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Polyaniline (PANI)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/Mn0.3Fe2.7O4/TiO2 nanocomposite thin film was successfully synthesized via the doctor blade method. The results of XRD characterization show that the crystal structure of the samples indicated the presence of Mn0.3Fe2.7O4 and TiO2 diffraction peaks and PANI semicrystals. The crystal size of Mn0.3Fe2.7O4 increased with the increase in PANI composition and was inversely proportional to the decrease in crystal size of TiO2. The saturation magnetization of the samples decreased as the mass composition of PANI increased. The design of PANI addition also affected the reduction in the sample band-gap energy from 3.78 eV to 2.87 eV, which caused the increase in electron excitation motion. Through simulator tests, the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on the PANI/PVP/Mn0.3Fe2.7O4/TiO2 nanocomposite thin film exhibited the best performance in reaching the optimum PANI composition. Thus, the PANI/PVP/Mn0.3Fe2.7O4/TiO2 nanocomposite thin film has good potential to be applied in solar cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been increasingly popular in photocatalytic water-splitting research areas due to their unique, tunable porosity, high stability, large surface activity, and manipulative topology. However, the incapability of MOFs in harvesting broad-solar irradiation and rapid electron-hole pairs recombination has limited their efficiency in practical applications, and their structures allow researchers to manipulate them toward better efficiency. Also, linker modification is achieved by reclaiming the organic linker, which constructs MOFs by functionalizing, changing the ligand's length, and using an aided organic linker. In addition, being a free space in their structure gives this opportunity to modify them easily with other compounds such as inorganic complex compounds and nanoparticles by incorporation, impregnation, and ship-in-a-bottle methods. The objectives of this review article are three-fold. First, to emphasize understanding of the fundamental correlation among promising strategies to improve the optoelectronic properties of MOFs such as light-harvesting capability and photoinduced electron-hole pairs for photocatalytic reactions involving water splitting reaction under broad solar irradiation. Second, to systematically summarize the organic linker modification and incorporation of polyoxometalate, coordination metal complexes, and various nanoparticles. Third, to discuss challenges and future research directions for the development of broad solar band activation of MOFs for photocatalysis purposes. Investigation of the different methods for modification of MOFs Review of the incorporation of complex compounds into MOFs in detail Investigation of all the strategies for incorporation of complex compounds into MOFs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of solar power systems by developing dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with an electrolyte of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersed in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Photovoltaic and impedance spectral studies showed that a polymer electrolyte with 3% carbon nanotubes resulted in an efficiency of solar power conversion of 7.40% and a photovoltaic current per unit cross-sectional area of 17.13 mA/cm2 in DSSCs. The optimal distribution of CNT fillers decreased the charge recombination of the titanium dioxide-dye-CNT-PMMA electrolyte surface. The X-ray diffraction spectrum showed characteristic peaks of PMMA and CNT at 28.6° and 63.0°, respectively, obtained in pure form and composites with dispersed carbon nanotubes. The peak intensity increased with the addition of CNTs in the polymer. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy investigation revealed the bonding within the CO and CH of PMMA and CNT to the polymer composite. The dielectric constant increased from 2.9 to 4.4, and the dielectric loss increased from 0.10 to 0.90 at 1 MHz for the dispersion of 6% CNT in PMMA. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the internal particle structure and porosity had changed due to the presence of the CNTs in the PMMA. The dispersion of CNTs into the PMMA increased the maximum voltage of the polymer electrolytes. A breakdown voltage of 7.4 kV was attained with 6% CNTs in the polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental concerns arising from industrial activities and population growth have encouraged the development of green chemistry, a sustainable approach to synthesis. Researchers have explored various techniques for the eco-friendly synthesis of Schiff bases, including microwave irradiation, ultrasound irradiation, grinding, and natural acids. These versatile compounds, known for their unique chemical properties, have found diverse applications in various fields. Recently, the use of Schiff bases as dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has drawn the attention of researchers. DSSCs have advantages over silicon-based solar cells, such as a low cost of fabrication and the ability to operate under low light conditions. Schiff bases can be used as adsorbents to remove toxic metals from water. By embracing sustainable synthetic methods, researchers have reduced the environmental impact associated with Schiff base production and employed these compounds to promote environmental sustainability. This review describes the green synthesis of Schiff bases and their potential applications for environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural photosensitizers applied to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is the key to getting inexpensive and abundant materials for solar cells. However, the low recorded efficiency remains a crucial concern. Here, we investigated and extracted eight natural dyes as photosensitizers for DSSCs intensively. We also studied the impact of annealing on the photoanode's titanium dioxide (TiO2). First, from the characterization measurements, we found the compound of all the dyes can be utilized in DSSCs, and the performance measurement shows that all natural dyes exhibited great performances as photosensitizers in DSSCs, in which their JSC and VOC values are approximately 0.52–2.88 mA cm−2 and 0.63 to 0.76 V, respectively. The best-recorded conversion efficiency is 4.71%, which was extracted from red gambier fruits. Second, increasing the annealing temperature on the photoanode in our device caused a decrease in the efficiency of the DSSCs. This is caused by the phase of TiO2 changing from anatase to brookite when the temperature increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural photosensitizers applied to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is the key to getting inexpensive and abundant materials for solar cells. However, the low recorded efficiency remains a crucial concern. Here, we investigated and extracted eight natural dyes as photosensitizers for DSSCs intensively. We also studied the impact of annealing on the photoanode's titanium dioxide (TiO2). First, from the characterization measurements, we found the compound of all the dyes can be utilized in DSSCs, and the performance measurement shows that all natural dyes exhibited great performances as photosensitizers in DSSCs, in which their JSC and VOC values are approximately 0.52–2.88 mA cm−2 and 0.63 to 0.76 V, respectively. The best-recorded conversion efficiency is 4.71%, which was extracted from red gambier fruits. Second, increasing the annealing temperature on the photoanode in our device caused a decrease in the efficiency of the DSSCs. This is caused by the phase of TiO2 changing from