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[Display omitted] • NiVCuO/C 60 nanocomposites synthesized for the first time by solution method. • Recent advances in properties modified with fullerene were discussed. • Excellent photocatalytic application modified with fullerene. • Tuning the band gap and surface of the NiO catalyst. • Degradation of dyes (MB, RhB, SO, and CR) dye more efficiently. NiO act as an efficient photocatalyst, and an appropriate design is necessary to support simultaneous highest photon absorption and lower charge carrier recombination. In this study, V/Cu were co-doped in NiO nanoparticles and then coupled with fullerene (C 60). X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy are used to investigate the structural variations. Further characterization tools were used to disclose the origin of surface imperfections inside the nanostructures, including Raman, UV, and PL spectroscopy. XPS was employed to examine the chemical composition of Ni, Cu, V, and C. EDX confirmed the elements in NiVCuO/C 60 composition. These imperfections decrease the charge carrier recombination and improve photocatalytic degradation (∼99.8%) of RhB dye, with a rate constant ∼0.042 min−1 under sunlight exposure. In addition, NiCuVO/C 60 has degradation efficiency of 99.5, 98.6, and 75% towards SO, MB, and CR dyes, respectively. The fabricated NiVCuO/C 60 nanocomposite achieved the high degradation required for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, pristine anatase titanium oxide (TiO2), vanadium oxide (V2O5), and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanopowders (NPs), and tri-phase TiO2–Y2O3–V2O5 nanocomposite (NC) were prepared via a simple co-precipitation method. The grown products were characterized by employing a range of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. The XRD diffraction pattern confirmed the formation of NC having TiO2 tetragonal, Y2O3 cubic, and V2O5 orthorhombic phases. FTIR spectra evident the presence of metal–oxygen bond in NPs and NC. The energy bandgap (2.55 eV) of NC is found in the range of visible region specified its use as an efficient photocatalyst under sunlight illumination. EDX analysis confirmed the existence of Ti, Y, and V in the nanocomposite. The antibacterial studies against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Proteus vulgaris bacteria by varying concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40 mg ml−1) showed that the NC has higher antibacterial activity than individual oxides. The photocatalytic activity exhibited that NC has the highest degradation efficiency 99.29%, 90.69%, and 99.83% against methylene blue (MB), safranin-O (SO), and methyl orange (MO) dyes as compared to pristine TiO2, V2O5, and Y2O3 NPs under 80 min direct sunlight irradiation. Furthermore, the grown NC is a good candidate for treating organic pollutants and bacteria inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, tri-phase direct dual S-scheme ZnO–V 2 O 5 –WO 3 heterostructured nanocomposite and pure ZnO, V 2 O 5 , and WO 3 nanoparticles were synthesized by using a facile co-precipitation approach to investigate antibacterial and photocatalytic characteristics of the grown nanocomposite. The physical properties of as-synthesized products were examined by employing characterization techniques such as Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–vis spectroscopy. The XRD results confirmed the formation of pristine ZnO, V 2 O 5 , WO 3 nanoparticles and the existence of diffraction peaks related to hexagonal phase ZnO, orthorhombic V 2 O 5 , and monoclinic phase of WO 3 in ZnO–V 2 O 5 –WO 3 nanocomposite. The variation in structural parameters was studied by SSP, Scherrer plot, and W–H models. The energy bandgap of nanocomposite (2.63 eV) was calculated from UV–vis spectroscopy, which indicated the usability as a photocatalyst under direct sunlight. FTIR and Raman's spectra also supported the formation of the ZnO–V 2 O 5 –WO 3 nanocomposite. Spherical and roughly hexagonal morphology were seen in SEM images. EDX analysis has confirmed the existence of Zn, V, W, and O in the nanocomposite. The antibacterial test against Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus , Proteus Vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria showed higher activity. The photocatalytic performance of the ZnO–V 2 O 5 –WO 3 nanocomposite (99.8%) was the highest against methylene blue (MB) as compared to pure ZnO (78.8%), V 2 O 5 (85.8%), and WO 3 (80.0%) under natural sunlight. The degradation efficiency of ZnO–V 2 O 5 –WO 3 against cresol red (CR), rhodamine-B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), safranin-O (SO), and methyl red (MR) dyes was 67.0%, 86.6%, 98.0%, 76.8%, and 99.0%, respectively, under direct sunlight in 80 min. Different schematic models are designed to illustrate the photocatalytic reaction mechanism, whereas the separation of charge carriers and enhanced photocatalytic performance can be efficiently explained by S-scheme. [Display omitted] • Facile synthesis of tri-phase direct dual S-scheme ZnO–V 2 O 5 -WO 3 heterostructured NC and pure ZnO, V 2 O 5 , and WO 3 NPs. • SEM, EDX, XRD, Raman, FTIR, and UV–vis was carried out. • The photocatalytic performance was tested against MB, CR, RhB, MO, SO, and MR dyes. • S-scheme is more efficient than other schemes for enhancing photocatalytic activity. • The antibacterial test against different bacteria strain was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel excellent antibacterial agent and efficient photocatalyst direct dual Z-scheme ZnO–CeO 2 -Yb 2 O 3 heterostructured nanocomposite and pristine ZnO, CeO 2 , and Yb 2 O 3 were prepared via a simple co-precipitation technique. The X-ray diffraction spectra confirmed the formation of pristine ZnO, CeO 2 , and Yb 2 O 3 , and the existence of their peaks ZnO (hexagonal), CeO 2 (cubic), and Yb 2 O 3 (cubic) in the nanocomposite. The Scherrer, Williamson-Hall, and Size-Strain plot models were used to measure the microstructural parameters. The UV–vis spectroscopy revealed the energy bandgap 3.0 eV, evident that the grown nanocomposite is a good photocatalyst under sunlight. The formation of the ZnO–CeO 2 -Yb 2 O 3 nanocomposite is further confirmed by Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Current-Voltage (IV) measurements shown the ohmic nature of nanocomposite with high electrical behavior. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed a cluster type morphology. The antibacterial activity was carried out for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The zone of inhibition (ZOI) showed higher antibacterial activity for E. coli bacteria. The nanocomposite showed the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency against methylene blue as compared to rhodamine-B, methyl orange, cresol red, and safranin-O dyes under 40 min of sunlight illumination. The impact of various parameters on the photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite, including catalyst amount, dye concentration, and solution pH, was also investigated. The scavenger's experiments were performed to ascertain the reactive species and confirmed the mechanism based on Z-scheme. The recyclability test exhibits that the as-obtained nanocomposite has high stability and can be reusable for the 6th cycles. Image 1 • Novel excellent antibacterial agent and efficient photocatalyst direct dual Z-scheme ZnO–CeO 2 -Yb 2 O 3 heterostructured nanocomposite. • The antibacterial activity was carried out for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. • The mechanism of enhanced antibacterial activity was also proposed. • The photocatalytic test was carried out against MB, MO, CR, RhB, and SF dyes under sunlight illumination. • The recyclability test exhibits that the as-obtained nanocomposite has high stability and can be reusable for 6th cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]