Nanocomposite Structure Research Articles

Enhanced Wire-Shaped Micro-Supercapacitor Treated with a Continuous Surface Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Approach.

Microscale, wire-shaped flexible supercapacitors are gaining significant attention due to the growing demand for wearable electronics and microrobotic technologies. Among various materials, copper sulfide stands out as an ideal candidate because of its superior electrochemical properties, which can be attributed to its nanostructured composition. This structure enhances the surface area, reduces ion transport distances, and improves charge-discharge kinetics. However, conventional electrode synthesis methods-such as annealing and hydrothermal processes-are limited by long production times and scalability issues, making them unsuitable for wire-shaped supercapacitor development. In this study, an innovative fabrication technique using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) for both surface treatment and material synthesis is proposed. By integrating the APPJ with a winding mechanism, roll-to-roll processing for continuous production is enabled, significantly enhancing the scalability of the manufacturing process. The fabricated wire-shaped microscale electrodes demonstrate high specific capacitance (153.39 mF cm-2), specific energy density (15.48 µWh cm-2), and excellent capacitance retention (91.32%) after 30000 charge-discharge cycles. Furthermore, a wire-shaped solid-state flexible asymmetric supercapacitor is assembled using the fabricated electrodes in a coaxial configuration. The supercapacitor exhibits exceptional flexibility and energy storage performance, underscoring the practical applicability of the proposed method for advanced electronics.

Fabrication of Silicon Surface Microstructures via Vortex Femtosecond Laser Irradiation for Reusable Substrates in SERS Applications.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a key technique in analytical chemistry because of its exceptional sensitivity and specificity for detecting a broad spectrum of substances. Herein, a silicon (Si) substrate fabricated using vortex femtosecond laser beams in ambient air is proposed as an innovative, highly sensitive, and reusable platform for advanced SERS applications. The substrate has composite nanostructures adorned with bush-like formations on top of the elongated structures, which is a direct consequence of the orbital angular momentum of the vortex beam. Simulations conducted using COMSOL provide valuable insights into the distribution of hot spots and electromagnetic field across the substrate surface after gold nanoparticles deposition, underscoring the superior SERS detection capabilities of the fabricated substrate using vortex beams as compared to those processed by Gaussian beams. The vortex-fabricated substrate possesses remarkable reusability, stability, and time-resistance. It exhibited outstanding detection performance for malachite green and microcystin-LR, achieving limits of detection values of 3.91 pM and 2.69 pg·mL-1, respectively. Therefore, the Si substrates fabricated using a vortex femtosecond laser beam is an ideal candidate for advancing SERS sensors to new heights.

Solid-State Precipitation of Silver Nanoparticles Nucleated during Al Anodizing: Mechanism and Antibacterial Properties.

This study presents an innovative approach to creating antibacterial aluminum surfaces by combining the antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with the nanoarchitecture of anodized aluminum oxide in one step. An Al-Ag alloy containing 10 wt % Ag was synthesized and anodized in 0.3 M oxalic acid. Ag NPs precipitated in the solid state during anodization, resulting in a porous nanocomposite structure. Comprehensive characterization using SEM, TEM, and EDS revealed a 43 μm thick oxide layer with uniformly distributed nanopores of approximately 100 nm in diameter. Ag NPs with diameters ranging from 2 to 14 nm precipitated dispersed on the surface, inside pores, and within the Al2O3 matrix. Antibacterial properties were evaluated against Escherichia coli. The anodized Al-Ag surface demonstrated robust antibacterial activity after short incubation times (up to 1 × 108 CFU/ml after 3 h). The enhanced antibacterial properties are attributed to the optimal size and distribution of Ag NPs and the potential physical bactericidal effect of the nanoporous structure. This strategy for the precipitation of Ag NPs in the solid state could be used to fabricate high-touch surfaces in hospitals.