anatase to brookite when the temperature increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural dye sensitizers are substances that are sensitive to light colour and can be classified into several classes based on their chemical structure. Theaflavin pigments are unexplored natural dyes used as light sensitizers derived from black tea waste. However, the efficiency of natural dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) is lower than that of synthetic ones. To increase the efficiency, an amine donor molecule, a thiophene bridge, and a cyanoacrylic acid anchoring group were added. This improvement was achieved by comparing the LHE values, absorption shifts towards the red spectrum, and electronic parameters before and after modification of the theaflavin structure. This study aimed to analyze the effect of a fused thiophene bridge on the colour pigment of theaflavin on the electronic and optical properties of DSSC. TDDFT was employed with the hybrid functional B3LYP and def2-SVP. The calculated results concluded that adding fused thiophene can shift the wavelength with a maximum value of 256 nm and an increase in LHE of 40%. The addition of five thiophenes can shift the absorption wavelength closer to the red spectrum and satisfy the electronic properties of the DSSC, and the number of electron donor and acceptor sites obeying the law of conservation of charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there is a growing interest in the development of sustainable sensitizers for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. The earth-abundant transition metal complexes offer a potential alternative option to the problematic ruthenium-based dyes, owing to their interesting photophysical properties and eco-friendly nature. This review accounts in detail the development of sustainable late transition metal-sensitizers in the DSSCs. Attempts are made to comprehensively describe the various strategies involved in the molecular design of the potential dye-molecules as well as the methodologies involved in the cell-fabrication. We hope that this review will serve as a promptuary to the researchers and inspire further developments in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the optical, structural and electrical properties of pure and magnesium-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) of different cycles (2, 4, 6 and 8 cycles) were explored systematically. The magnesium-doped TiO2 was synthesised through successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and deployed into dye sensitised solar cells. The effects of the MgO barrier layer was evaluated. The results show enhanced optical properties with MgO coating with a diminished band gap energy. The X-ray diffraction studies show that the anatase phase was preserved after doping and the dopant does not change the crystalline phase of the TiO2. The SEM results show well-dispersed morphology. For the device with 4 SILAR cycles of MgO, gains in open-circuit voltage, current density and simultaneous increase in efficiency were observed which is attributed to improved charge collection efficiency as electrons diffusing through TiO2 have a better chance of reaching the electrode before recombining. At greater SILAR cycles (6 and 8), losses in photocurrent caused net decrease in efficiencies. The results presented in this report implies that the modification of TiO2 with a metal oxide (MgO) can result to good photon management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyes are significant contributors to the chemical oxygen demand of the wastewater produced by textile industries. In the current study, naturally occurring, inexpensive, non-hazardous clay was pillared and used to remove Acid Green 25 dye (AG) from aqueous solutions. The pseudo-second-order model provided a better fit to describe the adsorption kinetics data for AG, with a rate constant of 9.82 × 10−3 g/mg min. Langmuir isotherm provided a better fit for describing the adsorption isotherm of the AG dye. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that adsorption was exothermic with an enthalpy change of −48 kJ/mol. The effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of AG dye on adsorption capacity were analyzed, and an empirical model was developed using the response surface methodology approach. Optimization studies revealed that a maximum adsorption capacity of 105.15 mg/g for the AG dye could be achieved at a pH of 2, an adsorbent dosage of 1.5 g/L and an initial dye concentration at its upper limit of 200 mg/L. The adsorbent could be regenerated and reused up to three adsorption cycles, and the desorbed dye and treated water may be reused in the dyeing process, thereby making the entire operation circular. Circularity reduces the cost of production and makes the process more sustainable. Mechanistic insights revealed that electrostatic interaction was the driving force for the adsorption of AG dye. In this work, it has been demonstrated that after pillaring, clay-based material may be used as an effective adsorbent for treating dye-containing wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater pollution caused by organic dyes is a growing concern due to its negative impact on human health and aquatic life. To tackle this issue, the use of advanced wastewater treatment with nano photocatalysts has emerged as a promising solution. However, experimental procedures for identifying the optimal conditions for dye degradation could be time-consuming and expensive. To overcome this, machine learning methods have been employed to predict the degradation of organic dyes in a more efficient manner by recognizing patterns in the process and addressing its feasibility. The objective of this study is to develop a machine learning model to predict the degradation of organic dyes and identify the main variables affecting the photocatalytic degradation capacity and removal of organic dyes from wastewater. Nine machine learning algorithms were tested including multiple linear regression, polynomial regression, decision trees, random forest, adaptive boosting, extreme gradient boosting, k-nearest neighbors, support vector machine, and artificial neural network. The study found that the XGBoosting algorithm outperformed the other models, making it ideal for predicting the photocatalytic degradation capacity of BiVO4. The results suggest that XGBoost is a suitable model for predicting the photocatalytic degradation of wastewater using BiVO4 with different dopants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous carbon materials for adsorption applications are regarded as one of the most viable water cleaning strategies. Cocoa pod husk (CPH) was treated with two-step catalytic pyrolysis employing hydroxides and carbonates of sodium and potassium to synthesise activated carbon for methylene blue (MB) decolourisation. Dye adsorption assessment of activated carbon prepared with various activators (NaOH, KOH, Na2CO3 and K2CO3) established KOH-derived activated carbon as a superior absorbent. Upon impregnation ratio optimisation with KOH, CPHAC-3K (CPH: KOH of 3) prepared at 800°C acquired a BET surface area, pore volume and pore size of 1688.4 m2/g, 0.76 cm3/g and 1.25 nm, respectively. The maximum MB adsorption capacity of CPHAC-3K was 445 mg/g, demonstrating an impressive adsorption property compared with literature. The dye adsorption of CPHAC-3K was mainly attributed to its excellent textural property (microporous) and numerous oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface, as shown by BET and FTIR studies, respectively. Adsorption investigations demonstrated that the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model effectively represented the adsorption process, with a considerable contribution from electrostatic and π-π interactions, pore filling and hydrogen bonding. This work established that CPHAC-3K generated through an optimised preparation process and conditions may be used as an efficient adsorbent compared to some previously reported biomass-based activated carbon to remove cationic dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) grandstand interesting outflow houses due to the conjugated π-domain of the sp2/sp3 cross-breed carbon center, quantum length results, and viable organization passivation on the CD floor. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can be arranged completely and cheaply through different methods, like laser removal the arc-discharge strategy, microwave pyrolysis, ultrasonic procedure, acid lack of hydration approach, pyrolysis method, hydrothermal strategy, and electrochemical procedures. This work presents the hydrothermal amalgamation of nitrogen-doped CDs and their basic and optical properties. Carbon quantum specks (CQDs) speak to a modern shape of carbon nanomaterials that have gotten significant consideration in current a long time, particularly in chemical sensors, optronics, bio-imaging, bio-sensing, substances for dye-sensitized solar cells, natural sun-powered cells, supercapacitors, quantum speck light-emitting diode and catalysis. Carbon Quantum Dabs, appear in sublime electronic and chemical homes like tall crystallization, exact dispersibility, moo poisonous quality, biocompatibility, superb photostability, tunable fluorescence, and photoluminescence homes. Additionally, CQDs may be related to diverse substances to shape nanostructured composites with astonishing houses, which manages unused bits of knowledge and concepts for the investigation of numerous areas. The synthesized CQDs were completely characterized by way of UV-vis spectra, X-ray diffraction styles, photoluminescence, and toes-IR spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, filamentous algae-based activated carbon was composited with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and applied as a potential adsorbent to remove Basic Blue 41. AAC/Fe3O4 nanocomposite was synthesised by the impregnation method and characterised by several techniques including, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, TGA, XRD, VSM, and BET. The characterisation results confirmed the existence of Fe3O4 in the nanocomposite structure, which had uniformly dispersed over AAC with mesoporous texture. The effects of various operational parameters on removal efficiency were investigated. The maximum AAC/Fe3O4 nanocomposite adsorption capacity (141 mg g−1) and removal rate (96.76%) were determined under optimum conditions (initial concentration of 100 mg L−1, solution pH of 9, nanocomposite dose = 1 g L−1 at 25°C for 90 min). The obtained adsorption data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order Langmuir isotherm model. The reusability assessment of AAC/Fe3O4 nanocomposite (with acidic solution) revealed about 11% decreases in the removal efficiency after five consecutive runs. Finally, bioassay studies using D. Magna confirmed AAC/Fe3O4 nanocomposite could create low toxicity and acceptable quality effluents. These attractive features make it a potential adsorbent for practical application in actual textile wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present characteristics of DSSCs using dyes from plant leaves, flowers and fruits. The leaves, flowers or fruits of pomegranate, beets, geranium, spinach and red onion have been used. Ethanol is used as a solvent. DSSCs using dye from pomegranate fruit extract exhibits an efficiency of 0.61%. The short circuit current density, Jsc is 3.48mA cm-2. The open circuit voltage, Voc is 0.35 V and the fill factor, FF is 50%. Absorbance peaks dyes for pomegranate can be observed at 320, 370 and 520 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive photoelectrochemical biosensor was constructed for the detection of chlorpyrifos. The sensor was prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode using photoelectric material bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). It is found that the photocurrent of ITO/BiVO4 electrode was largely dependent on its treatment temperature. The highest anodic photocurrent response of the ITO/BiVO4 photoelectrode was obtained after the treatment at 300°C. The thiocholine, produced in the catalytic reaction at ITO/BiVO4/AChE electrode surface, can greatly enhanced the anodic photocurrent. In addition, the adsorption of chlorpyrifos on the surface of the AChE caused a decrease in the intensity of the photocurrent. Under the optimisation of experimental conditions, the decrease of the photocurrent showed a good linear range from 1 pM to 10 nM under irradiation of visible light. The detection limit is calculated as 0.25 pM with a 10% inhibition rate. The ITO/BiVO4/AChE photoelectrode exhibited high sensitivity, acceptable stability and good reproducibility. The biosensor can be provided to the potential applications for detection of pesticide residues in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

we explore the efficiency of D-π-A organic dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Five dyes with varied acceptor sizes and geometric structures are studied. Quantum mechanics calculations, utilizing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), are used to assess their efficacy. Each dye has a simple push-pull architecture, featuring an arylamine electron donor and a furan conjugated spacer, with different acceptor groups incorporated. By fabricating high-efficiency DSSCs with these designed dyes, we evaluate their performance as light-harvesting sensitisers. Key parameters, such as short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, light-harvesting efficiency (LHE), electronic injection-free energy (ΔGinject), and regeneration driving forces (ΔGreg), are studied using quantum mechanics calculations. Our aim is to gain insights into the potential of these dyes to enhance the efficiency of DSSCs. By analyzing their structural and functional properties, we can better understand their effectiveness as sensitisers. This research contributes to the expansion of cost-effective and highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive photoelectrochemical biosensor was constructed for the detection of chlorpyrifos. The sensor was prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode using photoelectric material bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). It is found that the photocurrent of ITO/BiVO4 electrode was largely dependent on its treatment temperature. The highest anodic photocurrent response of the ITO/BiVO4 photoelectrode was obtained after the treatment at 300°C. The thiocholine, produced in the catalytic reaction at ITO/BiVO4/AChE electrode surface, can greatly enhanced the anodic photocurrent. In addition, the adsorption of chlorpyrifos on the surface of the AChE caused a decrease in the intensity of the photocurrent. Under the optimisation of experimental conditions, the decrease of the photocurrent showed a good linear range from 1 pM to 10 nM under irradiation of visible light. The detection limit is calculated as 0.25 pM with a 10% inhibition rate. The ITO/BiVO4/AChE photoelectrode exhibited high sensitivity, acceptable stability and good reproducibility. The biosensor can be provided to the potential applications for detection of pesticide residues in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixture of 3,3′′,6,6′′-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-9′-ethyl-9,3′:6′,9′′-ter-9H-carbazole (TerCz) and 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodine (MPII) was utilized as a hole transporter for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The power conversion efficiency of a solid-state DSSC with magnesium(II) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (MgTFSI2)-doped TerCz/MPII layer was over 70% higher than that of a reference cell with LiTFSI dopant. Superior hole collection and electron injection efficiencies were achieved in the DSSC with the MgTFSI2 dopant, resulting in a much higher short-circuit current than that of the reference device. By doping MgTFSI2, a higher fill factor was also recorded due to a lower series resistance than that of the reference cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, gold nanoparticles (NPs) of 100 nm in size were added to the active layer of DSSC. The electrolyte is a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) containing PEO, PhCh, TPAI, BMII, I2, DMF, EC, TBP, and GuSCN. The DSSCs have been characterized via J–V characteristics, IMVS, and IMPS measurements. On illumination at AM 1.5, the cell with 3 wt.