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A series of Fe3O4/POMs composites have been successfully synthesized by the combination of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with various polyoxometalates (referred as "POMs" for short; POMs = α-PMo12, α-PW12, α-PW9, and α-SiW9). Detailed control experiments demonstrate that the morphology and size of the composites could be controlled by the type and amount of POMs, and all of these Fe3O4/PMo12 microflowers, Fe3O4/PW12 nanospheres, Fe3O4/PW9 microrods, and Fe3O4/SiW9 nanospheres show uniform morphology. Magnetic studies indicate that the Fe3+ ions in these composites display antiferromagnetic interactions. Furthermore, photocatalytic experiments indicate that Fe3O4/POMs composites exhibits catalytic activity for the photodegradation of RhB solution. Hence, these results not only enrich the diversity of POM-based materials, but also provide a new strategy to develop magnetic POMs catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized by the co‐precipitation method successfully and analyzed using UV‐Vis, FT‐IR, XRD and SEM analysis etc. The UV‐Vis studies confirmed the absorption values of CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 at 359 and 365 nm respectively and the obtained FT‐IR peaks at 569 and 538 cm−1 revealed the presence of metal‐oxygen bonds successfully. The crystalline size was found to be 21.46 and 40.35 nm. In SEM analysis, CoZnO2 showed the densified un‐uniform particles whereas SnO2 doped CoZnO2 NCs seemed to be bunch of particles combined together. The synthesized NCs have proved the photocatalytic property by confirming the degradation efficiency of 72.22 and 82.22 % against methylene blue (MB) under sunlight irradiation as natural source at the time interval of 120 mins. It is revealed by the enhancement in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol by changing the parameters and the efficiency percentage of 89.46 and 94.52 % at 18 and 16 mins respectively. The adsorption study was carried out by changing different concentrations of targeted pesticide like glyphosate and the percentage (%) efficiency was calculated to be 90.90, 83.53, 78.49 %, and 91.02, 88.23, 80.64 % for CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 effectively. The high inhibition against DPPH was found to be 42.7 and 53.7 % at 500 μg mL−1 and the maximum zone of inhibition was found to be 22 mm against to 240 μg mL−1 of E. coli. Therefore, the current study proposed that the CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 have good capability for bio‐chemical catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical loss due to reflection is a significant barrier to the quantum efficiency of solar cells. In this work, an antireflective coating based on multilayers of metal oxides (TiO2, SiO2, ZnO) was prepared with the spin coating method. The coatings' antireflective, hydrophobic, and photocatalytic properties were examined. Based on the requirements met by the refractive index, a methodical selection of material and thickness for each layer was made in order to achieve near-zero reflection. The performance of different coating systems was examined by evaluating the percentage transmittance in the visible light range (400 nm - 800 nm). The optical properties of the obtained samples were studied with regard to transmittance and reflectance. The surface wettability of antireflective coating films was assessed by measuring the Water Contact Angle (WCA). The photocatalytic characteristics were evaluated by analyzing of the degradation of 0.02 mM Methylene Blue (MB) solutions after sunlight exposure for varying durations at midday. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 and TiO2 films modified with Ag (Ag/TiO2) were prepared via the DC magnetron sputtering method and the degree of modification was controlled via the sputtering power and time of Ag. The microstructures and properties of these films were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the prepared films have an anatase structure. Compared with pure TiO2, Ag deposition can improve the utilization of light. The three-dimensional images of Ag/TiO2 clearly show that with the increase in Ag sputtering power and sputtering time, Ag particles on the surface of the film gradually increase, and the structure of the film is relatively dense. The photocatalytic effect of Ag/TiO2 films is the