Metal Doping Research Articles

Evaluation of antifungal activity of visible light-activated doped TiO2 nanoparticles.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a well-known material for its biomedical applications, among which its implementation as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy has attracted considerable interest due to its photocatalytic properties, biocompatibility, high chemical stability, and low toxicity. However, the photoactivation of TiO2 requires ultraviolet light, which may lead to cell mutation and consequently cancer. To address these challenges, recent research has focused on the incorporation of metal dopants into the TiO2 lattice to shift the band gap to lower energies by introducing allowed energy states within the band gap, thus ensuring the harnessing of visible light. This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and application of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in their undoped, doped, and co-doped forms for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) against Candida albicans. Blue light with a wavelength of 450nm was used, with doses ranging from 20 to 60J/cm2 and an NP concentration of 500µg/ml. It was observed that doping TiO2 with Cu, Fe, Ag ions, and co-doping Cu:Fe into the TiO2 nanostructure enhanced the visible light photoactivity of TiO2 NPs. Experimental studies were done to investigate the effects of different ions doped into the TiO2 crystal lattice on their structural, optical, morphological, and chemical composition for APDT applications. In particular, Ag-doped TiO2 emerged as the best candidate, achieving 90-100% eradication of C. albicans.

Effect of metal doping on the microwave absorption performance of multi-element (metal, N, and Cl) doped carbon composites

Multi-element-doped carbons are actively being pursued as efficient lightweight microwave absorbers. In this work, metal, nitrogen and chlorine codoped carbons (metal,N,Cl–C, where metals = Ni, Co, Mn, or Zn) were synthesized through the high-temperature carbonization of polypyrrole doped with hydrochloric acid (PPy-HCl) and prepared in the presence of certain metal chloride salts (NiCl2, CoCl2, MnCl2, or ZnCl2). The dielectric parameters and microwave absorption properties of the metal,N,Cl–C composites could be regulated by simply altering the type of metal salt. Compared with N,Cl–C, it was discovered that Co,N,Cl–C and Ni,N,Cl–C possessed higher graphitization degrees, smaller particle sizes and more surface chemical functional groups (metal−N), which significantly improved the conduction loss and polarization loss effects including interfacial polarization and dipole polarization. At a filler ratio of 9.0 wt%, Ni,N,Cl–C displayed a wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL ≤ −10 dB) of 7.1 GHz at a thickness of 2.5 mm and a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −29.7 dB at 9.7 GHz and 3.5 mm thickness. Similarly, Co,N,Cl–C offered an RLmin value of −48.2 dB at 11.3 GHz and a thickness of 3.0 mm and an EAB of 6.0 GHz at a thickness of 2.5 mm. These results showcase the advantages of metal,N,Cl–C composites as microwave absorbers.

Introduction and Advancements in Room-Temperature Ferromagnetic Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Recent advancements in the field of room-temperature ferromagnetic metal oxide semiconductors (RTFMOS) have revealed their promising potential for enhancing photocatalytic performance. This review delves into the combined investigation of the photocatalytic and ferromagnetic properties at room temperature, with a particular focus on metal oxides like TiO2, which have emerged as pivotal materials in the fields of magnetism and environmental remediation. Despite extensive research efforts, the precise mechanism governing the interplay between ferromagnetism and photocatalysis in these materials remains only partially understood. Several crucial factors contributing to magnetism, such as oxygen vacancies and various metal dopants, have been identified. Numerous studies have highlighted the significant role of these factors in driving room-temperature ferromagnetism and photocatalytic activity in wide-bandgap metal oxides. However, establishing a direct correlation between magnetism, oxygen vacancies, dopant concentration, and photocatalysis has posed significant challenges. These RTFMOS hold immense potential to significantly boost photocatalytic efficiency, offering promising solutions for diverse environmental- and energy-related applications, including water purification, air pollution control, and solar energy conversion. This review aims to offer a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in understanding the magnetism and photocatalytic behavior of metal oxides. By synthesizing the latest findings, this study sheds light on the considerable promise of RTFMOS as effective photocatalysts, thus contributing to advancements in environmental remediation and related fields.

