of the three dyes was achieved in a short time; 20 min for MO, and 60 min for MB and RhB. Therefore, green synthesis is a feasible medium for the formation of SnO2 NPs with good photocatalytic properties.     

Template confined construction of Fe–NiCoP/NiCoP/NF heterostructures for highly efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction

Rational design of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts with advance nanostructures and composition superiority is an urgent need to promote electrocatalytic property. In this research, we fabricate Fe–NiCoP/NiCoP/NF electrocatalyst for OER via the interfacial scaffolding strategy with Prussian-blue-analogue (PBA) followed by low-temperature phosphating. The cube-on-sheet multimetallic-TMPs-based nanoarchitecture of Fe–NiCoP/NiCoP/NF exhibits outstanding OER performance, which only requires the overpotential of 201 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and possesses good durability up to 50 h in 1.0 M KOH solution. The superior OER property of Fe–NiCoP/NiCoP/NF is mainly characteristic to the rich composition that optimizes the electronic structure and the cube-on-sheet multimetallic-TMPs-based nanoarchitecture which can facilitate more effective active sites exposure and ultimately promote charge transfer at the same time. This research provides a new strategy for the construction of advanced nanoarrays structure and the improvement of the electrocatalytic performance of polymetallic phosphides, which offers its promising applications especially in energy storage and conversion technology.     

Potassium ions stabilized hollow Mn-based prussian blue analogue nanocubes as cathode for high performance sodium ions battery

Mn-based Prussian blue analogue is regarded as one of the promising cathodes for sodium ions battery owing to its high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, the unstable structure during charging/discharging process and the poor cycle life hinder its commercial application. In this work, potassium ions stabilized hollow Mn-based Prussian blue analogue is synthesized through a simple sodium citrate assisted method using for cathode of sodium-ions batteries. Although unique hollow structure could suffer volume variation during charging/discharging process, the K⁺ is introduced to further stabilize its structure. The PBAs cathode exhibits a high reversible specific capacity of 128 mA h g^?1 at 50 mA and superior rate performance of 72 mA h g^?1 at a high current density of 3200 mA g^?1, which is attributed to its stable structure and enhanced sodium ions transport kinetics. Ex-situ XRD/Raman tests and electrochemical measurements further prove the synergistic effect of various alkali ions (K⁺/Na⁺) and unique hollow structure. They work together to improve the structural stability and promote sodium ions diffusion rate of Mn-based PBAs.     

钼蓝分光光度法联合测定铁矿石中磷和二氧化硅

以往铁矿石中磷和二氧化硅含量的测定需要分别采用钼蓝分光光度法。在使用磷钼蓝分光光度法时,常会因钒、砷等的干扰使得磷测定结果不准确,需要将样品再处理后才能测定。实验采用石墨垫底铁坩埚,碳酸钠和硼酸混合熔剂高温熔融铁矿石,使铁矿石样品分解彻底,再分别采用铋磷钼蓝和硅钼蓝分光光度法测定磷和二氧化硅含量,从而实现了采用钼蓝分光光度法联合测定铁矿石中磷和二氧化硅。干扰试验表明,在高温熔融时,石墨可将钒(V)还原为钒(III),使样品中钒不干扰磷的测定;显色液中加入15mg硫代硫酸钠溶液可将砷(V)还原为砷(III),继而消除砷对磷测定的干扰。磷的质量浓度在0~3μg/mL范围内遵守比尔定律,校准曲线的线性相关系数为0.9999,表观摩尔吸光系数为2.242×10⁴ L·mol^-1·cm^-1;二氧化硅的质量浓度在0~5μg/mL范围内遵守比尔定律,校准曲线的线性相关系数为0.9995,表观摩尔吸光系数为9.342×10³ L·mol^-1·cm^-1。方法中磷和二氧化硅的检出限分别为0.0026μg/mL和0.0081μg/mL。按照实验方法测定6个铁矿石标准样品中磷和二氧化硅,磷测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=8)小于5%,相对误差小于2%;二氧化硅测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=8)小于2%,相对误差小于1.5%。按照实验方法测定5个铁矿石样品中磷和二氧化硅,磷测定结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=8)小于7%,二氧化硅测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=8)小于1%;磷和二氧化硅的测定值均与电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法的测定值相一致。     

酞菁蓝/蒽醌蓝研磨复配炭黑对织物印花色相的影响

将酞菁蓝颜料及蒽醌蓝与炭黑复配,以木质素磺酸钠为分散剂,用砂磨法制备纯黑色相炭黑色浆。结果显示,研磨1 h后粒径在108 nm左右,炭黑分布较窄,PDI为0. 083 9;SEM测试显示分散体颗粒大小分布均匀,分散性良好;该水性炭黑色浆体系稳定性较好。随着体系蓝色用量增加2. 5%,色浆a^*、b^*值均趋近于0,接近于纯黑色相。     

三氯化铁分光光度法测定药物中亚甲基二膦酸

通过三氯化铁与亚甲基二膦酸形成络合物，采用分光光度法，建立了注射用亚锡亚甲基二膦酸盐冻干药盒中亚甲基二膦酸含量的测定方法。结果表明，亚甲基二膦酸质量浓度在0.02~0.08 g/L范围内与吸光度A呈良好线性关系，线性回归方程y=14.61x+0.029 7，线性相关系数r=0.999 1。加标回收率为98.8%~102.0%，相对标准偏差为0.97%(n=6)。该方法可用于快速准确地测定注射用亚锡亚甲基二膦酸盐冻干药盒中亚甲基二膦酸的含量。     

A correlation story of syntheses of ZnO and their influence on photocatalysis

The crystallinity, surface morphology, porosity and band structure of semiconducting catalytic materials greatly influence their photocatalytic efficiency. Here, the semiconducting ZnOs were synthesized with three different synthetic routes of precipitation, solution combustion and direct calcination of precursor. All the synthesized catalysts were characterized thoroughly by X-ray diffraction, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and photoluminescence. The synthesized catalysts show different nano-crystallinity, morphology, surface properties and band structure depending on the synthetic methods. All the synthesized catalysts were explored for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible and UV light illumination. The correlation between the physical properties and catalytic efficacy were established. The complete mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was also proposed. The typical band structure and the longer life of excitons due to the presence of defects in solution combustion synthesized ZnO overpowered the other physical properties in influencing the visible and UV light assisted methylene blue degradation. This work shades light on the key controlling factors of a photocatalytic reactions and provides simple strategy for the development of efficient photocatalysts for solar energy conversion applications in solving energy crisis and environmental pollution problems.