Ultrasound-assisted Sol Gel Research Articles

Study on triphase of polymorphs TiO2 (anatase/rutile/brookite) for boosting photocatalytic activity of metformin degradation

The elution of pharmaceutical products such as metformin at higher concentrations than the safe level in aquatic systems is a serious threat to human health and the ecosystem. Photocatalytic technology using TiO2 semiconductors potentially fixes this problem. This study aims to synthesize triphasic anatase–rutile–brookite TiO2 using ultrasound assisted sol–gel technique in the presence of acid and its application to photodegradation of metformin under UV light irradiation. Based on X-ray diffraction analysis, a TiO2 sample consisted of anatase (76%), rutile (7%), and brookite (17%) polymorph (A76R7B17) that was fully crystallized. Scanning electron microscopy (EM)–energy dispersive X-ray spectra results showed agglomerated triphasic A76R7B17 with irregular spherical clusters. Transmission EM results revealed that the crystal size of A76R7B17 was 4–14 nm. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis showed the sample's specific surface area of 149 m2 g−1. The degradation test of metformin demonstrated that the A76R7B17 exhibited a 75.4% degradation efficiency after 120 min under UV light irradiation, significantly higher than using biphasic and single-phase TiO2 photocatalysts. This difference could be attributed to the heterojunction effect of triphasic materials that effectively reduced electron–hole recombination rate as well as the combination of effective electron transfer from conduction band of brookite and anatase and the utilization of wider range of UV–visible light using rutile.

Simultaneous removal of phosphate and tetracycline using LaFeO3 functionalised magnetic biochar by obtained ultrasound-assisted sol–gel pyrolysis: Mechanisms and characterisation

Excessive phosphate and tetracycline (TC) contaminants pose a serious risk to human health and the ecological environment. As such exploring the simultaneous adsorption of phosphate and TC is garnering increasing attention. In this study, an efficient lanthanum ferrate magnetic biochar (FLBC) was synthesised from crab shells using an ultrasound-assisted sol–gel method to study its performance and mechanisms for phosphate and TC adsorption in aqueous solutions in mono/bis systems. According to the Langmuir model, the developed exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 65.62 mg/g for phosphate and 234.1 mg/g for TC (pH:7.0 ± 0.1, and 25 °C). Further, it exhibited high resistance to interference and pH suitability. In practical swine wastewater applications, whereby the concentrations of phosphate and TC are 37 and 19.97 mg/L, respectively, the proposed material demonstrated excellent performance. In addition, electrostatic adsorption, chemical precipitation and ligand exchange were noted to be the main mechanisms for phosphate adsorption by FLBC, whereas hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction were the main adsorption mechanisms for TC adsorption. Therefore, this study successfully prepared a novel and efficient adsorbent for phosphate and TC.

Synthesis of high-performance Pd/Ce0.4Zr0.5La0.05Y0.05O1.95 catalysts for low-temperature methane combustion with the ultrasound-assisted field

In this work, ultrasound-assisted sol–gel (UASG) and wet incipient impregnation (WIP) methods were employed to synthesize a series of Ce0.4Zr0.5La0.05Y0.05O1.95 oxygen storage materials (OSM) and Pd/Ce0.4Zr0.5La0.05Y0.05O1.95 catalysts under different frequency ultrasound external field. The effect of the ultrasonic external field on the low-temperature catalytic activity of the catalyst was investigated. The BET and TEM results demonstrated that ultrasound field can increase the catalyst's specific surface area by 25% and decrease the particle size from 10.1 nm to 7.3 nm. The XPS results showed that the concentrations of surface Pd2+, Oads, and Ce3+ species increased from 21%, 44%, and 43% to 42%, 65%, and 46%, respectively, enhancing the formation of Pd2+, Oads and Ce3+ species on the catalyst surface. The performance tests revealed that T90(CH4) of the prepared Pd/Ce0.4Zr0.5La0.05Y0.05O1.95 catalyst by UASG method decreased from 536 ℃ to 331 ℃, improving its low-temperature catalytic activity. Additionally, the catalysts synthesized using by UASG method exhibited the enhanced resistance to water and sulfur poisoning and maintained their catalytic performance for 20 h.

Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Performance of TiO2 Supported on Carbon Nanoparticles Towards Positive Half-Cell Reaction of Hydrogen-1,4p-benzoquinone Flow-Battery

The Hydrogen- 1,4 p-Benzoquinone redox flow battery (H2—BQ RFB) is simple and economic to use with a cell potential of 0.714 V. Carbon-based electrodes are extensively used as electrode materials due to their comprehensive properties but possess poor hydrophilic nature and low electrochemical activity. It is essential to modify carbon-based materials before employing them in battery applications. Because of its low-cost and enhanced catalytic activity, Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is chosen to modify the carbon material. In the present work, TiO2 supported on carbon nanoparticles (TiO2@CNP) electrocatalyst was synthesized by using the ultra-sound assisted sol-gel method for the positive half-cell of H2—BQ RFB. The composition of the sol is optimized by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis. Surface morphology TiO2@CNP coated on carbon paper was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The TiO2 and carbon interaction bonds were identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The phase and crystalline nature were identified by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The activity of the electrode was assessed by CV and Tafel analysis. The electrocatalyst was tested in H2—BQ RFB positive half-cell by galvanostatic charge-discharge and obtained energy efficiency up to 73%.

Ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic application of ZnO nanoparticles

In this study we synthesized nano-sized ZnO particles by ultrasonic-assisted sol-gel method. The materials were, then, sintered at different temperatures of 400 o C, 500 o C, 600 o C, and 700 o C. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the obtained ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, UV VIS, FE-SEM, and TEM. The results showed that ZnO nanoparticles have a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure, spherical and hexagonal shapes, and an average size of 22-30 nm. ZnO nanoparticles were used as photocatalysts to decompose methylene blue under ultraviolet light. The results showed that the materials are able to decompose methylene blue under ultra-violet lights. The material sintered 600o C achieved the highest efficiency. From that, it can be concluded that ZnO nanoparticles have potential applications as photocatalysts for organic dyes removal in aqueous solutions.

Prophylactic consequences of sodium salicylate nanoparticles in cisplatin-mediated hepatotoxicity

Unintended side effects linked to the antineoplastic drug cisplatin are a major drawback in its clinical application. The underlying source of these side effects include the generation of reactive oxygen species which are toxic and damaging to tissues and organs. In the present study the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of sodium salicylate was assessed against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Sodium salicylate was used as a model drug and loading into hollow structured porous silica using ultrasound-assisted sol–gel method to produce a nanoemulsion. Transmission Electron Microscopy and Dynamic Light scattering analysis were employed to assess the structural properties and stability of this model. Liver function was assessed by measuring biomarkers including ALT, AST & GGT and oxidant/antioxidant markers including MDA, NO, PON, GSH, MCP1 & AVP in serum or liver tissue. Additionally, blood leukocyte DNA damage was evaluated. Cisplatin significantly altered the normal levels of all biomarkers confirming its hepatotoxic effects. In contrast, treatment with sodium salicylate-loaded silica nanoemulsion significantly restored the levels of these markers. The finding suggests the protective effects of this model drug in preventing cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity, and therefore may have implications in attenuating cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity.

Enhancing the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 for the Degradation of Congo Red Dye by Adjusting the Ultrasonication Regime Applied in Its Synthesis Procedure

Recently, the ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis procedure of mesoporous titania (TiO2) photocatalysts caught the researcher’s attention, due to the physicochemical properties enhancement of the resulting titania nanomaterials. Thus, by varying different synthesis parameters particular characteristics could be obtained. In the present study, the ultrasound pulse on/off ratio has been considered and the effect of the envisaged parameter on the textural, morphological, and optical features of titania nanomaterial has been investigated. Therefore, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2-sorption measurements, SEM imaging, and UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance spectroscopy (UVDR) have been used. And further, the photocatalytic activity of the prepared TiO2 materials was evaluated by the features developed about the applied ultrasound pulse on/off ratio as 1/1, 2/1, 3/1, 4/1, 1/3 and 2/2. It was found that the ultrasound pulse on/off ratio considered in the synthesis procedure of titania leads to TiO2 materials with different textural (SBET = 98–156 m2/g), morphological, and optical (Eg = 3.1–3.2 eV) characteristics. For this reason, TiO2 nanomaterials prepared were found to exhibit suitable features for photocatalytic applications. Thus, the TiO2 4.1 sample prepared at 4/1 ultrasound pulse on/off ratio revealed the highest photodegradation efficiency of Congo Red dye (98.28%) as the results of photocatalytic tests show. More than that, a possible reaction mechanism of the CR photodegradation process through the contribution of reactive oxygen species (·HO, ·O2−), holes (h+), and electrons (e−) of developed titania photocatalyst was proposed.

Ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis and characterization of highly efficient OTES-Functionalized ZnO/GO nanocomposite for a novel purification of phosphoric acid using sonophotocatalytic process: Box-Behnken Design optimization

Octyltriethoxysilane-Functionalized Zinc Oxide/Graphene Oxide nanocomposites (OTES@ZnO/GO NCs) were synthesized via the ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis technique. The surfaces of the ZnO/GO NCs were modified by grafting the organosilane agent, octyltriethoxysilane. The structure, morphology and elemental compositions of the samples were characterized using XRD, FESEM, TEM and EDX. The surface charge and specific surface area of samples were measured using Zeta potential and BET analysis, respectively. The various chemical functional groups and, absorption spectroscopy were performed using FTIR and RS spectrum, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements have been used to investigate the fate of electron-hole and the performance of charge carriers trapping. Patterns of XRD showed a good agreement with the hexagonal structure and the crystalline size of ZnO NPs and OTES@ZnO/GO NCs were obtained as 21 and 16 nm, respectively. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was applied to optimize the phosphoric extraction. The optimal conditions were found in 21.04 % of HCl concentration, a reaction time of 5 min and 6 of liquid-to-solid ratio to achieve 96.87% extraction efficiency. Based on the FTIR spectrum, the combination of UV/US irradiation in the degradation process resulted in the efficient removal of Ca2+ ions in 120 min.

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of LaFeO3/polystyrene for efficient photo-Fenton degradation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride

LaFeO3/polystyrene (LFO/PS) was successfully prepared by depositing perovskite-type LaFeO3 particles on polystyrene using ultrasound-assisted sol-gel and hydrothermal methods. The structure and properties of LFO/PS were also investigated using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence spectra (PL) and other characterization methods. The results showed that the introduction of ultrasound increased the adsorbed oxygen and oxygen vacancy content of LaFeO3. The deposition of LaFeO3 on PS improved the specific surface area of LaFeO3 and solved the problems of easy agglomeration and difficult separation of powdered LaFeO3. The effects of H2O2 concentration, catalyst dosage, solution concentration, pH and inorganic anions on the removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride were also investigated. The removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride by the LaFeO3/polystyrene photo-Fenton system (98.38%) was much higher than that by pure LFO (sonicated, 54.07%) and LFO/PS (unsonicated, 79.88%) photo-Fenton systems under CCIP = 10 mg/L, CH2O2 = 5 mmol/L, dosage = 1.0 g/L, and pH = 9.00. Furthermore, the removal efficiency of total organic carbon (TOC) reached 76.44%. Based on the identification of intermediates by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and density functional theory calculations, the main degradation pathways of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride were proposed. This study explores the influence of various factors on oxygen-rich vacancy perovskite/polystyrene in environmental remediation and proposes the advantages of the introduction of ultrasound in catalyst preparation process.

Visible light-Fenton degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride over oxygen-vacancy-rich LaFeO3/polystyrene: Mechanism and degradation pathways

In this study, the oxygen–vacancy–rich (OV) lanthanum ferrite (LaFeO3) perovskite (also called LFO) was successfully prepared by an ultrasound–assisted sol–gel method and hydrothermally loaded onto polystyrene (PS) to obtain LaFeO3/polystyrene–oxygen–vacancies (LFO/PS–OVs). The structure and properties of LFO/PS–OVs were investigated using scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), X–ray photo–electron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence spectra (PL) and other characterization methods. The authors also investigated the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration, catalyst dosage, solution concentration, pH and inorganic anions on the tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) removal efficiency. According to the results, the ultrasonic cavitation treatment and the composite reaction significantly increased the specific surface area of LFO as well as the content of oxygen vacancies and broadened the forbidden band width of LFO. The significant improvement in catalytic activity can be attributed to solving the agglomeration problem of powdered LFO and the introduction of a large amount of OVs. The degradation mechanism was proposed according to the free radical capture experiments and the electron spin resonance (ESR) tests. Based on the DFT calculations and identification of intermediates by LC/MS, the main degradation pathways of TC were proposed. The results showed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may preferentially attack atoms with the high f0 values of Fukui index. This study gives an insight into the promising application of oxygen–vacancy–rich perovskite/polystyrene composites in environmental remediation.

