Microwave-assisted Hydrothermal Method Research Articles

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of highly dispersed cerium–zirconium solid solution on Ti3C2Tx nanosheets as an efficient decontamination towards sulfur mustard simulants

The microwave-assisted hydrothermal method has facilitated the straightforward and efficient production of nanoscale CexZr1-xO2/Ti3C2Tx composites. This technique has greatly shortened the synthesis time several hours required by conventional hydrothermal method to merely 10minutes. Due to the unique mechanism of microwave-hydrothermal synthesis, composites with excellent crystallinity, uniform particle size, and superior degradation capabilities can be obtained without calcination. Our investigation systematically explores the influence of various factors including mineralizer concentration, dispersant types, synthesis duration, cerium-to-zirconium ratio, as well as MXene content on the material properties. Optimal degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, sulfur mustard simulants, is achieved using PEG1000 as the dispersant, a cerium-to-zirconium ratio of 1:2, along with 15mL of MXene, resulting in a remarkably short half-life of only 6.5min. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the incorporation of cerium atoms into ZrO2 lattice, forming a solid solution that is deposited onto the interlayer and surface of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, with the composite particles measuring approximately 5.01nm. The reduced size and increased specific surface area, coupled with the synergistic effects of oxygen vacancies and acid-base sites, ultimately contribute to the hydrolysis and elimination reactions occurring on 2-CEES. This research offers fresh perspectives on the development of novel materials for the degradation of chemical warfare agents.

Cu-doped NaNbO3 nanorods: Enhanced photocatalytic activity for RhB dye removal and antibacterial activity against E. coli

Sodium niobate (NaNbO3) nanorods with Cu (0.00, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04 mmol) insertion were prepared by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and the photocatalytic and antibacterial activity was explored for the first time. X-ray diffraction confirms the coexistence of two orthorhombic phases (P21ma and Pbma) for all samples, with the percentage of each phase being strongly influenced by doping. The micrographs reveal that doping did not alter the shape or size of the grains (nanorods, with a diameter of ∼200 nm and a length of tens micrometers). The samples of pure NaNbO3 and those with 0.01 and 0.02 mmol of Cu showed an average band gap value of 3.08 eV. However, the sample containing 0.04 mmol of Cu exhibited a slight redshift. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was assessed by the removal of Rhodamine B dye (RhB), under ultraviolet light. All doped samples exhibited superior performance, with the sample containing 0.02 mmol of Cu showing the best photocatalytic activity, achieving 100 % RhB removal in 50 min. This was attributed to a lower rate of recombination of photogenerated charges, as evaluated through photoluminescence analysis. Additionally, the photocatalyst demonstrated excellent recyclability over three cycles. Pure NaNbO3 nanorods showed no antibacterial activity, but doping with 0.04 mmol of Cu reduced the growth of Escherichia coli.

Novel synthesis and application of zeolite-Y from waste clay for efficient CO2 capture and water purification

In the present study, the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) has been used to synthesise zeolite-Y from three different waste clays (WC) from Teesside, Northeast of England, UK. The effects of microwave time intervals and WC type were investigated to produce crystalline zeolite-Y. All WCs and synthesised zeolites were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurement (BET). The characterisation results showed that the zeolite-Y samples synthesised at 6 min intervals exhibited larger total pore volumes, higher surface areas, and higher crystallinity compared to the samples synthesised at 4 min intervals. Especially, the synthesised zeolite-Y from Clay 1 displayed high CO2 adsorption capacity, achieving 5.23 mmol/g at 298 K and 1 bar, with a maximum methylene blue removal of 94.3 %. This sample showed a surface area of 485 m²/g and a pore volume of 0.24 cm³/g, alongside an Si/Al ratio of 3.7, highlighting its excellent thermal stability at elevated temperatures. The high CO2 adsorption capacity combined with the high methylene blue removal efficacy makes the synthesised zeolite-Y from WC an excellent candidate for efficient CO2 capture and removal of methylene blue from contaminated water. Additionally, this study illustrates the potential for waste valorisation through the conversion of low-value WC into high-performance, value-added materials. This transformation not only mitigates waste disposal issues but also contributes to sustainable resource management and environmental protection by offering a practical solution for treating industrial effluents and gas emissions.