best when the Ag sputtering power is 5 W and the sputtering time is 50 s. Under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) in pure MO solution with Ag/TiO2-5 W-50 s can reach 100% within 55 min, whereas that in MO-Na2SO4 mixed solution can reach 99.55% within 65 min. The results suggest that the presence of Na2SO4 in MO solution can inhibit the degradation of MO using Ag/TiO2, the result of XPS suggests that Na2SO4 accelerates the oxidation of Ag, which may lead to an increase in the recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and a decrease in the degradation rate. During the process of recycling photocatalysts, the degradation rate of MO was apparently reduced. A possible reason is that the Ag particles have been oxidized and products of photocatalytic degradation are on the surface of the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PEO/TiP fibers were obtained using the Solution Blow Spinning (SBS) apparatus and heat treated to produce TiO2 fibers. The morphological and structural characteristics were assessed using SEM and X-ray diffraction. The fibers, with a thickness of 12 μm, showed a change in crystalline structure with heat treatment. At temperatures as low as 800 °C, only the anatase phase was identified, while at 900 °C, both anatase and rutile phases coexisted. The addition of TiP to the polymer matrix reduced the initial breakdown temperature, and the DSC curves showed exothermic peaks due to the amorphous phase transition to TiO2/anatase. The fibers' photocatalytic capacity was tested, revealing that TiO2-fibers in the anatase phase achieved 97% degradation of Rhodamine-B dye in 40 minutes. The study found that the biocide efficacy of TiO2-fibers depends on their heat treatment. Fibers with anatase/rutile or pure rutile phases did not show significant efficiency. However, fibers treated at 600°C with pure anatase phase were more effective in eliminating E. coli and total coliforms. Finally, we can state that the TiO2 fibers obtained in this work using the SBS technique can be used to produce filters to purify water contaminated by pathogens dangerous to human health or even to purify the air.

Compositing semiconductors with noble metal is considered as an effective strategy for improving SERS enhancement attributed to synergistic contribution of LSPR and CT mechanisms. In this work, highly ordered ZnO/Ag bilayer structures on p-type silicon wafers are prepared by photolithography and electrochemical self-assembly. The synergistic effect of EM and CT for SERS enhancement is identified by the Raman, PL spectra and 3D FDTD simulation. Flower-like Ag deposited on coarse ZnO films exhibits high SERS sensitivity. The ultra-low concentration of R6G molecules as low as 10−15 M can be detected, and the EF is estimated to be 8.08 × 1013. Due to the excellent photocatalytic property of ZnO, the bilayer structures possess steady and effective UV-cleaning performance. After being UV irradiated for 10 min, this SERS substrate can be re-used for many times. And the detecting RSD is about 4.11 %. The multi-functional ZnO/Ag bilayer structures with a wide direct bandgap has the prominent capacity to provide an efficient charge transfer path to possess trace detection ability for many probe molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nitrogen-doped SrMoO4 with different Sr/N mole ratio (R=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.40, and 0.60) were synthesized using urea as the N source via the vapor-thermal method. The photocatalytic degradation ability of all samples was evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as a target contaminant. The band gaps of N-doped samples are all higher than that of pristine ones, which is only 3.12 eV. BET specific surface area SBET and pore volume are increased due to the N doping. And the greater increase of SBET, the faster the photodegradation speed of methylene blue on SrMoO4. More specifically, the degradation efficiency of MB is improved up to 87% in 100 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the hydrothermal synthesis of Bi(Ti x Mn (1-x))O 3 (x = 0.3–0.9) perovskite nanorods on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrates and investigates the influence of Ti4+ on their morphological, structural, optical properties, and photocatalytic behavior. The high-resolution XPS spectra results have proved that Ti has been properly substituted into