Improvement of the Wear and Corrosion Resistance of CrSiN Films on ZE52 Magnesium Alloy Through the DC Magnetron Sputtering Process

The utilization of magnesium alloys as lightweight structural materials is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly within the fields of electronics, automotive engineering, and defense. These alloys display high specific strength and excellent heat dissipation properties. The magnesium–zinc–rare earth alloy ZE52 displays superior formability and strength-ductility when compared to conventional magnesium alloys. A CrSiN film was deposited on the surface using a sputtering technique with the objective of enhancing wear and corrosion resistance for industrial applications. A CrSi buffer layer was deposited onto the ZE52 substrate prior to the deposition of the CrSiN film, with the objective of enhancing the adhesion between the two materials. The sputtering process for CrSiN films entailed the modulation of the substrate bias voltage. The CrSiN films exhibited a nanocomposite structure comprising CrN nanocrystallites embedded within an amorphous Si3N4, which resulted in enhanced hardness. Upon adjusting the bias voltage, improvements in mechanical properties were observed, with the film hardness and Young’s modulus increasing to 16.5 GPa and 187.4 GPa, respectively. Among the various CrSiN coatings under investigation, the ZE52 alloy that was coated with a CrSiN film deposited at a bias voltage of −50 V and a substrate temperature of 250 °C demonstrated the most favorable performance, exhibiting the lowest wear rate and superior corrosion resistance. In the tungsten carbide wear test with a loading of 4 N, the coating exhibited the lowest wear rate, at 2.2 × 10−6 mm3·m−1·N−1. Furthermore, the coating demonstrated remarkable corrosion resistance in a 3.5% NaCl solution, displaying a corrosion current density of 1.23 μA·cm−2 and a polarization resistance of 1271.4 Ω·cm−2.

Modelling and Analysis of Multilayer Porous FG-GPRC Plates Using Zigzag Function and Cell-Based Smoothed-Discrete Shear Gap Method

An efficient computational approach is presented to analyze the structural responses of multilayer porous plates, incorporating the reinforcement of functionally graded graphene platelets (GPLs). The approach seamlessly integrates the Murakami function zigzag (MZZ) theory with a formulation based on the discrete shear gap technique and the cell-based smoothed finite element method (CS-DSG3). This study investigates the characteristics of porous nanocomposite plates, scrutinizing their responses under diverse conditions. It comprehensively analyzes static bending, free vibration, and dynamic responses of nanocomposite plates, taking into account variations in porosity distributions and GPL dispersion patterns across the thickness. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are scrutinized through micromechanical models. The prediction of Young’s modulus employs a modified Halpin–Tsai model, while Poisson’s ratio and density are calculated utilizing the rule of mixtures. Due to the precise nature and the demand for [Formula: see text]-continuity shape function, the Murakami zigzag theory is employed to enhance the computational efficiency of CS-DSG3 for the extensive evaluation of both conventional and functionally graded reinforced nanocomposite structures. Within the results section, the efficacy of the approach is demonstrated through comparisons with alternative numerical approaches. The analysis reveals accuracy and efficiency in predicting the responses of PFG-GPRC multilayer quadrilateral plates. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing practical engineering applications involving PFG-GPRC.

On the variable length scale parameter for agglomeration of nanoparticles in nanocomposites

Since nanocomposites have recently been used in a wide range of industries, scientists are becoming increasingly interested in simulating these kinds of materials. Engineers are interested in outcomes that match simulations of nanocomposites. Examining the impact of nanoparticle aggregation in computations is one step in accurately modeling a reinforced nanocomposite. With regard to size-dependent continuum modeling, this work aims to evaluate the dynamic behavior of small-scaled composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in light of CNT aggregations. In the simulation of nanotube-reinforced micro- or nanocomposite, taking into account one or more length scale parameters—which are typically thought to have a constant value—is crucial. This work is innovative in that it examines how nanoparticle aggregation affects nanocomposite structure while considering a variable length scale parameter. We address and solve an example using the modified couple stress theory (MCST). The effectiveness of employing the length scale parameter (LSP) of MCST is confirmed by conducting a comparison between the outcomes of the proposed strategy and experimental and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation results. A curved microbeam is examined for the problem, and the impact of alterations in the agglomeration parameters is investigated in detail.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Highlighted via Heterogeneous Light-Induced Dissipative Structure.

