Pyrolysis Method Research Articles

Toxicity assessment and bioimaging potential of carbon dots synthesized from banana peel in zebrafish model

Zebrafish serve as a pivotal model for bioimaging and toxicity assessments; however, the toxicity of banana peel-derived carbon dots in zebrafish has not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of carbon dots derived from banana peel in zebrafish, focusing on two types prepared through hydrothermal and pyrolysis methods. Banana peels were synthesized using hydrothermal and pyrolysis techniques and then compared for characteristics, bioimaging ability, and toxicity in zebrafish as an animal model. Pyrolysis-derived banana peel and hydrothermal-derived banana peel showed blue emission under ultraviolet light, indicating excitation-dependent behavior. To test their potential application for bioimaging, a soaking method was used using zebrafish that showed fluorescence intensity in the eyes, abdomen, and tail of zebrafish. Toxicity comparison showed that pyrolysis-derived banana peel had lower toxicity with 50% lethal concentrations (LC50) of 1707.3 ppm than hydrothermal-derived banana peel (LC50 993 ppm) in zebrafish. Both types of carbon dots showed significant differences (p<0.05) in hatching rates at 96 and 120 hours of exposure. Of the two methods for carbon dot synthesis from banana peel, the pyrolysis method had a higher toxicity threshold than the hydrothermal method, as indicated by the LC50 value and the number of zebrafish embryos that died, hatched delayed, and experienced malformation during their development.

Comparison of ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis and Consecutive Method for UV-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

ZnO is a semiconductor material that is widely used for many applications in industries such as solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, food packaging, photocatalytic, anti-microbial, light-emitting diode devices, and gas sensors. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have been successfully synthesized using two methods, namely spray pyrolysis and a consecutive method. The consecutive method is a combination of sol-gel and spray drying methods. The objective of this study is to investigate the photocatalytic performance of ZnO fabricated using those methods. Both methods used the same precursor, zinc acetate dehydrate as a source of zinc, but with different solvents and additives. Based on the X-ray diffraction pattern, the ZnO NPs synthesized using spray pyrolysis and a consecutive method exhibited similar polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structures. The large crystal sizes of ZnO NPs were obtained using a consecutive method, sol-gel followed by spray drying, in comparison with those from the ZnO spray pyrolysis. In contrast, the particle size of ZnO prepared by the consecutive method was in a smaller range. The SEM analysis implied that the ZnO structures had surface defects. In the UV-driven photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, ZnO produced by the consecutive method exhibited slightly higher degradation performance than ZnO spray pyrolysis. This performance was attributed to the larger crystal size of ZnO NPs, which provided a longer carrier movement at semiconductor surfaces and reduced electron-hole recombination. Additionally, ZnO NPs produced using the consecutive method underwent agglomeration that leads to a smaller contact surface with methylene blue, obstructing the degradation process.

Click dechlorination of halogen-containing hazardous plastics towards recyclable vitrimers.

Amid the ongoing Global Plastics Treaty, high-quality circulation of halogen-containing plastics in an environmentally sound manner is a globally pressing issue. Current chemical dechlorination methods are limited by their inability to recycle PVC at the long-chain carbon level and the persistence of eco-toxic organochlorine byproducts. Herein, we propose a click dechlorination strategy for transforming waste PVC into valuable vitrimers via a one-step cascade thiol-ene click reaction and dynamic polymerization. Thermal activation of C-Cl bonds initiates β-elimination dechlorination, while disulfide bonds synchronously undergo homolytic cleavage, generating sulfur-centered radicals that drive precise sulfur-chlorine substitution and the formation of disulfide dynamic networks. This strategy achieves nearly complete chlorine extraction (93.88%) and produces vitrimers with tailorable mechanical and reprocessing properties, spanning from soft elastomers with 784% elongation to rigid plastics with a yield strength of 34 MPa. The significant advantage of this strategy is backbone protective precise dechlorination, enabling ecosystem toxicity reduced by 99.51% compared with widely adopted pyrolysis methods. This work introduces a sustainable pathway for upcycling PVC into valuable materials, marking significant progress in chlorinated plastic recycling.