the Bi(Ti x Mn (1-x))O 3 nanorods. The characterization of morphology reveals a decrease in average diameter from 222 to 115 nm as the Ti concentration increases, while the band-gap energy experiences a slight reduction from 3.158 to 3.132 eV. X-ray and Raman spectroscopy analyses of the Bi(Ti x Mn (1-x))O 3 nanorods indicate that Ti ions substitute not only Mn3+ but also Bi3+ ions, leading to structural distortions in the crystal lattice. Moreover, the Bi(Ti x Mn (1-x))O 3 systems demonstrate enhanced photocurrent densities at 1.5 V potential, ranging from 3.19 to 5.54 mA/cm2, as the Ti concentration increases. This enhancement can be attributed to the combined effects of increased surface area, accelerating electron transfer at the interface of the electrode, and decreased optical band-gap energy. It is anticipated that this novel system will pave the way for further advancements in the field of photocatalytic water splitting and solar energy conversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, benzimidazole (Hbim) and Cu(II) ions ligands were chosen as building blocks to produce a novel Cu(II) compound (CP) based on {Cu4O}cluster, namely, [Cu4OCl6(Hbim)4]n·n(H2O)·2n(EtOH) (1). The investigation of SCXRD reveals that the CP 1 is a separated 0D structure based on tetrahedral {Cu4O} clusters. Furthermore, this supramolecular frame displayed superior photocatalytic effect on the photodegradation of MB under UV light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical loss due to reflection is a significant barrier to the quantum efficiency of solar cells. In this work, an antireflective coating based on multilayers of metal oxides (TiO2, SiO2, ZnO) was prepared with the spin coating method. The coatings' antireflective, hydrophobic, and photocatalytic properties were examined. Based on the requirements met by the refractive index, a methodical selection of material and thickness for each layer was made in order to achieve near-zero reflection. The performance of different coating systems was examined by evaluating the percentage transmittance in the visible light range (400 nm - 800 nm). The optical properties of the obtained samples were studied with regard to transmittance and reflectance. The surface wettability of antireflective coating films was assessed by measuring the Water Contact Angle (WCA). The photocatalytic characteristics were evaluated by analyzing of the degradation of 0.02 mM Methylene Blue (MB) solutions after sunlight exposure for varying durations at midday.

In this current investigation, we elucidated the microwave-assisted green synthesis of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 CuO–Co3O4 nanocomposites (NCs) from Ipomoea carnea leaf extract, manifesting their remarkable antibacterial, photocatalytic, and antioxidant capabilities. The spectroscopic techniques of XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR, and UV–visible spectroscopy were employed to validate the formation of the synthesized NCs. SEM and TEM images revealed distinctive snowball-rod and distorted spherical structures in the synthesized nanocomposites, with average particle sizes of 33.36, 26.17, and 29.10 nm. The estimated energy band gap values were 1.20, 1.40, and 1.50 eV for the respective nanocomposites. The well diffusion method was utilized to explore the zone of inhibition (ZOI) against bacteria, namely Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The nanocomposites, specifically the 90:10 and 80:20 CuO–Co3O4 blends, exhibited a noteworthy Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) during testing against B. subtilis, with approximate values of 34.76 ± 0.23 and 33.33 ± 0.32 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the photocatalytic potential has been investigated against the dyes Malachite green (MG) and Congo red (CR). Notably, the 90:10 NCs displayed an exceptional photodegradation rate of 97.69 % for MG and 95 % for CR within a mere 45 min. Moreover, the 70:30 NCs exhibited a commendable radical scavenging activity of approximately 97.53 % at a concentration of 800 μg/mL, while ascorbic acid, used as a standard, displayed a scavenging activity of 98.63 %. These investigations unveil the environmentally friendly, innovative, and cost-effective attributes of CuO–Co3O4 NCs derived from Ipomoea carnea leaf extract, which demonstrated excellent antibacterial, photocatalytic, and antioxidant properties.

