Ternary Nanocomposites Research Articles

Development of octahedral shaped Zn2TiO4 loaded Ti3C2-TiO2 ternary composite with excellent photocatalytic efficiency

The development of highly efficient and stable earth-abundant photoanode materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting is crucial for a sustainable energy economy. Being earth-abundant, 2D Ti3C2 MXenes have recently emerged as promising candidate for efficient photocatalytic performances. However, pristine Ti3C2and its composites suffer from poor electron–hole separation and fail to prevent the spontaneous recombination process due to the poor conductivity derived from the serious agglomeration of MXene sheets during processing. Therefore, suitable heterojunction engineering of the MXene based composites is required for their efficient photocatalytic performances. Hence, in this work, we have developed a Ti3C2-TiO2 and octahedron-shaped, nanosized Zinc titanate (Zn2TiO4) based ternary nanocomposite with optimized composition via a simple process of alkalization followed by hydrothermal. As-synthesized Ti3C2-TiO2/Zn2TiO4 (1:0.5) nanocomposite shows a 3.7 fold augmentation in photocurrent density as compared to alkali treated Ti3C2-TiO2 at a potential of 0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl resulted due to the facile charge transfer evidenced from its impedance analysis having lowest charge transfer resistance. Furthermore, the Mott-Schottky measurements reveal that the as-synthesized nanocomposites possess n-type semiconductivity and the charge carrier concentration of Ti3C2-TiO2/Zn2TiO4 (1:0.5) is almost 5.2 times higher than that of alkali-treated Ti3C2-TiO2. This work may inspire more excellent work on developing MXenes-based photoanodes.

Enhancement of the tribological and thermal properties of UHMWPE based ternary nanocomposites containing graphene and titanium titride

Abstract Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) generally does not have high resistance to wear and are characterised by poor thermal stability when exposed to long working condition. To address these shortcomings, this study used hybrid graphene nanoplatelets (GN) and titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles to significantly enhance the wear resistance and thermal stability of UHMWPE. The nanocomposites were prepared by solvent mixing and hot compression process. Scanning electron microscope showed uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles in the UHMWPE matrix. The developed UHMWPE showed improved wear resistance and thermal stability relative to the pure UHMWPE. For instance, the wear rate reduced from 6.7 × 10−3 mm3 N−1 m−1 and 3.67 × 10−2 mm3 N−1 m−1 for pure UHMWPE to 2.687 × 10−5 mm3 N−1 m−1 and 1.34 × 7 × 10−4 mm3 N−1 m−1 for UHMWPE–2 wt% GN–10 wt% TiN at applied loads of 10 N and 20 N respectively. This is about 100 % increment in wear resistance at the respective applied loads compared to the pure UHMWPE. The thermal stability of the fabricated nanocomposites was studied using the thermogravimetric analyser (TGA). The addition of nanoparticles significantly reduced the thermal decomposition of UHMWPE matrix. The enhanced properties of the UHMWPE–GN–TiN nanocomposites may be attributed to the network structures formed from the dispersion of the GN and TiN nanoparticles in the UHMWPE matrix with promoted molecular chains interlocking.

Green synthesis and magnetically separable Fe3O4/SnO2/g-C3N4 ternary nanocomposite for degradation of Rhodamine B

A new green synthesis technique for Fe3O4, SnO2, and its ternary nanocomposite, Fe3O4/SnO2/g-C3N4, had been devised. This approach used plant extracts from Lemon (Citrus x lemon) fruits, which were abundant in Mizoram, India. The nanomaterials were produced hydrothermally and evaluated by UV–Visible, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS analysis. XRD measurement confirmed the nanocomposite's phase purity. The photocatalytic activity of magnetically separable ternary photocatalyst materials for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation was examined under visible light from a 50-watt Philips LED bulb at 30 min interval. An external magnet isolated the magnetically active ternary photocatalyst from the aqueous suspension, making recycling it easy and effective.

