High Purity Research Articles

A new approach for extracellular RNA recovery from Rhodovulum sulfidophilum

The development of RNA-based drugs is highly pursued due to the possibility of creating viable and effective therapies. However, their translation to clinical practice strongly depends on efficient technologies to produce substantial levels of these biomolecules, with high purity and high quality. RNAs are commonly produced by chemical or enzymatic methods, displaying these limitations. In this sense, recombinant production arises as a promising, cost-effective method, allowing large-scale production of RNA. Rhodovulum sulfidophilum (R. sulfidophilum), a marine purple bacterium, offers the advantage of RNA secretion into the extracellular medium, which contains low levels of RNases and other impurities. Therefore, RNA recovery can be simplified compared to standard extraction protocols involving cell lysis, resulting in a more clarified sample and an improved downstream process. In this work, R. sulfidophilum was transformed with a plasmid DNA encoding pre-miR-29b-1, which is known to be involved in the Alzheimer's disease pathway. After production, the pre-miR-29b-1 was recovered through different extraction methods to verify the most advantageous one. A protocol for extracellular RNA recovery was then established, revealing to be a simpler and less time-consuming method, reducing around 16 h in execution time and the quantity of reagents needed when compared to other established methods. The new strategy brings the additional advantage of eliminating the toxic organic compounds routinely used in intracellular RNA extractions. Overall, the optimized process described here, using isopropanol as the precipitation agent, offers a greener, safer, and faster alternative for recombinant RNA recovery and concentration, with an extracellular RNA recovery of 7 μg/mL and target pre-miRNA-29b-1 recovery of 0.7 μg/L of medium.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Conversion of Micrometer-Sized BiI3 into BiOI Nanoflakes for Photocatalytic Applications

This work describes a novel method for converting bismuth triiodide (BiI3) microplates into bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) nanoflakes under ultrasonic irradiation. To produce BiOI nanoflakes with a high yield and high purity, the conversion process was carefully adjusted. Rapid reaction kinetics and increased mass transfer are benefits of the ultrasonic-assisted approach that result in well-defined converted BiOI nanostructures with superior characteristics. The produced BiOI nanoflakes were examined utilizing a range of analytical methods, such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The progress in the ultrasonic conversion process with time was monitored through diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The outcomes demonstrated the effective conversion of BiI3 microplates into crystalline, homogeneous, high-surface-area BiOI nanoflakes. Additionally, the degradation of organic dyes (methylene blue) under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation was used to assess the photocatalytic efficacy of the produced BiOI nanoflakes. Because of their distinct morphology and electrical structure, the BiOI nanoflakes remarkably demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic activity, outperforming traditional photocatalysts. The ability of BiOI nanoflakes to effectively separate and utilize visible light photons makes them a viable option for environmental remediation applications. This work not only shows the promise of BiOI nanoflakes for sustainable photocatalytic applications but also demonstrates a simple and scalable approach to their manufacturing. The knowledge gathered from this work opens up new avenues for investigating ultrasonic-assisted techniques for creating sophisticated nanomaterials with customized characteristics for a range of technological uses.

Foliar application of rice husk derived nanosilica for mitigating drought stress in hybrid maize by boosting antioxidant defense system

The increasing frequency and intensity of drought magnified by the climate change, pose significant challenge to global food security and agricultural productivity. Chemically synthesized nanosilica have emerged as a promising solution for managing drought stress, enhancing crop growth and stress resilience but, its production involves harmful chemicals which results in adverse impacts on soil, plant and environment. Hence, the present study aimed to green synthesize and characterize silicon nanoparticles from rice husk and to evaluate their potential for improving plant growth, development and stress mitigation in hybrid maize. The rice husk derived nanosilica has spherical morphology, amorphous nature, siloxane bonds and high purity (99 %). Five different levels of nanosilica (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 %) were sprayed on hybrid maize grown under irrigated and drought conditions and the results revealed that, nanosilica spray has improved the stress tolerance, growth and photosynthetic parameters. An optimum response was noted with the nanosilica spray upto 0.10 % in irrigated plants and 0.15 % in drought stressed plants, where greater increase in plant height (27.7 and 28.9 %), total biomass (55.7 and 39.1 %), chlorophyll a (36.7 and 54.5 %), relative water content (12.5 and 24.9 %) and superoxide dismutase (23.0 and 35.7 %) activity was observed. This was ascribed to the alleviation of membrane damage by reduced melondialdehyde content (18.9 and 21.4 %) and electrolyte leakage (21.9 and 26.7 %) under irrigated and drought regimes. However, higher doses of nanosilica caused slight reduction in plant growth and antioxidant activity. We conclude that, foliar spraying of nanosilica synthesized from rice husk at a concentration of 0.10 % for irrigated and 0.15 % for hybrid maize exposed to drought stress has shown a positive effect on plant growth and stress mitigation. Nanosilica synthesised from rice husk is economical, environmentally feasible and efficiently boosts plant growth and stress tolerance. Further, to confirm the role of rice husk derived nanosilica in plant stress tolerance, the comprehensive molecular mechanisms underpinning the stress mitigation has to be studied in detail.

