Facile Sol-gel Method Research Articles

A light emitting device with TiO2:Er3+/ZnO heterostructure for enhanced near-infrared electroluminescence

Near-infrared (NIR) electroluminescence (EL) devices based on Er3+ ions doped TiO2 emitting layer have been fabricated by employing a facile sol–gel method. The effect of Er3+ ion doping concentration on the EL performance of TiO2:Er3+ thin film devices was investigated. Moreover, a novel device with the core of TiO2:1%Er3+/ZnO heterostructure was designed and fabricated. The EL performance of the device with optimized Er3+ ion doping concentration and improved structure was significantly improved. The NIR EL-enabling voltage of the improved device is as low as ∼5 V. The attenuated concentration quenching effect and the ZnO film as an electron blocking layer should contribute to the improved EL performance of the optimized device.

Mo-doping modulated cationic vacancy in Zn3V2O8 with enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries

Given diverse redox reactions and abundant raw materials, Zn3V2O8 with high specific capacity is considered as a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Same as other transition metal oxides, Zn3V2O8 suffers from infertile conductivity, sluggish ion diffusion and fast capacity loss derived from volume expansion during discharge/charge process, further hindering its application. In this work, a novel Mo doped Zn3V2O8 (Zn3V2-xMo5x/6O8) anode material with cationic vacancy (V vacancy) has been designed through a facile sol-gel method. It is found that a small Mo-doping amount has nearly no influence on the crystal structure, morphology and element valence states of Zn3V2O8. Mo doped Zn3V2O8 samples possess smaller charge transfer resistance and higher lithium ion diffusion coefficient. The results of electrochemical performance illustrate that Mo doped Zn3V2O8 can deliver higher reversible specific capacities and better rate capability compared with Zn3V2O8, which can be ascribed to the introduction of V vacancy. In particular, when Mo-doping amount is set as 0.03, the obtained Zn3V1.97Mo0.025O8 exhibits a reversible capacity of 481.1 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles at 1 A g−1. It is believed that this work could provide an effective and feasible strategy to construct high performance transition metal vanadate anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Boosting photocatalytic performance in Cu doped ZnO nanocomposites: Investigation of exciton-free carrier conversion and oxygen vacancy dynamics

The production of photocatalytic materials with strong light absorption ability and high quantum efficiency by simple means is a long-term goal of photocatalytic technology. In this work, we have synthesized Cu doped ZnO nanoparticles by a facile sol-gel method. By introducing Cu impurities, it is shown that the excitons in ZnO have been efficiently separated into free carriers, leading to optimized photocatalytic performance. The surface amorphous layers of the nanoparticles grew thicker at the introduction of Cu atoms into ZnO lattice, which boosted the photocatalytic ability due to the increase of surface oxygen vacancy concentration. This finding provides a direct evidence of quasi-particle-free carrier conversion in Cu doped ZnO, as well as a guidance for fabricating high efficiency ZnO based nano-photocatalysts.

Gd1-xFeO3 perovskite oxides for catalyzing oxygen evolution reaction via A-site cation deficiency in alkaline media

The main goal of this study is the development of nonprecious, highly effective, stable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction. In this work, we utilize a strategy to regulate the surface and structure of catalysts to boost the electrocatalytic activity and stability through A-site deficiency of Gd1-xFeO3 perovskites. We fabricated a novel perovskite structure with a nominal composition of Gd1-xFeO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) using a facile sol-gel method. The XRD analysis proves the existence of a single phase up to x = 0.1. The deficit of Gd in the crystalline structure favors the morphology with smaller aggregated and more pores with grain sizes ranging from 224 to 251 nm. The Gd0.95FeO3 catalyst shows excellent OER catalytic activity with an overpotential 413 mV at 10 mA.cm−2, attributed to the higher surface area (4.19 m2/g) and the amount of the high oxidative oxygen species (O2−/O−). It also exhibits a low Tafel slope (88 mV.dec−1) and a large electrochemical surface area (65.5), a low charge transfer resistance (103 Ω) and good durability for 8 h in practical operation. These remarkable electrochemical characteristics of Gd0.95FeO3 distinguish it as a suitable electrocatalyst for future water-splitting applications.