% Au NP in the photoanode exhibits an η of 8.56% with Jscof 19.82 mA cm−2, Voc of 0.72 V and FF of 60%. The same cell also exhibited the lowest τtr of 7.32 ms and longest τrec of 115.33 ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light absorption by photovoltaic (PV) devices is shown to improve with the use of plasmonic silver nanoparticles (100 nm size) added to the active layer of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSCs). The electrolyte containing 2 wt.% silver nanoparticles exhibits the highest conductivity of 1.27 × 10−2 S cm−1. The DSSC using this electrolyte exhibits the highest efficiency of (6.99 ± 0.15) %. The Jsc is (14.25 ± 0.71) mA cm−2, Voc is (0.70 ± 0.01) V and FF is (69.94 ± 3.80) %. The same DSSC also exhibits the shortest electron transport time, τtr of (7.00 ± 0.41) ms and long recombination time, τrec of (87.22 ± 9.17) ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been constructed using fluoride tin oxide (FTO) glass deposited with TiO2 and anthocyanin dye extracted from blackberries as the photoanode, platinum coated cathode, and gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) dissolved in two different solvents, viz., dimethyl formamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). GPE employing DMF solvent exhibits the highest ambient conductivity of 14.05 mS cm−1. Charge transport properties of DSSCs were studied via intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS), intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The highest efficiency of 0.54% is recorded for DSSC with GPE containing DMF and TBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, optimise the elimination of Bromophenol blue (BPB) dye from aqueous solutions using NiO nanoparticles and mesoporous graphene nano sheets/NiO(GNS/NiO) nanocomposite.Co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods were used to prepare both adsorbents. The structural properties have been analysed using X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, DLS, TGA, SEMin addition to TEM investigations. The influence of adsorption factors as well as potential of hydrogen (2–12), sorbent amount (0.015–0.035 g/0.03 L) has been optimised using response surface methodology based on central composite design RSM/CCD.Also time (20–120 min), dye concentration (10–100 mg/L), beside temperature (298–339 K) was investigated. The optimum removal efficiency of Bromophenol blue (BPB) dye at 298 K reached to 61.5% and 83.5% at potential of hydrogen = 7 and catalyst dosage = 0.03 g/0.03 L for both adsorbents NiO and GNS/NiO, respectively. The pseudo-2nd-order model efficiently discusses sorption kinetics with a better correlation coefficient value R2of (0.98 and 0.994) for NiO and GNS/NiO, respectively, indicating chemisorption. Both of Langmuir and Freundlich models could precisely explain adsorption isotherm with R2value more than 0.9 indicating monolayer sorption in a homogenous manner. Thermodynamic factors indicate that BPB sorption was endothermic and spontaneous processes by both sorbents and maximum capacity reached to 90 and 95 mg/g for both NiO and GNS/NiO, respectively, at 339 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is one of the most sustainable approaches for converting solar energy into hydrogen fuel. Affordable and robust photoelectrodes are crucial for the commercialization of PEC technologies. Recently, transition metal-based co-catalysts, especially Ni- and Fe-based catalysts, have attracted much interest owing to their exceptional OER characteristics. Given this, we here proposed the decoration of a Fe-Ni-based cocatalyst on the surface of the TiO2 photoanode for PEC water splitting. The TiO2 photoanode was hydrothermally synthesized and then decorated by Fe-Ni hydroxide catalyst using photo-assisted electrodeposition. The optimized TiO2/FeNiOOH photoanode exhibited the maximum photocurrent density value of 1.36 mA cm−2, which is almost twice the value obtained for bare TiO2, at 1.23 V vs RHE under the AM 1.5 G illumination. Due to the enhanced light absorption in the UV region, the optimized photoanode exhibited remarkable IPCE and photoconversion efficiency of 87.8% and 0.93%, respectively. Furthermore, excellent faradaic efficiencies of ∼90% for H2 and ∼70% for O2 generations were obtained. Predominantly, the enhancement in the photocurrent potentials was explained in detail. Our study shows the roles and benefits of using bimetallic catalysts with TiO2 photoanodes for sustainable water-splitting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, a novel nanocomposite membrane for wastewater treatment applications has been synthesized. A hydrophilic nature nanoadditive comprised grafting polyethylenimine (PEI) molecules onto the surfaces of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) was synthesized then entrapped within a polyethersulfone polymeric matrix at disparate ratios via the classical phase inversion technique. A series of experimental tools were employed to probe the influence of SiO2-PEI on the surface topography and morphological changes, hydrophilicity, porosity, surface chemistry as well as permeation and dyes retention characteristics of the new nanocomposite. Upon increasing the nanoadditives content (up to 0.7 wt. % SiO2- PEI), clear cross-sectional changes were depicted along with a noticeable decline in the water contact angle by 29.7%. Performance evaluation measurements against synthetic dye solutions were disclosed explicit enhancement in both; retention and permeation characteristics of the nanocomposite membranes. Besides, prolonged permeation test has maintained high flux stability against real textile wastewater; implying better resistance and self-cleaning characteristics have been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An asymmetric pyrene derivative was designed as a dye with D-π-A structure. This dye was synthesized by the following steps (acylation reaction, Friedele Crafts acylation reaction, bromination reaction, Hagiharae Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction, and knoevenagel condensation reactions). The structure of the dye was analyzed and identified by FT-IR and 1H-NMR. The dye-sensitized solar cells were prepared with the dye and TiO2 electrode. Futhermore, the I-V curves and IPCE curves of the dye-sensitized solar cells were investigated detailedly. The result showed that the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells reached 33.5% of N719 dye cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of chalcogenides and electron-withdrawing groups CN and F on the optoelectronic properties using DFT and TD-DFT methods, with a focus on the use of a hydantoin anchoring group as an alternative to carboxylic acid-based groups. The results show that the studied dyes have a planar structure that facilitates intramolecular charge transfer and that propeller-shaped terminal phenyl rings help reduce dye aggregation. The maximum absorption was observed between 485 and 627 nanometres, and bathochromic shifts in UV-Vis spectra were observed in the order NH, S, O, Se, and Te for both F- and CN-containing dyes. Excited-state lifetime was highest for dyes containing heavier chalcogenides. Adsorption energies of the dye onto TiO2 anatase (101) with 3 × 6 supercell were found in the range of 0.13–0.79 eV and 0.61–1.54 eV for CN and F-containing dyes, respectively. Dyes featuring Se and Te exhibit superior properties for dye-sensitized solar cell application, and chalcogenide-based dyes are worthy of experimental synthesis. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the optoelectronic properties of dyes and their potential use in more efficient solar cell technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, dye(ADMI, American Dye Manufacturers' Institute) removal from raw textile wastewater was investigated by magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes-loaded alginate (CNT-Alg-Fe3O4). The effect of key factors i.e., pH, adsorbent dose and contact time in treatment process was modelled and optimised using response surface methodology-based central composite face-centred design (RSM-CCF). Adsorbents were characterised using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).Low value of p (7.9714e-13) and RSD (1.121) parameters, along with coefficient of determination >0.953 implied that the developed model well-fitted with experimental data. Under the optimised conditions, including pH of3, CNT-Alg-Fe3O4 dose of10 g L-1, and contact time of85.55 min, removal efficiency and ADMI adsorption capacity were obtained as 98.43% and 138.97ADMI/g, respectively. Fitting of data with the Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 1, X2 = 0.012) and Pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.993, X2 = 0.015) showed that adsorption process is monolayer and chemical in nature. ΔH°> 0, ΔS°>0, and ∆G°< 0 indicated that dye removal was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Reuse of the adsorbent in 10 consecutive experiments also showed that removal efficiency was reduced by about 11.94%.Adsorption mechanism can be explained by the presence of a large number of negatively charged carboxyl groups and hydroxyl groups on surface of CNT-Alg-Fe3O4, which could react with colour molecules through electrostatic interactions and π-π dispersive interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the evolutionary computation-based techniques have been introduced for porosity optimization of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with comparative analysis. The diffusion differential equation-based model of DSSC achieves the goal. The porosity has been considered for optimization as it influences the light absorption and electron diffusion rate. Due to that reason, the cell performance differs at different porosities. This parameter with proper tuning can help to extract the maximum efficiency irrespective of environmental factors. The search and optimization tools, such as artificial bee colony, differential evolution, genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, and simulated annealing (SA), is used and applied to the DSSC model for the optimization. The classic optimization algorithms have been compared, and an investigation has been carried out at different thickness values of the titanium dioxide ( T i O 2 ) layer. This study results the realization of the best approach in terms of convergence and computational time, and the consistency of the optimized porosity has been examined at distinct porosity. It is convenient for the practical model improvement of DSSCs with better efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anchoring porphyrin, ZnPAc, featuring cyanoacetic acid group has been synthesized for application in a dye-sensitized solar cell. Capping layer dyes zinc meso-tetraphenyl porphyrin (ZnTPP) with anchoring porphyrin ZnPAc through axial coordination bonds of Zn-to-ligand self-assembles solar cell devices. With the introduction of cyanoacetic acid anchor, the higher electrons are effectively injected into the TiO2 semiconductor surface. Thus, the ZnTPP-ZnPAc-based device has more short-circuit current (JSC) compared with our previously reported ZnTPP-ZnPA-based solar cell. The ZnPA and ZnPAc porphyrin anchoring dyes maintain a broad absorption spectrum and also improve electron injection and lower charge recombination compared to our previous reports on organic molecule anchored dye W3. Hence, the ZnTPP-ZnPAc self-assembled dye has higher power conversion efficiency. The assembled modes were also verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To understand ZnTPP-ZnPAc for photovoltaic performance trends, we have carried out charge extraction, transient photovoltage decay and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a photovoltaic-based electrical panel available in different colors. The working electrode of the cell consists of a Pd-doped ZnO nanocomposite. UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and Incident Photon-to-Current Conversion Efficiency (IPEC) techniques characterized nanoparticles so synthesized. XRD results revealed that the hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO remains constant by doping with different molarity concentrations of Pd. The TEM result suggested that the particle featured a spherical shape with uniform distribution over the surface of ZnO. The effect of the thickness of semiconducting layers at the photoanode shows that photocurrent density stopped increasing and became constant for samples doped with 0.46 M Pd. On the other hand, the photocurrent density of the network cell gave a linear increase for samples doped with natural dye, contributing to the enhanced performance of the DSSC. It is about the thickness of the photoanode choice of chemical and natural dye that makes a difference with other solar cells synthesized by different methods. The electricity produced by our synthesized solar cell possibly allows us to harvest with a safe and power output conversion efficiency of 11.92% in real-time without interruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of laser-induced graphene (LIG) from polyimide (PI) sheets provides a cost-effective and direct patterning approach for graphene-based electronic devices. However, the fabrication of LIG-based electrodes toward photovoltaic applications urgently needs to be explored. Herein, facile high-yield production of the porous LIG counter electrodes for DSSC applications was demonstrated by laser induction of PI film. The electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic activity of the LIG electrodes increased with the applied laser power due to the formation of a unique hierarchical porous graphene structure with abundant edges and defects, which resulted in an evident improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.56%. In addition, a one-step in situ synthesis of Pt/LIG composite was further demonstrated by laser irradiation on the PI sheet with low loadings of Pt precursor to obtain a Pt-less counter electrode. It is found that the Pt/LIG composite electrode-based DSSC achieved a higher PCE of 3.80%, which is comparable to that of pure Pt-based DSSC. This study demonstrates that the porous LIG from PI films is a promising candidate as a carbonaceous counter electrode for DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of reactive black-WNN dye from