Optical Band Gap Energy Research Articles

Investigation of UV-blocking and photon-down conversion characteristics of PMMA@ CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 polymer nanocomposites

Herein, methyl ammonium lead bromide: Tungsten trioxide (CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3) nano heterojunction and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer composite films of different weight percentage (wt%) proportions of CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 nanoparticles (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt%) were prepared. The structure, morphology and thermal features of CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 heterojunctions and PMMA@CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 nanocomposites were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The characterization data revealed decrease in crystallinity (up to 7.97%) and glass transition temperature (Tg) with increase in the concentration of CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 nanoparticles in PMMA nanocomposites. The UV-visible absorbance and transmittance data of PMMA nanocomposites recorded using UV-visible spectroscopy was used to mathematically deduct the optical characteristics such as absorption coefficient, optical band gap, refractive index, extinction coefficient, finesse coefficient, optical conductivity and Urbach energy. The deducted data revealed improved UV-shielding, refractive index and optical conductivity values while the optical band gap and Urbach energy was found to decrease with concentration of dopant. The experimental data of different PMMA@CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 composite films showed excellent UV- blocking properties in the wider wavelength range of 259-322nm(4.80eV-3.850eV). The PMMA nanocomposites with 2.0 wt% CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 filler composition exhibited highest UV-shielding behavior with maximum UV-absorption in the wavelength range of 260 to 300nm. The pristine PMMA films showed a PL emission peak at 410nm while the PMMA nanocomposites exhibited strong emissions in the wavelength range of 485-520nm. The observed hydrophobicity, redshift and longer lifetime decay of 34.3 ns for PMMA nanocomposites is attributed to the incorporated CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 heterojunction nanoparticles. The chromaticity profile suggested that the emission color changed from blue to green as the filler dose of CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 varied from 0 to 2.0 wt%. Additionally, the findings from the study reveal that incorporation of CH3NH3PbBr3:WO3 into the PMMA matrix enhances UV-absorption, optical conductivity, hydrophobicity, thermal stability, electrical conductivity and photon-down conversion properties of PMMA which make the material suitable for photonic, photovoltaic, optoelectronic and light emitting diode applications.

Holmium ions influence in structural and optical properties of Aluminium Strontium-phosphate glasses for radiation shielding applications

This study details the synthesis of a novel series of Holmium-doped Aluminium Strontium-phosphate glass (HoAlSr- phosphate glass) composed of 55 P2O5 + 5 Al2O3 + 4 MgO + 5 NaF + 10 LiCO3 + 5 CaO + 10 SrCO3 + 5 ZnO + 1 Ho2O3 prepared by melt-quench method and its structural, optical, and physical properties are analysed. Powder −XRD verified its amorphous nature, FTIR shows the existence of large phosphate functional groups, Optical properties such as band gap energy was calculated by acquiring absorption spectra covering the UV, Vis, and NIR ranges. Obtained 3.02 eV optical band gap energy. The refractive index changing with increasing energy. Three peaks in the PL spectra corresponded to Ho3+ transitions: 5I8→ 5G6, 5I8→ 3K8, and 5I8→ 5F3. The glass conducted theoretical studies for radiation shielding properties based on several key parameters. Gamma radiation shielding parameters, including Mean Free path (MFP), Effective atomic number (Zeff), linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), and mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), were obtained with the use of the Phy-X program. MAC data show that when Compton scattering (CS) fluctuates in the intermediate photon energy zone (E > 3 MeV), the area of prominence of CS diminishes. They can cause pair production at higher energies, Compton scattering at intermediate energies, and the photoelectric effect at lower energies. The MFP values of glasses doped with HoAlSr- phosphate glass were shorter, indicating a higher level of shielding efficacy. In this study we are focusing on optical properties changes with presence of Holmium ions and its shielding property using Phy-x software. In this research discovered that the synthetic material has high shielding qualities and can be a valuable shield in environments where X-rays are present. So it will be beneficial at X-ray prompted environment

Synthesis and characterization of erbium silica glass and glass-ceramics for potential low-emissivity coating applications