A 3D Macroporous Carbon NiCu Single‐Atom Catalyst for High Current Density CO2 Electroreduction

AbstractTransition metal and nitrogen co‐decorated carbon materials are promising platforms for CO2 electroreduction. A hard‐template 2‐step pyrolysis method is proposed for the fabrication of highly dispersed Ni and Cu atomic active sites on a 3D macroporous carbon matrix. The pyrrolic N‐type Ni−Nx sites serve as dominant active sites toward selective CO2 electroreduction to CO. The incorporation of Cu alters the distribution of N species and simultaneously optimizes the electronic state and geometric structure of the Ni−Nx moiety, thereby improving its adsorption and activation capacity for CO2. Moreover, the isolated Cu atomic sites enhance the resistance of corresponding gas‐diffusion electrodes against electrolyte flooding. The optimal catalyst 3D NiCu‐69 achieves nearly exclusive production of CO with a Faraday efficiency (FECO) of 98% at a current density of −700 mA cm−2 in a CO2‐gas‐fed flow‐through electrolyzer and delivers a CO production rate of 1363 mol(m2s)−1, which is exceeding most reported electrocatalysts. The FECO remained as high as 94% after electrolyzing at a current density of −100 mA cm−2 for 22 h. 3D NiCu‐69 exhibits a favorable performance in both acidic and neutral conditions, with a high FECO of ≈90.2% within the current density range of −100 to −500 mA cm−2.

Synthesis and characterization of p-CuO/n-ZnO heterostructured composite thin films for the detection of formaldehyde gas.

We report the synthesis and characterization of pure CuO and CuO-ZnO nanostructured composite thin films sprayed on particle-free glass substrates using chemical spray pyrolysis method. The films were systematically analyzed through microstructural, morphological, chemical, and gas-sensing studies. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the films, with a predominant monoclinic phase along the (002) direction. Key structural parameters, such as crystallite size, dislocation density, strain, and the number of crystallites per unit area, were reported from XRD analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed a bundled-like morphology with uniform particle distribution, enhancing the surface area for effective gas interaction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that Cu and Zn ions existed predominantly in the 2+ oxidation state, contributing to the films' reactivity. Significantly, the gas sensing studies were investigated with static liquid distribution method, highlighting the remarkable performance of the 30 wt.% CuO-ZnO composite thin film. This composite exhibited a substantial response to 5 ppm formaldehyde at ambient conditions, showing a recovery time of 22 seconds and a response time of 15 seconds. These findings underscore the potential of CuO-ZnO composites for efficient formaldehyde gas sensing applications, marking a notable advancement in the field of environmental monitoring.

Deep eutectic solvent-mediated synthesis of CuCo2O4 @ Sargassum tenerrimum derived carbon heterostructure as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions

Developing bifunctional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) through simple, economical, and innovative methods is vital for sustainable energy conversion. Here, we showcase a green and sustainable approach for synthesizing CuCo₂O₄ - Sargassum Tenerrimum derived carbon composites (CCST) directly from fresh seaweed and a deep eutectic solvent (DES), marking its initial application in HER/OER. The successful transformation of seaweed and metal precursors into CCST was accomplished using a direct pyrolysis method at 900 °C in an inert atmosphere. Here, Seaweed granules acted as the carbon source, with DES employed for its multifunctional properties, including serving as a solvent, a structural template, and a catalyst for fostering material development. When these materials were assessed as electrocatalysts for OER in 1 M KOH media, the optimal catalyst (CCST-9 (1:2)) exhibited a low overpotential of 381 mV at 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 44 mV dec−1. In addition, the same material achieved low overpotential of 383 mV at 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 100 mV dec−1 when tested as an electrocatalyst for HER in 0.5 M H2SO4 media. Interestingly, CCST-9 (1:2) demonstrated excellent long-term stability in OER in 1 M KOH during a 24-h chronoamperometry test, with only a minor reduction in current density. The present study contributes new perspectives to the development of scalable and high-performance bifunctional catalysts, achieved through an environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthetic strategy.

