Carbon Nanocomposites Research Articles

Carbon‐Based Biosensor in Point of Care Setting

AbstractIn medical diagnosis, detecting disease biomarkers at ultra‐low concentrations is vital. Point‐of‐care (POC) diagnostics require rapid detection, live monitoring, high sensitivity, low detection threshold, and cost‐effectiveness. Carbon‐based nanomaterials (CBNs) are promising due to their large surface‐to‐volume ratio, conductivity, biocompatibility, and stability, making them ideal for biosensors. Recent advancements in CBN applications, including biosensing, drug delivery, and cancer therapy, highlight their potential in enhancing detection sensitivity and specificity. Electrochemical sensors and biosensor platforms using carbon nanocomposites are pivotal in diagnostics. This review explores the current state and future challenges of CBN integration in POC settings, envisioning a transformative impact on healthcare diagnostics and therapeutics.

Ecofriendly bleaching method for cotton fabric: Development of titanium dioxide doped single wall carbon nanocomposites by photocatalytic treatment for sustainable textile pre-finishing applications

This study aimed to find an eco-friendly substitute method and chemical for conventional hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) bleaching of cotton fabric. We developed diverse functional groups containing titanium dioxide-doped single-wall carbon nanotubes (TiO2-SWCNTs) particles, designed a photocatalytic system, and examined the effects of working conditions and functional group variations on the degree of fabric whitening. Throughout the many phases of the chemical development process, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy −Attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were conducted. In addition, the color spectrum values, the whiteness indexes, the results of the tearing test, SEM and FTIR-ATR findings of 100% cotton textiles were presented that were treated with TiO2-SWCNTs particles using the photocatalytic technique. The test results demonstrated the successful synthesis of various types of TiO2-SWCNTs, leading to a significant enhancement in the whiteness of the cotton fabrics. This increase reached 21.79% using a small amount of nano-chemicals, surpassing the whiteness index value created by the conventional H2O2 bleaching process. Optimal results were achieved by using minimum quantities of substance and working at moderate temperatures. According to this information, it can be concluded that this approach may serve as a substitute for the conventional H2O2 whitening procedure in terms of both the substance utilized and the application method, specifically for treating cotton fabric. Moreover, the statistical analysis revealed that the fabric’s self-cleaning capacity is significantly influenced by the square of temperature and pH.

Facile preparation of PtNi/Cs derived from the precipitation polymerization of a Poly(amic acid) for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of water is currently one of the most potential ‘green hydrogen’ production technology to alleviate the energy scarcity and environmental contamination. In this study, ultrafine platinum/nickel bimetallic nanoparticles loaded porous carbon nanocomposite, noted as PtNi/Cs, is facilely prepared by employing the precipitation polymerization of a poly (amic acid) (PAA), which shows superior catalytic performance toward HER. The synthesis of PAA is achieved via a stepwise polymerization of 4,6-diaminino-2-mercaptopyrimidine and pyromellitic dianhydride at room temperature, and the porous precursor is formed during the polymerization. Upon pyrolysis of the precursor in an inert atmosphere, carbon nanoaggregates with inherited porosity are fabricated. Ultrafine PtNi bimetallic nanoparticles with size of 3.3 ± 0.7 nm can be efficiently deposited, exhibiting an overpotential of 26.4 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a mass activity of 2.92 A mgPt−1, superior than commercial Pt/C of 36.8 mV. The excellent HER performance can be attributed to the formation of ultrafine PtNi bimetallic nanoparticles and the electron transfer from PtNi to the nitrogen atoms on the carbon support.

Fabrication of highly conductive VXC-72R carbon nanoparticles decorated Zr (IV)-based metal-organic framework for highly sensitive detection of methyl parathion

A simple and efficient ultrasonic-assisted strategy was used to prepare the nanocomposite of Vulcan XC-72R carbon (VXC-72R) nanoparticles and Zr(IV)-based metal-organic framework (UIO-66) nanoparticles. For the multifunctional VXC-72R@UIO-66 nanocomposite, VXC-72R nanoparticles possessed good conductivity property and good dispersion, which were conductive to form the interconnected carbon conductive channels; UIO-66 nanoparticles could improve the accumulation ability of methyl parathion (MP) because of the high affinity of Zr-O groups with phosphoric groups. Moreover, the introduction of VXC-72R nanoparticles could effectively make up the conductivity property of UIO-66 nanoparticles. The VXC-72R@UIO-66/GCE sensor presented good MP detection performance with limit of detection (LOD) of 1.35 nM (Linear MP concentration range: 0.01–10 μM). When used for the detection of MP in juice samples, the VXC-72R@UIO-66/GCE sensor showed acceptable recoveries of 96.00–104.67 %.