Silica glasses co-doped with varying concentrations of Er3+ (0.8, 1.5, 4, and 8 mol %) were fabricated employing the sol-gel technique. The effects of erbium concentration were evaluated through several characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible transmission spectroscopy, and photoluminescence analysis. The incorporation of erbium ions significantly altered the structural, optical, and photoluminescence properties of the doped glasses. XRD analysis revealed the presence of SiO2 in both tetragonal and hexagonal forms, along with Er2SiO5 crystalline phases. SEM images showed irregular rod-shaped structures with agglomeration and micro-flake cubic shapes. FTIR spectroscopy provided insights into the structural characteristics of the materials. Notably, the optical band gap energy of the glassy films increased, accompanied by fluctuating Urbach energy and a slight reduction in the refractive index, attributed to structural changes within the glass network. Photoluminescence spectra indicated strong emissions at 523 and 543 nm, corresponding to the transitions 2H11/2 → 4I15/2 and 4S3/2 → 4I15/2, respectively. Additionally, a notable near-infrared emission at 1532 nm was observed, linked to the transition 4I13/2 → 4I15/2. The color coordinates of the produced glasses were found to be near the green or yellow regions, suggesting potential applications in optical amplifiers, lasers, and low-emissivity coatings.

Green biogenic synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles from indigenous Banksia Ashbyi leaf for enhanced sonochemical dye degradation

Abstract Developing alternative green and sustainable technologies to prevent, reduce, and remove toxic dyes present in effluent generated by the textile industry is of global importance. In this study, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (MNPs) were successfully synthesized using a co-precipitation method that used Indigenous Banksia Ashbyi (BA) leaf extract in varying amounts (BA-MNP 1 to BA-MNP 4), to modulate particle size and size distribution. The formation of the MNPs was confirmed by a range of characterization techniques that included UV–visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning (FIBSEM) and high-resolution transmission (HRTEM) electron microscopy. The presence of the Fe–O bond located at 551 cm−1 in the FTIR spectra and XRD analysis of the samples confirmed the formation of crystalline MNPs. FIBSEM and HRTEM images of the BA-MNP 4 sample confirmed the MNPs were spherical (18 ± 5 nm) and tended to agglomerate. Moreover, UV–visible spectrophotometry revealed a board absorption band and an optical band-gap energy of 2.65 eV. The catalytic activity of BA-MNP 4 samples towards the degradation of a commercially available navy-blue RIT dye (BRD) were investigated under three operational senarios: 1) ultrasonic irradiation (US) + BRD; 2) BA-MNP 4 + BRD, and 3) US + BRD + BA-MNP 4. The investigation found there was an additive effect when US (80 W) was used in conjunction with BA-MNP 4 s during the dye degradation process. With no US, the BA-MNP 4 sample only achieved a dye degradation of 52% in 25 min. However, over the same period of time with US, the BA-MNP 4 sample achieved a dye degradation of 89.92%. In addition, kinetic modelling found the combined US and BA-MNP 4 process followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model.

The Extraction of Alcea Rosea Organic Dye and Its Characterization of Optical Properties

In the present study, the optical properties of a natural dye extracted from Alcea rosea flowers were investigated. The color extraction procedure was performed using a nontoxic solvent ethanol to enhance human safety and the ecological framework. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to determine the functional groups of the natural dye obtained from Alcea rosea flowers. The optical properties of dye were achieved by the directed thin film using UV-Vis spectroscopy and analyzed absorption spectra, coefficients, refractive indices, extinction coefficients, and optical energy bandgap. A broad absorption band occurs over an extensive waveband with peak at 380 nm. The occurrence of a low indirect bandgap in a thin film was discerned at 3.9 eV, with Urbach energy noticed in a state of 0.23 eV.