Analysis of chemical properties for biodiesel derived from crude palm oil

AbstractHigh biodiesel purity (98.86% to 99.54%) has been achieved using cooking oil, which undergoes various purification stages before being sold. This inherent purity contributes to the high biodiesel purity produced during solvent‐aided crystallization (SAC). This study aims to investigate the performance of SAC using unpurified oil as the feedstock for crude biodiesel preparation. Crude palm oil (CPO) was used as the feedstock, and the effects of crystallization temperature (6, 8, 10, 12, and 14°C), crystallization time (20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 min), and shaking speed (32, 43, 61, 71, and 84 rpm) were measured. The highest biodiesel purity achieved was 99.05% at 6°C crystallization temperature, 30 min crystallization time, and medium shaking speed. Additionally, all samples met international standards EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 for chemical properties, including iodine and acid value analysis. These results suggest that SAC is an effective method for producing high‐quality biodiesel from less refined feedstock, potentially lowering production costs and expanding the range of viable raw materials for biodiesel production.

Optimised syntheses and purifications of 3-aryl/heterocyclic dihydrobis- and hydrotris-(pyrazolyl)borate ligands as their alkali salts.

Though poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands, namely dihydrobis(pyrazolyl)borate (Bp) and hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate (Tp), have been used in coordination chemistry for decades, their synthesis and purification are of great importance, when targeting high purity and yield of metal complexes. As borohydride substitutions is temperature and pyrazolyl dependent, determining the reaction conditions for each ligand is non-trivial and does not always result in a temperature where only the desired products form. Herein we report the purification of two known TpR (R = phenyl, 2'-thienyl), as their tris-substituted temperatures coincide with their tetrakis-temperatures via fraction crystallisation from MeCN, and an optimised safe procedure for 3-aryl/heterocyclic BpR ligands (R = 2'-pyridyl, 2'-furyl, 2'-thineyl). These novel techniques allow for the safe isolation of alkali salts of poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands in high yields and purities without the use of highly toxic thallium(i) salts.

A Spy Chemistry-Based Method for Purification of Proteins with Authentic N-Termini

Protein purification is essential in life sciences and biomanufacturing. Tag-mediated protein affinity chromatography (AC) enables the preparation of recombinant proteins with medium to high purity. However, traditional AC methods often require expensive resins and additional tag removal steps. Here, we introduce a purification method for proteins with authentic N-termini based on reusable SpyDock-modified epoxy resin and a pH-inducible self-cleavage intein. This method was validated using SpyTag002-fused red fluorescent protein (RFP) and applied to purify three model proteins: glutathione S-transferase (GST), human growth hormone (hGH), and the nanobody caplacizumab, directly from cell lysates. The purified proteins achieved high purities (92–98%) and comparable yields to the commercial His-tag method. The preparation of the SpyDock-modified resin is straightforward, and SpyDock can be easily produced via standard Escherichia coli fermentation processes, making it potentially suitable for industrial-scale applications.