Facile synthesis of surface oxygen vacancy and Ti3+ defects in SrTiO3 perovskite coupled g-C3N4 decorated with Au ternary nanocomposites for enhancing electrocatalytic activity from acidic and natural seawater conditions

The development of efficient electrocatalysts became vital to resolving the ongoing clean energy crises and environmental issues, wherein high-performance catalysts for the improved electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (EHER) are demanded. To meet this goal, an advanced and green ultrasonic-assisted pulsed laser ablation in liquid technique was used to prepare surface oxygen vacancy and Ti3+ defects in perovskite-based ternary nanocomposites (PTNCs) decorated with Au@SrTiO3/g-C3N4. An effective cathode was designed using Au@SrTiO3/g–C3N4–decorated PTNCs for EHER that operated in an acidic media of 0.5 M H2SO4. The optimized Au@SrTiO3/g-C3N4 PTNCs revealed an improved EHER at a very low over-potential of 0.082 V at a cathodic current density (J) of −10 mA/cm2, high double-layer capacitance (679.8 μF/cm2), large electrochemical surface area (19.4 cm2), high mass activity (198.35 A/g), high specific activity (2.91 mA/cm2), high surface charge density (0.0404 C/cm2), high catalytic active sites (4.19 × 10−7 mol/cm2), and exceptional long-term stability at 50 h, respectively. The Tafel slope of 45.36 mV/dec confirmed the presence of the Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism to explain the enhanced EHER cycle of the prepared PTNCs. The improved electrocatalytic EHER performance was attributed to the induced synergistic strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect of the surface oxygen vacancy and Ti3+ defects in PTNCs that increased electrochemical surface area, high exposure of abundant active sites, improved intrinsic kinetics, and fast charge transport, respectively. Moreover, Au@SrTiO3/g–C3N4–decorated PTNCs exhibit excellent natural seawater electrolysis in terms of EHER at a low over-potential of 0.300 V at a J = −10 mA/cm2 and long-term stability at 10 h, respectively. It is demonstrated that the proposed novel surface oxygen vacancy and Ti3+ defects in Au@SrTiO3/g-C3N4 PTNCs are effective electrocatalysts can be beneficial for producing hydrogen from green technologies in future energy applications via interface engineering.

Bio-inspired graphene nanocomposite enabled electrochemical immunosensor for detection and quantification of NS1 protein of dengue virus

Dengue is a serious illness that affects a large portion of the global population. Infection with the dengue virus may have been silent or symptomatic, making identification crucial for tracking the virus's propagation and protecting society from its catastrophic consequences. The non-structural dengue protein NS1 has been used as a biomarker in the diagnosis of dengue because it circulates widely in the blood during the acute phase of the infection and is associated with viremia. In this study, we have reported the development of an electrochemical immunosensor using nanobio-inspired platform composed of ternary nanocomposite of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), polydopamine (pDA) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) immobilized with Anti-NS1 antibodies for the detection of NS1 protein. The nanocomposite formation and antibody immobilization are confirmed using various microscopic, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) has been used to investigate the detailed electrochemical properties and immunosensing response of the developed immunosensor device. The designed immunosensor showed linear detection response for NS1 protein from 1 ng ml−1 to 100 µg ml−1 with a sensitivity of 1.78 ng ml−1 mA−1 and good shelf life. This developed immunosensor with exceptionally low detection limit revealed its potential for early diagnosis of dengue virus infection.

PVDF/poly(3-methylthiophene)/MWCNT nanocomposites for EMI shielding in the microwave range