Valorization and Upcycling of Acid Mine Drainage and Plastic Waste via the Preparation of Magnetic Sorbents for Adsorption of Emerging Contaminants.

Plastic waste poses a serious environmental risk, but it can be recycled to produce a variety of nanomaterials for water treatment. In this study, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste and acid mine drainage were used in the preparation of magnetic mesoporous carbon (MMC) nanocomposites for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water samples. The latter were then characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and ζ potential. The results of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherms revealed high specific surface areas of 404, 664, and 936 m2/g with corresponding pore sizes 2.51, 2.28, and 2.26 nm for MMC, MMAC-25%, and MMAC-50% adsorbents, respectively. Under optimized conditions, the equilibrium studies were best described by the Langmuir and Freundlich models and kinetics by the pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacity for monolayer adsorption from the Langmuir model was 112, 102, and 106 mg/g for acetaminophen, caffeine, and carbamazepine, respectively. The composites could be reused for up to six cycles without losing their adsorption efficiency. Furthermore, prepared adsorbents were used to remove acetaminophen, caffeine, and carbamazepine from wastewater samples, and up to a 95% removal efficiency was attained.

Aspartic acid/ thiourea − derived N and S − doped porous carbon as a metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions

The preparation of high-efficiency electrocatalysts for the oxygen and hydrogen evolution process (OER and HER) using an easy, green, and facile preparation method is crucial for the effective and economical use of clean energy sources. Heteroatom-doped carbon nanomaterials are effective metal-free electrocatalysts for HER and OER reactions. Herein, N and S co-doped porous carbon nanocomposite (NS-PC) was constructed as a low-cost metal-free catalyst via pyrolysis of the Thiourea and L-aspartic acid. Doping heteroatoms (N and S) into the carbon structure can induce charge redistribution, expose many active sites, accelerate charge transfer, and thus effectively improve the catalytic activity. The NS-PC electrocatalyst demonstrates proper bifunctional electrocatalytic performance for HER and OER with long-term stability in KOH electrolytes. As a result, the NS-PC requires an overpotential of 139 mV and 315 mV in the current density of 10 mA cm– 2 and the Tafel slope of 59.6 and 69.8 mV dec−1 for HER and OER, respectively. As-papered NS-PC electrocatalyst offers the development of multi-functional electrocatalysts in the water splitting process using biological substances such as amino acids.

Application of metal oxide/porous carbon nanocomposites in electrochemical capacitors: A review

In the past decade, electrochemical capacitors (ECs) have emerged as innovative energy storage devices, attracting considerable interest from both industrial and academic sectors due to their prolonged cyclic stability and impressive power density. Recently, there has been a focus on advancing high-performance ECs by developing electrode material composed of metal oxide incorporated with porous carbon. Integrating metal oxides into a porous carbon structure enhances capacitance, charge storage, and cyclic stability. Furthermore, the porous structure inherent in carbon materials offers efficient ion diffusion and large surface area, thereby augmenting the overall effectiveness of the nanocomposites. Efficient electron and ion transport within the electrode's bulk is achieved through the interaction between electrodes and electrolytes occurring at the electrode-electrolyte interface, subsequently increasing the capacitance. This paper summarizes the latest developments in ECs, focusing on key performance metrics such as cyclic stability and capacitance. It also summarizes the recent advancements made in electrode materials, emphasizing the utilization of sustainable feedstocks. As the research landscape shifts towards more environmentally friendly solutions, the incorporation bio-materials into electrode design has gained significant attention. It particularly highlights underlying mechanisms governing the performance of metal oxides/porous carbon nanocomposites in ECs and outlines future research directions aimed at maximizing their potential for next-generation energy storage devices. Additionally, the paper delves into the possibilities and challenges associated with the preparation, and optimization of the structure of metal oxide electrodes incorporating porous carbon to improve energy storage performance in ECs.