Sugarcane bagasse derived biochar potential to improve soil structure and water availability in texturally different soils

Low organic matter content is one of the main constraints in arid and semiarid regions. This constraint and its negative influences on soils and plant growth may be alleviated by biochar (BC). Furthermore, improving soil physical and hydraulic attributes by application of biochar has received increased attention. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar on the structural stability, water availability, and pore-size distribution (PSD) of three texturally different calcareous soils collected from different agro-climatologically regions were examined during a long-term experiment. Low and high-temperature biochars, produced in a muffle furnace by the traditional slow pyrolysis method at 300 °C (BC300) and 600 °C (BC600) were evaluated. Pots (15 kg) were filled with three different silty-clay Inceptisols (SCInc), silty-clay-loam Alfisols (SCLAlf), and loam Aridisols (LArid) soils mixed with 0 (control), 1, 2, and 3 w/w% of BC300 and BC600 during 540 days of incubation. The high energy moisture characteristic (HEMC) data was modeled using a modified van Genuchten function to quantify aggregate stability through stability ratio (SR) and structural stability index (SSI). The plant available water (PAW), least limiting water range (LLWR), and integral water capacity (IWC) were calculated with two matric suctions (h) of 330 cm for field capacity (FC) and 15,000 cm for permanent wilting point (PWP). Then the integral energy (EI) values were calculated (EIIWC). Results indicated that the incorporation of 3 w/w% biochar significantly (p < 0.01) increased SR (35 to 100%) and SSI (21 to 28%) indices in all three soils. Biochar significantly increased modal suction (MS) in LArid soils (5 to 158%); whereas, decreased MS of the other soils (3 to 43%). MS, SR, and SSI of BC300 and BC600-treated soils were not significantly different. PAW, LLWR, and IWC significantly decreased in the SCInc (18 to 61%, 8 to 44%, and 6 to 35%) and SCLAlf (8 to 44%, 18 to 35%, and 20 to 47%) soils and increased in LArid (4 to 54%, 3 to 61%, and 24 to 111%) soil with increasing biochar doses. There were no changes in EIIWC in biochar-treated LArid soil where PAW, LLWR, and IWC increased. Biochar increased EIIWC across the studied soil from 1% to 3.38 folds, thereby increasing the gradient of water potential to absorb the available water. Soil and soil-biochar mixtures exhibited heterogeneous and multimodal pore-size distribution (PSD). Biochar promoted the PSD peaks related to water-transmitting pores in SCInc and SCLAlf soils while decreased in LArid soil. In conclusion, results indicated that among the applied levels of biochar, the application of 3 w/w% biochar is suggested as a suitable way to improve soil physical behavior and structural stability.

The Ce-modified biochar for efficient removal of methylene blue dye: Kinetics, isotherms and reusability studies

Exploring modification methods for enhancing the adsorption performance of biochar-based adsorbents for effective removal of methylene blue (MB), biochar-loaded CeO2 nanoparticles (Ce/BC) were synthesized by pomelo peels through co-precipitation combined with the pyrolysis method. Ce/BC showed a higher specific surface area and disorder degree than that of BC. The 0.5Ce/BC (mass ratio of Ce(NO3)3·6H2O/BC=0.5/1) showed the best performance to adsorption of MB solution at different reaction conditions (MB concentration, Ce/BC composites dosage, and initial pH). Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms were well-described with a pseudo-first-order equation and Langmuir model, respectively. In addition, the maximum adsorption capacity of 0.5Ce/BC for MB was 105.68 mg·g−1 at 328 K. The strong adsorption was attributed to multi-interactions including pore filling, π-π interactions, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding between the composites and MB. This work demonstrated that the modified pomelo peels biochar, as a green promising material with cost-effectiveness, exhibited a great potential for broad application prospectively to dyeing-contaminated wastewater treatment.