Structural, morphological and photoluminescence characterizations of Sm3+ doped Y2O3 nano-sized phosphors synthesized by ultrasound assisted sol-gel method

Nanosized 1 at% Sm3+ doped Y2O3 powders were prepared by an ultrasound assisted sol-gel method. Y2O3:Sm3+ powders crystallize in Y2O3 pure cubic phase and XRD analysis shows that the as-used agitation protocol affects strongly the crystallite's shape and mean size. The recorded emission spectra under λem=600nm exhibit two absorption bands; the first one is assigned to O2− → Sm3+ charge transfer state (CTS) with a maximum absorption at 223 nm, and the second is due to intra-configurational transition 4f5-4f5 of Sm3+ with a maximum absorption at 407 nm. The 223 and 407 nm transitions are attributed to characteristics intra-configurational transitions of Sm3+. All emission spectra are dominated by reddish/orange luminescence located at 606 nm and assigned to 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition. It is found that the photoluminescence intensity of samples obtained under excitation at 407 nm is 60 times smaller than that obtained under 223 nm excitation. Decay time measurements of the 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 luminescence transition indicate that decay time of nano-sized powder is significantly shorter than bulk material one.

Ceramic polyaniline-carbon composite obtained by ultrasound-assisted sol–gel route: Electrochemical performance towards environmental pollutants

A new ceramic carbon polyaniline electrode material, namely Sonogel-Carbon-polyaniline (SNG-C-PANI), was synthesized using high-power ultrasound. The synthesis conditions were optimized by means of a full factorial design. The electroactivity of polyaniline, previously characterized by means of Raman spectroscopy, is retained into the sonogel matrix. After the synthesis and the subsequent characterization, the electrode material was applied in the electrochemical determination of a benchmark analyte, 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (PCMC), providing excellent figures of merit, e.g. high sensitivity (5.19 × 103 ± 110 µA/mM·cm2) and low limit of detection (0.36 µM), as well as suitable selectivity and reproducibility (%RSD < 4%). Besides the electroactive surface can be restored by performing a cyclic electrochemical treatment or simple mechanical polishing, minimizing fouling phenomena commonly found in conducting polymer layer-based sensors. The electrochemical detection of other chlorophenols of interest was also performed, obtaining remarkable analytical results. Finally, the electrochemical sensor was successfully applied in spiked tap water analyses.

Tailoring Mesoporous Titania Features by Ultrasound-Assisted Sol-Gel Technique: Effect of Surfactant/Titania Precursor Weight Ratio.

A mesoporous titania structure has been prepared using the ultrasound-assisted sol-gel technique in order to find out a way to tailor its structure. The TiO2 obtained was compared to the same version of titania but synthesized by a conventional sol-gel method with the objective of understanding the effect of ultrasound in the synthesis process. All synthesis experiments were focused on the preparation of a titania photocatalyst. Thus, the anatase photocatalytic active phase of titania was proven by X-ray diffraction. Additionally, the ultrasonation treatment proved to increase the crystallinity of titania samples, being one of the requirements to having good photocatalytic activity for titania. The influence of surfactant/titania precursor weight ratio on the structural (XRD), textural (N2-sorption measurements), morphological (TEM), surface chemistry (FTIR) and optical properties (UVDR) was investigated. It was observed that the crystallite size, specific surface area, band gap energy and even photocatalytic activity was affected by the synergism occurring between cavitation effect and the surfactant/titania precursor weight ratio. The study yielded interesting great results that could be considered for further application of ultrasound to tailor mesoporous titania features via sol-gel soft template synthesis, against conventional sol-gel process.

Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine-B over mono- &amp; bi-metallic TiO2 catalysts

In this study, mono- (0.5 wt% and 1 wt% Ag) and bi-metallic (Ag-Cu) titania catalysts of different loadings were prepared using ultrasound assisted sol–gel synthesis process and subsequently tested for photocatalytic activity using the degradation of Rhodamine-B. The catalysts were characterized by using FTIR, FESEM, photoluminescence, XRD and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for band-gap analysis. SEM images showed that all the synthesized catalysts were irregular in shape compared to the P25 catalyst with large crystallite sizes. XRD analysis showed presence of mostly anatase phase for all the catalysts. Maximum photocatalytic activity was observed with monometallic silver doped catalyst (1 wt% Ag doped on TiO2). It was observed that the degradation of Rhodamine-B dye followed first order reaction kinetics with a rate constant of 3.6 × 10−2 min−1. Overall, the work demonstrated improved synthesis method for photocatalyst with successful degradation of rhodamine B dye during the actual application.

Visible-light photocatalytic degradation of Mordant Blue 9 by single-phase BiFeO3 nanoparticles

This paper presents a systematic study on the photocatalytic activity of single-phase BiFeO3 (BFO) nanopowder, under the simulated solar irradiation in the presence of highly polluting textile dye (Mordant Blue 9). BFO nanopowder was synthesized by the means of the ultrasound-assisted sol-gel route. The structural and morphology analyses confirmed phase-pure crystalline BFO nanopowder with particle size of 70 nm. UV–vis spectroscopy measurements have revealed favorably high absorbance of the visible light with the calculated band-gap value of 2.21 eV. Photodegradation process as a function of different pH values of dye aqueous solution (pH = 1, 6.7 and 12) and irradiation time was investigated and the complete degradation mechanism was revealed.Related photodegradation products were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with mass spectrometer (HPLC/MS-MS). BFO nanoparticles exhibited higher photocatalytic activity in the basic medium than in neutral and acidic medium. HPLC/MS-MS analysis of the solutions at pH = 1 and pH = 6.7 showed only decolorization process, with no detectable degradation products, while at pH = 12 three different degradation products were observed, and their concentration slightly decreased with time. Reusability test showed that BFO nanoparticles can be used in four successive photodegradation cycles, with no significant activity losses.

Silicon Oxycarbide-Graphite Electrodes for High-Power Energy Storage Devices.

Herein we present a study on polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC)/graphite composites for a potential application as an electrode in high power energy storage devices, such as Lithium-Ion Capacitor (LIC). The composites were processed using high power ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis followed by pyrolysis. The intensive sonication enhances gelation and drying process, improving the homogenous distribution of the graphitic flakes in the preceramic blends. The physicochemical investigation of SiOC/graphite composites using X-ray diffraction, 29Si solid state NMR and Raman spectroscopy indicated no reaction occurring between the components. The electrochemical measurements revealed enhanced capacity (by up to 63%) at high current rates (1.86 A g−1) recorded for SiOC/graphite composite compared to the pure components. Moreover, the addition of graphite to the SiOC matrix decreased the value of delithiation potential, which is a desirable feature for anodes in LIC.

Extending the visible-light photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity of K2Ti6O13 with the MxOy (M = Co, Ni and Cu) incorporation

Co3O4, NiO, and CuO-K2Ti6O13 composites were successfully grown in-situ by using an ultrasound-assisted sol–gel method. As a result of the synthesis method, the introduction of the metallic cations into the crystalline structure substituting Ti4+ or K+ cations depending on the case was achieved. For instance, Co2+ cations were introduced instead of Ti4+ cations, while Ni2+ and Cu2+ were introduced on both sides. The metal-cation introduction between the tunnels favored the growth of K-poor phases as impurities, especially in the CuO loaded K2Ti6O13 samples. The presence of these metallic oxides modified the structural and optical properties by forming oxygen vacancies in some samples, favoring the photocatalytic CO2 reduction in aqueous media to low-weight compounds, such as formaldehyde, methanol, methane, and hydrogen, under visible-light irradiation. Enhanced selectivity of the evolved product, as a result of the metallic cation nature and the formed impurities, was observed. For instance, Co3O4 favored the evolution of formaldehyde in the most efficient sample (1 Co-KTO; 453.2 μmol g−1) as a result of the low quantity of impurities present in samples; NiO favored the hydrogen evolution reaction (1 Ni-KTO; 201 μmol g−1), possibly due to the photo-reforming of the organic compounds; and CuO enhanced the methanol and hydrogen production (159.7 and 282 μmol g−1, respectively in 1 Cu-KTO) due to the formation of oxygen vacancies as active sites for the photocatalytic process and reducing the photo-generated charge recombination.