Competent CuS QDs@Fe MIL101 heterojunction for Sunlight-driven degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater

In this study, we introduce an advanced photocatalyst developed by integrating copper sulfide quantum dots (CuS QDs) with an iron-based metal–organic framework (MOF), specifically Fe MIL101. The resulting CuS QDs@Fe MIL101 photocatalyst is engineered to efficiently degrade meloxicam (MLX) under simulated sunlight. The heterojunctions were generated by incorporating different concentrations of CuS QDs (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, and 50 %) into the Fe MIL101 MOF matrix using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The results of the XRD and the TEM studies confirmed the formation of the heterojunctions, which maintain the structural integrity of both CuS QDs and Fe MIL101. The BET measurements indicated a decrease in surface area upon CuS QDs incorporation, attributed to porés blockage and structural modifications. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) revealed a redshift in absorption edges as CuS QDs content increased, enhancing visible light absorption. Photoluminescence (PL) investigations revealed that the 15 % CuS QDs@Fe MIL101 heterojunction had an effective charge separation and low recombination rates. The zeta potential analysis revealed a negative surface charge, indicating an overall electronegative characteristic. The photocatalytic performance, assessed through the degradation of MLX, demonstrated that the 15 % CuS QDs@Fe MIL101 heterojunction achieved the maximum degradation efficiency, reaching 96 % after 45 min of irradiation at a dosage of 0.1 g/L. This exceptional performance is attributed to potent charge separation, improving visible light absorption, high surface area and adsorption capacity. Various scavengers were used to investigate the roles of different reactive species, revealing holes as the predominant active species in the photocatalytic degradation process. These results highlight the potential of 15 % CuS QDs@Fe MIL101 heterojunctions as efficient photocatalyst for environmental remediation from pharmaceutical pollutants under simulated sunlight. These findings highlight the potential for application of CuS QDs@Fe MIL101 in real-world wastewater treatment systems, particularly in addressing pharmaceutical contaminants like meloxicam in industrial effluents.

Effect of polyethylene glycol on the synthesis of hydroxyapatite obtained via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Effect of polyethylene glycol on the synthesis of hydroxyapatite obtained via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

BaZrO3 and its application as a photocatalyst for Rhodamine B removal

In this investigation, Barium zirconate (BaZrO3 or BZO) showcasing high photocatalytic efficacy was synthesized by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Photocatalytic activity was investigated through the removal of the Rhodamine B (RhB) dye. Although it has a high band gap (∼5 eV), BZO showed the capacity to remove ∼ 56 % of RhB. Defects, hydroxyl radicals adsorbed on its surface and favorable electronic structure were factors that promoted photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the BZO exhibited exceptional recyclability, underscoring its potential as a photocatalyst for environmental remediation applications.

Hierarchically porous MgO/biochar composites for efficient CO2 capture: Structure, performance and mechanism

For enhancing the CO2 uptake performance of MgO-based materials, hierarchically porous MgO/biochar composites were prepared using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The CO2 adsorption properties was investigated in detail and the adsorption mechanism was revealed by considering structure − function relationships and performing density functional theory calculations. The MgO/biochar-1 had hierarchical pore structure and high specific surface area (1453 m2·g−1) with abundant narrow micropores (<1.0 nm), facilitating the adsorption of CO2. The results demonstrated that MgO/biochar-1 exhibited the highest CO2 capture capacity of 6.65 mol⋅kg−1 (273 K, 1 bar) and excellent selectivity for CO2/N2 (96.70 at CO2/N2 = 15:85, v/v). After 3 cycles, the adsorption capacity of MgO/biochar-1 still remained at 5.70 mol⋅kg−1 (273 K, 1 bar), suggesting the well cycling performance. The results of density functional theory calculation indicated that the oxygen-containing functional groups and MgO particles substantially enhanced the CO2 capture performance due to the enhanced interactions between MgO/biochar and CO2. This study provides novel insights for the construction of efficient and cheap solid adsorbents for CO2 capture.