This work presents a new approach to enhance EMI shielding efficiency of nanocomposites of dielectric polymers, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and intrinsically conducting polymers for account of using core-shell morphology for conducting components. To realize this approach new ternary nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), MWCNTs and poly(3-methylthiophene) doped by Cl− anions (P3MT) were prepared through synthesis of thermally stable core/shell nanocomposites PVDF/P3MT and MWCNT/P3MT. These binary nanocomposites were mixed with pure MWCNTs or PVDF followed by compression molding to prepare the ternary nanocomposites of different morphology to discriminate their EMI shielding properties in a wide frequency range (1–67 GHz). Values of the tangent of dielectric loss angle, the efficiency of transmission, reflection and absorption of microwave radiation, and shielding efficiency (SE) of the specified materials were found from analysis of spectral dependences of their complex dielectric constants. It was shown that while the melt mixing of the binary PVDF/P3MT nanocomposite with MWCNTs both in a pure state and in the binary nanocomposite (MWCNT/P3MT) expectedly strongly enhances SE of the former, this effect is non-linear and depends on presence/absence of the P3MT shell on the MWCNT core. The ternary nanocomposite PVDF/P3MT/MWCNT made of the binary polymer-polymer nanocomposite PVDF/P3MT and pure MWCNTs showed highest SE values at the frequencies above 4.5 GHz up to 68.4 dB at 67 GHz in the case of the 1 mm thickness sample. However, below 4.5 GHz the SE was higher in the case of the ternary nanocomposites containing core/shell MWCNT/P3MT nanocomposite instead of pure MWCNT.

Improved electrochemical performance of bio-derived plasticized starch/ reduced graphene oxide/ molybdenum disulfide ternary nanocomposite for flexible energy storage applications

A ternary nanocomposite of plasticized starch (PS), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was prepared via a solution casting process, with MoS2 concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 1.00 wt%. The structural, surface morphological, optical, and electrochemical properties of the nanocomposites were studied. FTIR analysis reveals the formation of new chemical bonds between PS, rGO, and MoS2, indicating strong interactions among them. The XRD analysis showed a reduction in the crystallinity of the nanocomposite from 40 to 21% due to the incorporation of nanofiller. FESEM micrograph showed an increment of the surface roughness due to the incorporation of rGO-MoS2 layers. UV–vis spectroscopy demonstrated a reduction of optical bandgap from 4.71 to 2.90 eV, resulting from enhanced charge transfer between the layers and defect states due to the addition of nanofillers. The incorporation of MoS2 increase the specific capacitance of the PS from 2.78 to 124.98 F g−1 at a current density of 0.10 mA g−1. The EIS analysis revealed that the nanofiller significantly reduces the charge transfer resistance from 4574 to 0 Ω, facilitating the ion transportation between the layers. The PS/rGO/MoS2 nanocomposite also exhibited excellent stability, retaining about 85% of its capacitance up to 10,000 charging-discharging cycles. These biocompatible polymer-based nanocomposites with improved electrochemical performance synthesized from an easy and economical route may offer a promising direction to fabricate a nature-friendly electrode material for energy storage applications.

Green synthesis of Ag2S nanoparticle from sweet cherry on ultrasound-assisted prepared NiMoO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite for photocatalytic H2 production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water is important in terms of producing various photocatalysts because it is an environmentally friendly, clean, and renewable energy source. In this work, we reported that NiMoO4/g-C3N4/Ag2S were obtained through the green synthesis method using sweet cherry. The structural, morphological, and optical features of synthesized photocatalysts were evaluated by XRD, FTIR, UV–visible DRS, SEM, TEM, and XPS. In addition, the electrochemical measurements were investigated. The hydrogen production yields of all photocatalysts were determined by gas chromatography with a thermal conductive detector for a total reaction time of 4 h. The resulting NiMoO4/g-C3N4/Ag2S has the highest hydrogen production rate with 2040.2 μmol g−1 h−1 compared to NiMoO4, g-C3N4, Ag2S and NiMoO4/g-C3N4. In this catalyst design system, in the entity of an electric field created by the S-scheme heterostructure of NiMoO4/g-C3N4/Ag2S, influential directional migration of photocarriers is acquired, and recombination of useful charge carriers is avoided. This work highlights the utilization of green synthesis of ternary nanocomposite from sweet cherry for photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Construction novel highly active photocatalytic H2 evolution over noble-metal-free trifunctional Cu3P/CdS nanosphere decorated g-C3N4 nanosheet