The unique characteristics of biological structures depend on the behavior of DNA sequences confined in a microscale cell under environmental fluctuations and dissipation. Here, we report a prominent difference in fluorescence from dye-modified single-stranded DNA in a light-induced assembly of DNA-functionalized heterogeneous probe particles in a microwell of several microliters in volume. Strong optical forces from the Mie scattering of microparticles accelerated hybridization, and the photothermal effect from the localized surface plasmons in gold nanoparticles enhanced specificity to reduce the fluorescence intensity of dye-modified DNA to a few %, even in a one-base mismatched sequence, enabling us to clearly highlight the single nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA. Fluorescence intensity was positively correlated with complementary DNA concentrations ranging in several tens fg/μL after only 5 min of laser irradiation. Remarkably, a total amount of DNA in an optically assembled structure of heterogeneous probe particles was estimated between 2.36 ymol (2.36 × 10-24 mol) and 2.36 amol (2.36 × 10-18 mol) in the observed concentration range. These findings can promote an innovative production method of nanocomposite structures via biological molecules and biological sensing with simple strategies avoiding genetic amplification in a PCR-free manner.

Functional analysis and modification of anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) from the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense and preparation of a novel ShALF6-2 K-AgNPs complex.

Overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria and environmental problems. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can potentially replace antibiotics. Therefore, it is possible to create composite nanostructures with synergistic bactericidal properties by combining AgNPs and AMPs. In this study, a novel anti-lipopolysaccharide factor 6, named ShALF6, was identified in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. Full-length ShALF6 is 654 bp long and contains a typical lipopolysaccharide-binding domain spanning from Cys51 to Lys72. ShALF6 is highly expressed in hemocytes and responds to infection by the gram-negative bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila. ShALF6 inhibited the growth of gram-negative bacteria by binding to them and disrupting their cell membranes. To alter the charge of ShALF6, the negatively charged glutamic acid (E) in the sequence was replaced with a positively charged lysine (K) and the modified protein was named ShALF6-2 K. The bacteriostatic activity of ShALF6-2 K was significantly enhanced by an increase in the protein's cations. ShALF6-2 K showed high binding efficiency after 36 h of co-incubation with AgNPs and modifying the surface potential of the AgNPs. ShALF6-2 K-AgNPs exhibited synergistic inhibition with enhanced effectiveness against gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the cytotoxicity of ShALF6-2 K-AgNPs was investigated. The combination of ShALF6-2 K and AgNPs significantly reduced the toxic effects of AgNPs on the cells. This study provides theoretical and experimental bases for the development of novel bioactive AMP-coated composite AgNPs.

Liquid-infused nanostructured composite as a high-performance thermal interface material for effective cooling

Effective heat dissipation remains a grand challenge for energy-dense devices and systems. As heterogeneous integration becomes increasingly inevitable in electronics, thermal resistance at interfaces has emerged as a critical bottleneck for thermal management. However, existing thermal interface solutions are constrained by either high thermal resistance or poor reliability. We report a strategy to create printable, high-performance liquid-infused nanostructured composites, comprising a mechanically soft and thermally conductive double-sided Cu nanowire array scaffold infused with a customized thermal-bridge liquid that suppresses contact thermal resistance. The liquid infusion concept is versatile for a broad range of thermal interface applications. Remarkably, the liquid metal infused nanostructured composite exhibits an ultra-low thermal resistance <1 mm² K W-1 at interface, outperforming state-of-the-art thermal interface materials on chip-cooling. The high reliability of the nanostructured composites enables undegraded performance through extreme temperature cycling. We envision liquid-infused nanostructured composites as a universal thermal interface solution for cooling applications in data centers, GPU/CPU systems, solid-state lasers, and LEDs.

Effect of growth dynamics on the structural, photophysical and pseudocapacitance properties of famatinite copper antimony sulphide colloidal nanostructures (including nanosheets).