Enhanced antimicrobial activity of Cu-decorated graphene nanoplatelets and carbon nanotubes

New materials with antimicrobial properties are necessary to combat the proliferation and transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, graphene nanoplatelets (GPN) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) decorated with Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs) were synthetized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, varying the Cu content from 1 to 10 wt.%. These materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) were evaluated. The sample with 10 wt.% Cu at CNTs is more effective compared to GPNs. Then, brass coatings with pure and Cu-decorated (10 wt.%) CNTs and GPNs were prepared by spin coating to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of these surfaces. It was observed that coatings with the carbon matrices reduced microbial growth by 2 logs, whereas decoration with Cu NPs amplified this value, especially for the Cu/CNT coating, achieving up to a 6-log reduction after 24 h of contact. The stability of the antimicrobial activity of these coatings was evaluated over 5 successive 24-h cycles, demonstrating high stability. DFT calculations on a simplified model, based on a Cu atom adsorbed on GPN and CNT, reveal a thermodynamically favorable pathway to explain the antibacterial activity. The results show a mechanism that could promote the formation of the precursors of hydroxyl (⦁OH), superoxide (⦁O2−), and hydroperoxyl (⦁OOH) radicals, which are adsorbed strongly on GPN and CNT surfaces. This study highlighted the critical role of Cu NPs-loaded on carbon materials, GPN and CNT, in enhancing the antibacterial activity.

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Ag/Bi2MoO6/ZnO heterojunction with nano Ag as electronic accelerator pump for high-efficienty photocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin

The fluoroquinolone antibiotics, as a category of emerging refractory organic pollutants, have triggered intensive attention due to their persistent ecotoxicology for aquatic environments. Herein, a novel Ag/Bi2MoO6/ZnO (Ag/BMO/ZnO) heterojunction was prepared using a two-step microwave-assisted hydrothermal method for photocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin (LFX). The optimal Ag/BMO/ZnO delivers higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency toward LFX reaching 86.4 %, which is 3 times and 7 times higher than those of neat Bi2MoO6 and ZnO, respectively. This can mainly be attributed that the existence of heterojunction between Bi2MoO6 and ZnO promotes the transmission of photogenerated charges (e−/h+). Furthermore, the introduction of Ag nanoparticles serves as an electron accelerator pump, which can also effectively accelerate the transport and separation of the photogenerated e−/h+. Both of these indirectly retard the recombination of e−/h+. The radical capture assays demonstrate that 1O2, OH, h+ and O2– are responsible for the the degradation of LFX and the 1O2 is the primary reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, based on the identification of degradation intermediates via the liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique, the possible degradation routes of LFX were plausibly inferred. In conclusion, this work provides a new perspective toward antibiotics removal by developing novel heterojunction photocatalysts anchored with precious nanoparticles.

New insights into non-linear optical properties, photocatalytic activity, and applications of ZnSe:Cu nanoparticles prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

In the present work, semiconducting ZnSe:Cu (0, 0.1, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 mol%) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) method at the fixed pH of 11.2. XRD patterns certified the formation of nanocrystals with the size of about 2.04–2.21 nm. Also, FESEM and TEM images confirmed the formation of round-shape NPs. UV–Vis spectra showed that the energy gap of nanoparticles decreased from 3.615 to 3.342 eV by the increment in copper impurity content. The exact value of the energy gap of NPs was determined by the absorption spectrum fitting derivative method (DASF). Results revealed that these NPs have a high potential in optical and optoelectronic applications; specially, the samples owing 1.5 and 2.25 mol% of Cu-impurity, as the best candidates for optical fiber applications, showed the highest third order non-linear optical susceptibility (χ(3)). Also, for all synthesized NPs, the optical characteristics such as the optical transition index (m), Urbach energy (Etail), dielectric constant (ε) and the refractive index (n) at the absorption edge were determined. Moreover, the amount of metallization factor was also calculated, which decreases with the increase of impurity and microwave irradiation, indicating the increase of metal affinity of the samples. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnSe NPs demonstrated a general reduction in the intensity upon the introduction of Cu. This anticipated quenching further supports their heightened photocatalytic activity. The results of photocatalytic tests indicate that the sample containing 2.25 mol% of Cu exhibits the highest rate constant value (0.0255 min−1) and achieves the maximum efficiency (75.7 % after 60 min) for degrading the DB71, establishing it as the prime candidate for photocatalytic applications.