Boosting light olefin production from pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene: A two-stage catalytic process

The increasing production of waste plastics poses significant environmental and health risks. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a major component of plastic waste, is a high-quality feedstock for pyrolysis due to its high carbon and hydrogen content. Traditional pyrolysis methods, such as thermal cracking and one-step catalytic pyrolysis, have limitations in yield and selectivity of valuable products like light olefins. This study introduces a two-stage catalytic pyrolysis (TSCP) process aimed at enhancing the production of light olefins from LDPE. In the first stage, LDPE undergoes pyrolysis with MCM-41 catalyst, yielding a substantial number of liquid products and a minor portion of light olefins. The second stage utilizes Mg-ZSM-5 catalyst to further crack the high-temperature volatile matter into light olefins. The optimal conditions identified were 450 °C in the first stage and 500 °C in the second stage, achieving a maximum light olefin yield of 45.80 wt% and a low reaction temperature, decreasing the energy consumption. Additionally, the MCM-41 catalyst demonstrates excellent regeneration performance, with only a slight decrease in liquid yield after nine cycles. The Mg-ZSM-5 catalyst maintains high stability, with light olefin yield remaining at 83.60 % of the initial yield after 48 h of operation.

Influence of substrate temperature and Mn/Y co-doping concentration on the morphological, structural and optical properties of CuO nanostructured film deposited by the spray pyrolysis method

In this work, the effect of substrate temperature (ST) during deposition and dopant amount of Mn (1,3,5, and 7 %) and Y(3 %), (Mn/Y), on the physical properties of copper oxide (CuO) the nanostructured film were analyzed using different diagnostic tools. The pure and (Mn, Y) co-doped CuO thin films were deposited by the spray pyrolysis method, which is effective and easy to apply for any substrate. Deposited pure and (Mn,Y) co-doped CuO nanostructured films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques to analyze the influence of ST and co-doping on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of prepared films. The FESEM is used to visualize nanostructures on the surface of the film. Also, it is observed that the surface morphology of CuO film changes from a spherical-like to a nanocloumnar-like structure with increasing substrate temperature. The XRD diffractograms confirm the monoclinic crystal structure of CuO, in polycrystalline nature for all deposited films. UV–Vis spectra suggest changing the optical absorbance and the band gap of the pure and Mn/Y co-doped CuO nanostructured films. In the first investigation of this study, the better substrate temperature was obtained as 400 °C according to results. In the second part, the effect of Y and Mn doping with different content was analyzed for the CuO film deposited at the chosen ST of 400 °C. There is no observable crystalline structure variation in the XRD pattern, but the size of nanostructure and dislocation density are varied with Mn/Y co-doping. FESEM micrographs confirm the impact of the co-doping concentration on the size, shape, and surface properties of CuO nanostructured film. In addition, the optical band gap increases with Mn doping up to 3 % of Mn content and it was determined as 2.69 eV for the sample 3Mn/Y@CuO nanostructured film. The obtained results suggest that the substrate temperature has an important impact on the physical properties of the spray deposited CuO nanostructured film, and the structural, optical, and surface properties of the CuO nanostructured films may be engineered by Mn/Y doping concentration.

Ultrastable cobalt-based chainmail catalyst for degradation of emerging contaminants in water

Developing stable and efficient cobalt-based catalysts for degradation of emerging contaminants (ECs) in water is deemed as a practical strategy to avoid secondary pollution in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Herein, we developed a ultrastable cobalt-based chainmail catalysts (Co-NC900) using 2, 2’-bipyridine-assistant pyrolysis method. More than 96.6 % of imidacloprid (IMD) in water could be degraded within 5 min in the presence of Co-NC900 and peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Amazingly, Co-NC900 still give 95 % degradation efficacy for IMD after15 runs. And only 0.083 μg L−1 of Co could be detected in the reaction mixture after continuous using 7 d. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that Co-NC900 can efficiently activate PMS through unique ping-pong mechanism (C-N bond breaking and re-forming process), and further degrade ECs. This study presents a novel approach for the development of efficient and stable metal-based catalysts for the removal of ECs from water.