Facile phase selective synthesis of copper antimony sulphide (CAS) nanostructures is important because of their tunable photoconductive and electrochemical properties. In this study, off-stoichiometric famatinite phase CAS (fCAS) quasi-spherical and quasi-hexagonal colloidal nanostructures (including nanosheets) of sizes, 2.4-18.0 nm were grown under variable conditions of temperature (60-200 °C), time and oleylamine capping ligand concentration using copper(II) acetylacetonate and antimony(III) diethyldithiocarbamate precursors. Data from powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution scanning/transmission electron microscopy confirm the tetragonal structure of the famatinite phase. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data suggest a correlation of particle size, morphology and composition of the off-stoichiometric fCAS nanostructures with growth temperature and time, and oleylamine concentration. The off-stoichiometric Cu3-aSb1+bS4±c (a, b, c - mole fractions) nanostructures being severely copper-deficient and antimony-rich, exhibit shallow-lying acceptor copper vacancy states, deep-lying donor states of antimony interstitials, sulphur vacancies and antimony-copper antisites and shallow-lying acceptor surface trapping states. These electronic states are likely implicated in tunable UV-visible absorption and bandgaps between 2.3 and 2.8 eV, and broad visible-NIR photoluminescence with fast recombination of radiative lifetimes between 0.2 and 6.2 ns, confirmed from absorption, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopies. Additionally, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirm that electrodes of the fCAS nanostructures display slightly variable pseudocapacitance of charge-storage primarily via possible sodium ion intercalation with a high specific capacitance of ∼84 F g-1 obtained at a scan rate of 5 mV s-1. Overall, these results show the influence of composition, in particular point defects, phase quality and morphology on the optical and pseudocapacitance properties of fCAS nanostructures, suitable as solar absorbers or electrodes for energy storage devices.

Gelatin/PLA-loaded gold nanocomposites synthesis using Syzygium cumini fruit extract and their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anti-Alzheimer’s activities

Nanotechnology has experienced significant advancements, attracting considerable attention in various biomedical applications. This innovative study synthesizes and characterizes Ge/PLA/AuNCs (gelatin/PLA/gold nanocomposites) using Syzygium cumini extract to evaluate their various biomedical applications. The UV–Visible spectroscopy results in an absorption peak at 534 nm were primarily confirmed by Ge/PLA/AuNCs synthesis. The FTIR spectrum showed various functional groups and the XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline shape and structure of nanocomposites. The FESEM and HRTEM results showed a oval shape of Ge/PLA/AuNCs with an average particle size of 21 nm. The Ge/PLA/AuNC’s remarkable antioxidant activity, as evidenced by DPPH (70.84 ± 1.64%), ABTS activity (86.17 ± 1.96%), and reducing power activity (78.42 ± 1.48%) at a concentration of 100 μg/mL was observed. The zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (19.45 ± 0.89 mm) and Echericia coli (20.83 ± 0.97 mm) revealed the excellent antibacterial activity of Ge/PLA/AuNCs. The anti-diabetic activity of Ge/PLA/AuNCs was supported by inhibition of α-amylase (82.56 ± 1.49%) and α-glucosidase (80.27 ± 1.57%). The anti-Alzheimer activity was confirmed by inhibition of the AChE (76.37 ± 1.18%) and BChE (85.94 ± 1.38%) enzymes. In vivo studies of zebrafish embryos showed that Ge/PLA/AuNCs have excellent biocompatibility and nontoxicity. The SH-SY5Y cell line study demonstrated improved cell viability (95.27 ± 1.62%) and enhanced neuronal cell growth following Ge/PLA/AuNCs treatment. In conclusion, the present study highlights the cost-effective and non-toxic properties of Ge/PLA/AuNCs. Furthermore, it presents an attractive and promising approach for various future biomedical applications.

Carbon nanotube/bentonite @ polyvinylidene fluoride tri-flouro ethylene nanocomposite matrix for surpior elimination of carcinogenic dye from wastewater