Hydrogen energy possesses immense potential in developing a green renewable energy system. However, a significant problem still exists in improving the photocatalytic H2 production activity of metal-free graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based photocatalysts. Here is a novel Cu3P/CdS/g-C3N4 ternary nanocomposite for increasing photocatalytic H2 evolution activity. In this study, systematic characterizations have been carried out using techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Raman spectra, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), surface area analysis (BET), electrochemical impedance (EIS), and transient photocurrent response measurements. Surprisingly, the improved 3CP/Cd-6.25CN photocatalyst displays a high H2 evolution rate of 125721 μmol h−1 g−1. The value obtained exceeds pristine g-C3N4 and Cu3P/CdS by 339.8 and 7.6 times, respectively. This could be the maximum rate of hydrogen generation for a g–C3N4–based ternary nanocomposite ever seen when exposed to whole solar spectrum and visible light (λ > 420 nm). This research provides fresh perspectives on the rational manufacture of metal-free g-C3N4 based photocatalysts that will increase the conversion of solar energy. By reusing the used 3CP/Cd/g-C3N4 photocatalyst in five consecutive runs, the stability of the catalyst was investigated, and their individual activity in the H2 production activity was assessed. To comprehend the reaction mechanisms and emphasise the value of synergy between the three components, several comparison systems are built.

Unveiling the potential of PANI@MnO2@rGO ternary nanocomposite in energy storage and gas sensing

The development of advanced materials for energy storage and gas sensing applications has gained significant attention in recent years. In this study, we synthesized and characterized PANI@MnO2@rGO ternary nanocomposites (NCs) to explore their potential in supercapacitors and gas sensing devices. The ternary NCs were synthesized through a multi-step process involving the hydrothermal synthesis of MnO2 nanoparticles, preparation of PANI@rGO composites and the assembly to the ternary PANI@MnO2@rGO ternary NCs. The structural, morphological, and compositional characteristics of the materials were thoroughly analyzed using techniques such as XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. In the realm of gas sensing, the ternary NCs exhibited excellent performance as NH3 gas sensors. The optimized operating temperature of 100 °C yielded a peak response of 15.56 towards 50 ppm NH3. The nanocomposites demonstrated fast response and recovery times of 6 s and 10 s, respectively, and displayed remarkable selectivity for NH3 gas over other tested gases. For supercapacitor applications, the electrochemical performance of the ternary NCs was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge techniques. The composites exhibited pseudocapacitive behavior, with the capacitance reaching up to 185 F/g at 1 A/g and excellent capacitance retention of approximately 88.54% over 4000 charge-discharge cycles. The unique combination of rGO, PANI, and MnO2 nanoparticles in these ternary NCs offer synergistic advantages, showcasing their potential to address challenges in energy storage and gas sensing technologies.

Symmetric Supercapacitors based on Reduced Graphene Oxide/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Cobalt Oxide Ternary Composites

Ternary nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/cobalt oxide nanoparticles (rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4) were synthesized employing a facile hydrolysis method with subsequent heat treatment. The good electrical conductivity and remarkable carrier mobility of rGO and MWCNTs make them a suitable matrix for hybrid supercapacitors, and their composites with metal oxides exhibit enhanced electrochemical properties due to the advantages of the synergistic contribution and the integration of different dimensionalities. The binary counterparts of Co3O4 with GO or MWCNTs were also produced using the same technique to gain additional insight into the characteristics of the individual components. The structural and morphological properties of the composites were analyzed using various analytical techniques. The electrochemical behaviors of the prepared composites were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 1 M H2SO4. A platinum electrode modified with the rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4 composite displayed a remarkable specific capacitance of 922 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 composite with a negligible capacitance drop after 2000 cycles. The symmetric supercapacitor fabricated using the rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4 composite showed an energy density of 32.2 Wh Kg−1 at 1 A g−1, and the corresponding power density was 2000 W Kg−1. The supercapacitor fabricated using the composite displayed 83% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles at 3 A g−1 composite.