aqueous solutions was optimized using Taguchi optimization (TA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) modeling in a batch mode potentiometric sono-electro-coagulation (SOEC) process with the aid of aluminum plates. The optimization process was based on four influencing factors: pH, current density (CD), electrolysis time (ET), and ultrasonic power (UP). A Taguchi orthogonal array L25 design matrix was used to optimize these factors to maximize the dye removal efficiency. The analysis of variance showed that the percentage of contribution of ET, pH, CD, and UP was 67.64%, 12.83%, 5.03%, and 6.80%, respectively. PSO modeling was found to be a better tool for predicting dye removal efficiency than TA optimization, with a prediction error of 1.17% compared to -4.63%. Under the optimized conditions of pH-6.6, CD-66.66 mA/cm2, ET-25 minutes, and UP-100 W, the dye removal efficiency was found to be 98.30%, with a total energy consumption of 0.1188 kW h/L. The kinetic degradation study between ET and CD was found to follow a second-order kinetic model. Additionally, the synergistic effect was evaluated by combining ultrasonication and electrocoagulation. The results showed that the combined process (sono-electrocoagulation) was more effective than either ultrasonication or electrocoagulation alone, with a synergistic effect of 15%. Overall, the results suggest that TA optimization and PSO modeling can be effective tools for optimizing process parameters in the removal of Reactive black-WNN dye from aqueous solutions. The optimized conditions identified in this study, as well as the demonstration of the synergistic effect, can be used to design more efficient treatment systems for the removal of dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratin-based goat hair could be used bioadsorbent due to its large availability, biodegradability and low cost. Unfortunately, most available keratin adsorbents are either low in adsorption capacity or high in preparation cost. In this study, goat hair was steam exploded, frozen and disintegrated to prepare the exploded goat hair powder (EGHP), and was further used for the adsorption of reactive blue 19 (RB 19) in dyeing wastewater. Steam explosion significantly increased the adsorption capacity of keratin-based goat hair toward RB 19. Adsorption capacity of RB 19 in EGHP increased from 55 to 427 mg/g after a steam explosion under 1.8 MPa for 150 s. The increased adsorption capacity was mainly due to decreased crystallinity, increased specific surface area from 0.678 to 8.583 m2 /g and the increased free NH2 groups for EGHP. These structure changes resulted in that more dye molecules could easily and fast entered into the amorphous region of EGHP, thereby improving the adsorption rate and amount of RB 19 dyes. Desorption and regeneration study indicated that the adsorption capacity still maintained 79% after 6 cycles. These results demonstrated that EGHP could be considered as promising bioadsorbent to treat the dyeing wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, the condensation reaction of octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene, N4P4Cl8 (1) (tetramer, OCCP), with sodium 3-(N-ferrocenylmethylamino)-1-propanoxide (L) resulted in the formation of the starting compound hexachloromonoferrocenylspiro(N/O)cyclotetraphosphazene (2). Thereafter, reactions of spiro (2) with excesses of 1-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrolidine, 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine and 4-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine in dry THF gave hexaaminomono-ferrocenylspiro(N/O)cyclotetraphosphazenes, 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively. These new products were prepared for investigation of spectral and electrochemical properties, tuning of redox features, and examination of antituberculosis activities. The structures of 2a–2c were elucidated using elemental analysis, mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), FTIR, HMBC, HSQC, 1H, 13C {1H}, and 31P {1H} NMR data. The electrochemical behavior of these products containing monoferrocenyl group was investigated. Their use as potential alternative electrolyte redox couples for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was examined. The findings may inspire solar cell studies to explore the redox mediator behind the working mechanisms of DSSCs. Conversely, the antituberculosis activities of three compounds were examined against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. The MIC values of 2a and 2 b were found to be as 30 and 35 µg/mL, respectively, against the H37Rv reference strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, phthalocyanines with carboxyl group have attracted attention for dye-sensitive solar cells. For this purpose, the caffeic acid unit was first reacted with phthalonitrile. Phthalocyanine complexes bearing carboxyl groups were obtained by reacting the synthesized phthalonitrile compound with different metal salts. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized using nükleer manyetik rezonans (NMR), UV-VIS Spektrofotometre(UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Mass spectroscopy (MS) methods. Fluorescence and aggregation properties were investigated. The efficiencies (%η) of dye-sensitized solar cells are obtained by measurements of voltage (V) curves-current density (J). In this study, phthalocyanine compounds carrying carboxyl groups were used. Photovoltaic values were measured again by adding silver nanoparticles to the same compounds. It was observed that the power conversion efficiencies increased much more when the same compounds were doped with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This shows that the efficacy of phthalocyanine compounds for dye-sensitized solar cells can be significantly improved by AgNP doping. Power conversion efficiency was measured as 1.92, 2.11, and 2.20 for compounds 4,5 and 6, respectively, without doping to phthalocyanine compounds. Doping with silver nanoparticles showed an increase of 58%, 59%, and 56% for the same compounds, respectively. This shows that the power conversion effect of phthalocyanines can be made more efficiently with AgNPs doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel quasi-solid-state polymer electrolyte was prepared using poly(vinyl alcohol)-polypyrrole, potassium iodide, iodine, and ethylene carbonate mixed with two types of ionic liquids, 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (EMII). The prepared polymer electrolyte was structurally characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The lowest degree of crystallinity and activation energy were found in the MPII-incorporated polymer electrolytes. Higher values of dislocation density and microstrain are obtained for ionic liquid-incorporated polymer electrolytes. The lowest value of series resistance was observed in MPII-based polymer electrolyte and thereby the conduction was increased. The average roughness of the MPII-based polymer electrolyte at 17.901 nm was strongly dependent on the influence of the MPII content. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) built with MPII-based polymer electrolytes have achieved the highest photo-conversion efficiency of 4.51% under 100mWcm−2 illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is the most crucial element for living, and the lack of pure and clean water has increased globally. Hence, the need for water remediation from different pollutants is a must. Developing different techniques to accomplish water purification is expanding every day. Chitosan is a biodegradable and eco-friendly biopolymer which is extensively used in various applications. Here, we focus on using chitosan nano complexes with ferrites, graphene, silver, and silica nanoparticles as novel, cheap, accurate, biocompatible, reusable, and fast nano-complexes. Different synthesis protocols were used to obtain Chitosan-nano complexes. Various techniques were used to characterize and test the synthesized nanocomplexes, such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder-X-ray diffraction (p-XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer--Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The chitosan-based nanocomplexes are used for water purification and detecting different chemical pollutants such as heavy metals, organic and dyes contaminations, and eliminating different pathogenic microorganisms from the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the adsorption of malachite green (MG), 'purified by thermo-acid (HCl) diatomite' (DTA) and its derivative '3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane functionalised diatomite' (DTA-MTMS) were prepared as adsorbent and the effects of thermo-acid activation and surface functional groups on adsorption were investigated. Many acids dissolve certain substances in diatomite and change their chemical composition. Thermo-acid treatment and silane-modified diatomite fractions were characterised byBrunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The effects of contact time, solution pH, temperature and initial dye concentration on adsorption were investigated. Equilibrium isotherms are defined using nonlinear Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin – Radushkevich (D – R) and Sips adsorption isotherm equations. Isotherm data for both adsorbents are best fitted on the Freundlich and Sips model. The qmax values determined from the Sips model are 18.8415 mgg−1 and 21.4713 mgg−1 for DTA and DTA-MTMS, respectively. It was determined that DTA-MTMS performed better than DTA for MG adsorption. The results showed that MG adsorption was compatible with the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model. From the adsorption energy value (E < 8 kJ mol−1), it was confirmed that physical adsorption was dominant in the adsorption process. The nature of the sorption process is exothermic and spontaneous (due to negative values ΔH° and ΔG°). The results of the study showed that prepared DTA and synthesised DTA-MTMS can be considered as an economical and promising adsorbent in removing organic dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic bentonite (MBt) and Ti/TiO2 nanotube/PbO2, for the first time, were investigated as particle electrodes and anode of three dimensional electro-Fenton process (3DEF) for the degradation of diclofenac (DCF) and naproxen (NPX). The characteristics of the electrodes were determined by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS) analyses and the effects of operating parameters on degradation were studied. The results showed that adsorption and electrochemical processes have lower removal efficiency than the 3DEF process at neutral pH. This efficiency was due to the greater production of hydroxyl radical (•OH) through the anode and MBt surface. The results of the scavenging experiments confirmed an increase in the amount of production of •OH. The maximum removal efficiency of DCF and NPX was obtained at pH of 6, MBt dosage of 500 mg/L, current density of 25 mA/cm2and electrolysis time of 120 min. The electrodes reusability was confirmed by consecutive reaction cycle and the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and SEM-mapping analysis explained their stability. The results of continuous electro-oxidation reactor showed proper removal of the chemical oxygen demand(COD) from real wastewater. The degradation by-products were identified by gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis coupled with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME). Based on comparative tests and products identification, the possible mechanism and pathway of drugs degradation were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) still survive as one of the promising low-cost photovoltaic third-generation technologies, addressing 'secure, clean and efficient solar energy conversion'. Here we present and compare some recent state-of-the-art progress on the exploitation of the best artificial dyes for application in DSSCs. Furthermore, we provide an extensive discussion on the main limitations in the use of these dyes, outlining future developments for their use in bifacial employment exploring their frontal and back irradiation. We report also how to take advantage of the Albedo effect to boost power conversion efficiency. Finally, we present our view on the future prospective in the development of advanced materials for better DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (TG) was synthesised by ex situ method. The obtained nanocomposite was screen–printed onto surface modified fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) plates with titanium dioxide nanorods (TNRs) to prepare dye–sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). The electrochemical properties of as-prepared photoanodes were analysed via current density–voltage curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Characterisation of TG was measured by modern analytical methods. Results indicated that the DSSCs reached an efficiency of 6.76% with 1 wt.% content of graphene oxide (GO) precursor, higher than that of commercial titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNPs) photoanodes. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy images demonstrated that TNPs with a diameter of 20–25 nm were well distributed on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. TNRs exhibited lengths in the range of 2.7 to 3.0 µm and an average diameter of 0.7 µm. The TNRs combining TG demonstrated potential in improving DSSCs efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge for water recovery from dye manufacturing wastewaters that contain high salinity and high dye concentration is recovery efficiency and water quality. The permeate flux and water quality mainly reflect the membrane distillation performance in treatments of these wastewaters. This study investigated the effects of Air Gap Membrane Distillation's (AGMD) operational parameters and its interactions on permeate fluxes and recovered water quality in treatments of real dye manufacturing wastewaters using design of experiments (DOE). The DOE method used the response surface methodology (RSM) of central composite design (CCD) to predict and optimize the permeate flux and recovered water quality. The results showed a reliable predictive model of actual permeate flux (15.5 kg.m−2.h−1) with the adjusted R2adj of 0.995 and only 34.4%–73.8% of the theoretical permeate flux because of salt contents' main effect. The rejection rate of chloride ion (Cl−), sulfate ion (SO42-), and ADMI (American Dye Manufacturers' Institute) color index from real dye manufacturing wastewaters with high salinity was more than 99,9%. The COD removal rate of raw wastewater (C1) from dye manufacturing was 99,4%. This study help in understanding theoretical and actual membrane flux and the scale-up of a membrane treatment plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When searching for abundant and economically viable green energy sources is a pressing task of our time, the study of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as a photovoltaic conversion device is particularly important. Thus, to improve the performance of dye molecules with large planar dithienopyrrolobenzothiadiazole (DTPBT) as a π-bridge, the electron donor (D) and electron acceptor (A) of the H1 molecule were replaced with phenanthroimidazole and rhodanine 3-acetic