Micro structures, Morphology and Optical Properties of Sb2O3: WO3, In2O3 Nanostructure Composite Thin Films

This work is concerned with the synthesis of two types of composites thin films (Sb2O3:WO3 and (Sb2O3:In2O3) with different concentrations (0.0,0.05,0.1, and 0.15). The prepared thin films are characterized with the use of the X-ray diffraction atomic force microscope AFM and UV-Vis–infrared spectrophotometer. The structural examination shows that both composite's thin films were polycrystalline with nano size with cubic phase as majority and orthorhombic phase as minority phase. The crystal size decreases from 34.6 to 24.7 and 21.7 nm for (Sb2O3:WO3) and (Sb2O3:In2O3) thin films, respectively. The average roughness shows non-regular growth by increasing the concentration of both oxides. The optical energy band gap shows a red shift for both types of nanostructure thin films, which populate these composited thin films for solar cell applications.

Modification of opto‐electrical behavior of polyvinyl chloride by infusion of SrTiO3 nanofiller synthesized via green route

AbstractEnhancing the opto‐electrical properties of polymer is crucial for optoelectronic devices. This study emphasis the synthesis of strontium titanate (SrTiO3) nanoparticles using a green sol–gel method and incorporates them into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to create nanocomposite films via solution casting. The structural, optical, thermal, and electrical properties of PVC with SrTiO3 at concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt.% were examined. Better crystallinity was obtained with filler incorporation. Fourier transform infrared shows the physical interaction between nanofiller and the matrix. SEM results suggested that SrTiO3 nanofiller are well distributed in PVC surface. UV–Vis spectroscopy was used to study optical behavior of the nanocomposites. Optical bandgap energy decreased from 3.2 to 2.5 eV with increased concentration of SrTiO3 in PVC matrix. Photoluminescence results show the reduction of electron hole recombination rate. The integration of SrTiO3 nanofiller into the PVC matrix improved the thermal stability, dielectric constant, and the overall performance of the prepared nanocomposite films, making them suitable for high‐temperature optoelectronic and energy storage applications. The green synthesis of SrTiO3 nanofiller also ensures the environmental benefits, high purity, and homogeneity, leading to consistent enhancements in the PVC/SrTiO3 composites. These improvements highlight their potential for advanced optoelectronic devices requiring efficient and durable materials.

Optimization of Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B and Indigo Carmine Dyes Using Eco‐Friendly Kaolinite‐Silver Oxide Quantum Dots Nanocomposite Under Sunlight Irradiation

ABSTRACTIn this work, we present a simple method for the pyrofabrication of a new kaolinite‐ silver oxide quantum dots nanocomposite (Kao‐Ag2O/QDs) that is used for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and indigo carmine (IC) dyes. A homogenous combination of kaolinite and silver nitrate was sintered up to 350 °C to create the extremely effective photocatalyst (Kao‐Ag2O/QDs). Various analytical techniques were employed to characterize the Kao‐Ag2O/QDs photocatalyst such as XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM–EDX, TEM, DTA/TGA, ZP, BET, and UV–Vis DRS. The degradation of RhB and IC dyes through the photocatalyst was carried out in aqueous solutions utilizing several pH dye solutions and sustainable solar energy in atmosphere conditions. The nanocomposite that was prepared had shown an enhanced specific surface area of 53.3005 m2/g, a pore size of 8.1197 nm, and a total pore volume of 0.216 cm3/g. It also displayed an optical band gap energy of 2.9 eV. The study creates that employing the ideal dose of 2000 and 1500 mg/L of the Kao‐Ag2O/QDs photocatalyst at neutral conditions (pH = 7) resulted a maximum degradation effectiveness of RhB and IC of 91.06 and 93.46% after 90 min, respectively. RhB and IC dyes degradation followed Langmuir first‐order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.0217 and 0.0216 min−1 at pH = 7, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation activity for RhB dye is based on hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) and superoxide radicals (˙O2−), while the mechanism of IC removal is based on superoxide radicals (˙O2−), as revealed by scavenger‐based radical trapping studies. A triple reusability study found that the Kao‐Ag2O photocatalyst is highly stable with degradation efficiencies of RhB and IC dyes from the initial 91.09 to 90.04, 88.54, and 86.27% and from the initial 93.46 to 92.8, 91.4 and 89.32%, respectively. The optimal situations for the parameters were identified by the Box–Behnken design (BBD), which was well matched with photocatalytic degradation tests.