Visible-light-driven Bi2WO6/biochar composite photocatalyst efficiently degrades 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2) under persulfate synergy

Biochar (BC) composite photocatalysts have attracted much attention by virtue of their high efficiency in removing endocrine disruptors (EDCs). However, there has been a lack of systematic research on the mechanism and constitutive relationship of BC on photocatalysts, which has seriously impeded the development process in this field. In this study, Bi2WO6–BC2% composite photocatalysts were prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and used for degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2) in conjunction with persulfate synergy (PS). The removal rate of EE2 and E2 by Bi2WO6–BC2% was as high as 99.41 % (12 min) and 97.84 % (15 min), respectively. Systematic studies have shown that BC enhances the catalytic activity mainly through the following ways, increasing the specific surface area of the photocatalytic system, enriching the types of functional groups, enhancing the separation ability of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and promoting the concentration of active free radicals. The results of the phytotoxicity experiments showed that compared to the EE2 or E2 pollutant solutions, the stem and root lengths of V. radiata increased by 93.63 % and 389.58 % in EE2 metabolites, and by 117.35 % and 160.38 % in E2 metabolites. Similarly, the stem and root lengths of P. vulgaris increased by 80.08 % and 174.91 % in EE2 metabolites, and by 188.92 % and 345.75 % in E2 metabolites. This work not only fills the gap in the study of the mechanism of action of BC, but also provides a green catalyst with very excellent photocatalytic efficiency and detoxification properties.

Tunable multi-peak emission solid-state fluorescent carbon dots: Luminescence regulation mechanism and application in single-component-based LEDs

The design of solid-state fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) with multi-peak emission has become an urgent challenge to be solved with the in-depth research of CDs in LEDs. Here, one- and two-component solid-state white light CDs are synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method using the biological pollutant cyanobacteria, respectively. The solid-state fluorescence quantum yield of the one-component CDs was as high as 41.8 %, and the solid-state fluorescence mechanism of CDs is discussed to be mainly attributed to the self-quenching-resistant feature of “core-shell” structure and the reabsorption/RET-induced long-wavelength red light emission, and attenuation of the short emission wavelength. For two-component white light CDs, blue- and red-light CDs are obtained by simple dialysis separation, realizing the fluorescence tunability. The different origins of their multi-peak emission are discussed: core, edge and surface states. The synthesis yields of CDs are up to 62 %, enabling stable gram-scale production. The white- and red-light CDs are used as phosphors to fabricate fluorescent films and cold, pure, and warm white- and red-light LEDs with good resistance to photobleaching and temperature stability and CRI of 84.4, 85.7 and 61.5.

Strategically-designed hierarchical polypyrrole-modified manganese-doped tin disulfide (SnS2) nanocomposite electrodes for supercapatteries with high specific capacity

Supercapatteries are novel energy storage devices possessing features of both supercapacitor and battery and evolved to meet the demand for portable electronic devices. An efficient electrode-active material is an important criterion for the fabrication of high performance supercapatteries. We hereby report the rapid synthesis of manganese (Mn)-doped tin disulfide (SnS2) by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and further use it as an efficient electrode material (positrode) to fabricate a supercapattery. Dunn's kinetic method is adopted to estimate the contribution from the battery-type charge storage which confirm the electrode exhibits charge storage via diffusion-controlled mechanisms. The Mn-doped SnS2 electrode exhibits a specific capacity of 275.4 C g-1 at a scan rate of 10 mV s-1. The specific capacity is further increased by preparing nanocomposite electrodes with polypyrrole at different ratios. The polypyrrole-modified Mn-doped SnS2 electrode delivers a specific capacity of 539 C g-1 at a scan rate of 10 mV s-1. In order to understand its applicability in practical devices, a supercapattery cell is fabricated with polypyrrole-modified Mn-doped SnS2 as positrode and activated carbon as negatrode, which exhibits a mass specific capacity of 204.2 C g-1 along with an area specific capacity of 2.4 C cm-2 at a current density of 2 A g-1. The supercapattery cell possesses an energy density of 42.5 W h kg-1 with a corresponding power density of 2500 W kg-1 at a current density of 2 A g-1. This study proclaims that the polypyrrole-modified Mn-doped SnS2 is an efficient positrode for application in high-performance supercapatteries.

Photocatalytic properties of BiFeO3 (BFO) synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Photocatalytic properties of BiFeO3 (BFO) synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Cu,Ce-containing phosphotungstates as laccase-like nanozyme for colorimetric detection of Cr(VI) and Fe(Ⅲ)

Herein, a nanocomposite of Cu,Ce-containing phosphotungstates (Cu,Ce-PTs) with outstanding laccase-like activity was fabricated via a one-pot microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Notably, it was discovered that both Fe3+ and Cr6+ could significantly enhance the electron transfer rates of Ce3+ and Ce4+, along with generous Cu2+ with high catalytic activity, thereby promoting the laccase-like activity of Cu,Ce-PTs. The proposed system can be used for the detection of Fe3+ and Cr6+ in a range of 0.667–333.33 μg/mL and 0.033–33.33 μg/mL with a low detection limit of 0.135 μg/mL and 0.0288 μg/mL, respectively. The proposed assay exhibits excellent reusability and selectivity and can be used in traditional Chinese medicine samples analysis.

Microwave synthesis of composite of AgInS2 quantum dots and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 for application in white light emitting diodes

Preparation of AgInS2 quantum dots (AIS QDs) with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and thermal stability remains an important challenge. In this paper, AIS QDs were successfully introduced into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Due to the effective isolation of the ZIF-8, the AIS QDs avoid the concentration quenching when they were assembled into white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) devices as color conversion materials. More importantly, the generation of ZnS layer between the interfaces of AIS QDs and ZIF-8 can efficiently improve the optical performance of AIS QDs, resulting in the fluorescence lifetime extended to 470.05 ns. Meanwhile, the PLQY of AIS/ZIF-8 composite reached up 34.30 % when microwave hydrothermal heating at 120 °C for 60 min with AgIn/Zn=1/3, which was higher than that of the pristine AIS QDs as 25.30 %. Finally, the WLED devices were fabricated by combining AIS/ZIF-8 composite fluorescent powder with (Ba, Sr)Si2O2N2:Eu2+ phosphors and blue LED. At 20 mA, the AIS/ZIF-8 based WLED shows the luminous efficiency (LE) of 44.54 lm/W, correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4242 K and color rendering index (CRI) of 89.1. Moreover, the Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) was (0.36, 0.35), indicating the WLED emited warm white light. The present strategy aims at enhancing the optical performance of AIS QDs, which also may trigger the development of QDs-based WLED.

Fabrication and characterization of a chitosan/cyclodextrin/TiO2-NPs composite for preservation of avocados.

In this study, a TiO2 material with nanoparticle size of about 10-20 nm, surface area of 109 m2 g-1 was synthesized using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The chitosan/TiO2 film combined with cyclodextrin (chitosan-cyclodextrin/TiO2, CS-CD/TiO2NPs) helps significantly improve the mechanical properties and enhance the antibacterial activity of the polymer film. Furthermore, the content of TiO2 nanoparticles in CS-CD/TiO2NPs also affects the tensile strength, antibacterial activity, ripening rate, ethylene production rate, and water vapor permeability during food preservation of the CS-CD film that has been studied. The CS-CD/TiO2NPs film is effective against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aereus) reaching over 99.5% after 15 min of contact. The preservation ability of avocados coated with CS-CD/TiO2NPs was evaluated through some physiological parameters of the avocados, such as sensory evaluation, weight loss, and hardness. The results show that the use of CS-CD/TiO2NPs films extends the preservation time of avocados up to 7 days under conditions of 30 °C and 80% relative humidity.