acid, respectively, resulting in the new molecules Q1 and Q2. The photovoltaic properties of all molecules were investigated comprehensively, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs based on these dyes was predicted using a rational model. The results show that rhodanine 3-acetic acid as the A of the Q2 increased the light-trapping ability of the dye molecule. And the Q2 has a unidirectional charge transfer excitation characteristic, which is favourable for generating effective photocurrents. Also, we predict a PCE of 6.15% for DSSCs based on the Q2, which is higher than the 4.73% (H1). Therefore, for using large DTPBT groups as π-bridges of molecules, suitable A will be more favourable for electron transfer and overall performance improvement, and the group's potential can be more easily demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical water splitting is one of the most efficient strategies to generate clean energy H2. Herein, a novel hollow Co3S4/CuS@CoNi-LDH nanocomposite was designed. This hollow Co3S4/CuS@CoNi-LDH achieved OER overpotential of 220 mV, HER overpotential of 136 mV, respectively, at the current density of 10 mA cm−2. Notably, the hollow Co3S4/CuS@CoNi-LDH serving as both anode and cathode is assembled into a two-electrode water splitting device, and the potential of no more than 1.74 V is required to achieve the overall water splitting efficiency of 10 mA cm−2. This work provides a promising bifunctional catalyst for overall electrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration effect of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) on the catalytic activity of polyaniline (PANi)-based counter electrode (CE) was investigated for cost-effective replacement of both transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and platinum (Pt) for dye-sensitised solar cell application (DSSC). Simple chemical mixing is employed to introduce 0.5 wt%, 2 wt%, 5 wt%, 7 wt% and 9 wt% MoS2 nanoparticles in the optimised thickness of PANi matrix. The drop-casting method is used to achieve a uniform layer on a normal glass substrate. Morphology and structural composition were studied using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Fourier transform infrared was used to identify redox-active functionalities. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry were employed to study electron transfer and catalytic activity. Finally, I–V testing was carried out using asun simulator. Aremarkable 9.02% efficiency has been exhibited by PANi-7 wt% MoS2 nanocomposite CE-based DSSC which is 9.73% higher compared to TCO-Pt CE-based DSSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have characterized the deep eutectic solvent (DES) comprising a 1:1 equimolar mixture of choline chloride and guanidinium thiocyanate ('guaniline–Cl'), alongside its halide counterparts wherein the bromide or iodide salts of choline are paired with guanidinium thiocyanate ('guaniline–Br' and 'guaniline–I'), as electrolytes for solar photoconversion. These pared-down electrolyte systems containing only DES (up to 90 wt. %), water (up to 40 wt. %), and the I–/I3– redox couple were explored within dye-sensitized solar cells. Average device performance generally increased with a decrease in hydrogen bond affinity (Cl– < Br– < I–), with guaniline–I yielding markedly higher photocurrents relative to guaniline–Cl and guaniline–Br. Indeed, 70 and 80 wt. % guaniline–I exceeded power conversion efficiencies of 2.0% despite producing lower photovoltages and fill factors than the corresponding Cl/Br-based electrolytes. Attributed in part to solution viscosity, this effect arises chiefly from the fact that guaniline–I contains substantial organic iodide built into the DES proper. Significantly, this self-contained electrolyte can function as the sole iodide source for forming the required electrolyte redox couple, yielding performance essentially equivalent to lower-viscosity electrolytes containing supplemental inorganic iodide, in spite of significant differences in solution viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hybrid solar cell has been fabricated using natural dye extracted from basil or ocimum leaves and ZnO thin film. The extracted natural dye was deposited on ZnO thin films and dried at room temperature. The semiconductor layer of ZnO was fabricated on FTO-coated glass substrate using magnetron sputtering with a thickness of 500 nm. A photocathode was prepared from the Au–Pd mixture using sputtering for a top electrode. ZnO has been confirmed using X-ray diffraction and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy measurements. The photovoltaic characteristics of the prepared DSSCs were studied by measuring the I–V characteristics under the illumination of halogen light. Photocurrent and photovoltage both are increased in the cell. The value of short-circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and photon energy conversion efficiency (η) were calculated for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). DSSCs provide the promising light to electrical energy conversion efficiency due to their low-cost fabrication, environmentally friendly elements, and low maintenance. DSSC offers transparent solar cell modules with the capabilities of the use of hybrid composition such as organic and inorganic materials. The basil/ZnO-based hybrid devices can also be useful for photoelectrochemical cell and water splitting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prepared nano ZnO and Cu-doped ZnO nanocomposite materials were prepared by the sol–gel method and were employed as photocatalysts for the degradation of Cu-doped ZnO dye in aqueous solution. The nanocomposite material was characterized by HR-SEM, EDX, HR-TEM, PL, and UV-DRS. The HR-SEM, HR-TEM, and XRD analysis studies illustrated that Cu-doped ZnO is a nanoflower and spherical-shaped structure. The PL and DRS results showed low intensity and low band gap energy, indicating high efficiency of the photocatalyst by doped material. This doped material has high degradation of Rhodamine 6G dye, which was 92%, and that of ZnO was 77%, and the prepared catalyat was stable and reusable. Other applications of DSSC, CV, and antibacterial activity were recognized and studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High efficiency conversion of CO2 can be realized in a solid oxide electrolysis cell. In this work, a flat-tube cell with symmetrical structure supported by Ni-YSZ fuel electrode was used to study the performance of high-temperature CO2 electrolysis under different reducing gas components in the fuel electrode. The results indicated that in the H2-CO2 fuel electrode atmosphere, the instantaneous performance of CO2 electrolysis is better, the polarization impedance is smaller, and the overpotential of CO2 electrolysis is lower under the same partial pressure of oxygen (i.e., with the same open-circuit voltage). Compared with CO as the protective gas, it is easier to achieve a stable electrolytic voltage for the electrolysis of CO2 under H2 protection. In the H2-CO2 reaction atmosphere, when the proportion of protective H2 increased from 25% to 75%, devastating irreversible degradation occurs at −300 mA/cm2, while in the CO-CO2 (71.7% CO-28.3% CO2) reaction atmosphere, the similar degradation occurs at – 200 mA/cm2. At – 200 mA/cm2 constant-current electrolysis, the highest energy conversion efficiency can reach 171% (disregarding energy consumption for heating the gas) and 81.6% (disregarding energy consumption for heating air). This work provides a useful reference for the selection of atmosphere protection in CO2 electrolysis based on Ni-YSZ electrode SOEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]