Surface Area Volume Research Articles

Enhancing electrochemical properties of bacterial cellulose-derived carbon nanofibers through physical CO2 activation

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) derived from carbonization of bacterial cellulose (BC), with a unique three-dimensional porous nanostructure, has received significant interest in electrochemical applications. In this study, CNF samples were physically activated in CO2 at different temperatures and durations. Raman spectroscopy and FTIR analysis showed that CO2 activation caused hexagonal lattice defects, disorder, and oxygen-related functional groups in an amorphous carbon structure. CNF surface morphology changed after physical activation, reducing fiber diameter to 55 nm and introducing mesopores. Through activation temperature and time adjustments, surface area (870.1 m2/g) and micropore surface area (535.6 m2/g) and pore volume (0.2148 cm3/g) increased. EDX elemental analysis showed that activated CNF had a carbon concentration of > 90 %, while XPS analysis showed surface functional groups like C-C (sp2) and C-C (sp3) hybridization, which could improve electrolyte ion adsorption and accessibility. Electrochemical properties improved owing to CO2 activation. The optimal activation condition of 800 ℃ for 60 min resulted in the highest specific area capacitance of 552 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2. This activated CNF electrode retained capacitance nearly unchanged up to 3,000 cycles. It also achieved the highest energy density of 76.7 mWh cm−2 at 500 mW cm−2. This study demonstrates the efficacy of CO2 physical activation for enhancing the electrochemical properties of CNF electrodes. The findings also highlight the importance of tailoring activation conditions, providing valuable insights for the design of advanced energy storage materials.

Study of Pt-modified chromium-manganese oxide alloys to improve the performance of toluene abatement

This research is dedicated to solving the environmental problems of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly aromatic chemicals in industrial emissions. The research aims to explore low-temperature, effective catalytic degradation technologies, specifically involving metal oxide and noble metal oxide catalysts, especially the Cr-Mn-Pt series catalysts. The Cr-Mn-Pt catalysts synthesized by the co-precipitation method showed efficient catalytic degradation of VOCs in low-temperature environments. The results of the experiment show that the Cr-Mn-Pt catalysts achieved 90 % toluene conversion at 198 °C, a 1000 ppm toluene concentration, and GHSV=15,000 mL/g·h, which is superior to single MnOx and Cr-Mn catalysts. The catalysts are characterized in depth using X-ray diffraction, specific surface area analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The result shows that the high specific surface area and large volume of pores of the Cr-Mn-Pt catalyst are advantageous for enhancing their catalytic activity and stability. The catalytic mechanism analysis shows that the degradation mechanism of toluene follows the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism with the final conversion of the intermediate product benzoate to CO2 and H2O. In summary, the Cr-Mn-Pt catalyst shows great potential in the technical treatment of VOCs due to their excellent low-temperature catalytic efficiency and stability, and it has enormous practical implications for protecting the environment in the industry.

Removal and stabilization of As and Cd in water/soil using silicate-supported nano zero-valent iron composites: Preparation, behavior, mechanism and cost analysis

A novel silicate-supported nano zero-valent iron composite material (nZVI@SS) for the removal and stabilization of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in water/soil had been developed through the modification of low-grade oolitic iron ore (OI) by reduction, while refinery sludge (RS) as reductant, manganese carbonate (MC) as additive in this work. The As and Cd adsorption capacity of nZVI@SS reached 93.91 mg·g−1 and 265.81 mg·g−1, respectively. Its specific surface area and pore volume increased by 19.28 m2·g−1 and 0.24 cm3·g−1, respectively when compared with unmodified OI. In the actual soil leaching process, using 2 % nZVI@SS for 30 days, the leaching concentrations of As and Cd decreased by 87.86 % and 85.51 % respectively, while their bioavailable contents were reduced by 15.59 mg·kg−1 and 1.40 mg·kg−1, correspondingly. The formation of chemical precipitates as Fe-As, Ca-As compounds, and Cd(OH)2 was the main mechanism of their adsorption process. Therefore, HMs adsorbed by nZVI@SS were difficult to desorb, making it more suitable for passivation/stabilization of HMs in groundwater/soil. Furthermore, the production cost of nZVI@SS was approximately 50 $/T, below the average market value of comparable adsorption materials. This method made low-grade minerals into environmentally friendly materials with high added value, significantly reduced the environmental risk of HMs in water/soil, and provided a new approach for the development of sustainable environmentally friendly materials using hazardous waste RS as a resource.