The role of BaTiO3 nanoparticles as photocatalysts in the synthesis and characterization of novel fruit dyes is investigated.

In the present work, the photocatalytic activity against the natural dye extracted from the novel fruits has been studied by the BaTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) under a ultra-violet (UV) light source. The large concentrations of an essential phenolic agent present in this phytochemical extract superimposed with cloths fibers make strong stain and degrade into another form of toxic, which is excluded from the many textiles industries as the colorful waste waters without recycling and removal of that dye pigments have been investigated using both photodegradation and photoluminescence techniques. The entitled nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using the soft chemical root-modified solvothermal synthesis combo method and exposure to heat treatment such that the annealing process has been done for different temperatures ranging from 100°C to 250°C. As for as concern the characterization, as a start, structural and morphology studies have been reported here that highly crystalline oriented peaks data using powder x-ray diffraction techniques (PXRD) as well as the surface morphology including the size, shape, and mass distribution using the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques, which purely belong to rutile tetragonal structure of the crystal system and circular and noncircular flakes like rough surface morphology materials respectively. The lattice dissociation constant 'ε' value of the BaTiO3 NPs has determined to be ~2.71 × 10-3 using the Williamson-Hall (W-H plot) analysis of crystallographic data. In the UV visible spectroscopy findings, since the extreme quantum confinement of BaTiO3 nanoflakes/nanodisc, the optical energy bandgap has been estimated to be a range of 1.98 to 2.67 eV (~2.48 eV) found from the Tauc plot analysis, which contributes to the significantly owing to the enhanced photocatalytic efficiency with excellent performance along exciton formation, superoxide ions, and hydroxyl free radicals generations under UV-vis light irradiation resulting in efficient degradation of typical novel fruit organic dye. Photoluminescence spectra observed at room temperature and low temperature have been observed for the BaTiO3 nanoflakes, which exhibit the blue emission due to the crystalline defects such as the appearance of Ba vacancies leads to the conceivable beginning of p-type conductivity and the origination of free exciton emission reveals the direct bandgap transition nature of nanoflakes. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: According to our findings, 89.71% of the natural syzygium cumin is degraded by photocatalysis reaction. As a plausible mechanism for the destruction of natural dyes under solar light, photocatalytic destruction has been proposed. The reaction between these reactive free radical species leads to high efficiency photodegradation with a short decay time. In addition to water treatment and environmental cleaning applications, the excellent performance of this photocatalyst makes it a promising candidate for other applications. Hence, the synthesized BaTiO3 nanoflakes showcase a highly significant advancement towards the development of a textiles dye recycling method.

Novel Strategy of Treating 2-Nitrobenzoic Acid Crystals with Energetic N2 Neutrals Using Cold Plasma

The organic adduct compounds of 2-nitrobenzoic acid crystals were grown as optically transparent crystals using the conventional slow evaporation solution technique. The crystals were powdered and irradiated with cold plasma. Cell parameter analysis confirmed the formation of a new crystalline material that resides in the triclinic P crystal system with space group P1. Fourier transform infrared spectra were recorded using the KBr pellet technique to determine the vibrational functional groups in the compound. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis was used to reveal the crystalline orientation of the powdered samples of the grown crystals. The obtained full width at half maximum for the (001) plane in the XRD spectrum indicates the excellent crystalline quality of the 2-nitrobenzoic acid crystals. The recorded UV–Vis absorption spectra reveal that the grown powdered crystal samples possess cut-off edges wavelengths at 428 and 428 nm and 353 and 354 nm for pure and plasma-treated samples, respectively. The optical energy bandgaps were found to be 2.0, 2.25, 4.06, and 4.02 eV for the pure and plasma-treated samples, respectively. The photoluminescence spectra show the blue emissions of the crystal. The FE-SEM images show the morphological modifications in which rounded platelets appear on the surfaces of the treated crystals.

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.