Ions‐induced Assembly of Perovskite Nanocomposites for Highly Efficient Light‐Emitting Diodes with EQE Exceeding 30%

AbstractMetal halide perovskites, a cost‐effective class of semiconductos, hold great promise for display technologies that demand high‐efficiency, color‐pure light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Early research on three‐dimensional (3D) perovskites showed low radiative efficiencies due to modest exciton binding energies. To inprove luminescence, reducing dimensionality or grain size has been a common approach. However, dividing the perovskite lattice into smaller units may hinder carrier transport, compromising electrical performance. Moreover, the increased surface area introduce additional surface trap states, leading to greater non‐radiative recombination. Here, an ions‐induced growth method is employed to assembe lattice‐anchored perovskite nanocomposites for efficient LEDs with high color purity. This approach enables the nanocomposite thin films, composed of 3D CsPbBr3 and its variant of zero‐dimensional (0D) Cs4PbBr6, to feature significant low trap‐assisted nonradiative recombination, enhanced light out‐coupling with a corrugated surface, and well‐balanced charge carrier transport. Based on the resultant 3D/0D perovskite nanocomposites, the perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) achieving an remarkable external quantum efficiency of 31.0% at the emission peak of 521 nm with a narrow full width at half‐maximum of only 18 nm. This sets a new benchmark for color purity in high performance PeLED research, highlighting the significant advantage of this approach.

Effect of zinc oxide-eugenol endodontic paste on planktonic aggregates and biofilm of Enterococcus faecalis - An atomic force microscopy evaluation

ObjectiveThis work aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of zinc oxide-eugenol paste (ZOE) on planktonic aggregates (EfPA) and biofilm (EfBio) of Enterococcus faecalis, focusing on their morphological aspects observed and analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). DesignThe eugenol and paste were characterized by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The effect of ZOE on EfPA and EfBio was evaluated by a direct-contact test through colony counting and crystal violet staining protocol. AFM images of untreated and treated EfPA and EfBio growth on bovine dentin were obtained to analyze the morphological damage caused by the treatments. ResultsThe characterization showed high purity in the eugenol composition and chemical interaction between the components of the paste. A bactericidal effect on aggregates was observed after 6 h of exposure, and on biofilm after 24 h of treatment (p < 0.001). A disruptive effect on the biofilm was also evident. AFM images revealed the formation of EfPA, with a notable presence of an exopolysaccharide matrix. After 6 h of ZOE treatment, there was a significant increase in the size and surface roughness profile of treated cells (p < 0.05). Loss of typical cell morphology was observed after 24 h. The effect on the biofilm showed a tendency towards a less condensed biofilm pattern in the treated group, with no differences in surface roughness. ConclusionZOE presents bactericidal action on EfPA and EfBio, promoting significant morphological changes after treatment, especially in the aggregates.

Optimized ceramic membrane-based method for efficient and acid-free rice protein preparation from alkaline extracts

Rice protein, stands out as a high-quality plant-based protein, suitable for dietary supplementation and food processing. Traditional methods, involving alkaline extraction and acid precipitation, are challenged by the extensive use of chemicals and the difficulty in desalination. This study proposed a novel separation method that utilizes ceramic membranes for direct alkali filtration, eliminating the formation of salts by acid neutralization. The membrane pore size and the operating parameters such as transmembrane pressure, cross-flow velocity, and pH were optimized to enable a high flux (>80 L m−2·h−1) and favorable protein rejection (>95 %) while permitting the removal of excess alkali. Additionally, the effects of non-protein substances, e.g., starch, present in the alkaline extract on the separation performance were explored. Subsequently, an optimized strategy for starch removal was proposed, involving the concentration of the alkali extract using an ultrafiltration membrane, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of starch and diafiltration to eliminate the residuals of starch hydrolysates and alkali. Under stabilization of protein particles by carboxymethyl cellulose, rice protein with a uniform particle size of 25 nm and a purity of over 80 % was produced. The direct removal of alkali from alkali extracts of rice by ceramic membranes presents a promising strategy for producing rice protein with high purity and reduced aggregation degree, enabling better functionalities such as solubility than the conventional alkali-extraction and acid-precipitation method.

Recent advances on strategies and technologies for isolation of bovine milk-derived exosomes: An overview

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that play an important role in intercellular communication by facilitating the transfer of cell-specific constituents of the source cell to the recipient cell. They are secreted by various cell types and are available in all body fluids. Milk has been a part of the human diet since ages and is known to contain diverse bioactive components, including exosomes. Milk-derived exosomes (MDE) contain specific cargo with proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other bioactive molecules that help in cell-to-cell communication and can alter the biological and physical processes of the recipient cells. These MDE can act as excellent nanocarriers for the delivery of drugs due to their stability and low immunogenicity. In this comprehensive review, the conventional isolation strategies based on ultracentrifugation, immunocapture, polymer-based precipitation, and chromatography and also the emerging technologies like microfluidic chips are discussed in detail. These provide functionally intact exosomes with high recovery rate. The available methods have one or the other limitations which pose challenges for the downstream analysis. Hence, integration of different methods is the most effective way to isolate exosomes with high recovery rate, purity and intact biological functions that open new avenues for exploring the therapeutic potential of MDE improving health and developing innovative medical interventions.