MOX-TiO2 (M=Pt, Pd, Ru) for alcoholysis reaction from furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate

Simple noble metal oxides (PtOx, PdOx, RuOx) based titanium dioxide (Pt–TiO2, Pd–TiO2, Ru–TiO2) were prepared using a facile sol-gel method. The conversion of furfuryl alcohol (FAL) to ethyl levulinate (EL) was studied. Full characterizations were performed using XRD, XPS, Raman and in situ FT-IR. An in-depth study of acidic strength and sites distribution (Brønsted or Lewis) was conducted by NH3-TPD, pyridine-IR. The profiles of H2-TPR and O2-TPD suggested enhanced reducibility and optimum oxygen storage capacity in Pt–TiO2. Remarkable FAL conversion (94.4%), EL yield (89.6%) with productivity (21.3 × 103 molEL/mmolPt h) and TOF (22.5 × 103 molFAL/mmolPt h) were obtained. Metal productivity follows the order: Pt (21.3 × 103 molEL/mmolPt h) > Ru (11.5 × 103 molEL/mmolRu h) > Pd (3.6 × 103 molEL/mmolPd h). Two different reaction pathways were proposed. From computational calculations of charge density differences and Ead value, a robust electron transfer capacity was found in Pt–TiO2, as well as an advantageous FAL adsorption as compared to other catalytic systems.

Carbamide-mediated facile sol-gel synthesis of porous flower-like ZnCo2O4 microspheres for high-performance asymmetric coin cell supercapacitors

The design and development of ultrahigh-performance nanomaterials possessing novel characteristics are needed to achieve reliable energy storage performance. To satisfy the needs, diverse electrode materials are explored. Even though carbon-based materials hold high surface area and conductivity, their specific capacitance value fails to deliver high-performance applications. Therefore, pseudocapacitive transition metal oxide is adopted to overcome these issues. Among all Zinc Cobaltite, a binary transition metal oxide is widely explored owing to its fascinating electrochemical properties. As most of the synthesis of these kinds of materials requires the hydro/solvothermal method, herein, we have proposed the concept of a facile sol-gel method to prepare this class of materials by using Carbamide as both structure director and fuel to achieve the porous flower-like Zinc Cobaltite. The prepared material delivers the notable gravimetric specific capacitance of 513.3 F g−1. Owing to its unique morphology and porous structure, ion channelization is feasible, which will enhance the electrochemical reaction. Constructed asymmetric coin cell supercapacitor showed an extraordinary specific capacitance of 106.5 F g−1 and energy density of 56.2 Wh kg−1, demonstrating an impressive ability to retain 89.6 % of its capacitance after 4000 cycles at a current density of 6 A g−1. Due to the remarkable electrochemical behavior, this work can act as a guiding tool for designing efficient and cost-effective energy storage devices that will hold prodigious potential in commercial energy storage applications.

Stable and reliable PEG/TiO2 phase change composite with enhanced thermal conductivity based on a facile sol-gel method without deionized water

Some shortcomings exist in organic phase change materials, including leakage susceptibility, low thermal conductivity, and preparation complexity. Herein, polyethylene glycol/titanium dioxide shape-stabilized composite phase change material (PEG/TiO2 ss-CPCM) was fabricated by facile sol-gel method without deionized water using tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT) as precursor. In this composite, not adding deionized water prolonged the gelation time, allowing PEG to bind as much TiO2 as possible and enhancing energy storage capability; TiO2 acted as the supporting framework to maintain the material's shape stability and enhance thermal conductivity. The melting and crystallization phase change enthalpies of prepared PEG/TiO2 ss-CPCM were 128.3 J/g and 113.1 J/g with an encapsulation efficiency of 74.14 % when PEG: TBOT = 1.5: 1. After repeating 300 thermal cycles, the phase change enthalpy remained almost constant. Besides, the thermal conductivity of PEG/TiO2 ss-CPCM was 1.22 times that of PEG, and the potential for thermal management applications. The advantages (energy storage capability, shape stability in thermal environments, thermal reliability, and thermal management) of the PEG/TiO2 ss-CPCM prepared by facile synthesis, not only propose a phase change material with excellent thermal properties and shape stabilization but provide a green and feasible strategy for the fabrication of PEG/TiO2 composite phase change materials utilizing the sol-gel method.