Abstract This study examines the sorption behavior of Congo Red (CR) dye from water-based solutions using a synergistic nanocomposite made of Bentonite (BT), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and a Poly (vinylidene fluoride tri-flouroethylene) (P(VDF-TRFE)) polymer matrix with exceptional adsorption capacity for the selective removal of Congo red dye from aqueous solutions. This is done in order to address the urgent concerns surrounding the health and environmental implications of CR dye. Utilizing modern analytical technique such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and TGA, the adsorption physicochemical interaction and nanocomposite manufacturing were carefully investigated, offering thorough insights into the composite's general properties. Nanocomposite structures of between 31 and 37 nm in diameter were discovered by TEM examination. The adsorption process was pH dependent, reaching a peak removal effectiveness of 94.5% at pH 3.0. The correlation coefficients obtained from kinetic modeling using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equations were 0.97389 and 0.96802, respectively, suggesting that the adsorption mechanism adhered to first-order rate kinetics. Thermodynamic investigation revealed an exothermic and spontaneous reaction, with a negative ΔG value between − 7.45 and − 7.95 J/mol. The nanocomposite outperformed the capacities reported for individual components in earlier investigations, with an impressive monolayer sorption capacity (qmax) of 143.88 mg/g. As a result, there is great potential for this innovative nanocomposite to be a very successful adsorbent for treating industrial wastewater. Graphical Abstract

Calcium Phosphate (CaP) Composite Nanostructures on Polycaprolactone (PCL): Synergistic Effects on Antibacterial Activity and Osteoblast Behavior.

Bone tissue engineering aims to develop biomaterials that are capable of effectively repairing and regenerating damaged bone tissue. Among the various polymers used in this field, polycaprolactone (PCL) is one of the most widely utilized. As a biocompatible polymer, PCL is easy to fabricate, cost-effective, and offers consistent quality control, making it a popular choice for biomedical applications. However, PCL lacks inherent antibacterial properties, making it susceptible to bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, which can lead to implant failure. To address this issue, this study aims to enhance the antibacterial properties of PCL by incorporating calcium phosphate composite (PCL_CaP) nanostructures onto its surface via hydrothermal synthesis. The resulting "PCL_CaP" nanostructured surfaces exhibited improved wettability and demonstrated mechano-bactericidal potential against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The flake-like morphology of the fabricated CaP nanostructures effectively disrupted bacteria membranes, inhibiting bacterial growth. Furthermore, the "PCL_CaP" surfaces supported the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts, indicating their potential for bone tissue engineering applications. This study demonstrates the promise of calcium phosphate composite nanostructures as an effective antibacterial coating for implants and medical devices, with further research required to evaluate their long-term stability and in vivo performance.

Insights into the electroactive impact of magnetic nanostructures in PVDF composites via small-angle neutron scattering.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is technologically relevant due to its thermal stability; chemical, mechanical and radiation resistance; transparency; biocompatibility; and ease of processing. Several of those applications are related to its high electroactivity, for which the β-phase of the polymer is its most renowned protagonist. In this context, extensive research has been conducted on the crystallization of PVDF in the β-phase, when processed from melt and from solution. Several decades of research have revealed that electroactive β-PVDF can be nucleated by introducing nanofillers within the polymer matrix, based on electrostatic interactions between polymer chains and fillers. However, one question persists: beyond these electrostatic interactions, on what mechanism does the nucleation of the β-phase in composites depend? This works demonstrates, through the use of small-angle neutron scattering measurements, that the answer is related to the type of fillers' agglomeration.

Moringa oleifera leaves extract-mediated synthesis of ZnO nanostructures for the enhanced photocatalytic oxidation of erythrosine.

This study was focused on the development of ZnO nanostructures for the efficient oxidation of erythrosine dye and for studying the antibacterial activity of ZnO. It was observed that the phytochemicals from Moringa oleifera leaves modified the size, shape, crystalline properties and surface chemical composition of the ZnO nanostructures. ZnO nanostructures synthesized with 15 mL Moringa oleifera leaves extract (S-15) demonstrated highly efficient oxidation of erythrosine dye under the illumination of natural sunlight. Various photocatalyst evaluation parameters, such as initial dye concentration, pH of the dye solution, catalyst dose and cycling stability, were studied. The S-15 sample of ZnO exhibited almost 100% dye removal in an alkaline pH of 12 and a low concentration of 4.54 × 10-5 M. Furthermore, improved antibacterial activity was also observed against E. coli and Bacillus subtilis bacteria strains. The use of Moringa oleifera leaves extract could be considered a low-cost, facile and ecofriendly green synthesis protocol for replacing the use of toxic chemicals and for eliminating the risk of releasing of toxic chemicals into the environment during the synthesis of high-performance nanostructured materials.

Modeling the structure and relaxation in glycerol-silica nanocomposites.