Evaluation of an automated synthesis method for [18F]Fluoromisonidazole using a Scintomics GRP® module

There is limited information on utilizing commercially supplied [18F]Fluoride from an off-site cyclotron for the synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals. This study explored the production of the PET hypoxia marker [18F]FMISO, using the Scintomics® GRP module and distantly produced [18F]Fluoride, which lacks published data. A radiochemical yield of 27.4 ± 3.6% (n = 5) and high radiochemical purity were achieved in synthesis time of 48 min. The [18F]FMISO met all Ph. Eur. standards, demonstrating the consistency and reliability of the module in generating a clinical-grade radiopharmaceutical using off-site produced [18F]Fluoride, but available patient doses were severely limited.

Red‐Emitting Pyrazole Azo Hydrazone and Its Metal Complexes for Photophysical Probing, Latent Fingerprints, Anti‐counterfeiting, and Biological Studies

ABSTRACTThe present paper discusses the synthesis of unprecedented red‐emitting mono‐azo compound pyrazole azo fluorescent tag (PAFT) by a diazotization method, followed by an electrophilic substitution reaction. Further, the metal complex of PAFT is also prepared by refluxing the ethanolic solution of the ligand with the corresponding metal (RuCl3 and C4H6CuO4.H2O) salts under suitable experimental conditions. The synthesized fluorophore PAFT displays intense fluorescence in the aggregate state and has excellent qualities, including high purity, low cost, eco‐friendliness, and good photostability. These unique characteristics of PAFT led to the development of new fluorescence‐based technology for the in situ viewing of latent fingerprints. Various spectroscopic and analytical techniques are used to confirm the structural characteristics of the synthesized compounds, including UV–Vis, FT‐IR, (1H) NMR, HRMS, TGA, VSM, ESR, and powder XRD methods. The potency of the antibacterial activity of the compounds was evaluated. The results revealed that compound PAFT and [Ru(PAFT)Cl3] H2O showed excellent sensitivity at 0.8 μL/mL against the Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

Evaluating the radioactivity and health risks in oil and gas production areas: insights from Titas Gas Field, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Conducting comprehensive studies of radioactivity and associated risk assessments in the oil and gas industry is crucial due to the potential accumulation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in production operations. This pioneering study investigates radioactivity levels in surface soil from the Titas Gas Field area in Bangladesh by a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector, a crucial resource of the nation’s energy infrastructure. In surface soil, the activity of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K varied from 18–41 Bq/kg, 28–62 Bq/kg, and 280–600 Bq/kg, respectively. Particularly, the levels of 232Th exceeded the global average value for soil. These elevated 232Th levels are likely attributed to a combination of natural geological processes of enriching thorium bearing minerals, geochemical processes favouring thorium retention and human activities selectively impacting these radionuclides. The estimated of radiological risk reveals that some indices exceed recommended limits, hence pose a concern for public health. The study recommends periodic monitoring, public awareness campaigns, remediation efforts, and long-term management strategies to protect environmental and public health. The findings of this research underscore the critical need to recognise and address radiological hazards associated with gas extraction activities to safeguard the health and safety of workers and nearby communities in Bangladesh.

Recent Applications and Future Trends of Nanostructured Thin Films-Based Gas Sensors Produced by Magnetron Sputtering

The field of gas sensors has been developing for the last year due to the necessity of characterizing compounds and, in particular, volatile organic compounds whose detection can be of special interest in a vast range of applications that extend from clinical evaluation to environmental monitoring. Among all the potential techniques to develop sensors, magnetron sputtering has emerged as one of the most suitable methodologies for the production of large-scale uniform coatings, with high packing density and strong adhesion to the substrate at relatively low substrate temperatures. Furthermore, it presents elevated deposition rates, allows the growth of thin films with high purity, permits a precise control of film thickness, enables the simple manufacturing of sensors with low power consumption and, consequently, low costs involved in the production. This work reviewed all the current applications of gas sensors developed through magnetron sputtering in the field of VOCs assessment by gathering the most relevant scientific works published. A total of 10 compounds were considered for this work. Additionally, 13 other compounds were identified as promising targets and classified as future trends in this field. Overall, this work summarizes the state-of-the-art in the field of gas sensors developed by magnetron sputtering technology, allowing the scientific community to take a step forward in this field and explore new research areas.