Development of Porous Titania Structure with Improved Photocatalytic Activity: Response Surface Modeling and Multi-Objective Optimization.

Porous titania was successfully synthesized by an ultrasound-assisted sol-gel route. The synthesis process was empirically modeled and optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). Input variables adopted for optimization dealt with the weight ratio of precursors (r) and the sonication time (t), representing the used factors in the synthesis procedure. With regard to application, the synthesized TiO2 samples were tested for the photodegradation of two water-soluble organic pollutants under UV–Vis irradiation. Optimal conditions for the efficient pollutants’ photodegradation were found to involve a precursors ratio of 3 and a sonication time of 60 min. Thus, the M5 sample prepared under the founded optimal conditions yielded the maximal removal efficiencies of 98.4% and 46.3% for the photodegradation of CR dye and 2,4-D herbicide, respectively. In addition, the photodegradation kinetics revealed the pseudo first-order rate constants, showing the photodegradation of CR (k1 = 8.86 × 10−2 min−1) by M5 sample is about 1.3-fold faster than the photodegradation of 2,4-D pesticide (k2 = 6.84 × 10−2 min−1).

Photocatalytic performance of K2Ti6O13 whiskers to H2 evolution and CO2 photo-reduction

Abstract K2Ti6O13 whiskers were synthesized by conventional sol-gel method, sono-chemical assisted and microwave assisted sol-gel method in order to obtain catalysts with different particle sizes and to modify their optical, textural and electrochemical properties. These modifications improved their photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution and CO2 photo-reduction. Long K2Ti6O13 whiskers prepared by ultrasound assisted sol-gel method are the most active photocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction using pure water as reactant (U-SG, 10,065 µmol g−1). In contrast, an opposite behavior was observed using a mixture of ethanol-water, where the highest activity was achieved by the shortest and less crystalline K2Ti6O13 whiskers (C-SG, 3,2871 µmol g−1). In case of CO2 photo-reduction, long whiskers that were also prepared by the sono-chemical assisted sol-gel method were the most active to transform CO2 to formaldehyde, methane, methanol and hydrogen. The EFB value of this catalyst is located very close to the potential for formaldehyde production and favors the selectivity to this organic product.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Synthesis, photocatalytic, optical, electronic and biological properties of the CoS2–CuS on cellulose nanocomposites as novel nano catalyst by a sonochemical technology

CoS2–CuS nanocomposites were synthesized through a simple ultrasound-assisted sol–gel technology facilely. The preparation of CoS2–CuS on cellulose fiber was carried out successfully. The microstructure, surface morphology and the optical properties of the as-synthesized catalyst samples had been considered with the XRD, SEM, UV–Vis spectra and photoluminescence. The chemical states of samples were checked with XPS. The mean crystallite sizes of CuS nanoparticles, CoCu-1 and CoCu-1/CNF are 20.85, 44.0, and 74.14 nm, respectively. The band-gap values was found 2.18, 2.14 and 2.11 eV for CuS nanoparticles, CoCu-1 and CoCu-1/CNF, respectively. The photocatalytic properties of the sample were estimated by the degradation of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin antibiotic with UV-light irradiation. Compared with CuS nanoparticles, CoS2–CuS, the results indicate that the as-prepared CoS2–CuS on cellulose nanocomposites display great photocatalytic properties for the photo-degradation of ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin. The results demonstrated that the highest amount of degradation (98.11, and 88.0%) of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin was occured in pH 5 at 60 min under UV irradiation. The high catalytic activity of the CoS2–CuS on cellulose nanocomposites can be attributed to the core–shell-liked nanostructure and the synergistic effect between the CoS2 and the CuS and also, the presence of cellulose fiber causes the surface area of the photocatalyst was improved. These investigations suggest the potential application of CoS2–CuS on cellulose nanocomposites for water purification. The results demonstrated that CoCu-1/CNF nanocomposites had great antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties.