Nanocomposites Research Articles

Overcoming therapeutic limitations in glioblastoma treatment: A nanocomposite inducing ferroptosis and oxeiptosis via Photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) that activates photosensitizers to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) while minimizing harm to normal tissues.However, the therapeutic outcomes of PDT are often unsatisfactory. This limitation arises partly from the challenges posed by the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in transporting photosensitizers and partly from the excessive levels of glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which can neutralize ROS. Hypericin (HYP) has emerged as a promising photosensitizer for PDT due to its excellent photosensitizing properties and antitumor activity. Dysregulated iron metabolism is a hallmark of numerous cancers, including GBM. In this study, biodegradable tetra-sulfide-bound dendritic mesoporous organosilicas nanocomposite (NCs) modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were synthesized. NCs penetrates the BBB and selectively targets GBM by binding to secreted acidic protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), an albumin-binding receptor that is prominently expressed in both the BBB and GBM. Upon degradation in response to high GSH concentrations in the TME, the NCs release their payload while concurrently depleting GSH. Under laser irradiation, the ROS-generating agent HYP, loaded within the NCs, is combined with the ferroptosis inducer erastin to achieve a synergistic anti-GBM effect via PDT/ferroptosis. Additionally, the NCs induces oxeiptosis by regulating KEAP1/PGAM5/AIFM1 pathway. Consequently, NC inhibits GBM growth by inducing ferroptosis and oxeiptosis through excessive ROS production. This study demonstrates the potential of NCs to enhance the effectiveness of PDT, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM patients.

Innovative anticancer nanocomposites from Corchorus olitorius mucilage/chitosan/selenium nanoparticles

Cancers are continuing to threaten human health globally; the achievement of effectual and biosafe anticancerous compounds is a precious goal. The extraction of Corchorus olitorius mucilage (Jm) and its usage for selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) biosynthesis was projected. The innovative formulation of bioactive nanocomposites (NCs) from Jm/SeNPs and chitosan nanoparticles (Cht) was also proposed to apply these NCs as effectual anticancers against CaCo-2 and HeLa cancerous cells. The Jm/SeNPs biosynthesis (mean diameter = 6.45 nm) was innovatively achieved and confirmed using infrared and ultraviolet-visible analysis. The constructions of different NCs were done (N1: 2Jm/SeNPs:1Cht; N2: 1Jm/SeNPs:1Cht; and N3: 1Jm/SeNPs:2Cht) with mean particles' diameter of 88.41, 46.86 and 69.35 nm, respectively. The cytotoxicity assay of constructed NCs indicated their potentialities to suppress examined cells; N1 (negatively charged; −16.2 mV) was the most forceful with IC50 of 12.36 and 73.15 mg/L against CaCo-2 and HeLa cells, respectively. The scanning microscopy imaging of treated CaCo-2 cells with N1 of Cht/Jm/SeNPs indicated that the NCs led to remarkable apoptotic destructions of treated cells, including cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, cytoplasmic vacuolization, cell debris and apoptotic indices. The innovative NCs from Cht/Jm/SeNPs are promisingly recommended as effectual, natural and bioactive anticancer formulations against human cancers.

Impact of Hydrochloric Acid Doping on Polyaniline Conductivity and Piezoelectric Performance in Polyaniline/Bismuth Oxyiodide Nanocomposites

This study investigates the impact of hydrochloric acid (HCl) doping, ranging from 0.2 M to 1.25 M, on the conductivity of polyaniline (PANI) and the piezoelectric performance of polyaniline/bismuth oxyiodide (PANI/BiOI) nanocomposites (NCs). Two distinct methods for fabricating NCs based on PANI and bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) are proposed. Two distinct methods for fabricating PANI/BiOI NCs are proposed, and their optical and electrical properties are systematically examined. The direct allowed energy bandgap of the NCs is found to be approximately 1.9 eV. The piezoelectric performance, attributed to the 2D Janus structure of BiOI, is explored in detail, with the bulk piezoelectric coefficient measured at 1.43(65) pm/V. Sensitivity to pressure interaction reached 21.1(92) mV/bar, and the generated power was 5.09 nW for air pressure excitation in a composite consisting of 37.5 wt% BiOI and 62.5 wt% PANI doped with 0.2 M HCl, fabricated in-situ. The results demonstrate precise control over key parameters, including the fabrication method, sample thickness, HCl doping concentration, and BiOI content, highlighting the significant potential for enhancing nanogenerator functionality. These findings provide valuable insights into improving the performance of piezoelectric materials for energy harvesting technologies.