Synthesis, Characterization and Molecular Docking Study of New 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives

In this study, a series of 5-(5-{(Z)-[(4-R1)methylidene]amino}-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzene-1,2,3-triol (L1-3), and 4-(5-{(Z)-[(4-R1)methylidene]amino}-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzene-1,2-diol (L4-6) compounds were synthesized, where R1 = 4-Nitro, 4-bromo, 4-chloro. The reaction between benzoic acid derivatives and hydrazinecarbothioamide in the basic medium gave the intended products with high yield and purity. The preparation of the compounds was confirmed by spectroscopic measurements in addition to physical properties. The biological properties of the prepared compounds were studied by molecular docking. The binding interaction between the new synthesized derivatives of 1,3,4-thiadiazole and the target, ADP-sugar pyrophosphatase, was studied. One of these 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives, 5-(5-{(Z)-[(4-nitrophenyl)methylidene]amino}-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzene-1,2,3-triol (L3) showed a high binding and coordination with its target. Molecular docking showed a docking score = −8.9 kcal/mol and MM-GBSA = −31.5 kcal/mol. The molecular docking estimation for the (L3) compound exhibited that four hydrogen bonds were created with NUDT5 Gene.

Synergistic action of novel maltohexaose-forming amylase and branching enzyme improves the enzymatic conversion of starch to specific maltooligosaccharide

As attractive functional ingredients, maltooligosaccharides (MOS) are typically prepared by controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of starch. However, the random attack mode of amylase often leads to discrete product distribution, thereby reducing yields and purities. In this study, a novel glycoside hydrolase family 13 amylase AmyEs from marine myxobacteria Enhygromyxa salina was identified efficient maltohexaose (G6)-forming ability (40 %, w/w). By deciphering external chain length, we found that the high density of α-1,6-branching points benefits the G6 formation of AmyEs with high purity (71–82 %), indicating the substrate selectivity of AmyEs toward high-branched starch. Based on this, asynchronous conversion strategy was designed to enhance specific MOS yield from corn starch by exploiting branching enzymes and AmyEs, and the purity and yield of G6 respectively increased by 9.5 % and 5 % compared to single AmyEs treatment. Our results demonstrate that combinatorial catalysis of MOS-forming amylases and branching enzymes provides a favorable industrial preparation of specific MOS.

Off-Normal Polarized Single-Photon Emission with Anisotropic Holography Metasurfaces.

Solid-state quantum emitters (QEs) with arbitrary direction emission and well-defined polarization are critical for scalable single-photon sources and quantum information processing. However, the design strategy for on-chip generation of off-normal photon emission with high-purity polarization characteristics has so far remained elusive. Here, we introduce the anisotropic holography metasurfaces for efficiently manipulating the emission direction and polarization of QE. The proposed method offers a flexible way to realize phase matching in surface plasmon scattering with spatially varying filling factors and provides an efficient route for designing advanced QE-coupled metasurfaces. By nonradiatively coupling nanodiamonds with metasurfaces, we experimentally demonstrate on-chip generation of well-collimated single-photon emission propagating along off-normal directions (i.e., 20° and 30°) featuring a divergence angle lower than 2.5°. The experimental average degree of linear polarization attains up to >0.98, thereby revealing markedly high polarization purity. This study facilitates applications of QEs in the deployment of integrated quantum networks.