Boosting photocatalytic activity of β-PbO nanoparticles through metal doping

The current work focuses on the fabrication of pristine and metals (Co, Cu, Ni, Li, and Sn) doped β-PbO phase nanoparticles by cost-effective precipitation method. The properties of the produced nanoparticles were investigated using a variety of characterization techniques. The produced compound was a highly pure β-PbO phase, according to the XRD data. From the UV–vis DRS the obtained bandgap of pristine β-PbO, Co, Cu, Ni, Li, and Sn doped β-PbO was 2.68 eV, 1.88 eV, 2.01 eV, 2.65 eV, 2.64 eV, and 2.70 eV, respectively. The doped samples with the lowest photoluminescence (PL) intensities show the reduced photogenerated electron–hole pair recombination, which increased the photocatalytic activity of β-PbO nanoparticles. The study of the surface morphology by SEM reveals the irregular distribution of the particles. In both pristine and doped nanoparticles, EDX verifies the existence of the expected elements. In comparison to pristine β-PbO, all doped β-PbO nanoparticles have enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under the irradiation of visible light. Among the doped nanoparticles, Cu and Co-doped β-PbO demonstrated particularly high performance. After 80 min of irradiation, Cu and Co-doped β-PbO showed 99.45% and 99.39% degradation rates of MB dye, compared to only 75.13% for pure β-PbO. Hence, the photocatalytic activity of pure β-PbO is boosted through metals doping due to bandgap narrowing, generation of impurity states, increased specific surface area, higher carrier concentration, reduced carriers recombination, the action of dopant ions, and microstructural changes.

A Computational Insight on the Effect of Doping of Transition Metals and Group V Elements on the Electronic Properties of Phosphorene

A Computational Insight on the Effect of Doping of Transition Metals and Group V Elements on the Electronic Properties of Phosphorene

Experimental and theoretical investigation on the high activity La0.8-xSr0.2KxMn1-yByO3-δ perovskite catalyst with combined A and B site modifications

In this work, a series of LaMnO3 (LM) perovskite catalysts modified at A and B sites were prepared to accelerate soot combustion. The La0.68Sr0.2K0.12Mn0.9Cu0.1O3-δ (LSK0.12MCu0.1) modified by Sr, K and Cu has good catalytic activity and cycle stability, the presence of NO can obviously promote the oxidation of soot. A variety of characterization results show that doping the A and B sites of perovskite will not destroy the original structure of perovskite, and the doped ions (Sr2+, K+, and Cu2+) can enter the perovskite catalyst well, which may be conducive to the formation of more oxygen defects and active oxygen species. According to the DFT calculation, adding Sr and K to the A sites can alter how atoms interact in a perovskite catalyst, increase the amount of unsaturated coordination bonds, and encourage the development of high-valence active ions (Mn4+) and oxygen defects. The doping of transition metal to the B sites results in the formation of the Cu-O-Mn link, which forms the Mn(Cu)O6 octahedron and stimulates the development of oxygen vacancies and the release of active oxygen. This study will provide an important reference for developing non-precious metal-based perovskite materials with high activity and low cost for catalytic combustion.

A Systematic Study and Biomedical Investigation on O‐Terphenyl Incorporated Copper(II) Chloride Crystal via Slow Evaporation Technique

AbstractCurrent research trends emphasize the need to characterize and analyze the biomedical applications and antibacterial/fungal activity and anticancer studies of O‐terphenyl incorporated copper (II) chloride (OTCC) single crystals by the method of slow evaporation. For this research, a brand‐new inorganic competitive coordination approach is used for crystal formation. As a result, single crystal X‐ray diffraction examination validated the growth of phase in the OTCC crystal. A powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) study confirmed the crystalline purity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) analysis is used to identify the functional groups of organic substances contained in the sample. This sample's optical transparency is assessed using a UV‐Vis‐NIR between 200 and 800 nm in wavelength. In these recent trends, emphasized chemically supported investigation into OTCC crystals and their antibacterial activity and anticancer activity against pathogens are revealed. The outcome of this work will be the effect of metal doping with organic‐based materials, which could be an important reliable weapon in the field of cancer treatment. Many researchers during recent years has done tremendous work exploring and developing drug designs, whereas attention has been drawn to metal‐based organic crystals, metal‐based crystals have the most effect on drug resistance and treat cancer cells. The biological efficacy of this crystal is tested, and it is discovered to have pharmacological qualities such as antibacterial and anticancer capabilities.