Temperature-Sensitive Template for Preparation of ZnO/CeO2 Composite Photocatalytic Materials and Its Catalytic Performance.

In this work, a series of thermosensitive ionic liquid functionalized polymers, PNx(IL)y, with controllable morphology and particle size were prepared by free radical polymerization. Then, using the polymer PN64(IL)8 with uniform morphology as a templating agent, the ZnO composite photocatalytic materials doped with rare earth metal Ce were prepared in combination with a microwave-assisted and templated hydrothermal reaction method. Series different Ce-doping amount photocatalytic materials ZnO-Ce-x‱ were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and other methods. The results demonstrated that the templated materials PN64(IL)8 can prepare ZnO-Ce-2‱ with uniform petaloid ambulacra shape, good distribution of elements, and excellent photocatalytic performance. Photocatalytic degradation experiments of methyl orange (MO) showed that when the Ce-doping amount is only 2‱, the degradation rate of organic dyes can reach 96.5% by reacting the photocatalytic materials in water for 1 h. In addition, this kind of photocatalyst can be used for the degradation of high-concentration MO, as well as being easily recovered and effectively reused by simple filtration. Therefore, the structure of this kind of photocatalyst is controllable in the preparation process with an extremely low Ce-doping amount compared with current reports, and it has a good application prospect in the field of wastewater treatment technology.

Supercritical CO2 directional-assisted green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles obtained from Euphorbia stricta L. for functional applications

The green synthesis method is increasingly favored due to its economic and environmental benefits. Metal oxides, such as zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles produced via green synthesis, exhibit biocompatible and stable properties. In this study, the Euphorbia stricta plant was extracted using the supercritical CO2 extraction method. Subsequently, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using the Euphorbia stricta extract through a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The synthesized ZnO was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Euphorbia stricta L. extract was also characterized by FT-IR. To evaluate the photocatalytic activities against methylene blue, ZnO/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes were fabricated via electrospinning for comparative analysis. The degradation efficiencies of ZnO and ZnO/PAN nanofibers were 76.37 % and 66.14 % over 180 min, respectively. Furthermore, the green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated significant antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacteria are of critical importance in medical and environmental contexts: cause of skin infections, pneumonia and bloodstream infections; foodborne illnesses and urinary tract infection and hospital-acquired infections. The findings suggest that ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from Euphorbia stricta extract have substantial potential for application in antibacterial treatments and photocatalysis, offering a promising approach to addressing challenges posed by these pathogenic bacteria.

Novel protocol for rapid evaluation of plasmonic enhancement for up-converting phosphors applied to Y2O3 doped with Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+

A novel technique was created to quickly evaluate the impact of various ratios on the efficiency of up-conversion emission using a combination of up-conversion nanophosphors (UCNPs) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Four different types of Y2O3 UCNPs with different Er3+ or Er3+/Yb3+ doping, which affects the emission colour as well as the up-conversion mechanism, were prepared via the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Au NPs were produced independently using the reduction technique. Different ratios of UCNPs were mixed with the Au NPs in water. The mixed powder composites were extracted for analysis. X-ray powder diffraction was utilized to study the structure of UCNPs with and without Au NPs, while transmission electron microscopy was used to study the morphology and size of Au NPs. Absorption and up-conversion measurements were also made. The novel protocol allowed rapid evaluation of four different Y2O3 UCNPs of Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+ doped with concentrations optimized for red and green emission over a range of Au/UCNP concentrations, which might usually be done in four separate studies. Despite the wide range of variables, only a decrease in UC emission was measured in the presence of Au NPs, suggesting that the conditions for plasmonic enhancement are limited and not easy to attain. In spite of this, in many phosphor/metal NP systems, the innovative prototyping process can enable quick assessment of possible plasmonic enhancement.