Design and preparation of ternary polymer nanocomposites for high energy density film capacitors

High discharge energy density (Ue) film capacitors are important for miniaturization and integration in power electronic applications. The Ue of a polymer film is mainly dependent on Weibull's breakdown strength (Eb) and dielectric constant (εr). This work aims to develop ternary nanocomposites composed of polycarbonate (PC), Al2O3 nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) and BaTiO3 nanowires (BT NWs) for capacitive energy-storage. Al2O3 NPs have a wide bandgap and are expected to enhance Eb owing to their insulating nature, while BaTiO3 nanowires (BT NWs) are ferroelectric and are expected to provide a high εr. To overcome local electric-field distortion at the interface due to the mismatch in εr, core-shell structured BT@SiO2 NWs are prepared. The Eb of the composite containing 1.0 wt% Al2O3 NPs and 6.0 wt% BT@SiO2 NWs can reach 626 MV/m while that of the pure PC is 465 MV/m. As a result, its Ue reaches 12.12 J/cm3, which is improved by 211% that of the pure PC. Its discharge efficiency is 83.5%. A finite element analysis corroborates the superiority of the ternary polymer nanocomposites for dielectric energy-storage.

Design of ultrahigh-response gas sensor based on Pd-WO3/WS2 ternary nanocomposites for ultrafast hydrogen detection

In this research, WS2 nanomaterials were synthesized by a hydrothermal method at first. Then, partially oxidized WS2 through calcination to obtain WO3/WS2 binary materials via calcination. Among different calcination temperatures (400 °C, 350 °C and 300 °C), the WO3/WS2 with the best performance calcined at 300 °C was selected to load Pd on the surface. Particularly, the 2 at% Pd-WO3/WS2 exhibited the better hydrogen sensitivity compared to the load of Pd was 5 at%, displaying an ultrahigh response of 4227.35 at 125 ℃ with a faster response/recovery time of 1/25 s to 1000 ppm H2. The property of the ternary nanocomposites was superior to previously reported binary WO3 materials due to the synergistic effect of its unique microstructure, the formation of p-n-p heterojunction, and the electronic sensitization of palladium. This work designed a novel ternary material applied to rapid hydrogen detection for the first time.

Surface sensitization of graphitic carbon nitride with well-defined, organized Pd(II)-directed multiporphyrin array multilayers as ternary photocatalysts for Cr(VI) reduction in aqueous solution

Surface sensitization to a semiconductor is one of the most important strategies to increase the visible light-harvesting ability, photo-induced carrier separation and transfer rate, thus improving the photocatalytic efficiency. Here, ternary nanocomposites are constructed by a Pd(II)-directed layer-by-layer (LBL) coordination bonding of tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) on the oxidized graphitic carbon nitride (O-g-C3N4). The nanocomposites of O-g-C3N4@(Pd-TAPP)n as-produced present a porous and ultra-thin lamellar structure with an enhanced absorption ability in the visible light region. As the heterogeneous photocatalyst, O-g-C3N4@(Pd-TAPP)n can reduce the toxic hexavalent Cr(VI) species under visible light irradiation with no need for the sacrificial agent. Further, the photocatalytic activity is enhanced by orders of magnitude higher than that before the surface modification, attributed to the reasons of increased specific surface area, elevated light utilization, meliorative charge separation and transfer rate, as well as the synergistic effect by the multiporphyrin arrays and coordinated Pd(II)/(0) species. In addition to the features of without need of sacrificial agent and irradiation under visible light, the Pd-TAPP multilayer modified nanocomposites have well stability and reusability, resulting in a possibility for the practical application.

Growth of Ag2S-sensitizer on MoS2/ZnO nanocable arrays for improved solar driven photoelectrochemical water splitting

The demonstration of an efficient nanostructure that provides acceptable photoelectrochemical water splitting properties using the sun visible radiation is an appealing issue. In this connection, a new ternary nanocomposite of Ag2S/MoS2/ZnO photoanode is subsequently fabricated via hydrothermal, solvothermal and SILAR methods. Different properties of the nanocomposite are characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, XPS, UV–Vis-IR spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques. The post-grown annealed 8-Ag2S/MoS2/ZnO photoanode exhibits a good performance with a photocurrent density of 2 mA/cm2 at a bias potential 1.23 V vs. RHE. The photocurrent of the post-grown annealed 8-Ag2S/MoS2/ZnO photoanode is 71.42 times, 40 times and 2 times higher compares to the pure ZnO, post-grown annealed MoS2/ZnO, and post-grown annealed 8-Ag2S/ZnO photoanodes, respectively. The enhanced PEC performance may originate from the combination of different effects such as the expansion of light absorption and energy band alignment (type II heterostructures), [SO4] acted as a charge-transfer medium, and electrode-electrolyte interface kinetic reactions.

Multiphase interface engineering based on porous manganous oxide toward broad-band microwave absorption

Herein, the porous manganous oxide-based ternary nanocomposites were successfully obtained by combining the in-suit deposition of ZIF-67 and the following thermolysis technology. The synergistic contributions of dipole polarizations, multi-interface induced space charge polarizations, and conductive loss induced by Co particles give the nanocomposites exceptional microwave absorption (MA). Consequently, MnO/Co/C ternary composites presented a strong reflection loss (RL), reaching -51.83 dB at 2.17 mm. Furthermore, the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reached 5.6 GHz at 1.9 mm. When adjusting the adding ratio of Co/Mn to 10:1, the EAB achieved 5.68 GHz, nearly covering the whole Ku band. Besides, radar cross-sectional (RCS) simulations verify the MA capabilities and potential use of the materials. This work provides a convenient way to construct manganous oxide-based nanocomposites for high-efficiency MA and radar monitoring.

Highly sensitive ethanol sensor based on Ag NP-modified SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x ternary composite enhanced by synergistic catalysis

In this paper, the noble metal Ag-modified SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x ternary nanocomposites were designed to detect ethanol efficiently. Firstly, the SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x nanocomposites were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, and the microstructure of the SnO2 nanomaterials were adjusted by controlling the content of In2Sn2O7-x. With the increase of In2Sn2O7-x content, the morphology of the synthesized SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x composites gradually tends to be regular with porous spherical morphology. In the same synthesis conditions, the porous spherical morphology of SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x composites was more uniform at 0.5 at% of In element content, and the distribution in the material was more homogeneous and dispersed, which was conducive to the diffusion and adsorption of gases on the surface of the material, as well as to the loading of Ag nanoparticles. On this basis, the Ag nanoparticles were successfully modified through the chemical reduction route, and the Ag nanoparticles modified SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x with 0.5 at% In elemental content ternary nanocomposites were prepared. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the prepared gas-sensitive materials. The gas-sensing performance of SnO2, In2Sn2O7-x, SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x, and Ag-modified SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x sensors were tested systematically. The results showed that the 1.5 wt% Ag-modified SnO2–In2Sn2O7-x nanocomposites with 0.5 at% In elemental content have good gas-sensing properties. The response of the sensor to 100 ppm ethanol vapor can reach 666 at the optimal operating temperature of 250 °C, and the response time is shortened to 45 s. It has good sensitivity for ethanol gas, and the minimum detectable gas concentration is reduced to 500 ppb. The improved performance of the sensor is primarily due to the construction of the heterogeneous interface of the SnO2 and In2Sn2O7-x and the catalytic synergism of the noble metal Ag.

Fabrication of Co3O4/CdO/clinoptilolite nanocomposite heterojunction with synergistically enhanced catalytic performance for photodegradation of pharmaceutical pollutants

Environmental protection has become a global priority with the increasing use of renewable energy sources. Solar-light photocatalytic processes have attracted significant attention due to the highly effective degradation of organic pollutants and the use of renewable resources and. In this research, a green approach was employed to fabricate a Co3O4/CdO/clinoptilolite (CCC) heterojunction nanocomposite as an effective S-scheme photocatalyst for the photodegradation of levofloxacin under sunlight. As compared to single semiconductors, the CCC revealed the best performance in degradation of levofloxacin, indicating a great synergy effect between Co3O4 and CdO nanoparticles. Almost complete degradation of levofloxacin was attained by the CCC system with a reaction rate constant of 0.041212 min−1 under optimal conditions (neutral pH, catalyst dose= 2 g/L, and initial concentration of the pollutant= 10 mg/L). CCC heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited excellent stability and recyclability with minimal leaching of metal ions. In addition, CCC displayed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and - negative bacteria. Also, the results of planting experiments exhibited the possibility of discharging the treated levofloxacin solutions to irrigate green space. The results of this study provide new insight into the fabrication of unique ternary nanocomposites with diverse applications and excellent photocatalytic performance.