Experimental Study on Optimizing Hydrogen Production from Sludge by Microwave Catalytic Pyrolysis Using Response Surface Methodology.

Catalytic pyrolysis technology is a harmless and useful solid waste treatment method. Studying the catalytic pyrolysis of sludge for hydrogen production is of practical significance. Therefore, this paper prepared a bifunctional catalyst with both microwave absorption and catalytic properties from electroplating sludge through carbonization and acid modification processes and then was characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, XPS, and FTIR. An experimental study employed a conventional-then-microwave pyrolysis method to investigate the catalytic pyrolysis process of municipal sludge. Combining central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) with three factors and five levels, this paper investigated the interactive effects of the conventional pyrolysis temperature, microwave irradiation time, and catalyst addition ratio on the unit hydrogen production (UHP) of sludge. A predictive model based on a second-order polynomial regression equation was developed. The results revealed that the catalyst possesses a specific surface area and pore structure and that the second-order polynomial model fits well. The conventional pyrolysis temperature, microwave irradiation time, catalyst addition ratio, and interaction between the latter two significantly affected the UHP of sludge. The optimal operation conditions of conventional pyrolysis temperature, microwave irradiation time, and catalyst addition ratio were 462.7 °C, 8.8 min, and 12.4%, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, the UHP was 13.22 mmol/g, with a relative error of only 1.12% compared to the predicted model value of 13.37 mmol/g.

Biomass-Derived-Carbon-Supported Spinel Cobalt Molybdate as High-Efficiency Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Ananas comosus leaves were converted to a porous graphitized carbon (GPLC) material via a high-temperature pyrolysis method by employing iron salt as a catalyst. A cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4)-and-GPLC composite (CoMoO4/GPLC) was then prepared by engineering CoMoO4 nanorods in situ, grown on GPLC. N2 adsorption-desorption isothermal curves and a pore size distribution curve verify that the proposed composite possesses a porous structure and a large specific surface area, which are favorable for charge and reactant transport and the rapid escape of O2 bubbles. Consequently, the as-synthesized CoMoO4/GPLC shows low overpotentials of 289 mV and 399 mV to afford the current densities of 10 mA cm-2 and 100 mA cm-2 towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is superior to many CoMoO4-based catalysts in previous studies. In addition, the decrease in current density is particularly small, with a reduction rate of 3.2% after a continuous OER procedure for 30 h, indicating its good stability. The excellent performance of the CoMoO4/GPLC composite proves that the GPLC carrier can obviously impel the catalytic activity of CoMoO4 by improving electrical conductivity, enhancing mass transport and exposing more active sites of the composite. This work provides an effective strategy for the efficient conversion of waste ananas comosus leaves to a biomass-derived-carbon-supported Co-Mo-based OER electrocatalyst with good performance, which may represent a potential approach to the development of new catalysts for OER, as well as the treatment of waste biomass.

Synthesis of in situ grown CNTs on MOF-derived Ni@CNT with tailorable microstructures toward regulation of electromagnetic wave absorption performance