Manganese dioxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites with carbon black. Synthesis, physical-chemical and electrical properties

In this study, α- and β-MnO2 and composites with carbon black (CB) were chemically synthesized and prepared through mechanical mixing respectively. The samples’ crystal structure, morphology, and electrical properties have been investigated herein. It is found that average particle sizes of 12–15 nm and 18–24 nm for α- and β-MnO2, respectively. The surface area and average pore volume of obtained samples of α- and β-MnO2 are 200 and 70 m2/g, and 3.2 and 5.3 nm, respectively. The electrical conductivity performances and activation energy behavior of samples have been analyzed. The correlation between the CB content in the composites and their electrical conductivity was established based on experimental data. The electrical conductivity of the α-MnO2/C monotonic increase from 1.31 to 18.6 S/m. There was a 7.5-fold increase of conductivity for α-MnO2 with 15 wt.% CB and almost a 30-fold increase for β-MnO2 with the corresponding CB content compared to the pure samples. In composite samples, the activation energy decreases from 0.069 to 0.041 eV and from 0.154 to 0.074 eV for α- and β- MnO2/C, respectively.

Modified polymethyl methacrylate as a sustainable medium for capturing carbon dioxide

This study evaluates the potential of modified polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) materials, which incorporate organotin moieties pendant on the polymeric chains, as media for carbon dioxide storage. The PMMA containing a triphenyltin moiety has the largest specific surface area (SBET=11.618 m2/g) in comparison to the polymers containing tributyl (5.287 m2/g) and trimethyl (4.881 m2/g) residues. The PMMA with the triphenyltin moiety proved to be the most efficient material in capturing carbon dioxide (34.8 cm3/cm, 6.8 wt%), which is attributed to its relatively high surface area and pore volume and diameter compared to the others.

Structural modification of CNT-C xerogel through synthesis parameters

This study focuses on the synthesis of porous carbonaceous structures by drying resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) gels under ambient conditions and then carbonizing them in an inert atmosphere. This avoids the expensive drying processes like supercritical drying or freeze drying. However, drying under ambient conditions does cause structural shrinkage and a reduction in porosity and specific surface area. Therefore, the goal of this study was to compensate for these structural degradations by adjusting other synthesis and process parameters, such as solvent exchange, drying condition, content of water, catalyst, and CNT in the gel. In the present study, different organic solvents such as t-butanol, ethanol, and acetone were used to replace the water in the hydrogels at a certain R/F molar ratio (1:2). The experimental results showed that t-butanol, with its low surface tension, resulted in a structure with a high specific surface area and pore volume. Regarding the catalyst dosage, by changing the R/C molar ratio between 71 and 849, the best structural properties were obtained using R/C∼200. Increasing the water content from 15 to 30 mL led to a decrease in specific surface area and pore volume. Drying the gel at an oven temperature of 85 °C resulted in the highest specific surface area, pore volume, and mean pore diameter. Increasing the dosage of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the range of 20–150 mg led to an increase in total pore volume and mean pore diameter. The results of this work can be a step forward towards the industrialization of these materials in various applications.

Transient Three-Dimensional Measurement of Ice Crystal Accretion Using a Plenoptic Camera

Monitoring the three-dimensional formation of ice layers on airfoils during icing wind tunnel experiments is extremely challenging. For the first time, this paper demonstrates the use of a single plenoptic camera to perform transient, nonintrusive in situ measurements of ice crystal accretion. Experiments have been conducted in the Altitude Icing Wind Tunnel at the National Research Council of Canada under different icing conditions to assess the potential of the new technique. Using the camera in a close-up configuration, the results show the evolution of the three-dimensional shape of the accreted ice in high spatial and temporal resolution and in absolute metric units. The computed surface meshes allow for a detailed analysis in terms of ice shape, surface area, and ice volume. Posttest shapes are compared to measurements taken using a commercial laser scanner. Although not rated for ice surfaces, this device is used as a reference to compare the detailed surface structure after registering the data sets. The results of the two methods are in good agreement and show a mean relative deviation of the plenoptic camera of about 0.15 mm.