Engineering of ternary photocatalysts nanocomposites based NiS/ZrO2/CdS for boosting of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

The key prerequisite for a clean and economical industrial process is a cleaner manufacturing process coupled with sustainability. Additionally, the limited resources for drinking water and the world's rapid population expansion foresaw water crises in several nations. To this end, in this study, novel dual Z-scheme NiS/ZrO2/CdS (NZC) heterojunction photocatalysts were developed. The photodegradation efficiency of the photocatalyst was studied by targeting Tetracycline under direct sunlight radiation which reveals that the NZC ternary nano-photocatalyst exhibits a total removal efficiency of 97.05 % within 120 min and k = 0.0281 min−1, which is the highest compared to bare ZrO2, CdS, NiS, binary CdS/ZrO2 and NiS/ZrO2 heterojunctions. To analyze and understand the properties of the NiS/ZrO2/CdS composite, various measurement techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, HR-TEM, BET, EDX, XPS, DRs, PL, and EPR were utilized. The universality performance of NiS/ZrO2/CdS was studied by targeting six antibiotics including Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Ofloxacin, Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, and Sulfamethoxazole. The photocatalytic performance of NiS/ZrO2/CdS photocatalyst was investigated by TC degradation under various reaction parameters as pH, initial concentration, the catalyst dosage, variable water source and the drooping in phytotoxicity derived from the photodegradation was measured by cultivation study of Faba bean seeds. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the fabricated NZC dual Z-Scheme system is mainly because of co-effects of ZrO2, CdS and NiS allowing numerous active sites, promoting light harvesting, and endowing separation and charge carries transfer, thereby boosting the photodegradation efficiency of NZC composite. Moreover, NZC nanocomposite was recyclable up to five sequential runs with a considerable photostability.

Fabrication and characterization of magnetic cobalt ferrite intercalated chitosan grafted polyaniline ternary nanocomposites for removing some heavy metals simultaneously

Chitosan grafted polyaniline (Ch-g-PANI) loaded with different concentrations of cobalt ferrite magnetic (CoFM) nanoparticles (2, 5 and 10 wt%) to form (Ch-g-PANI/CoFM) nanocomposites were fabricated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform inferred (FT-IR), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) were carried out to investigate the structure, morphology, chemical composition, and magnetic properties of Ch-g-PANI and Ch-g-PANI/CoFM) nanocomposites. Adsorption performance of these prepared samples towards heavy metals (Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Cd2+, Li1+, Co2+, Al3+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Cr2+, and V2+) was investigated. The effects of CoFM NPs concentraion doped in grafted polymer, initial metal concentration, temperature, pH, and contact time on heavy metal removal efficiency were optimized. SEM revealed abundant pores for optimum sample that enhance the heavy metal removal efficiency. Competitive adsorption tests proved that Ch-g-PANI/CoFM5 NPs showed higher efficiency for tested heavy metals. The removal efficacy of optimum sample (Ch-g-PANI/CoFM5) reached maximum values 98, 95.3, 96, 99.2, 97, 99.9, 88, 94.4, 99.8, 93.4, 98.96, 93, and 93.9 % for Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Cd2+, Li1+, Co2+, Al3+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Cr2+, and V2+, respectively at 90 min(equilibrium time), the element ions concentration of 10 mg/L and pH range of 4–6 depending on the kind of metal ions. Freundlich model is the best isotherm model for the equilibrium data, suggesting the multilayer adsorption on the heterogeneous surface. The kinetic data specified that the pseudo-first-order model fitted the adsorption of heavy metal ions on Ch-g-PANI/CoFM5. Thermodynamic studies elucidated the feasible, spontaneous, random, and endothermic adsorption. From an economic viewpoint, the regeneration study implied that the optimal sample Ch-g-PANI/CoFM5 was efficiently recovered up to four successive cycles.