Role of nanocomposites and nano adsorbents for heavy metals removal and dyes. An overview

Water scarcity and wastewater treatment are major concerns due to increased urbanization, industrialization, and anthropogenic practices. Various toxic heavy metals, dyes, pollutants, and chemicals are a matter of concern as they have severe environmental and ecological damage and health effects. Various advancements are being introduced in the field of adsorption using nano adsorbents and composites to deal with wastewater treatment problems. Nanocomposites are intelligent to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and inorganic and organic pollutants from wastewater due to precise binding action (chelation, absorption, ion exchange). Nanocomposite materials, such as metal nanocomposite, metal oxide nanocomposite, carbon nanocomposite, polymer nanocomposite, and membrane nanocomposite, are active in water purification. Nanoparticles (N.P.s) are important for remediation because of their large surface area, size, reactivity, and active sites. For high adsorption of pollutants, N.P.s were treated by increasing the electron density and surface area and adding functional groups. They are more capable of eliminating hazardous organic-inorganic pollutants, pathogens, and heavy metals from wastewater. This nanotechnology treatment technique has no hazardous by-products; these techniques have various regenerative efficiencies. Among various treatment methods, the adsorption process is considered one of the most highly effective treatments of heavy metals, and the functionalization of adsorbents can fully enhance the adsorption process. Therefore, four adsorbent sources are highlighted: polymeric, natural mineral, industrial by-product, and carbon nanomaterial adsorbent. The major purpose of this review is to gather up-to-date information on research and development on various adsorbents in the treatment of heavy metal and dyes from water by emphasizing the adsorption capability, the effect of pH, isotherm and kinetic model, removal efficiency, and the contact of time of every adsorbent.

Synthesis and characterization of Pd-doped perovskite/Vulcan XC-72 carbon nanocomposite for sustainable supercapacitor technology

Due to the lower equivalent series resistance compared to other types of energy storage devices, supercapacitor electrodes can therefore be an ideal choice for energy storage. In this study, a perovskite-based metallic compound, La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.9Pd0.1O3 was synthesized by the sol-gel method and combined with carbon Vulcan XC-72 to create an effective nanocomposite-based modifier for the development of mini supercapacitor. Morphological studies of the obtained compounds were carried out using a variety of characterization techniques including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analysis (XPS). On the other hand, the electrochemical feasibility of the synthesized nanocomposite and the developed La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.9Pd0.1O3/Vulcan XC-72 -based supercapacitor was demonstrated by applying various approaches including cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.9Pd0.1O3/Vulcan XC-72 shows the highest specific capacitance (329 F/g) with a power density of 750 W/kg and an energy density of 4.8 Wh/kg at a current density of 0.01 mA/g. In order to evaluate the stability of the designed supercapacitor, long charge/discharge cycles were also carried out. After 5000 charge/discharge cycles, the specific capacity reached about 76.47% of its original value. The present results show that the La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.9Pd0.1O3/Vulcan XC-72 nanocomposite can be efficiently used as a potential material for energy storage, which may be promising for the future.

The effect of carbon coating on the arsenite sorption by magnetic carbon nanocomposites

AbstractArsenic pollution has emerged through anthropogenic activities and natural mineral leaching processes. This study aims to advance the use of magnetic carbon nanocomposites (MCNs) in the sorption of arsenic, studying the influence of feedstock and the presence of carbon coating on magnetic nanoparticles. Previous works have shown that post-pyrolysis treatment improves the stability of MCNs by reducing iron leaching due to the formation of a carbon coating that encapsulates the iron oxide nanoparticles. However, this carbon coating could influence the adsorption properties of MCNs. This investigation deals with arsenic adsorption by four MCNs prepared by co-precipitation of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticle into four carbonaceous matrixes, followed by a post-pyrolysis treatment. The pristine carbonaceous matrixes used in the present work were commercial activated carbon (CAC), charcoal (CC), hydrochar from the orange residue (HCOR), and biochar from sunflower husk (BCSFH). Pristine carbonaceous materials and MCNs without post-pyrolyzed were also used as arsenic sorbents in water solutions. Additionally, kinetic studies were carried out to explore the sorption properties of different MCNs and pristine materials, concerning the removal efficiencies (expressed as a percentage) and adsorption capacities, determining the equilibrium time. The results demonstrated that the presence of magnetite increases the adsorption of arsenic, being higher in the case of materials obtained by direct co-precipitation than in materials subjected to a post-pyrolysis process. The presence of a carbon layerprotecting the magnetite slightly decreases the adsorption of arsenic.