Cysteine assisted synthesis of Bi2S3/BiOBr nanocomposites for photocatalytic decomposition of rhodamine B

Novel Bi2S3/BiOBr nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared via L-Cysteine-assisted hydrothermal avenue as efficient photocatalysts to degrade rhodamine B (RhB). As a result, the obtained Bi2S3/BiOBr NCs exhibited the slice-like microstructure with the average diameters of ca. 100 nm. The elemental analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the nanocomposites were combined by Bi2S3 and BiOBr. Then, the photo-induced degradation of RhB was performed with a Xenon lamp to simulate the sunlight ([Formula: see text] 400 nm) and the photo-decomposition rate was calculated. The following results showed that the Bi2S3/BiOBr NCs possessed excellent photocatalytice performance, which was better than that of other samples as control. Thus, this avenue provides a new reference for the facile synthesis of photocatalysts with low cost and high efficiency.

Multifunctional RGO-Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanocomposites for supercapacitor and biosensor application

This study successfully synthesized pristine RGO-Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanocomposites (NCs) using a hydrothermal method, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrated that RGO-Gd2O3:Eu3+ NCs exhibited a superior specific capacitance (Csp) of 340 Fg⁻1 at a scan rate of 2 mV s⁻1. Impressively, the synthesized nanocomposites displayed high energy and power densities of 41 Wh/kg and 30000 W/kg, respectively, along with excellent capacity retention (91.12%) and Coulombic efficiency (95.77%). Modified glassy carbon electrodes (MGCEs) fabricated using these NCs showed promising electrochemical responses for dopamine (DA) detection at pH 7. These findings highlight the potential of the developed electrode for both supercapacitor applications and DA sensing.

Antimicrobial effects of peptides from fenugreek and ginger proteins using Fe3O4@PDA-MWCNT conjugated trypsin by improving enzyme stability & applications

Trypsin was immobilized onto a newly formulated nanocomposite (NC) comprising magnetic (Fe3O4) multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) anchored with polydopamine (PDA). The fabricated NC and the NC-bound trypsin were subjected to comprehensive characterization using various biophysical techniques including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The NC-bound trypsin exhibited significantly enhanced thermostability and increased tolerance to various organic solvents and denaturants. The enzymatic activity of trypsin was notably augmented through its coupling with the nano support, yielding an effectiveness factor (η) of 2.65. Fenugreek and ginger protein hydrolysates, prepared using both native and NC-bound enzyme, were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. The analysis revealed that peptides generated by NC-bound trypsin showed higher antimicrobial activity (~ 10) in most cases compared to peptides obtained by using native trypsin. This strategy presents an innovative methodology for the production of potential biopeptides, with the prospect of their incorporation into pharmaceutical and therapeutic sectors through the utilization of NC-bound trypsin in protein hydrolysis.

Modulation of ZrO2-Ag2O-MoO3 nanocomposite into ultrasensitive hydrazine electrochemical sensor for environmental remediation

Herein, a facile single-step wet chemical approach was executed for the composition of semiconductor ternary metal oxides (TMO) i.e., ZrO2-Ag2O-MoO3 nanocomposite (NC)in an alkaline medium. For structural as well as morphological elucidation, the calcined nanocomposite was characterized through ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powdered X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Later, the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified into a highly responsive as well as selective hydrazine (HDZN) electrochemical probe (ZrO2-Ag2O-MoO3-NC/PEDOT:PSS/GCE) by the fabrication of thin layered ZrO2-Ag2O-MoO3NC onto GCE facilitated by 5 % PEDOT:PSS as conducting polymer binder. While examining the analytical parameters through novel current–potential (I-V) electrochemical approach, for the first time, the newly designed electrochemical probe, as selective hydrazine sensor, happened to own the low detection limit (LOD; 0.028 pM) with greater sensitivity (33.86 μAμM−1cm−2) and broad linear dynamic range (LDR; 0.1 M–1.0 nM) in addition to coefficient of correlation (r)/r2 square (r = 0.9941, r2 = 0.9882) and low limit of quantification (LOQ; 0.093 pM).Furthermore, reproducibility as well as prolonged stability of this newly proposed probe towards hydrazine were also assessed and found to be reliable in short response time. Hence, this work presents an inaugural report about the sensing of HDZN through the newly designed non reported ZrO2-Ag2O-MoO3-NC/PEDOT:PSS/GCE via an economical as well as novel electrochemical, current–potential (I-V),approach. Additionally, this proposed method is equally responsive towards both environmental and extracted real samples analysis on large scale.

Tuning the structural, morphological, optical, dielectric, and magnetic properties of PVA via embedding with CoFe2O4:CuO nanoparticles

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) embedded CoFe2O4: CuO (CC) nanocomposites (NC) were prepared by casting technique. The prepared CoFe2O4 (CFO) sample have crystallite size in the range of 20.10-29.08 nm, whereas the crystallite sizes of CuO were found in the range of 20.29-23.68 nm, respectively. TEM images revealed the spherical shape morphology of CC nanocomposite with an average particle size distribution of 15 nm. The Urbach energy of the PCC films increased from 0.44 to 2.590 eV, whereas the direct optical band gaps decreased from 5.584 to 4.345 eV, respectively. The refractive indices of the PCC films were found to be in the range of 1.9 -2.6, depending on the different models. Room Temperature-dependent saturation magnetization and coercive field for the prepared nanocomposites were found to be 0.52-1.296 (emu/g) and 1210-1340 (Oe), respectively. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropic constant of PCC films was remarkably enhanced from 0.654x103 to 3.826x103 (erg/cm3) for PCC2, PCC3, and PCC4, correspondingly. The enhanced values of dielectric and magnetic parameters of the prepared nanocomposites suggest their suitability for magnetic recording and memory systems.

Innovative xanthan gum-based nanocomposites for asphaltene precipitation prevention in shale and carbonate rocks

Asphaltene deposition in porous media creates many challenges in porous media. This study synthesizes ZnO/SiO2/xanthan nanocomposites (NCs) to adsorb asphaltene and reduce its effect on the shale and carbonate rocks. NCs structure is analyzed using SEM, EDX, BET, and FTIR tests. Also, the rocks' surface is analyzed by an atomic force microscopy (AFM) test after 48 and 96 h of contact with 20 ppm NCs and 20 mg asphaltene. Core flooding tests are performed on shale rocks using 20 ppm NCs at 5500, 4000, and 2500 psi at 48 h. Using AFM in calcite and dolomite formations and selecting core flooding tests based on that are new scenarios that followed in this paper. FTIR results confirm asphaltene adsorption on NCs's surface by changing 854 and 962 cm−1 peaks. AFM tests confirmed asphaltene adsorption on NCs surface, too. Average roughness, root mean square roughness, peak to valley roughness, and average size of the shale were higher than the carbonate sheets. At 20 ppm NCs in shale reservoirs, permeability reduction in porous media was increased up to 39.5 %, and asphaltene precipitation decreased from 8.95 and 20.06 wt% to 2.25 and 10.25 wt%, which shows our suggested scenarios were efficient.

Opal‐Inspired SiO2‐Mediated Carbon Dot Doping Enables the Synthesis of Monodisperse Multifunctional Afterglow Nanocomposites for Advanced Information Encryption

AbstractDespite recent advancements in inorganic and organic phosphors, creating monodisperse afterglow nanocomposites (NCs) remains challenging due to the complexities of wet chemistry synthesis. Inspired by nanoinclusions in opal, we introduce a novel SiO2‐mediated carbon dot (CD) doping method for fabricating monodisperse, multifunctional afterglow NCs. This method involves growing a SiO2 shell matrix on monodisperse nanoparticles (NPs) and doping CDs into the SiO2 shell under hydrothermal conditions. Our approach preserves the monodispersity of the parent NP@SiO2 NCs while activating a green afterglow in the doped CDs with an impressive lifetime of 1.26 s. Additionally, this method is highly versatile, allowing for various core and dopant combinations to finely tune the afterglow through core‐to‐CD or CD‐to‐dye energy transfer. Our findings significantly enhance the potential of SiO2 coatings, transforming them from merely enhancing the biocompatibility of NCs to serving as a versatile matrix for emitters, facilitating afterglow generation and paving the way for new applications.