Investigation of the third-order optical nonlinear enhancement properties of Ag doped chalcogenide glass films

Chalcogenide glass is widely recognized as an excellent nonlinear optical material. Enhancing its nonlinear optical properties through metal doping has emerged as a prominent research avenue in the field of chalcogenide glass. In this paper, silver (Ag) doped Ge28Sb12Se60 (GSS) chalcogenide glass films with different concentrations were prepared by co-evaporation method. The nonlinear absorption coefficients (β) of different samples were investigated by open-aperture top-hat Z-scan experiments and pump-probe experiments, and the nonlinear refractive index (γ) values were determined using the Tichy-Ticha relation. The results showed that the nonlinear absorption of GSS thin films can be improved by Ag doping. The nonlinear absorption coefficient β exhibits the maximum enhancement of about 2.5 times at 8.3% concentration, with the maximum β reaching 1.83×10−6 m/W. The nonlinear absorption mechanism observed in the thin films can be attributed to free carrier absorption, and the free carrier lifetime is positively correlated with the Ag doping concentration. Within the selected Ag concentration range, the nonlinear refractive index (γ) of Ag doped chalcogenide glass films continues to increase, reaching about 3 times at 30.7% concentration, with the maximum γ being 4.643×10−17 m2/W. Additionally, the third-order nonlinear polarizability (χ(3)) values can be increased from 1.014×10−11 esu to 3.314×10−11 esu with increasing Ag concentration. The research results in present paper are of great significance for further exploration of the optical nonlinear enhancement properties and carrier recombination dynamics in chalcogenide glass.

Effect of metal doping on the laser induced damage of KDP crystals: A first-principles study

KH2PO4 (KDP) crystal is a kind of widely used nonlinear optical material, but its manufacturing process produces various defects which influence the laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) of the KDP crystal. This work studies the influence of the metal doping defects (Na, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb) on the stability, electronic structure, optical and mechanical properties of KDP crystal by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Results show that the change of lattice parameters and bond lengths, and the formation energies of the metal doped KDP have close relationship with the radius of the doped metal atoms. The electronic and optical calculations show that the Na doping defects have little effect on the energy band and optical properties of KDP crystals, but Cr, Zn and Pb doping defects show large optical absorption peaks. Meanwhile, the Cr, Co, Ni and Pb atoms have great influence on the mechanical properties of the KDP. Therefore, the KDP synthesis process needs to pay particular attention to control Cr and Pb doping defects to avoid decreasing the LIDT of KDP. This work explains the effect of metal doping on the laser damage resistance of KDP crystals and provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the performance of KDP crystals.

Photovoltaic properties of alkali metal X (X=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) doped defective molybdenum diselenide structures: First principles study

The electronic structure, work function, complex dielectric function, absorption coefficient and reflectivity of defective MoSe2 models containing point defects as well as alkali metal doping have been calculated based on the first principles of density flood theory. The effect of alkali metal doping on the optoelectronic properties of MoSe2 under defect conditions is investigated. Alkali metal elements were doped separately on the basis of a single Se atom defect, and the results show that the doped systems can all be stable. The introduction of the defect decreases the band gap of MoSe2 from 1.498 eV to 0.816 eV. The alkali-metal-doped defective MoSe2 systems have semiconductor-metal transitions with collisions between the bottom of the conduction band and the top of the valence band for each of the systems, except for the K doping. The K-doped defective MoSe2 is a narrow band gap semiconductor with a band gap of 0.202 eV. Overall, alkali metal doping under defective conditions improves the electrical conductivity of MoSe2, resulting in enhanced conductivity of the crystal. The work function analysis reveals that the work function of the alkali metal doped defective MoSe2, except for K doping, decreases gradually with the increase of its atomic radius, while the electrical conductivity of each system is enhanced. Optical property analyses revealed that the absorption coefficient of alkali-metal doped defective MoSe2 was significantly higher than that of intrinsic MoSe2 in the infrared light region, which compensated for the lack of zero absorption of the intrinsic material in the infrared light region, and enhanced its light-absorbing ability in the infrared light region and part of the visible light region. The reflectivity of each defective MoSe2 system doped by alkali metals is much smaller than that of the intrinsic, and the reflection peaks are red-shifted in the direction of the low-energy region. Overall, the doping of alkali metal atoms reduces the average reflectivity of the defective MoSe2 materials, which is conducive to the enhancement of light absorption and photoelectron emission from the materials. It is hoped that the research results in this paper will contribute to expanding the potential applications of MoSe2 materials in solar cells, photovoltaic devices, and photodetectors.

Studies on thermoelectric properties of sonochemically exfoliated MoS2

2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have gained immense attention as energy materials in the past decade owing to their unique structure and properties. As the need for energy is increasing at a great pace, the search for new and sustainable technologies and materials for them has increased. Thermoelectric electricity generation is one such sustainable solution as waste heat can be utilized to create electricity. Here in this article, the thermoelectric behaviour of MoS2 is studied which was exfoliated in mild/friendly solvents in a simple manner using the ultrasound energy. Such 2D materials have been studied for thermoelectric behaviour but their performance is restricted by the poor electrical conductivity. Hence, thermoelectric performance of MoS2 is often enhanced by preparing hybrids with other materials such as graphene, carbon fibre or by metal doping. However, herein the overall power factor was highly increased via a simple method attributing to the increased interlayer distance and phase change which was seen in XRD, Raman and XPS. MoS2 exfoliated in water resulted in power factor of 68.34 μW m−1K−2 at room temperature and highest power factor was obtained in case of exfoliation in DMF (310 μW m−1K−2). The cross-plane thermal conductivity also reduced about 5 times as compared to the bulk material.

Tuning Thermal Stability and Power Consumption of Sb2Te3 Phase Change Memory with Metallic Elements

AbstractPhase change materials have issues in the automotive industry and in‐memory computing due to their limited thermal stability and high power consumption. Consequently, numerous studies are conducted to enhance the performance of these materials. Uncertainty persists regarding the effects and mechanisms of various doping on the parent material. In this study, four metallic doping elements are selected, and their effects on Sb2Te3 are meticulously analyzed through experiments and ab initio calculations. The thermal stability of Sb2Te3 has been somewhat enhanced by doping these four elements, with Ta doping having the most impact. According to the ab initio molecular dynamics, this improvement results from the tetrahedral centered In and the increased coordination numbers of Ta, Ti, and Sc. Sc located at the center of the octahedron can accelerate the crystallization process. Ta, in particular, exerts the greatest influence on the migration rates of Sb and Te, resulting in the slowest grain growth rate. Simultaneously, it maximizes the delay in the transition from the cubic phase to the hexagonal phase. These features are beneficial for reducing power consumption. The elucidation of the distinct effects of doping elements sets the stage for phase change memory to adapt to various application scenarios.

Activating 2D MoS2 by loading 2D Cu–S nanoplatelets for improved visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, drug degradation, and CO2 reduction

Finding reliable photocatalysts capable of driving reactions using only sunlight is more needed than ever. A variety of strategies to harvest sunlight and convert it into chemical energy have been successfully utilized such as synthesizing nanostructures, using metal nanoparticles, doping, and others. In this work, we discover a facile way to anchor CuS nanoplatelets on 2D MoS2 by the solvothermal method using ethylene glycol (EG) as both a reduction agent and an exfoliating agent of bulk MoS2. Using CuS as a co-catalysis on MoS2 with their huge surface areas, led to improved photocatalytic activity for three different applications including H2 evolution, CO2 reduction, and endosulfan degradation. Specifically, Cu–S@MoS2 3% nanocomposite produced 9.86 μmol g−1 h−1 of H2, 0.48 μmol g−1 h−1 of CO and full decomposition of endosulfan within 6 h. The Cu-loaded MoS2 nanocomposites were thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic (including synchrotron-based spectroscopy) and microscopic methods to understand the formation of Cu–S during the solvothermal process. Moreover, the role of the EG during the synthetic procedure was revealed experimentally and studied theoretically via DFT simulations.

A Metastructure Based on Amorphous Carbon for High Efficiency and Selective Solar Absorption.