An investigation on the structural, morphological, optical, and antibacterial activity of Sr:CuS nanostructures

The aim of the present study is to synthesize Cu1−xSrxS (x = 0.00, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1) nanoparticles (NPs) using an easy chemical co-precipitation method in an efficient, inexpensive, and simple technique. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the prepared samples were investigated using XRD, TEM, XRF, UV–Vis DRS, and PL characterization techniques. XRD spectra confirmed the Sr-doped copper sulfide nanoparticles have a hexagonal structure with crystallite sizes ranging from 15.15 to 16.04 nm, and, by XRF, the presence of the dopant was detected. TEM analysis confirmed that strontium ions had an effect on the shape of the CuS nanostructure, and the particle size increased from 16.27 to 17.32 nm after doping. A study using UV-Vis showed the presence of Sr doping increased the optical energy band gap (1.38 eV to 1.59 eV). At room temperature, one photoluminescence (PL) band was found at 826 nm. The antibacterial activity of CuS nanostructures against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and S. aureus was evaluated by zone of inhibition. Sr doped CuS NPs exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus (17 to 29 mm). Also, the results demonstrated that samples doped with 5, 7.5, and 10% Sr exhibited inhibitory effects against all the tested microbial strains higher than the antibiotic.

Structural evolution and magnetic, optical, and optoelectronic properties changes in annealed Co0.5Sr0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles: A comprehensive study

A sample of Co0.5Sr0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles was synthesized by the coprecipitation technique to explore the effect of annealing on the structure and some physical properties of the produced material. The coprecipitated sample consists of an orthorhombic strontium carbonate phase and the required cubic Co0.5Sr0.5Fe2O4. Annealing at elevated temperatures (900 °C) leads to the formation of cubic and hexagonal phases. This crystal structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The accuracy of the cation distribution of the cubic phase determined from the Rietveld analysis of XRD patterns is demonstrated by matching the experimental and theoretical lattice constants. There are several noticeable changes in aspects as the annealing temperature goes up. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that heating substantially affects the growth and densification of the smaller nanoparticles. There is a drop in the longitudinal and transverse wave velocities, bulk, rigidity, Young's moduli, Poisson ratio (σ), and Debye temperature (θD) with annealing and grain growth. The saturation magnetization and coercive field are enhanced with annealing. The particle size distribution calculated from TEM is confirmed and supported by the switching field distribution. The indirect optical bandgap energy (Eg) decreased with annealing. The present study concentrated on the thermal treatment impacts on various optical parameters, such as the refractive index and extinction coefficient. The optoelectrical parameters, such as the dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and optical and electrical conductivity, were extensively investigated, giving valuable insights, and their results were interpreted. These findings suggest potential applications in magnetic storage, sensors, and optoelectronics fields.

Physical Properties of HfO2 Nano Structures Deposited using PLD

On Quartz substrates, high purity transparent conductive the Di-Oxide of the (HfO2) Nano and micro-structure films were successfully coated. The method of (PLD) Deposition using Pulsed Laser, and the influence of laser energy was investigated. The XRD results revealed two distinct phases, cubic and monoclinic crystal shapes. Peaks in the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that HfO2 nanofilm was forming.The findings of the optical characteristics reveal an excellent transparency of nearly 80% (89 percent). As the laser wavelength decreases, the optical energy band gap values for Nanostructure of HfO2 were prepared, with values ranging from 5.24 to 5.53 eV. Also, the EDX results showed the appearance of hafnium peaks and oxygen peaks in varying proportions, which confirms that hafnium oxide is definitely obtained The results of the AFM reveal that when the pulsed laser intensity increases, the average grain diameter values increase from 52.96 to 74.54 nm. With regard to optimum pulsed laser energy, the based on I-V characterization, the generated factor ideality for created diodes was discovered to be decreasing, and the corresponding values of the barrier height grew. The ideality factor of the diode made the optimum pulsed laser energy (1800 mJ) was greater (n=3.1).