The relationship between the dynamics and structure of amorphous thin films and nanocomposites near their glass transition is an important problem in soft-matter physics. Here, we develop a simple theoretical approach to describe the density profile and the α-relaxation time of a glycerol-silica nanocomposite (S. Cheng et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2015, 143, 194704). We begin by applying the Derjaguin approximation, where we replace the curved surface of the particle with the planar one; thus, modeling the nanocomposite is reduced to that of a confined thin film. Subsequently, by employing the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation data of Cheng et al., we approximate the density profile of a supported liquid thin film as a stationary solution of a fourth-order partial differential equation (PDE). We then construct an appropriate density functional, from which the density profile emerges through the minimization of free energy. Our final assumption is that of a consistent, temperature-independent scaled density profile, ensuring that the free volume throughout the entire nanocomposite increases with temperature in a smooth, monotonic fashion. Considering the established relationship between glycerol relaxation time and temperature, we can employ Doolittle-type analysis ("naïve" free-volume model), to calculate the relaxation time based on temperature and film thickness. We then convert the film thickness into the interparticle distance and subsequently the filler volume fraction for the nanocomposites and compare our model predictions with experimental data, resulting in a good agreement. The proposed approach can be easily extended to other nanocomposite and film systems.

Fabrication of high-density vertical CNT arrays using thin porous alumina template for biosensing applications.

This paper explores the process of forming arrays of vertically oriented carbon nanotubes (CNTs) localized on metal electrodes using thin porous anodic alumina (PAA) on a solid substrate. On a silicon substrate, a titanium film served as the electrode layer, and an aluminium film served as the base layer in the initial film structure. A PAA template was formed from the Al film using two-step electrochemical anodizing. Two types of CNT arrays were then synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition. By electrochemically depositing Ni into the PAA pores in two different regimes-constant potential (DC deposition) and alternating current (AC deposition)-catalyst nanoparticles for CNT deposition are formed. It is shown that the size parameters of the CNTs and the proposed CNT growth mechanism depend on the size of the catalyst particles and their localization in the pores of the PAA. Thus, a Ti/PAA/Ni/CNT-based nanocomposite multilayered structure was formed on the Si substrate. Through the use of X-ray diffraction analysis, linear voltammetry, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, the morphological, structural, and electrochemical characteristics of the produced nanocomposite material were investigated. It is shown that the obtained nanostructures can be used for the fabrication of CNT electrodes for biosensing applications.

Atomic-level insight into sequential evolution of nanocomposite carbon structures in femtosecond laser processing of diamond

Atomic-level insight into sequential evolution of nanocomposite carbon structures in femtosecond laser processing of diamond

Formation of jellyfish-like Ag(0)x–Mn3O4 microglobules at the surface of Ag(i) and Mn(ii) nitrate solution with NH3 vapor

Jellyfish-like Ag(0)x–Mn3O4 composite nanostructures are formed at the interface due to the action of ammonia vapor on the aqueous Mn(NO3)2/AgNO3 solution surface.

Smart and advanced nanocomposites of rGO-based Ni-doped Co3O4/TiO2 for next-level photocatalysis and gas sensing application.

The rGO-based 5% Ni-doped Co3O4/TiO2 (GNCT) p-n heterojunction nanocomposite was synthesized using hydrothermal method. The resulting nanocomposite's morphology, structure, surface area, elemental composition, electrical and optical properties were thoroughly examined using a variety of techniques. The GNCT nanomaterial achieved an impressive 99.11% degradation within 40min, while GPCT closely followed with a 96.6% efficiency. Its smart nanomaterial also excels as a n-butanol sensor, with GNCT showing a sensitivity of 91.51%, and GPCT registering 86.51%. This dual-functionality highlights its potential as an advanced material for environmental and sensing applications. Additionally, GNCT exhibited excellent stability across multiple cycles, underscoring its potential for gas sensing and environmental applications. The remarkable performance of GNCT is a result of the synergistic effects of its morphology (nanosheet), surface area (540.215 m2/g), band gap (1.93eV), and photosensitivity (36.92%), which collectively make it an ideal candidate for the photocatalytic and gas sensing applications.