Lignin-derived carbon and activated carbon nanocomposites with TiO2 as enhanced photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation

Lignin-derived carbon and activated carbon nanocomposites with TiO2 as enhanced photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation

Tuning Morphologies of Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Ni3P/Ni Carbon Nanocomposites for Water Oxidation.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) frequently acts as a kinetic bottleneck in various energy storage and conversion systems. Effective electrocatalysts for the OER play a crucial role in reducing the reaction barrier and expediting the reaction. Multicomponent transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have garnered an extensive amount of attention as a result of their exceptional performance in the OER. Here, we present a direct method for preparing two intrinsic morphologies of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), barrel-like BMM-10 and pancake-like BMM-10(Ac), achieved by establishing a protonation/deprotonation equilibrium with varying NO3-/Ac- ratios. The BMM-10(Ac)-C catalyst was synthesized via heat treatment of the BMM-10(Ac) precursor, exhibiting superior OER performance. It realized an overpotential of 286 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, with a Tafel slope of 111.17 mV decade-1 and a current retention of 98.03%. This improvement arises from the synergistic interaction between Ni3P/Ni nanoparticles and the partially graphitic carbon layer, augmenting the exposure of active sites. Furthermore, alterations in the morphological features of MOF-derived Ni3P/Ni carbon nanocomposites adjusted the active electrochemical surface area, thereby modulating the overall OER performance of the corresponding TMP carbon nanocomposites. This methodology can be extended to control the morphology of other MOFs and their derivatives, providing innovative avenues for the design and synthesis of new MOF-based TMP nanomaterials.

Batch adsorptive removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous phase using magnetic activated carbon nanocomposite prepared from walnut shells by ZnCl2-FeCl3 activation

ABSTRACT This work aims to assess the physicochemical and adsorptive ability of magnetic activated carbon nanocomposites (MACN) developed from walnut shells (WS) through single-step and dual-step preparation routes utilising ZnCl2-FeCl3 as an activator and magnetising agent for Cr (VI) elimination from the aqueous phase. Synthesis of MACN via a one-step route (MACN1) was achieved through direct activation of WS with ZnCl2-FeCl3. In contrast, the preparation of MACN by dual-steps route (MACN2) was accomplished by carbonising WS at 450°C for 1 h, followed by ZnCl2-FeCl3 activation of the resulting biochar. The N2-adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Transmittance Electron Microscope (TEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), and Vibrating Sample Magnetization (VSM), were implemented to characterise the MACN samples. BET surface area of MACN1 was 1780.20 m2/g with an average pore diameter of 1.95 nm compared to 283.62 m2/g and 1.91 nm for MACN2. The VSM, FESEM, and TEM measurements ensured the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles on the surface of the composites. Investigating various operating parameters disclosed that the highest adsorptive elimination (AE) of Cr(VI) from its aqueous phase by MACN1 was 99.66% compared to 97.43% for that achieved using MACN2. The adsorption results were best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm using both composites with maximum adsorption capacity of 233.12 mg/g for MACN1 compared to147.55 mg/g for MACN2, suggesting that the adsorption is homogonous and chemical. Moreover, the pseudo-2nd-order kinetics model exhibited the best match for the adsorption of Cr(VI) by both adsorbents, demonstrating that chemisorption was involved in eliminating Cr(VI) from its aqueous phase. After five repetitions, the regeneration experiments confirmed that the MACN adsorbents maintained a high AE. Based on the findings, the as-prepared composites have extensive potential to be applied on the industrial scale.

Photocatalytic degradation of chlorpyrifos using Fe-doped ZnO/activated carbon nanocomposite

The present research reports the synthesis of Iron-Zinc oxide nanocomposite supported on activated carbon synthesised from Schima wallichii biomass. The nanocomposite was produced using a hydrothermal process and its physicochemical characterization was carried out using several analytical methods such as Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR), Photoluminescence (PL), UV–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) and BET analyser. The prepared material was assessed for its degradation efficiency on chlorpyrifos (CPs) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalyst demonstrated optimal conditions achieving 98 % CPs degradation with 0.05 g catalyst dosage, 150 ppm initial concentration, 60-min of irradiation, and pH 2. Furthermore, recycling studies indicated the material's promising reusability, maintaining 62.7 % efficiency even after multiple cycles.

Magnetic pomegranate peels activated carbon (MG-PPAC) composite for Acid Orange 7 dye removal from wastewater

A magnetic pomegranate peels activated carbon (MG-PPAC) nanocomposite (23.46–26.75 nm) was prepared as an effective adsorbent for Acid Orange 7 (AO7) dye removal from wastewater. The effects of impregnation ratio and activation temperatures (600–900 °C) on the specific surface area and pore morphology were studied. BET, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, XRD and VSM are considered the synthesized composite MG-PPAC. The prepared magnetic composite at 700 °C activation temperature and impregnation ratio 1/2 (peels/ZnCl2) exhibited 513.34 m2/g surface area, 0.4025 cm3/g volume of the total pores, and 3.1364 nm mean diameter of the pores. The magnetization saturation, remanence and coercivity of the MG-PPA composite were 14.116 emu/g, 0.50685 emu/g, and 19.705 G, respectively. Also, the composite MG-PPAC was in a super-paramagnetic state at room temperature and could be gathered within 5 S (less than 5 S) with an external magnetic field. The impact of pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration of adsorbate (AO7 dye), and time of contact have been studied to optimize the removal process. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models were used to investigate MG-PPAC adsorption behavior for AO7 dye. Applicability of the Langmuir isotherm model demonstrates a monolayer adsorption AO7 dye removal process, and the maximum monolayer capacity (Qm) attained from linear solvation of LIM is 322.58 mg/g. Furthermore, the highest removal was 99.53% at pH 2.25. Also, the adsorption process was tested using like pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, film diffusion, and Elovich models. The pseudo-second-order model is well-fitted to the operational data of AO7 dye removal.

The photothermal properties of hydrogel nanocomposite embedded with ZnO/CuO based on PVA/GA/activated carbon for solar-driven interfacial evaporation

Using the renewable energy, especially solar energy, is an environmental-friendly approach for seawater desalination. Solar evaporation is a promising freshwater harvesting strategy rich in energy, including solar and water energy. Herein, we propose a solar evaporation hybrid hydrogel including polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) as a polymer network, semiconductor oxide nanoparticles (ZnO, CuO) and activated carbon as a photothermal material. Structural properties of hybrid hydrogel were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, surface morphology by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), chemical bonding by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and optical absorption and absorption coefficient (α) of components by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The result showed in visible region, PVA:ZnO:AC hydrogel nanocomposite has a strong absorption (55%) compare of the PVA:CuO:AC hydrogel nanocomposite (35%). In addition, by distillation measurements, the evaporator system demonstrated for PVA:CuO:AC and PVA:ZnO:AC Hydrogel an evaporation rate of 2.29 kg m−2 h−1 and 5.19 kg m−2 h−1 with the evaporation efficiency of 30.66% and 70.80%, respectively, under 0.1 sun irradiation. For PVA:CuO:AC hydrogel, the hardness of Caspian seawater decreased from 6648 to 115 ppm and ion conductance from 8641 (μS) to 244 (μS) and for the PVA:ZnO:AC Hydrogel decreased to 97 ppm and ion conductance to 206 (μS). Experiments showed that with changing type of the ZnO or CuO semiconductor oxide nanoparticles can effectively on regulate the optical properties of the evaporator. Eventually, this work begins a new point of synthesizing cost-effective photothermal absorbers based on metal oxides material and activated carbon nanocomposite.