A Facile Synthesis of RGO-Ag2MoO4 Nanocomposites for Efficient Lead Removal from Aqueous Solution

Efficiently treating wastewater, particularly the elimination of heavy metal ions from water systems, continues to be one of the most pressing and complex challenges in modern environmental management. In this work, reduced graphene oxide coupled silver molybdate binary nanocomposites (RGO-Ag2MoO4 NCs) have been prepared via hydrothermal method. The crystalline nature and surface properties of the developed RGO-Ag2MoO4 NCs were proved by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDS techniques. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that the nanocomposites (NCs) effectively removed Pb(II) ions within 120 min, achieving a maximum removal efficiency ranging from 94.96% to 86.37% for Pb(II) concentrations between 20 and 100 mg/L at pH 6. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second order model. Isotherm analysis presented that the Langmuir model provided the greatest fit for the equilibrium data, with a monolayer adsorption capacity of 128.94 mg/g. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The results of this study highlight RGO-Ag2MoO4 NCs as a highly promising and eco-friendly material for the effective elimination of Pb(II) ions from wastewater. Their strong adsorption capacity, coupled with sustainable properties, makes them an efficient solution for addressing lead contamination, offering significant potential for practical applications in water treatment systems.

Plant-mediated synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of a copper oxide/silicon dioxide nanocomposite by an antimicrobial study

Abstract This study presents an innovative, environmentally friendly method for biosynthesizing copper oxide–silica (Cu2O/SiO2) nanocomposites (CSNCs) utilizing an aqueous leaf extract of Callistemon viminalis (C. viminalis). The goal of this work is to fabricate CSNCs using a less hazardous and sustainable synthesis approach. Copper acetate and sodium metasilicate were used as precursors, whereas the C. viminalis green leaf extract was used as the reducing and stabilizing agent. Analysis of the plant extract using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the presence of polyphenolic compounds, primarily phenolic acids, which functioned as both reducing and stabilizing agents in the synthesis of CSNCs. A combination of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy was used to study the formation of spherical copper–silica hybrid nanostructures. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the successful integration of silica with copper(i) oxide (Cu2O) through the presence of distinct Cu2O peaks and a broad amorphous SiO2 peak at 2θ = 22.77°. The thermal stability of the nanocomposites (NCs) was assessed using thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis under a nitrogen atmosphere. The biogenic NCs also successfully inhibited pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Candida albicans (C. albicans); however, S. aureus was found to be more susceptible to the biocidal activity of the NCs than P. aeruginosa. These findings suggest that this simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method for producing biologically active hybrid nanomaterials holds significant promise for future applications in both biological and materials sciences.

Exploring the photocatalytic breakdown of organic pollutants using intercalated ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposites

The increasing prevalence of organic pollutants in water sources necessitates the development of efficient and cost-effective photocatalysts for their degradation. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely studied for their photocatalytic properties; however, their application is hindered by low photocatalytic efficiency and high recombination rates of photogenerated carriers. This manuscript explores the enhanced photocatalytic performance of intercalated ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposites (NCs), synthesized through a combination of co-precipitation and Stöber methods, as a solution to these challenges. A comprehensive analysis of the structural, optical elemental and Morphological properties of both ZnO NPs and ZnO/SiO2 NCs was conducted using various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis spectrometry and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Through, XRD analysis, the calculated crystallite sizes of ZnO NPs and ZnO/SiO₂ NCs were found to be 36 nm and 39 nm respectively. TEM images illustrated that the ZnO NPs and ZnO/SiO₂ NCs have crystallized in elongated spherical morphology. XPS and FTIR analyses provided the signature band details the presence of Cu and Si in their Zn2⁺ and Si⁴⁺ oxidation states. The optical bandgap energies were calculated to be 3.38 eV for ZnO NPs and 3.22 eV for ZnO/SiO₂ NCs. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of the ZnO/SiO2 NCs achieved an impressive degradation rate of 92 % for Rhodamine B (RhB), compared to a relatively lower rate of 81 % for pure ZnO NPs for the degradation of RhB under visible light due to its lower bandgap, high surface area, and lower electron-hole recombination rate. BET surface area measurements revealed that ZnO nanoparticles have a surface area of 11.234 m2/g, while ZnO/SiO₂ NCs show 57.118 m2/g, highlighting SiO₂'s enhancement. The NCs demonstrated exceptional reusability for degradation, sustaining high efficiency across multiple cycles. Its ability to scavenge superoxide radicals highlighted the effectiveness of the ZnO/SiO₂ NCs in environmental remediation, especially for wastewater treatment.