The effect of carbon addition on the synthesis process and the physical/electrocatalytic properties of FeTiO3 nanopowder produced by solution combustion synthesis method

The FeTiO3 nanopowder is a vital engineering material known for its exceptional performance in energy generation, storage, electrochemical sensors, and catalysis. However, synthesizing FeTiO3 nanopowder with high crystallinity and phase purity typically requires specialized equipment and controlled heat treatment due to the instability of Fe2+ ions. Using the one-step solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method, FeTiO3 nanopowder withe high crystallinity were successfully produced utilizing basic equipment. Additionally, the influence of carbon additives on phase transitions, as well as the physical and physicochemical properties of the synthesized powder, was examined. XRD results indicate that increasing the amount of fuel, particularly glycine, creates a stable environment for the crystallization of FeTiO3 nanoparticles. Moreover, enhancing the carbon content in precursor solutions with urea enhances reduction conditions and boosts the stability of FeTiO3 in the final product. The presence of carbon additives in glycine-fuel samples leads to unfavorable outcomes by increasing the levels of TiO2 and Fe3O4 undesirable phases. Incorporating additive carbon into the urea-synthesized precursor solution resulted in a particle size increase exceeding 50 nm and raised the combustion temperature by a minimum of 230 °C. Furthermore, the presence of 15 wt% additive carbon in the sample synthesized with glycine improved the specific surface area of particles from 2.44 m2/g to 18.41 m2/g. Obtained results have shown that achieving high crystallinity of FeTiO3 nanopowder is feasible through a one-step solution combustion synthesis process. This can be accomplished by carefully choosing the synthesis conditions, such as the type and quantity of fuel, along with the carbon additive.

Synergistic antibacterial effects of selenium-doped gold nanosheets with notable near infrared-II photothermal conversion against multidrug-resistant bacteria

Non-metallic nanoparticles are increasingly acknowledged for their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties, which often face limitations due to structural instability and potential biotoxicity. To address these challenges, integrating non-metallic nanoparticles with plasmonic metal nanostructures offers a promising solution. This fusion not only enhances structural stability but also reduces the required dosage. The synergistic coupling of the inherent antibacterial properties of non-metallic nanoparticles with the plasmonic absorption and photothermal conversion capabilities of metal nanostructures significantly amplifies antibacterial efficacy. In this study, we validate this concept by presenting the successful synthesis of selenium-doped gold nanosheets (AuSe NSs) that demonstrate robust absorption in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window and exhibit efficient photothermal conversion, followed by testing their antibacterial activity. Notably, Au NSs were synthesized with high shape purity, followed by the introduction of SeO2 and ascorbic acid to facilitate Se doping. The resulting products displayed a uniform distribution of both Au and Se elements, while maintaining the NIR-II absorbance characteristic of Au nanosheets unaffected by the Se doping as evidenced by both experimental and FDTD simulation results. Subsequent assessments of the AuSe NSs demonstrated their potent synergistic antibacterial effects against multidrug-resistant bacteria at minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), which suggests that lower dosages can be employed and benefit minimizing potential side effects and optimizing treatment efficiency. Our findings indicate a synergistic boost between the photothermal attributes originating from Au's NIR absorption and Se's inherent antibacterial properties—an aspect minimally explored in prior research and offering a novel solution to tackling antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.

Hydrothermal growth of Zn2GeO4 nanorods for optical and (Photo)Catalytic applications: An experimental and theoretical study

From the material design perspective, we reported a systematic investigation based on theoretical and experimental approaches to explore the physical properties of Zn2GeO4 nanorods prepared by hydrothermal method with different zinc precursors for optical and (photo)catalytic applications. All ZGO samples exhibited uniform nanorod morphology with high purity and crystallinity. A negative zeta potential ranging from −13 mV to −16 mV have been observed for these nanorods. Bandgap values indicated variations among samples synthesized with different precursors. The photoluminescence and photocatalytic activities for these nanorods, have been attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies on the Zn2GeO4 surfaces. Experimental evidence suggests that these surface defects favor the formation of hydroxyl radicals identified as primary reactive oxygen species responsible for the methylene blue photodegradation. Toxicity testing of photocatalytic residues showed minimal phytotoxic effect on lettuce seed (Lactuca sativa) germination. Additionally, Zn2GeO4 was utilized as an acid catalyst for synthesizing isoxazol-5(4H)-ones, resulting in an increase in the yield from 69 % to 92 % by using this catalyst in multicomponent reactions. Lastly, the theoretical efforts outlined in the study aim to enhance the comprehension of the material design with well-defined morphology using realist theoretical models for the Zn2GeO4 nanorods for the first time.