CuO pricky microspheres have been synthesized without additives by calcination after hydrothermal treatment at 1 2 0 ∘ C for 6 h. The product was characterized by SEM, TEM, EDS, etc. The unique pricky microspheres were formed with NH4HCO3 and urea as precipitators. Through a series of reaction experiments, the possible formation mechanism of nucleation, growth and secondary growth was proposed. With the assistance of H2O2, the degradation rate of RhB aqueous solution reached 87.16% after 50 min by simulated visible light degradation, which proved the good photocatalytic performance of the CuO pricky microspheres. After four cycles of degradation experiments, the degradation rate of RhB aqueous solution is still above 80%. The radical capture experiments showed that the main active groups in the degradation process were ⋅OH and ⋅ O 2 − , and the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of Rhb was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using zinc nitrate hexahydrate and 2-methylimidazole as raw materials, ZIF-8 was successfully prepared in the methanol solvent. Through the stepwise strategies of pyrolysis and calcination at different temperatures and atmospheres, the desired product of ZnO/C composite was obtained. The techniques of XRD, FT-IR and SEM were used to determine the structure and morphology of samples, respectively. The results showed that ZnO/C composite retained the hexagonal polyhedron morphology of ZIF-8 and constructed a porous structure. And, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue solution was carried out using ZnO/C and referenced ZnO as catalysts, respectively. The results declared that the improved catalytic property of ZnO/C composite benefited from the synergistic effect of ZnO and porous carbon skeleton. The excellent degradation ability of ZnO/C was achieved. This work provided a facile way to develop ZnO-based photocatalysts with the desired photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 and TiO2 films modified with Ag (Ag/TiO2) were prepared via the DC magnetron sputtering method and the degree of modification was controlled via the sputtering power and time of Ag. The microstructures and properties of these films were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the prepared films have an anatase structure. Compared with pure TiO2, Ag deposition can improve the utilization of light. The three-dimensional images of Ag/TiO2 clearly show that with the increase in Ag sputtering power and sputtering time, Ag particles on the surface of the film gradually increase, and the structure of the film is relatively dense. The photocatalytic effect of Ag/TiO2 films is the best when the Ag sputtering power is 5 W and the sputtering time is 50 s. Under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) in pure MO solution with Ag/TiO2-5 W-50 s can reach 100% within 55 min, whereas that in MO-Na2SO4 mixed solution can reach 99.55% within 65 min. The results suggest that the presence of Na2SO4 in MO solution can inhibit the degradation of MO using Ag/TiO2, the result of XPS suggests that Na2SO4 accelerates the oxidation of Ag, which may lead to an increase in the recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and a decrease in the degradation rate. During the process of recycling photocatalysts, the degradation rate of MO was apparently reduced. A possible reason is that the Ag particles have been oxidized and products of photocatalytic degradation are on the surface of the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was studied.

The use of titanium dioxide in the degradation of water pollutants encounters several challenges, including particle agglomeration leading to a reduction in its specific surface area and a high rate of photogenerated electron-hole recombination, resulting in a lower quantum efficiency. Therefore, in this work, we first employed sepiolite to load titanium dioxide, mitigating particle agglomeration. Building upon this, tin dioxide was coupled with it to enhance the photogenerated charge separation. The SnO2/TiO2/sepiolite photocatalytic composites were synthesized using the sol–gel method at 450 ℃. The resulting composites underwent thorough characterization encompassing phase composition, morphology, chemical valence states, specific surface area, optical properties, and photocatalytic activity. The outcomes demonstrate an augmentation in the specific surface area of TiO2/Sep composites following the sepiolite (Sep) loading. Among these, the TiO2/Sep composite (with a Sep: TiO2 mass ratio of 10 %) exhibited the most favorable photocatalytic performance, displaying a first-order reaction rate constant of 0.010 min−1, surpassing that of pure TiO2 by a factor of 2.0. The introduction of SnO2 expedited the migration of photogenerated charge across interfaces, curbing the recombination of photogenerated pairs, thus enhancing quantum efficiency. In light of the presence of sepiolite, the addition of SnO2 further amplified the photocatalytic performance. Optimal results were achieved when the molar ratio of SnO2:TiO2 was set at 1:4, leading to the highest photocatalytic efficiency observed in the SnO2/TiO2/Sep composite. This composite exhibited a first-order reaction rate constant of 0.027 min−1, marking a notable 2.7-fold increase compared to the TiO2/Sep counterpart. The investigation of band potentials, charge transfer pathways, and the photocatalytic mechanism within SnO2/TiO2/Sep composite materials was conducted through a comprehensive analysis involving electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) valence band spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra (EPR) and active radical experiments.