Photodegradation of Polyethersulfone (PES), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) and Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Microplastics via a Metal Organic Framework Namely ZIF-8/ZnO/C

The aim of this study was to photodegrade the Polyethersulfone (PES), Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microplastics using Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8/Zinc oxide/Carbon (ZIF-8/ZnO/C) nanocomposite generated under laboratory conditions. The produced nanocomposite was analysed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Photo Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectra (DRS) and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) analyses. The maximum PES, PVDF and PPMA photodegradation yields were 99%, 98%, and 96%, respectively, at 1 mg/l ZIF-8/ZnO/C nanocomposites (NCs) concentration, 1000 mg/l microplastics concentration, at pH = 10.0, at a temperature and photodegradation time of 40°C and 20 min, under oxic conditions at a sunlight intensity of 80 W/m<sup>2</sup> and a photon yield of 16. The XRD analysis showed the generation of ZIF-8/ZnO/C, while the FTIR analysis indicated the ZnO, C, and ZIF-8.

Nanocomposite Embedded Electric and Magnetic Material Enhancing Antenna Radiation by Linear Relation in Radiators

The main and auxiliary radiating elements are linked by linear mathematical relation and coated with nanocomposite (NC) materials to enhance radiation characteristics. Nanocomposite-based electric material (NE) and nanocomposite-based magnetic material (NM) coated on auxiliary radiating elements to enhance the electromagnetic radiation of the proposed antenna. The radiating elements coated with NE graphene oxide (GO) and NM barium ferrite (BF) have higher electric field and magnetic field distribution respectively. The linear relation of main and auxiliary elements is verified by two substrates FR4, Teflon with correlated results. This proposed NC-coated antenna produces a bandwidth of 4.15 GHz, 4.02 dBi average gain and radiation efficiency of 95.17%, being superior to the antenna without NC coating. Fabricated antenna has 1.56–5.71 GHz bandwidth that includes 2.4/5.2 GHz WLAN, 2.5/3.5 GHz WiMAX, 2.4 GHz ISM, 5G SUB-6 GHz, 5G NR 78 and 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.

An Extensive Study of Metal Matrix Composites and their Various Properties for Different Uses

This study examines the creation and development of composite materials, from conventional techniques to their innovative uses in numerous industries. Composite materials that are robust, versatile, and resilient have advanced significantly, especially with the application of nanotechnology and hybrid fiber reinforcements. Composite materials are difficult to machine due to their anisotropic and non-homogeneous structure, as well as the high abrasiveness of their reinforcing parts. This typically results in the workpiece becoming damaged and the cutting tool wearing down very rapidly. On composite materials, traditional machining methods such as turning, drilling, and milling can be applied with the appropriate tool design and operating parameters. An overview of the various issues related to the conventional machining of the main types of composite materials is given in this work. This article examines novel matrix materials, forms of reinforcement, and production procedures to show how advanced metallic matrix nano composites and fiber-reinforced polymers are replacing traditional composites. Special emphasis is given to the strict manufacturing conditions in addition to the homogenous dispersion of nanoparticles and damage-free machining of fiber composite materials. The essay also discusses how sustainable alternatives, including reinforcements made of natural fibers, affect the ecosystem. This study aims to offer a comprehensive analysis and case studies.

Phototheranostic LPP-QDs-IR-820 Nanocomposites for Specific NIR-II Imaging of Lymphatic and Photothermal Therapy of Cervical Tumors.

Precise theranostics of tumors is intricately linked to the early detection and monitoring of lymph nodes (LN) and metastases, making the targeted localization of LNs essential for tumor identification. However, designing LN-targeting probes remains a significant challenge due to issues such as lymphatic uptake, biocompatibility, and fluorescence stability. To address these challenges, near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence probes are developed through meticulous analysis of LN physiological structure and passive targeting strategy for LN detection and tumor therapy. An LPP-QDs-IR-820 nanocomposite (NCs) is engineered, comprising the IR-820 molecules and ultrabright PbS@CdS quantum dots (QDs), which are encapsulated within a liposome-SH-mPEG2000 polymer matrix. These NCs demonstrates remarkable lymphatic enrichment, facilitating real-time tracking of LN via electrostatic repulsion and extracellular matrix effects. Importantly, the NCs exhibit negligible in vivo toxicity and high biocompatibility. The intense NIR-II fluorescence emissions of IR-820 and PbS@CdS QDs confer upon the NCs a high NIR-II fluorescence quantum yield (6%). The cervical tumors and their deep microvessels are clearly observed via NIR-II fluorescence imaging. Moreover, the photothermal properties of IR-820 enable the NCs to achieve a photothermal conversion efficiency of 36.56%, leading to effective photothermal therapy in cervical tumor mice.