Facile modification of TiO2 as S-Scheme multifunctional materials for environmental protection and energy-storage applications

This paper reports a simple one-step modification of commercial TiO2 with a conducting polytrimethoxyslilypropyl aniline (PTMSPA, a polyaniline derivative having silyl networks) to have multi-functional (photocatalytic, optical, pseudocapacitive, hydrophobic, porous, antibacterial, and electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI)) properties and demonstrates associated applications. We present the S-Scheme heterojunction (SHJ) formation between TiO2 and PTMSPA through band position alignments and designate the resultant TiO2 - TiO2- based SHJ multifunctional materials as MF-TSSM. The internal electric field that is generated at the interface facilitates the transportation of the photogenerated electron transfer . The XRD pattern of MF-TSSM exhibits mainly the peaks of anatase TiO2. The TEM image of MF-TSSM indicates that the TiO2 particles are spherical in shape with sizes showing variations in diameters ranging from 60 nm to 250 nm depending on the experimental conditions of preparation and TiO2 particles are homogeneously distributed within the PTMSPA matrix. The optical energy band gap of MF-TSSM is 1.60 eV, a much lower value than PTMSPA (3.02 eV), suggesting that the composite formation between TiO2 and PTMSPA. The contact angle of MF-TSSM is significantly increased to 47.1 ° from 8.0 of TiO2, informing the increase of hydrophobic characteristics. The rate constant (k) for methylene blue photodegradation was 0.030 min-1, and 0.010 min-1 for MF-TSSM and pristine TiO2, respectively, The MF-TSSM composite exhibits a higher specific capacitance value (28.7 F/g) than TMSPA (21.1 F/g). At a frequency of 0.42 THz, MF-TSSM and PTMSPA exhibit return loss features indicating good EMI shielding performance. The MF-TSSM has been tested against two different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The nanoparticles were evaluated at doses of 10, 20, 40, and 80 µg/ml. The results indicated that Klebsiella pneumoniae demonstrated a greater zone of inhibition, ranging from 9 mm at 10 µg/ml to 23 mm at 80 µg/ml, indicating increased susceptibility. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited reduced inhibition zones, ranging from 10 mm at 10 µg/ml to 14 mm at 80 µg/ml, indicating increased resistance. The excellent effectiveness of MF-TSSM against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria is explained by the interaction between reactive oxygen species and the cellular components of the bacteria as well the electrostatic interaction arising between positive charges in TMSPA and negative charges in the cell components, resulting in notable cytotoxicity and damage to the bacterial cells. The research underscores the capability of these modified TiO₂ nanoparticles in addressing bacterial infections, with efficiency differing by bacterial strain.

Investigation of structural, optical, dielectric, and electrical properties of NaMn4(PO4)3 (NMP) with fillowite-type structure

We synthesized sodium tetra manganese phosphate, NaMn4(PO4)3, by a solid-state method at a temperature of 900 °C for a duration of 10 h. The application of Rietveld analysis to the PXRD patterns revealed that the sample synthesized show the small amount of the secondary phase (Mn2P2O7). The NaMn4(PO4)3 compound belongs to the trigonal system, namely the R-3 space group. The powder's morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed an average grain size of approximately 7 μm. The powder underwent elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), which confirmed the uniformity of the sample. Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies reveal the distinctive spectral peaks associated with P-O bonds in the (PO4)3- functional group. The optical bandgap energy of 1.57 eV was calculated using the diffuse reflectance technique with the Kubelka-Munk function and Tauc's relation. The chromatic coordinates of NaMn₄(PO₄)₃ suggest that the sample can generate blue-purple light, rendering it appropriate as a red phosphor in white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Integrating this red emission with blue and green light from additional LED components might enhance the overall color quality and efficiency of white light generation. The dielectric properties of NMP exhibited characteristics that were consistent with ionic conductivity. The Nyquist plot displayed a conspicuous semicircle, indicating the presence of a dominant singular process, most probably linked to the bulk grain. The material demonstrates a significant degree of conductivity, with a measured value of around 3.72 × 10–4 S·cm-1 at a temperature of 300 °C.

Energy band gap tuning of Ba-Ca hexagonal ferrite by Dy3+ ion substitution (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) to improve spectral, structural, dielectric and photocatalytic properties

In the present study, Dy3+ substituted M-type Ba0.5Ca0.5DyxFe12-xO19 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) hexagonal ferrites were synthesized using sol-gel auto-combustion method with lemon extract as a fuel. The single hexaferrite phase with space group P63/mmc is revealed by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns. The Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) exhibits the agglomeration of nanoplates with vacancies at some places. Energy dispersive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (EDAX) mapping confirmed the presence of Ba, Ca, Fe, O, and Dy in the hexaferrite. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy exhibits two characteristic bands at 579 and 429 cm−1 corresponding to tetrahedral and octahedral metal ions-oxygen stretching, revealing the occurrence of the ferrite phase. The optical energy band gap calculated using the Tauc plots was found to increase with the increase in dysprosium substitution to fall within the range of 2.8–3.5 eV. The Raman spectra confirmed the Raman vibration modes and M-type structures of hexagonal ferrites (HFs). The dielectric constant values drop rapidly with increasing frequency up to a few KHz and then gradually for the further higher frequencies. The occurrence of Ba and Ca with 2+, while Dy, and Fe with 3+ oxidation states is confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The HFs exhibit remarkable efficiency by degrading the Reactive Brown dye to 99.3 % in just 15 min, equivalent to a high degradation reaction rate constant (k) value of up to 0.0396 min−1. Consequently, the catalyst shows promising potential for environmental remediation.

Impact of gamma irradiation on optical and nonlinear properties of Indium chloride phthalocyanine thin films

This study investigates the impact of gamma radiation on indium chloride phthalocyanine (lnPcCl) thin films, which were prepared via vacuum thermal evaporation. x-ray diffraction revealed the amorphous structure of the films, with increasing gamma doses causing more noticeable structural disorders. Optical analysis showed a slight decrease in the optical band gap energy and a significant reduction in the fundamental band gap energy. Additionally, higher gamma doses led to decreased transmittance and increased reflectance. The study also observed substantial enhancements in nonlinear optical parameters, such as third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(3)) and nonlinear refractive index (n 2). These findings suggest the potential of gamma-irradiated lnPcCl films for advanced optoelectronic and nonlinear optical applications.

Fabrication and Characterization of Flexible CuI-Based Photodetectors on Mica Substrates by a Low-Temperature Solution Process

Both CuI and CuI:Zn semiconductor thin films, along with MSM-structured UV photodetectors, were prepared on flexible mica substrates at low temperature (150 °C) by a wet chemical method. The two CuI-based films exhibited a polycrystalline phase with an optical bandgap energy close to 3.0 eV. Hall effect measurements indicated that the CuI thin film sample had p-type conductivity, while the CuI:Zn thin film sample exhibited n-type conductivity, with the latter showing a higher carrier mobility of 14.78 cm2/Vs compared to 7.67 cm2/Vs for the former. The I-V curves of both types of photodetectors showed asymmetric rectification characteristics with rectification ratios at ±3 V of 5.23 and 14.3 for the CuI and CuI:Zn devices, respectively. Flexible CuI:Zn devices exhibited significantly better sensitivity, responsivity, and specific detectivity than CuI devices both before and after static bending tests. It was found that, while the optoelectronic performance of flexible CuI-based photodetectors degraded under tensile stress during static bending tests, they still exhibited good reproducibility and repeatability in their photoresponses.

Modification of microstructural, mechanical and optical properties with carbon ion irradiation in Y2SiO5 crystals

Yttrium orthosilicate Y2SiO5 crystals, a member of the silicate family, are versatile and multifunctional materials when doped with rare earth or transition metal ions. However, there have been limited investigations into the impact of ion irradiation on the crystal structure of Y2SiO5 crystals to date. In this paper, the effect of microstructure, mechanical and optical properties of Y2SiO5 crystal before and after different fluences of carbon ions irradiation was investigated utilizing complementary characterization techniques. The results indicate that carbon ion irradiation caused lattice disorder and damage, which resulted in structural deterioration and changes in optical properties, such as decrease in the optical band gap energy (from5.77 eV to 5.44 eV), changes in the effective refractive index (neff) which resulted in the formation of “well + barrier” type and “barrier” type waveguides. In addition, elastic modulus increased after carbon ion irradiation. The results will be helpful for understanding the damage study of the Y2SiO5 crystal with carbon ion irradiation and proving that ion beam techniques can be used for material modification.