One-pot preparation of one-dimensional hierarchically porous carbon@SnO2 nanocomposites for flexible fabric-based supercapacitor electrodes

The design of functional energy storage materials with superior performances has become the focus topic with the growing energy crisis in recent years. Herein, porous carbon nanofibers@tin dioxide (PCNFs@SnO2) composites are prepared by one-pot electrospinning and followed by carbonization. The PCNFs@SnO2 possesses a hierarchically porous structure containing mesopores and micropores. The specific surface area is as high as ∼ 559.4 m2 g−1, and the total pore volume can reach 0.28 cm3 g−1. Meanwhile, the nonwoven fabric surface is coated with a silver layer through the screen printing technique to obtain silver-coated nonwoven fabric (SNF). Importantly, PCNFs@SnO2 and SNF are combined to obtain flexible fabric-based functional materials. As a primary energy application, the prepared PCNFs@SnO2/SNF electrode has a high mass specific capacitance of 583.1 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, a high area specific capacitance of 933 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2, and a good rate capability (70 % at 10 A g−1). The supercapacitor device with two PCNFs@SnO2/SNF electrodes also shows outstanding cycling durability, capacitor retention is as high as ∼ 91.52 %, after 10000 charging/discharging cycles. In brief, our study may provide an innovative route for designing hierarchically porous one-dimensional carbon nanocomposites for supercapacitors with high performances.

Novel Carbon-Coated Zirconium (IV) Oxide Nanocomposite for the Electrochemical Determination of Rutin

ZrO2 coated highly porous biomass carbon nanocomposites (ZrO2@KHPC) were synthesized by calcination. The ZrO2 was derived from an amino-functionalized metal-organic framework and the porous biomass carbon material was derived from waste sunflower products. A selective electrochemical sensor was fabricated by modifying glass carbon electrodes (GCE) using ZrO2@KHPC to determine rutin. KHPC with a porous structure exhibited strong adsorption, high specific surface area, and superior electrical conductivity, whereas ZrO2 nanoparticles with an octahedral crystal structure and high electrocatalytic activity promote the specific recognition of rutin. The ZrO2@KHPC/GCE sensor demonstrated exceptional performance with a low detection limit of 0.008 µM and a sensitivity of 28.45 µA·µΜ−1·cm−2 from 0.01 to 40 µM. This excellent performance is attributed to the synergistic combination of ZrO2 and KHPC. In addition, the electrochemical sensor demonstrated suitable stability, good selectivity, high reproducibility, and satisfactory recovery for practical analysis.

Reduced Graphene Oxide/MoSe2/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanocomposite as Anode for Lithium-Ion-Based Dual-Ion Batteries

Reduced Graphene Oxide/MoSe₂/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanocomposite as Anode for Lithium-Ion-Based Dual-Ion Batteries

Antiviral and antibacterial efficacy of nanocomposite amorphous carbon films with copper nanoparticles

Copper compound-rich films and coatings are effective against widespread viruses and bacteria. Even though the killing mechanisms are still debated, it is agreed that the metal ion, nanoparticle release, and surface effects are of paramount importance to the antiviral and antibacterial efficacy of the surfaces. In this work we have investigated the behavior of the reactive magnetron sputtered nanocomposite diamond-like carbon thin films with copper nanoparticles (DLC:Cu). The films were etched employing oxygen plasma and/or exposed to ultra-pure water, aiming to investigate the differences of the Cu release in the medium and changes in film morphology. The presence of metallic copper and Cu2O phases was confirmed by multiple analytical methods. Pristine films were more effective in the Cu release reaching up to 1.3 mg/L/cm2 concentration. Plasma processing resulted in the oxidation of the films which released less Cu, but after exposure to water, their average roughness increased more, up to 5.5 nm. Pristine and O2 plasma processed DLC:Cu films were effective against both model coronavirus and herpesvirus after 1-hour contact time and reached virus reductions of up to 2.23 and 1.63 log10, respectively. Pristine DLC:Cu films were more effective than plasma-processed ones against herpesvirus, while less expressed difference was found for coronavirus. The virucidal efficacy over up to 24 h exposures in the aqueous medium was validated. A bactericidal study confirmed that pristine DLC:Cu films were effective against gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive E. faecalis bacteria. After 3 h, 100 % antibacterial efficiency (ABE) was obtained for E. coli and 99.97 % for E. faecalis. After 8 h and longer exposures, 100 % ABE was reached. The half-life inactivation of viruses was 8.10–11.08 min and for E. faecalis 15.1–72.2 min.