Metal-Organic framework (MOF) derivatives have been applied as electromagnetic wave absorption (EMA) materials in recent years. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can achieve in situ growth on the surface of MOF derivatives. However, there is limited research on the EMA performance by regulating the morphology of the in situ grown CNTs. In this work, we prepared MOF-derived Ni@carbon nanotubes (Ni@CNT) with controllable length of CNTs by solvothermal and simple one-step pyrolysis method and revealed the CNT growth mechanism. We further investigated the effect of in situ grown CNT morphology on electromagnetic parameters and EMA performance. In situ grown CNTs of similar length on the surface of MOF derivatives lead to similar electromagnetic parameters. When the length of CNTs is short, the relaxation strength (Δε=εs−ε∞) is high, leading to excellent microwave absorption performance. For Ni@CNT-600, the reflection loss of −44.4 dB can be achieved at merely 1.72 mm. Finite element (FE) simulation was used to evaluate the EMA mechanism of different samples by calculating electric field and polarization strength. This work has explored the electromagnetic wave absorption performance from the perspective of microstructural tailoring, helpful for understanding the unique role of the in situ grown CNTs on the surface of MOF derivatives and investigating the ultra-thin electromagnetic wave absorption materials.

Adjusting the Covalency of Metal-Oxygen Bonds in CuBi2O4 by Zn Cation Doping to Achieve Highly Efficient Photocathodes.

Zn doped CuBi2O4 photocathodes are prepared by using a low-cost solution-based spray pyrolysis method. The doping of Zn in CuBi2O4 promotes the separation and migration of carriers and effectively increases the carrier density. Compared with CuBi2O4 alone, the photoelectrochemical activity of the Zn doped CuBi2O4 photoelectrode is improved with the photocurrent density of -0.56 mA/cm2 at 0.4 V vs. RHE. This improvement is due to the lower electronegativity of Zn, which leads to the covalent increase of Cu-O and Bi-O bonds in CuBi2O4, which limits the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes and improves charge separation and transport. This study presents an innovative approach to enhance the charge separation efficiencies of photocathodes by implementing element doping strategies, which may contribute to further research on photocatalytic water splitting.

Trimetallic ZIFs-derived nanoarchitecture for portable wireless electrochemical determination of chlorogenic acid in natural medicine and food samples

In this paper, a novel trimetallic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZnCoMn-ZIFs) was successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot method at room temperature, which was further used to prepare a triatomic site anchored in N-doped carbon (Co2MnN8@C) hybrid nanostructure via a pyrolysis method. The synthesized Co2MnN8@C was modified on the screen-printed carbon electrode, and the modified electrode was used for the portable wireless sensitive determination of chlorogenic acid (CGA) by differential pulse voltammetry. The Co2MnN8@C exhibited large surface area and excellent catalytic activity with increasing Co and Mn sites, which could selectively combine with CGA to enhance the sensitivity of the electrochemical sensor. Under the optimized conditions, the constructed sensor had wider linear ranges for CGA analysis from 0.05–10.0 μmol/L and 10.0–100.0 μmol/L with a detection limit of 0.0075 μmol/L (3S0/S). The sensor was successfully applied to detect CGA in natural medicine and food samples with satisfied recoveries. Therefore, the proposed strategy may stimulate the exploration of trimetallic ZIFs with more active sites for the development of sensitive electrochemical sensors.

Cs-Ba-Ru/La2O3-MgO Catalysts from Microdrop-Confined Pyrolysis for Superior NH3 Synthesis under Mild Conditions.

Support modification is an important way to improve the activity of the Ru/MgO-based NH3 synthesis catalyst. This work synthesized 24 composite MgO-based supports of MOx-MgO (M = La, Zn, etc.) via a microdrop-confined pyrolysis (MDCPy) method and then prepared the corresponding Cs-Ba-Ru/MOx-MgO catalysts using the impregnation method. Under the same NH3 synthesis conditions, the activity of the Cs-Ba-Ru/MOx-MgO catalysts composed of 17 elements such as Pr was significantly lower than that of Cs-Ba-Ru/MgO, while the activity of the Cs-Ba-Ru/MOx-MgO catalysts composed of four elements such as Nd was comparable to that of Cs-Ba-Ru/MgO, and the activity of the Cs-Ba-Ru/MOx-MgO catalysts composed of three elements such as La was significantly higher than that of Cs-Ba-Ru/MgO. Among them, it is clear that La2O3-MgO composite supports have the most significant effect on the improvement of NH3 synthesis performance. Through the optimization of the La/Mg ratio and loading of Ru, the optimal activities achieved ∼7 mol(NH3)/g(Ru)/h with corresponding Ru loading of 0.25-0.5 wt % under mild conditions as follows: H2/N2 ratio of 3:1, temperature of 400 °C, pressure of 3 MPa and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 96.0 L/gcat/h. In addition, the CsBa-Ru/La2O3-MgO catalyst showed good stability.