High efficiency azo dye removal via a combination of adsorption and photocatalytic processes using heterojunction Titanium dioxide nanoparticles on hierarchical porous carbon

Amidst the rapid development of the textile industry, wastewater problems also arise. High-performance materials for reactive black 5 (RB5) dye treatment by adsorption and photocatalysis were evolved using Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on carbon media. Herein, the synthesis of spherical carbon via the water–in–oil emulsion method alongside a sol–gel process and the production of TiO2 nanoparticles using the precipitation procedure of Titanium isopropoxide and carbonization at 700–900 °C for 2 h are a novel approach in this work. The characterization of these materials indicates that different temperatures result in distinct properties, for instance, raised pores on the surface of the media and changes in the crystal structure of TiO2. The results show that the as-synthesized material carbonized at 900 °C had distinguished dye adsorption, up to 430 ppm in 1 h, due to their high surface area and pore volume. On the contrary, the calcined 700 °C condition had the prominent photocatalytic efficiency on account of the heterojunction band gap between anatase and rutile crystal structure. A mixed phase minimizes the charge recombination, subsequently increasing the photocatalytic capability.

Conversion of municipal garden waste to activated carbon: Laboratory production and characterization comparing production parameters

This research aims to investigate the potential of the municipal garden waste as a new precursor to generate activated carbon by CO2 activation. TGA analysis shows the distinctive thermal degradation nature of garden waste. The activation of the garden waste enhanced its surface area where well-developed internal micro-mesoporous structure is also noticed. The results suggest that most of the volatiles decomposed at temperatures beyond 450 °C. A decrease in char yield, increase in surface area and pore volume and weakening of oxygen and hydrogen-containing groups were observed at higher pyrolysis temperatures. Raman and XRD support the amorphous and porous graphitic structure of carbon. Carbonization temperature of 500 °C and activation temperature of 800 °C were shown to produce the better-quality AC where highest surface area of 363.32 m2/g and highest pore volume of 0.095 cm3/g was achieved. Compared to the pyrolysis temperature, pyrolysis steps did not have notable contribution to the AC characteristics.

Repairing surface defects of carbon fibers: Electrostatic spraying nano-carbons on stabilized PAN-fibers and subsequent thermal annealing

The introducing of nanomaterials on the carbon fibers (CFs) surface is an effective method for repairing surface defects. Due to the chemical inertness of CFs surface, the bonding force between reinforcing material and CFs is weak. In this paper, nano-carbons (graphene oxide and graphene quantum dots) were assembled to defects on surface of stabilized fibers (SFs) through electrostatic spraying assisted by airflow and then thermally annealed to enhance bonding force between nano-carbons and fibers. The distribution of nano-carbons on fibers surface was explored and it was found that the nano-carbons were directionally covered on or filled in defects on fibers surface to reduce specific surface area and pore volume. The chemical structures on fiber surface were discussed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomistic ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulation, and it suggested that covalent crosslinking occurred between CFs surface and nano-carbons. And further, the nano-scratch on fibers surface revealed a significant increase in the bonding force between nano-carbons and fiber after thermal annealing. The maximum tensile strength and Young´s modulus of CFs with nano-carbons increased 24.36% and 38.63%, respectively. Subsequently, the finite element simulation ABAQUS was adopted to demonstrate that the addition of nano-carbons alleviated stress concentration at defects on CFs surface. At the same time, the smaller stress and stress diffusion were found in CFs reinforced by graphene oxide than that with graphene quantum dots.

Utilizing sustainable trichalcogenide semiconductor BaS:MnS:DyS to maximize supercapacitor efficiency via innovative single-source precursor method

Electrochemical energy storage has garnered significant attention from the scientific community and energy stakeholders due to its prospective applications, including e-vehicles. The present work aims to improve charge-storage device performance through the use of the novel semiconductor chalcogenide BaS:MnS:DyS, which is synthesized by chelating with diethyldithiocarbamate ligand. Remarkable photo-activity was detected for this semiconductor with an energy band gap of 3.59 eV. With mixed crystalline phases, the generated chalcogenide had an average crystallite size of 18.73 nm, exhibiting auspicious crystallinity. Furthermore, infrared spectroscopy was used to identify metallic sulfide connections, which were found to range between 400 and 967 cm−1. Double step thermal decomposition was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. A greater volume-surface area ratio and the existence of many sites were suggested by particles with varying shapes and a fusion resembling rod. With a background electrolyte of 1 M KOH, a conventional three-electrode setup was used to assess the BaS:MnS:DyS electrochemical performance. With a specific power density of 10826.7 W kg−1 and a specific capacitance of up to 824.13 F g−1, BaS:MnS:DyS is an excellent electrode material for energy storage applications. This noteworthy electrochemical performance was further substantiated by the similar series resistance (Rs) = 0.77 Ω.