Unlocking the potential of biogenic Ag@g-C3N4 in sustainable water purification: A kinetic and photocatalytic study

This research introduces a pioneering biogenic deposition-precipitation method for synthesis of Ag@g-C3N4 nanocomposites (NCs) employing fennel seed extract (FSE). This technique involves the reduction and capping of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto g-C3N4, employing polyphenolic content of FSE, consequently establishing a strong Schottky junction. The, NCs were characterized through various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, confirming successful biogenic deposition of AgNPs and purity of prepared nanomaterials. Further, the synthesized NCs were utilized for photocatalytic degradation of various hazardous pollutants viz. Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) dye, Tetracycline (TCy) antibiotic, Imidacloprid (IMD) insecticide and deactivation of E. coli microbes. Amongst the synthesized NCs, 3 wt% Ag@g-C3N4 NCs exhibited superior photocatalytic mitigation of Rh-B (99.26%, k = 90.4 × 10−3 min−1), TCy (96.86%, k = 40.2 × 10−3 min−1), IMD (95.7%, k = 34.96 × 10−3 min−1) and E. coli deactivation (99.5%, k = 49.19 × 10−3 min−1). Moreover, the rate constants revealed many-fold increase in photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, contrary to pristine g-C3N4 (k = 11.8 × 10−3 min−1). This investigation also unveils an intricate photocatalytic mitigation pathway for the aforementioned-contaminants, elucidating key role of superoxide radical anions in photocatalytic mitigation. One of the significant highlights of this research is the sustainable and cost-effective synthesis methodology involving fennel seeds, which not only ensures the wide availability of resources but also guarantees environmental safety, in alignment with green principles.

Green synthesized Cr2O3/Bi2O3 nanocomposites for gamma ray shielding

The quest for advanced materials in gamma radiation shielding has spurred the exploration of environmentally friendly, nanotechnology-based approaches. This study introduces a novel synthesis of Cr2O3/Bi2O3 nanocomposites (NCs) using the solution combustion method, with Aloe vera extract serving as a natural reducing agent. Comprehensive analytical characterization of the synthesized NCs was conducted using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The gamma radiation shielding properties of the Cr2O3/Bi2O3 NCs are evaluated using a NaI(Tl) detector connected to a multichannel analyzer. Key shielding parameters, including mass attenuation coefficients, mean free path, half-value layer, tenth-value layer, energy buildup factor, and radiation protection efficiency, indicate that Cr2O3/Bi2O3 NCs are highly effective in gamma radiation shielding. The results demonstrated the feasible shielding performance of these nanocomposites across various energies within error limits of 5 %. This study highlights the potential of Cr2O3/Bi2O3 NCs as a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional shielding materials, offering enhanced gamma radiation protection with reduced environmental impact.

Structural and morphological studies of g-C3N4-functionalized MWCNTs nanocomposite for sunlight-responsive photocatalytic activity

Photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants has been proven to be one of the greatest economical and efficient techniques to address environmental pollution problems. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/g-C3N4 (GCN) nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal process aided by ultrasound to produce active photocatalysts. The effective synthesis of GCN, MWCNTs, and MWCNTs/GCN NCs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The fabrication of GCN nanosheets (NSs), the nanotubular structure of MWCNTs, and a network of neuron-like structures for MWCNTs/GCN NCs were all revealed by structural and morphological characterization. The elemental mapping of NCs containing the suitable quantity of MWCNTs revealed a uniform distribution of the sample's component elements. When the optical properties of the fabricated nanomaterials were examined by employing UV–visible spectroscopy, the results revealed a blue shift (a shift of maximum absorption to the UV region), which suggests that the addition of MWCNTs increased the band-gap energy. The behaviour of e––h+ pair recombination was revealed by measuring the charge carrier movement and trapping efficiency using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Crystal violet (CV) dye was photocatalytically degraded using prepared NCs in the presence of sunlight, and the synergistic effects of GCN and MWCNTs were examined. With a degradation efficiency of 99.32 %, MWCNTs/GCN NCs demonstrated the best sunlight-irradiated photocatalytic activity for CV degradation. The degradation of CV was discovered to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Throughout five consecutive studies, the NCs demonstrated the highest levels of catalytic efficiency and recyclability, with 5 % reduced degrading activities. The trapping tests showed that the primary reactive species involved in the breakdown of CV were the •O2– and •OH radicals.