Self-powered, highly selective and fast response time ammonia gas sensors based on an rGO/SnO2 nanocomposite

Improving the sensitivity and selectivity of ammonia gas sensors at room temperature is essential for the development of self-powered sensors to expand their operational range in various environments. The strategy employed in this study to achieve this goal involves combining reduced graphene oxide (rGO), known for its excellent electrical properties, with SnO2, which has been reported to have ammonia-sensing capabilities. For this purpose, the rGO-SnO2 nanocomposite was synthesized using a two-step pyrolysis and chemical deposition method, and its ammonia gas sensing performance was evaluated. Structural characterization of the synthesized sample was conducted using XRD, BET, SEM, PL, EDX and FTIR techniques. The sensor's response to different concentrations of ammonia gas at room temperature was investigated, and the results showed a 5.2% response at 800 ppm and a low detection limit of 1.43 ppm for this gas. In addition to its high selectivity for ammonia gas, the sensor also demonstrated stability and repeatability.

Silicon-air batteries enabled by in-situ FeMn alloy-catalyzed nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays as efficient air electrodes catalysts

Silicon-air batteries (SABs) have become promising candidates for energy conversion and storage devices due to their high theoretical energy density, cost-effectiveness, and inherent safety. However, the slow kinetics of the 4e− transfer in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode during discharge, coupled with severe polarization, reduces the battery’s capacity and hinders the development of silicon-air batteries. The cathodes of currently developed SABs primarily rely on commercial Pt/C and MnO2, with limited research on low-cost, efficient, and stable air cathodes for SABs. To address this issue, we synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes containing FeMn alloy particles (FeMn@NCNTs) as cathode ORR catalysts using a simple high-temperature pyrolysis method combined with chemical vapor deposition. In an alkaline medium, the catalyst’s half-wave potential (E1/2) reached 0.83 V. Moreover, the FeMn@NCNTs air cathode exhibited excellent compatibility with the silicon anode, and the constructed aqueous silicon-air battery demonstrated a high specific capacity (165 Ah kg−1) and power density (3.69 mW cm−2). Additionally, the quasi-solid-state SABs constructed with FeMn@NCNTs showed stable operation over a wide temperature range, providing a new solution for the development of low-cost, efficient silicon-air batteries suitable for a wide range of applications.

Effect of substrate temperature on In2S3 thin films using nebulizer spray pyrolysis method for photodetector applications

In this work, Indium Sulfide (In2S3) thin films were prepared using an economical nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique by various substrate temperatures from 250 °C to 375 °C in steps of 25 °C to evaluate their photo sensing properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirm the presence of In2S3 with face centered cubic structure for all substrate temperatures. The densely packed small spherical grain-sized particles were observed for In2S3 films deposited at 350 °C using Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis. The optical bandgap values were decreased from 3.16 eV to 2.28 eV, with increment in coating temperatures from 250 °C to 350 °C. The high intensity Photoluminescence (PL) peak is observed at 480 nm for the film coated at 350 °C is due to higher rate of electron–hole pair recombination. The photo sensing analysis revealed that the In2S3 thin films deposited at 350 °C, has the maximum responsivity (R) of 9.09 × 10−2 A W−1, detectivity (D*) of 8.25 × 1010 Jones, and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.2%. Increasing the substrate temperature results in a significant enhancement of photo sensing characteristics.