Synthesis of Mesoporous Tetragonal ZrO2, TiO2 and Solid Solutions and Effect of Colloidal Silica on Porosity.

Metal oxides possessing a large surface area, pore volume and desirable pore size provide more varieties and active industrial potentials. Nevertheless, it is very challenging to produce crystal metal oxides while keeping satisfactory porosity features, especially for ternary compositions. High temperature is usually needed to produce crystal metal oxides, which readily leads to the collapse of the pore structure. Herein, by employing a 'soft' dispersant agent and a hard silica template, ZrO2, TiO2 and Zr-Ti solid solutions having a tetragonal crystal structure are produced and the silica-leached materials are characterized from macroscopic to atomistic scales. The micron-sized particulate powders are composed of nanoscale 'building blocks', with crystallite sizes between ~8 and 21 nm. These polycrystalline ceramic powders exhibit a high specific surface area (up to ~200 m2·g-1) and pore volume (up to 0.5 cm3·g-1), with a pore size range of ~5-20 nm. Importantly, the Zr/Ti-O-Si-OH chemical bonds exist on the particle surface, with about two-thirds of the surface covered by silica. The hydroxyl groups can further post-graft organic ligands or directly associate with species. Synthesized mesoporous metal oxides are highly homogenous and could potentially be used in various applications because of their tetragonal structure and porosity features.

Sono-assisted Adsorption of Methyl Violet 2B Using a Magnetic Kaolin/TiO2/γ-Fe2O3 Nano Composite

In this study, the efficacy of sono-assisted adsorption for the removal of methyl violet 2B (MV-2B) was investigated. A magnetic adsorbent was synthesized using kaolin and TiO2, designated as KTF. Various analyses including scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were conducted to characterize the structure of KTF. The BET surface area and pore volume of KTF were determined to be 65.279 m2/g and 0.072 cm3/g, respectively. VSM analysis confirmed the superparamagnetic property of KTF. The effect of contact time, initial MV-2B concentration, KTF amount, temperature, ionic strength and initial pH of the solution on the sono-assisted adsorption of MV-2B was investigated. Sono-assisted removal of MV-2B was achieved at a rate of 85.6% under optimal conditions: original pH, KTF amount of 0.2 g/100 mL, initial MV-2B concentration of 20 mg/L, contact time of 15 min, and temperature of 22 °C. Conversely, lower removal efficiencies were observed with conventional adsorption methods employing shaking (37%) and stirring (60.5%). The kinetics of sono-assisted MV-2B removal followed a pseudo-second order model, while the Freundlich isotherm model exhibited a superior fit (R2 = 0.985) in describing the equilibrium behavior compared to Langmuir and Temkin models.

Interfacial modification of recombinant protein for immunoglobulin G adsorption with spindle-shaped MOF as nano molecular containers

Development of fresh solid phase extractant is critical for selective separation and purification of special proteins. Herein, we demonstrated a recombinant Staphylococcal Protein G (rSPG) with a His-tag modified the novel single-metal organic framework (rSPG@Ni-MOF-74). The proposed solid-phase extraction material possessed a uniform spindle-shaped structure, large surface area (709.60 m2 g−1) and pore volume (0.08 m3 g−1), high metal content (22.57 wt%), which facilitated the interaction between host and guest. As results, the composite displayed outstanding selective recognition and adsorption of IgG, due to synergistic effect of the binding ability of rSPG with the Fc region of IgG, maintained through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction, as well as hydrophobic interaction. The adsorption performance and mechanism of rSPG@Ni-MOF-74 have been fully investigated. Additionally, the rSPG@Ni-MOF-74 composite could effectively separate IgG from serum obtained from healthy humans, with the purity of the separated IgG verified through SDS-PAGE analysis. Furthermore, LC-MS/MS analysis identified a high content of IgG (55.3 %) in the eluate from rSPG@Ni-MOF-74, suggesting the great potential of rSPG@Ni-MOF-74 in IgG separation and enrichment from complex matrix.

Biochemical Evaluation and Structural Characteristics of Copper Coating Cellulose Nonwovens Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering Technology

The research aimed to enhance the aqua-jet/spunlace cellulose nonwoven fabric by deposition of copper coating by magnetron sputtering technology. Plasma technology facilitated the efficient distribution of copper particles on the surface of the cellulose nonwoven fabric, while maintaining free airflow and eliminating the need for additional layers. New cellulose-copper composites exhibit potential in biomedical applications, while minimizing their impact on biological processes such as blood plasma coagulation. Consequently, they can be utilized in the production of dressings, bandages, and other medical products requiring effective protection against bacterial infections. The cellulose-copper composite material was subjected to the physiochemical and biological investigations. The physiochemical analysis included the elemental analysis of composites, their microscopic analysis and the surface properties analysis (specific surface area and total pore volume). The biological investigations consisted of biochemical-hematological tests including the evaluation of the activated partial thromboplastin time and pro-thrombin time. Biodegradable materials based on cellulose nonwoven fabrics with the addition of copper offer a promising alternative to conventional materials. Their innovative properties, coupled with environmental friendliness and minimal impact on biological processes, offer vast application possibilities in healthcare and the production of hygiene products.

Irinotecan-loaded magnetite-silica core-shell systems for colorectal cancer treatment

Colorectal cancer represents a worldwide spread type of cancer and it is regarded as one of the leading death causes, along with lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Since conventional surgical resection and chemotherapy proved limited efficiency, the use of alternative drug delivery systems that ensure the controlled release of cytostatic agents possess immense potential for treatment. In this regard, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate the efficiency of a series of irinotecan-loaded magnetite-silica core–shell systems. The magnetite particles were obtained through a solvothermal treatment, while the silica shell was obtained through the Stöber method directly onto the surface of magnetite particles. Subsequently, the core–shell systems were physico-chemically and morpho-structurally evaluated trough X-ray diffraction (XRD) and (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy ((HR-)TEM) equipped with a High Annular Angular Dark Field Detector (HAADF) for elemental mapping. After the irinotecan loading, the drug delivery systems were evaluated through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Additionally, the Brunauer–Emmett-Teller (BET) method was employed for determining the surface area and pore volume of the systems. The biological functionality of the core-shells was investigated through the MTT assay performed on both normal and cancer cells. The results of the study confirmed the formation of highly crystalline magnetite particles comprising the core and mesoporous silica layers of sizes varying between 2 and 7 nm as the shell. Additionally, the drug loading and release was dependent on the type of the silica synthesis procedure, since the lack of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) resulted in higher drug loading but lower cumulative release. Moreover, the nanostructured systems demonstrated a targeted efficiency towards HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, as in the case of normal L929 fibroblast cells, the cell viability was higher than for the pristine drug. In this manner, this study provides the means and procedures for developing drug delivery systems with applicability in the treatment of cancer.

Highly Efficient Adsorption of Norfloxacin by Low-Cost Biochar: Performance, Mechanisms, and Machine Learning-Assisted Understanding.

This study employed potassium carbonate (K2CO3) activation using ball milling in conjunction with pyrolysis to produce biochar from one traditional Chinese herbal medicine Atropa belladonna L. (ABL) residue. The resulting biochar KBC800 was found to possess a high specific surface area (S BET = 1638 m2/g) and pore volume (1.07 cm3/g), making it effective for removing norfloxacin (NOR) from wastewater. Batch adsorption tests confirmed its effectiveness in eliminating NOR, along with its excellent resistance to interference from impurity ions or antibiotics. Notably, the maximum experimental NOR adsorption capacity on KBC800 was 666.2 mg/g at 328 K, surpassing those of other biochar materials reported. The spontaneous and endothermic adsorption of NOR on KBC800 could be better suited to the Sips model. Additionally, KBC800 adsorbs NOR mainly by pore filling, with electrostatic attraction, π-π EDA interactions, and hydrogen bonds also contributing significantly. The machine learning model revealed that NOR adsorption on the biochar was significantly affected by the initial concentration, followed by S BET and average pore size. Based on the random forest model, it is demonstrated that biochar is able to adsorb NOR effectively. It is noteworthy that the use of low-cost pharmaceutical wastes to produce adsorbents for emerging contaminants such as antibiotics could have greater potential for future practical applications under the ongoing dual carbon policy.

