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A Z-scheme heterojunction CuWO4/N-CQD/g-C3N4 (CWO/N-CQD/CN) was constructed using Euphorbia neriifolia leaf derived N-CQDs (nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots) as an electron mediator. Among the nanocomposites prepared with different ratios of CWO and N-CQD/CN, the 0.2-CWO/N-CQD/CN nanocomposite exhibits excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency for rhodamine B (RhB) up to 97.8% under visible light irradiation as compared to the binary CWO/CN and N-CQD/CN composites. The reduced photoluminescence intensity and higher lifetime reveal the formation of a heterojunction between the nanoparticles, thereby lowering the recombination of electron–hole pairs. Reactive oxygen species scavenging assays have established that hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), holes (h+) and singlet oxygen (1O2) are the primary reactive species in RhB dye degradation. A Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was suggested based on the DFT calculations and band structure of CWO/N-CQD/CN. The effect of various parameters like pH, catalyst amount, H2O2 concentration, and dye content was also examined in RhB degradation. Moreover, the Z-scheme photocatalyst possesses good recyclability up to the fourth cycle. Using the LC-MS approach, the degradation of RhB into smaller organic moieties was also observed. Hence, this study provides a unique perspective on developing an effective Z-scheme photocatalyst that has practical utility in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CD) generated from biomass were fabricated on g‐C3N4 to construct a metal‐free nanozyme with inherent peroxidase mimic functions. The formation of CD/g‐C3N4 was confirmed by different characterization techniques. The CD/g‐C3N4 displays distinct peroxidase mimic activities, as evidenced by the catalyzed oxidation of TMB (3,3',5,5', ‐tetramethylbenzidine) in the presence of H2O2, as well as color alteration from transparent to blue. The mechanistic analysis of peroxidase activity indicated that H2O2 was catalyzed by CD/g‐C3N4 to produce reactive oxygen species. In an acidic solution, the presence of Cr (VI) accelerates the breakdown of H2O2 to ⋅OH radicals thereby increasing the rate of TMB oxidation. Hence, a visual colorimetric sensor was developed for the purpose of detecting Cr(VI) with limits of detection (LOD) 0.31 μM, based on the accelerated electron transfer between TMB and H2O2 with the assistance of CD/g‐C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 is such a pandemic which hit the world in the 21st century, since than it has shook the developed, developing and under developed countries with it complications. Ranging from healthcare, economy to education, infrastructure, industry and life of people as a whole. The Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) which were introduced as a successor of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were targeted to be achieved by the year 2030. Certain targets were set which seems to be affected by advent of Covid-19. This article has aimed in understanding how Covid-19 has affected the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals as a whole and in reference to India in particular. The article also contains a brief idea of the type of pandemics that has affected the world till Covid-19 in 2019. The article further analysis how SDGs in being re-initiated after the pandemic is taking a back shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure and properties of nine newly designed oligomers based on benzodithiophene-triazole are explored. These oligomers exhibit better charge carrier mobilities than the parent oligomers. • Nine new oligomers based on benzodithiophene-triazole are designed to be used in solar cells. • Structural, electronic and optical properties of these nine oligomers are explored computationally and these are compared with those of the parent systems. • The new oligomers exhibit better charge carrier mobilities than the parent oligomers. Hence, PCEs are expected to be better for the devices with these newly designed oligomers. The present computational study is aimed at understanding the effect of introduction of electron-withdrawing fluorine atoms into the donor side of donor-acceptor oligomers for application in solar cells. Starting from reported experimental results, a series of nine benzodithiophene-triazole based oligomers are designed by modifying the benzothiophene unit. Properties such as HOMO-LUMO positions, IPs and EAs, absorptions, optical bandgaps and charge transport properties of these newly designed oligomers are calculated. Introduction of fluorine atom lowers both the HOMO and LUMO levels. These oligomers show better charge carrier mobilities than the parent oligomers and this hints at better PCEs for modified systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the risk of toxic organic compounds to both human health and the environment, highly luminescent Eu 3+ -incorporated amino-functionalized zirconium metal-organic frameworks, namely, Eu/MOF and Eu@MOF were synthesized via the solvothermal method. The synthesized luminescent europium-incorporated MOFs act as outstanding sensor materials for diphenylamine and dinitrobenzene detection in water and fruit samples. The synergistic effect of Eu 3+ metal ions and amino-functionalized MOFs enhances the luminescent properties of the MOFs improving the fluorescence sensing ability toward the analytes. The enhancement in the detection capacity of the Eu 3+ -incorporated sensors than the sole MOF toward toxic organic compounds was confirmed using the Stern-Volmer equation of limit of detection (LOD) measurements along with fluorescence lifetime measurements. The sensors exhibited turn-on fluorometric detection toward their respective analytes due to the inner filter effect. The plausible fluorescence sensing mechanism has been studied. The DFT calculations have been integrated to study the structure, stability, and charge transfer processes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)