Mg-doped Na3V2-xMgx(PO4)2F3@C sodium ion cathodes with enhanced stability and rate capability

To address the inherent low conductivity challenge of NVPF, carbon-coated, Mg2+-doped Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (denoted as Na3V2-xMgx (PO4)2F3@C) have been synthesized via a facile sol-gel method. The samples are denoted as NVPF, NVPF-Mg01 (x = 0.01), NVPF-Mg03 (x = 0.03), NVPF-Mg05 (x = 0.05), NVPF-Mg07 (x = 0.07), and NVPF-Mg10 (x = 0.10). A comprehensive study of Mg2+ doping and its effects on the crystal structure and electrochemical features of NVPF is carried out using a combination of XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, GCD, CV, and EIS methodologies. The electrochemical performance of Na3V1.95Mg0.05(PO4)2F3@C (NVPF–Mg05) surpass others, with a specific capacity of 126.8 mAh g−1 at 0.1C (1C = 128 mAh g−1) and an impressive 96.72 % capacity retention over 100 cycles. At 10C, the initial discharge capacity is quantified at 102.3 mAh g−1, and the capacity retention reached 70% after 1000 cycles, surpassing 2000 cycles in overall cycling life. The discharge capacity at 0.1C is in close proximity to the theoretical specific capacity of NVPF, whereas at 10C, it experiences a notable increase of around 125.70% compared to undoped NVPF. The incorporation of Mg2+ through doping enhances the structural stability of NVPF, diminishes charge transfer impedance, and ameliorates the kinetics of NVPF.

B-site disorder driven Griffiths-like phase and electrochemical behavior in Y2NiCrO6 double perovskite

In this investigation, nanoparticles of B-site disordered Y2NiCrO6 (YNCO) double perovskite were synthesized by the facile sol–gel method to evaluate their magnetic and electrochemical properties. Their crystallographic structure is monoclinic and the average size of the particles is 79±16 nm. XPS analysis indicated a mixed oxidation states of B-site transition metals Ni2+/Ni3+ and Cr2+/Cr3+. The mixed valence states of Ni and Cr, along with the mixed magnetic phases of YNCO, constitute a signature of the B-site disorder. This antisite disorder contributed to the observation of a Griffiths-like phase arising from ferromagnetic short-range interactions above the magnetic transition up to the Griffiths temperature, T G = 137 K. The synthesized YNCO double perovskite demonstrated a promising behavior as an electrode material for electrochemical supercapacitors. In a three-electrode system, it displayed a specific capacitance of 270 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. In a symmetric two-electrode system, YNCO exhibited a specific capacitance of 180 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, alongside an energy density of 6.25 Wh kg−1 at 250 W kg−1 power density. In both cases, we employed a mild 0.5 M neutral aqueous Na2SO4 solution as the electrolyte, in contrast to the typically employed corrosive and concentrated alkaline aqueous solution. The fascinating magnetic and charge storage properties of the B-site disordered YNCO double perovskite indicate its potential for use in spintronic devices and as efficient electrodes in symmetric hybrid supercapacitors.

Synthesis of Cu3Fe4V6O24 Nanoparticles to Produce 1,2,3-Triazoles by Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Reactions.

This paper presents the fabrication of novel Cu3Fe4V6O24 nanoparticles (NPs) via a facile sol-gel method as efficient nanocatalysts (NCs) to produce azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition compounds. The effect of the calcination time on the formation of NPs was investigated. The as-prepared NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. Cu3Fe4V6O24 NCs were applied to azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions. The effect of the catalyst loading, temperature, and time of reaction was optimized to improve the efficiency of the NC function by the response surface methodology-central composite design (RSM-CCD) method. In optimal conditions, the yield of the reaction was 96%. In addition, the effect of different solvents on the yield of the reaction was investigated. Moreover, Cu3Fe4V6O24 NPs efficiently catalyze different 1,2,3-triazoles in excellent yields.

Nanostructured Composite of Starch/Silica Hybrid Decorated with Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic, Sonocatalytic, and Sonophotocatalytic

AbstractNanocomposite‐based heterostructure plays an important role in both industrial and advanced applications. A series of TiO2 nanoparticles decorated on silica/starch hybrid material (TiO2(x)@SiO2(x)@Starch nanocomposites) is synthesized using a facile sol–gel method. The intrinsic characteristics of the as‐prepared nanocomposites are studied using a variety of techniques. In this study, the degradation of paracetamol (PCT) is investigated in the presence of TiO2(x)@SiO2(x)@Starch nanocomposites. Photocatalysis and sonocatalysis systems are used separately and simultaneously in presence of sunlight and low‐power ultrasound. The adsorption results are essential factor in the degradation process. The non‐linear transform of the kinetics is further used to determine the characteristic parameters of TiO2(x)@SiO2(x)@Starch nanocomposites. The obtained results confirm that the experimental kinetic data follow the pseudo‐first order model in photocatalytic, sonocatalytic, and sonophotocatalytic processes but the rate constant of sonophotocatalysis is higher than the sum of it at photocatalysis and sonocatalysis process. This work develops a new sono‐photo active hybrid process for potential application in wastewater treatment. Additionally, the prepared TiO2 nanoparticles with silica/starch hybrid material perform antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity is increased parallel with the TiO2 percent. The broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity of nanocomposites is noticed at the highest percentage of TiO2 in TiO2(0.8)@SiO2(0.2)@Starch.

Catalytic Hydroconversion of Model Compounds over Ni/NiO@NC Nanoparticles.

The conversion of lignite into aromatic compounds by highly active catalysts is a key strategy for lignite valorization. In this study, Ni/NiO@NC nanocomposites with a high specific surface area and a vesicular structure were successfully prepared via a facile sol-gel method. The Ni/NiO@NC catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the catalytic hydroconversion (CHC) of benzyloxybenzene (as lignite-related modeling compounds) under mild conditions (120 °C, 1.5 MPa H2, 60 min). The possible mechanism of the catalytic reaction was investigated by analyzing the type and content of CHC reaction products at different temperatures, pressures, and times. More importantly, the magnetic catalyst could be conveniently separated by a magnet after the reaction, and it maintained high catalytic efficiency after six reuses. This study provides an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the cleavage of >CH-O bonds in lignite, thereby offering another way for improved utilization of lignite.

Dual-modified engineering suppressed the formation of Li-concentration gradient and oxygen vacancies for single-crystal Ni-rich layered cathodes

Ni-rich single-crystal layered cathodes, LiNixCoyMnzO2 (SC-NCM, x ≥ 0.6), have been considered as the most favorable candidates for next-generation high-performance batteries. However, the rapid lithium concentration gradient and increased oxygen vacancies, caused by electrode/electrolyte interface degradation, are the primary reasons leading to the formation of irreversible intergranular cracks and the deterioration of material properties. Herein, the dual-modified LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (SC-NCM622) nanoparticle with LiTaO3 protective layer containing Ta5+ is synthesized by a facile sol–gel method. The dual-modified strategy could provide rapid lithium-ion channels, effectively relieving stress evolution, polarization, and dynamic degradation of cathode materials during cycling. This strategy hinders the formation of oxygen vacancies on the cathode surface and prevents the development of intragranular cracks. As expected, the 2 wt% LTO@SC-NCM622 exhibits excellent capacity retention of 90.39 % at 1 C after 200 cycles. Even at 10 C, the 2 wt%LTO@SC-NCM622 retains a specific capacity of 88.7 mAh g−1 (82.7 %) after 500 cycles. This work offers guidance for the design of new stable Ni-rich cathodes for next-generation LIBs.

Enhanced performance of Sn-doped Na3V2(PO4)3 with CNT integration for high-efficiency sodium-ion batteries

The development of Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) has been severely hindered by low conductivity and unstable crystal structure. A simultaneously optimized strategy of Na-rich and Sn substitution is proposed for the first time. SnX-NVP@CNTs with different doping gradients are successfully prepared by the facile sol-gel method. Notably, more hole carriers can be generated by introducing Sn2+, thus improving its electron transport efficiency. In addition, since Sn2+ ions have a larger ion radius; when replacing V3+ ions at pillar positions, the lattice spacing can be enlarged to improve the structural stability of electrode materials. Meanwhile, it is beneficial to the movement of deep-level Na+ ions and improves the utilization rate of electrode materials. Moreover, to achieve charge compensation, it is necessary to introduce excess Na+ to the Sn-doped NVP system, which will increase the number of Na+ involved in the deintercalation process and improve its reversible capacity. Furthermore, the dense coating of CNTs can form an efficient conductive network structure, which improves the electron transport rate and inhibits the accumulation of active grains to accelerate Na+ diffusion. Under the synergistic adjustment of Sn2+ doping and CNTs enwrapping, the prepared Sn0.07-NVP@CNTs exhibit a high reversible capacity of 115.1 mAh/g at 0.1C, and the capacity retention rate reaches 89.35 % after 2000 cycles at 10C. Even after 10,000 cycles at 60C, its reversible capacity dropped from the initial 75.9 to 51.3 mAh/g, with a capacity loss of only 0.003 % per cycle. Besides, the Sn0.07-NVP@CNTs//CHC full battery releases a capacity of 139.9 mAh/g, highlighting its great potential for actual applications.

Synthesis of core-shell NiO/BFO nanocomposites for microwave absorbing applications

Magnetic core-shell nanostructures are often employed in high-performance microwave-absorbing applications due to their strong concurrent magnetic-dielectric losses. However, microwave absorbers designed using a single core-shell nanostructure may not attain the desired bandwidth of absorption. Herein, we introduce core-shell nanocomposites of (100-x)NiO/(x)BiFeO3 (x = 0, 25, 50, 75, & 100), prepared by a facile two-step sol-gel wet-chemical method for high-efficiency absorbing applications. Measurements of microwave absorption performance show that the core-shell 50NiO/50BiFeO3 (x = 50) nanocomposite exhibits a remarkable reflection loss of up to −27.3 dB at a matching thickness of 1.9 mm, and the corresponding −10 dB reflection loss bandwidth extends to 6.8 GHz (in X- and Ku-bands). The study suggests that the fabricated core-shell nanocomposite has the potential to be a promising candidate for lightweight microwave absorbing applications. This is evidenced by its showcased improved efficiency, attributed to the synergistic effects of magnetic-dielectric losses, multiple internal reflections, superior impedance matching, and enhanced interfacial polarization at NiO/BiFeO3 interfaces.

Red mud accommodated mesoporous black TiO2 framework with enhanced organic pollutant photodegradation.

In this work, black TiO2 (BTiO2) loaded on black red mud (BRM) was successfully prepared with the conversion of Fe2O3 into magnetic Fe3O4 in red mud and the reduction of partial Ti4+ to Ti3+ in TiO2 via the facile sol-gel method and H2 reduction treatment. The obtained low-cost BRM/BTiO2 composites exhibit remarkable photocatalytic degradation toward rhodamine B (91.2%) and tetracycline (83.6%) under visible light irradiation, much better than pristine TiO2. This enhancement is attributed to the narrow bandgap with the desired solar-light excitation, the black color with good solar-light absorption, and the heterojunctions with the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the desired magnetic separation of BRM/BTiO2 composites realizes the recycle and recovery of photocatalysts, favoring practical applications in environment. This work provides a cost-efficiency way to prepare RM-supported TiO2 composites for treating organic pollutants in the wastewater, which is of great significance to the comprehensive utilization of RM waste, the cost saving of the photocatalyst, and the visible-light active enhancement of TiO2.

Exploration of properties (crystallographic, morphological, optical) of nano cobalt aluminate synthesized by facile sol–gel method: Effects of sintering temperature

The present work reports on the facile sol–gel synthesis of CoAl2O4 nanoparticles using cobalt nitrate and aluminum nitrate as the metal salts and citric acid and glycerol as chelating agents. The consequence of sintering temperature on the structure, particle size, morphology, composition, zeta potential, color, and reflectance spectra at neutral pH condition were explored with various instrumental techniques. The CoAl2O4 nanoparticles were characterized with Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Nanoparticle size analyzer, Ultraviolet–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis-DRS) and CIE-Lab colorimetric method. From the data of PXRD, the crystallite size and peak profile analysis were investigated by four different models. It was found that the average crystallite size varied in the range of 28.01–320.97 nm and single-phase cubic CoAl2O4 was formed without any impurity. The average particle size of CoAl2O4 nanoparticles was discerned from the FESEM images using ImageJ software and from a nanoparticle size analyzer. The average particle sizes were increased with the increasing sintering temperature. The values of zeta potential found in all of the samples represented high dispersion stability. From the colorimetry of CoAl2O4 nanoparticles, the CIE-La*b* output illustrated high purity and brightness and the spectra.

Simultaneous Mn and Cl doping on Na3V2(PO4)3 with high performance for full sodium-ion batteries.

Nowadays, the poor conductivity and unstable structure have become obstacles for the popularization of Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP). In the current work, a dual-modified Mn0.1Cl0.3-NVP composite doped with Mn and Cl is prepared by a facile sol-gel method. When Mn2+ with a large ionic radius replaces small V3+, it can improve the stability of the NVP crystal structure. In addition, the replacement of V3+ by Mn2+ in a low valence state can generate redundant hole carriers, which is conducive to the rapid transport of electrons. The substitution of PO43- by Cl-, which is more electronegative, can reduce the impedance and facilitate the movement of Na+. Owing to the synergistic effect of Mn and Cl co-substitution, the structural stability of NVP was systematically enhanced, and the electron transfer and ion diffusion were effectively improved. Consequently, the optimized Mn0.1Cl0.3-NVP sample demonstrated superior electrochemical performance and kinetic properties. It exhibited a high reversible capacity of 109.2 mA h g-1 at 0.1C. Even at 15 and 30C, high discharge capacities of 70.3 mA h g-1 and 68.2 mA h g-1 were observed after 2000 cycles with capacity retention above 80%. Moreover, it delivered remarkable capacities of 77.1 and 73.4 mA h g-1 at 100 and 200C with retained capacity values of 50.3 and 47 mA h g-1, respectively, after 2000 cycles. Furthermore, the assembled Mn0.1Cl0.3-NVP//HC full cell delivered a high value of 94.7 mA h g-1 and lit LED bulbs, indicating its excellent application potential.

Melatonin-loaded mesoporous zinc- and gallium-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles to control infection and bone repair.

Effective treatment of infected bone defects resulting from multi-drug resistant bacteria (MDR) has emerged as a significant clinical challenge, highlighting the pressing demand for potent antibacterial bone graft substitutes. Mesoporous nanoparticles have been introduced as a promising class of biomaterials offering significant properties for treating bone infections. Herein, we synthesize antibacterial mesoporous hydroxyapatite substituted with zinc and gallium (Zn-Ga:mHA) nanoparticles using a facile sol-gel method. The resulting mesoporous nanoparticles are applied for the controlled release of melatonin (Mel). Zn-Ga:mHA nanoparticles with an average particle size of 36 ± 3 nm and pore size of 10.6 ± 0.4 nm reveal a Mel loading efficiency of 58 ± 1%. Results show that 50% of Mel is released within 20 h and its long-term release is recorded up to 50 h. The Zn-Ga:mHA nanoparticles exhibit highly effective antibacterial performance as reflected by a 19 ± 1% and 8 ± 2% viability reduction in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus bacteria, respectively. Noticeably, Mel-loaded Zn-Ga:mHA nanoparticles are also cytocompatible and stimulate in vitro osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) without any osteoinductive factor. In vivo studies in a rabbit skull also show significant regeneration of bone during 14 days. In summary, Mel-loaded Zn-Ga:mHA nanoparticles provide great potential as an antibacterial and osteogenic component in bone substitutes like hydrogels, scaffolds, and coatings.

Exploration of anode candidacy of Ni0.2Co2.8O4 and integrated Ni0.2Co2.8O4/MWCNTs in supercapacitor and oxygen evolution reaction

In the current research work, Ni0.2Co2.8O4 and Ni0.2Co2.8/MWCNTs have been synthesized via facile sol-gel and wet impregnation method. The synthesized materials attained the crystalline structures as evident from X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The uniform morphology and well dispersion of Ni0.2Co2.8O4 onto MWCNTs was observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical investigations for supercapacitor application by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that, among both materials, Ni0.2Co2.8O4/MWCNTs has high specific capacitance (CV; 505.8 Fg-1 at 5 mV/s, GCD; 1598 Fg-1 at 0.5 A/g), greater capacitance retention (85 %) at 1000 cycles and has lower charge transfer resistance (Rct; 3.48 Ω cm2). These findings reflected the potential candidacy of Ni0.2Co2.8O4/MWCNTs to be used as anode material in supercapacitor. Further investigations by CV and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity in 1.0 M KOH showed comparatively low over potential of 340 mV @100 mA/cm2 for the same integrated material. Additionally, the lower Tafel slope (47 mV/dec) and solution resistance authenticated it as an appropriate electrocatalyst for OER in water splitting. The CPE (controlled potential electrolysis) revealed the stability of both materials for OER in water oxidation.