Efficient solar thermal conversion is crucial for renewable clean energy technologies such as solar thermal power generation, solar thermophotovoltaic and seawater desalination. To maximize solar energy conversion efficiency, a solar selective absorber with tailored absorption properties designed for solar applications is indispensable. In this study, we propose a broadband selective absorber based on amorphous carbon (a-C) metamaterials that achieves high absorption in the ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) spectral ranges. Additionally, through metal doping, the optical properties of carbon matrix materials can be modulated. We introduce Ti@a-C thin film into the nanostructure to enhance light absorption across most of the solar spectrum, particularly in the NIR wavelength band, which is essential for improving energy utilization. The impressive solar absorptivity and photothermal conversion efficiency reach 97.8% and 95.6%, respectively. Notably, these superior performances are well-maintained even at large incident angles with different polarized states. These findings open new avenues for the application of a-C matrix materials, especially in fields related to solar energy harvesting.

Green Synthesis of Metal-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Using Bauhinia racemosa Lam. Extract and Evaluation of Their Photocatalysis and Biomedical Applications.

A fascinating problem in the fields of nanoscience and nanobiotechnology has recently emerged, and to tackle this, the production of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant extracts offers numerous benefits over traditional physicochemical methods. In the present investigation, ZnO nanoparticles were fabricated from Bauhinia racemosa Lam. (BR) leaves extract with various transition metal (TM) dopants (Ni, Mn, and Co). Plant leaves extract containing metal nitrate solutions were utilized as a precursor to synthesize the pristine and TM-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Structural, functional, optical, and surface properties of the fabricated samples were studied by using physicochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements. The organic pollutants tetracycline (TC), ampicillin (AMP), and amoxicillin (AMX) were used in the photocatalytic degradation assessment of the fabricated samples. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation, the fabricated nanoparticles wurtzite crystal structure was verified. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis verified the existence of functional groups in the fabricated nanoparticles. The migration of electrons from the deep donor level and zinc interstitial to the Zn-defect and O-defect is related to the emission peaks seen at 468, 480, 534, and 450 nm in photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Co-ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated potent and excellent photocatalytic degradation performance for TC (91.09%), AMP (87.97%), and AMX (92.42%) antibiotics within 210, 180, and 150 min of visible light irradiation. Co-ZnO nanoparticles also demonstrated strong antimicrobial performance against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Bacillus subtilis. Further investigation of in vitro cytotoxic potential against the A549 cell line (IC50 = 24 ± 0.5 μg/mL) utilizing MTT assay and the free radical scavenging performance of Co-ZnO nanoparticles estimated by DPPH assay utilizing l-ascorbic acid as a reference was also performed. Anti-inflammatory potential is also reviewed by comparing it with the standard drug Diclofenac, and the maximum activity was obtained for Ni-ZnO nanoparticles (IC50 = 72.4 μg/mL).

Optimizing Intermediate Adsorption over PdM (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) Bimetallene for Boosted Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia

AbstractElectrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NO3RR) is a promising and eco‐friendly strategy for ammonia production. However, the sluggish kinetics of the eight‐electron transfer process and poor mechanistic understanding strongly impedes its application. To unveil the internal laws, herein, a library of Pd‐based bimetallene with various transition metal dopants (PdM (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)) are screened to learn their structure–activity relationship towards NO3RR. The ultra‐thin structure of metallene greatly facilitates the exposure of active sites, and the transition metals dopants break the electronic balance and upshift its d‐band center, thus optimizing intermediates adsorption. The anisotropic electronic characteristics of these transition metals make the NO3RR activity in the order of PdCu>PdCo≈PdFe>PdNi>Pd, and a record‐high NH3 yield rate of 295 mg h−1 mgcat−1 along with Faradaic efficiency of 90.9 % is achieved in neutral electrolyte on PdCu bimetallene. Detailed studies further reveal that the moderate N‐species (*NO3 and *NO2) adsorption ability, enhanced *NO activation, and reduced HER activity facilitate the NH3 production. We believe our results will give a systematic guidance to the future design of NO3RR catalysts.

Optimizing Intermediate Adsorption over PdM (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) Bimetallene for Boosted Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia.

Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NO3RR) is a promising and eco-friendly strategy for ammonia production. However, the sluggish kinetics of the eight-electron transfer process and poor mechanistic understanding strongly impedes its application. To unveil the internal laws, herein, a library of Pd-based bimetallene with various transition metal dopants (PdM (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)) are screened to learn their structure-activity relationship towards NO3RR. The ultra-thin structure of metallene greatly facilitates the exposure of active sites, and the transition metals dopants break the electronic balance and upshift its d-band center, thus optimizing intermediates adsorption. The anisotropic electronic characteristics of these transition metals make the NO3RR activity in the order of PdCu>PdCo≈PdFe>PdNi>Pd, and a record-high NH3 yield rate of 295 mg h-1 mgcat -1 along with Faradaic efficiency of 90.9 % is achieved in neutral electrolyte on PdCu bimetallene. Detailed studies further reveal that the moderate N-species (*NO3 and *NO2) adsorption ability, enhanced *NO activation, and reduced HER activity facilitate the NH3 production. We believe our results will give a systematic guidance to the future design of NO3RR catalysts.

Introducing active sites and regulating electron distribution to design Mo and P co-doped Ni for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

NiMoP electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are received widespread concern, but the mechanism of Mo/P atoms for improving the HER activity still need to be revealed in details. Herein, we synthesize the Mo/P co-doped Ni (NMP) electrocatalysts, and the alkaline HER performances are tested. The NMP exhibit the excellent activity, durability and stability of material characters. Based on the results of experiments and density functional theory calculations, it is found that the introduced P atoms can regulate the electron redistribution, which can result in enhancing the reaction kinetic, increasing the active sites and charge exchange capacity. Besides, it leads the doped Mo to become the active site in both Volmer and Heyrovsky processes, and Ni bonded to Mo and Ni atoms exhibit the increasing activity. The obtained results display a deeper understanding for the doped metal and non-metallic atoms in enhancing HER activity of Ni, which is of great significant for designing the highly efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for producing hydrogen.

Unlocking the Potential of Metal-Doping Fe2O3/Rice Husk Ash Catalysts for Low-Temperature CO-SCR Enhancement.

Transition metal oxides are efficient bifunctional catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NOx) using CO. Nonetheless, their poor activity at lower temperatures constrains broader industrial application. Herein, we propose an optimized Fe2O3-based catalyst through strategic metal doping with Cu, Co, or Ce, which engenders a harmonious balance for the synergistic removal of CO and NOx. Among the developed catalysts, Co-doped Fe2O3, supported by rice husk ash, demonstrates superior low-temperature CO-SCR activity, achieving CO and NOx conversion ratios and N2 selectivity above 98.5% at 100-500 °C. The enhanced catalytic performance is attributed to the catalyst's improved redox properties and acidity, engendered by strong Fe-Ox-Co interactions. Furthermore, the CO-SCR reaction adheres to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal mechanisms. Our findings shed light on the future industrial application of low-temperature CO and NOx near-zero emission technology and provide a strategy for the design of low-cost SCR catalysts.

Enhancing photocatalytic performance of Cu6Fe2SnS8 by N doping using magnetic grinding method

Nitrogen doped quaternary metal sulfide Cu6Fe2SnS8 (CFTS) was prepared by magnetic grinding. The mechanochemical method has the advantage of simple synthesis of non-metallic doped polymetallic sulfides, and there is no solvent involved in the reaction process, which is very environmentally friendly. Non metallic doping can form electron capture centers on semiconductors, suppress the recombination of photo generated electron hole pairs, and extend electron lifetime. Moreover, doping N element into the CFTS lattice will lead to the formation of new energy states, thereby narrowing the energy band gap. The characterizations of XPS and EDS have proven the successful doping of N element into CFTS. In addition, the photocatalytic mechanism and the stability of the N-doped CFTS (N-CFTS) were studied through active substance capture experiments and cyclic experiments. The experimental results indicate that ·O2− is the main active substance in the degradation of MB by N-CFTS. After multiple cyclic experiment, the N-CFTS catalytic material still exhibits good crystal structure and photocatalytic stability. This photocatalytic material has great potential for applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.