Synthesis and characterization of a new multifunctional aliphatic poly(amic acid): An efficient polymeric adsorbent for removing the heavy metal ions

The heavy-metal ions in wastewater have attracted intense attention due to environmental issues, including their toxicity, bioaccumulation tendency, and persistency in nature. Despite other strategies for heavy metal removal from wastewater, adsorption is one of the most promising methods, owing to its simplicity and efficiency. To conserve the carboxyl and amine functional groups and prevent amidation reaction, a new aliphatic tertiary poly(amic acid) with linear and cyclic spacers was synthesized via the catalyst-free process. The ring opening of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dianhydride (EDTADA) by piperazine, a bifunctional cyclic secondary diamine, was conducted in a polar solvent (DMF) in a nitrogen atmosphere for 3 h. The characterization was conducted by FTIR and NMR, and their morphology and elemental composition were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (FESEM-EDX). As-synthesized aliphatic tertiary poly(amic acid) could be separated as a white powder with an O/N ratio of 0.93 ± 0.03 and morphology of woven fiber. The white powder showed an average molecular weight (M̅w) of ∼12,000 and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.52 ± 0.05. In addition, the poly(amic acid) TGA/DTA analysis showed a high thermal stability with stepwise degradation with the onset of 346 °C. The poly(amic acid) DSC profile displayed a high glass transition at 124 °C. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and pore volume were determined to be 146.05 m2/g and 0.78 cm3/g. The poly(amic acid) contains the mesopores and macropores based on its pore size distribution curve. Regarding an acidic pH and abundance of functional groups, as-prepared tertiary poly(amic acid) was employed as a heterogeneous adsorbent of different types of heavy-metal ions, including Ag (I), Cr (III), and Cu (II). A removal efficiency > 90 % after 10 min for three heavy metal ions demonstrates a strong chelating capacity of as-prepared tertiary poly(amic acid). An adsorption capacity of > 50 mg per gram of poly(amice acid) was recorded for three heavy-metal ions with a pH of 3 or higher than 3. Poly(amic acid) exhibited good recyclability. This work exhibited the applicability of novel poly(amic acid) as an efficient adsorbent for the heavy metal ions removal from wastewater.

Differential spatial plasticity response in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root architecture under water stress is driven by increased root diameter, surface area and volume at deeper layers

Root plasticity enables plants to adapt to spatial and temporal changes in soil resources. In this study, 40 common bean genotypes evaluated for two root and shoot traits under irrigated and water stress. Three genotypes WB-216, WB-N-2, and WB-966 with contrasting plasticity responses were used for in-depth study. Highest positive plasticity for most root traits was found in case of WB-N2 and WB-216, whereas, WB-966 had negative plasticity for all the traits recorded. In terms of spatial plasticity for root traits in three root length sections, WB-216 was positively plastic for root diameter with progressive decrease from top to bottom sections. WB-N2 had positive plasticity values for root diameter, root surface area and root volume. WB-966 had negative plasticity for all the traits. For WB-216, the root diameter increased under drought in S1 but was almost same in bottom sections. In case of WB-N2, there was increase in root diameter in S2 and S3, but for WB-966, root diameter decreased in all sections. Similar trend was observed in all three genotypes for root surface area and volume. We report that major drivers of spatial plasticity of root architectural traits are increased root diameter, surface area and volume at deeper layers.

Efficient photocatalytic H2O2 production and photodegradation of RhB over K-doped g-C3N4/ZnO S-scheme heterojunction

Designing efficient dual-functional catalysts for photocatalytic oxygen reduction to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and photodegradation of dye pollutants is challenging. In this work, we designed and fabricated an S-scheme heterojunction (g-C3N4/ZnO composite photocatalyst) via one-pot calcination of a mixture of ZIF-8 and melamine in the KCl/LiCl molten salt medium. The KCN/ZnO composite produced 4.72 mM of H2O2 within 90 min under illumination (with AM 1.5 filter), which is almost 1.3 and 7.8 times than that produced over KCN and ZnO, respectively. Simultaneously, the KCN/ZnO also showed excellent photodegradation performance for the dye pollutants (Rhodamine B, RhB), with a removal rate of 92 % within 2 h. The apparent degradation rate constant of RhB over KCN/ZnO was approximately 5–8 times that of KCN and ZnO. In the photocatalytic process, photo-generated holes and superoxide radicals are the main active species. Oxygen (O2) was mainly reduced to produce H2O2 via a two-electron (2e−) pathway with superoxide radicals as intermediates and the 2e− oxygen reduction reaction selectivity of KCN/ZnO was close to 69.82 %. Photo-generated holes are mainly responsible for the degradation of RhB. Compared with pure KCN and ZnO, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the KCN/ZnO composite is mainly attributed to the following aspects: 1) larger specific surface area and pore volume is beneficial to expose more active sites; 2) stronger light harvesting ability and red-shifted absorption edge bestow the compound a stronger light utilization efficiency; 3) the construction of S-scheme heterostructure between KCN and ZnO improve the photogenerated electron-hole pairs separation ability and bestow photogenerated carriers a higher redox potential.