Three-dimensional BiOI/Bi2WO6 Z-scheme photocatalysts were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method. Detailed characterization via SEM and TEM revealed that these photocatalysts exhibit a unique three-dimensional flower-like structure, composed of two-dimensional sheets. The results of photocatalysis mechanism analysis demonstrated that the BiOI/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions have formed a Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism. Specifically, electrons transfer from the Bi2WO6 conduction band to the BiOI valence band, facilitating both enhanced separation of photogenerated charges and the preservation of the strong reducibility of BiOI conduction band electrons and the strong oxidation of Bi2WO6 valence band holes. This dual effect leads to increased generation of free radicals and a consequent improvement in photocatalytic property. Remarkably, when the molar ratio of BiOI/Bi2WO6 is set at 40%, the first-order reaction rate constant reaches 0.089 min−1, which is nearly 5.9 times that of pure Bi2WO6.

The size and functional groups of cellulose fiber are critical for preparing ZnO/cellulose composites. Unfortunately, there has been little research on the relationship between acetyl groups of cellulose fiber and the morphology and photocatalytic property of ZnO/cellulose composite. Herein, the mechanism of acetyl groups regulating the morphology and photocatalytic property of ZnO/cellulose composite is systematically investigated. Fractal dimension analysis is innovatively employed, which aims to demonstrate that the cellulose fiber size and the three-dimensional network structure of ZnO/cellulose composites are similar. Inspired by physicochemical analyses, it can be concluded that acetyl groups on the cellulose fiber surface can facilitate the formation, attachment, and dispersion of larger and more ZnO nanoflowers, which is conducive to the photocatalytic property of ZnO/cellulose composites. Overall, we hope this work can offer theoretical guidance for preparing an efficient and green ZnO/cellulose composite with controllable morphology and structure in photocatalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two inorganic–organic hybrid complexes based on bi-capped Keggin-type cluster, {([CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[PMoVI8VV2VIV2O40(VIVO)2])[CuI(2,2′-bpy)]}∙2H2O (1) and {[CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[SiMoVI8.5MoV2.5VIVO40(VIVO)2]}[CuI0.5(2,2′-bpy)(H2O)0.5] (2) (bpy = bipyridine), had been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, TGA, PXRD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Compound 1 consists of a novel 1-D chain structure constructed from [CuI(2,2′-bpy)]+ unit linking bi-supported POMs anion {[CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[PMoVI8VV2VIV2O40(VIVO)2]}−. Compound 2 is a bi-capped Keggin cluster bi-supported Cu-bpy complex. The main highlights of the two compounds are that Cu-bpy cations contain both CuI and CuII complexes. Furthermore, the fluorescence properties, the catalytic properties, and the photocatalytic performance of compounds 1 and 2 have been assessed, and the results show that both compounds are active for styrene epoxidation and degradation and adsorption of Methylene blue (MB), Rhodamine B (RhB) and mixed aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the disadvantage that nano ZnO is easy to agglutinate in the process of preparation and use, which will affect its antibacterial performance, experiments are designed to make nano ZnO compound with porous SiO2 in the sol-gel process. Through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it can be found that ZnO is well combined on the porous SiO2 skeleton and dispersed evenly. The BET and PL tests show that the specific surface area of composites is improved and the optical properties are enhanced. The difference of antibacterial properties between composites and singlecomponent nano ZnO, and the change of antibacterial properties caused by the change of nano ZnO content in composites are investigated by the colony counting method. Conclusion is proved that the antibacterial properties of nano ZnO and porous SiO2 are greatly improved with the antibacterial rate of more than 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanoparticles (NPs), Green methods have been proven to be more efficient than several physiochemical methods. This article presents a non-toxic, ecofriendly, cost-effective and a facile route of green synthesis of TiO 2 NPs by an isolated fungus Aspergillus eucalypticola SLF1, which exhibits excellent photocatalytic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity without structural modification done by physicochemical methods. The TiO 2 NPs are characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, DLS, TEM, BET, Raman spectroscopy and PL. The mesoporous, anatase phase, with a band gap 3.49 eV observed by BET, XRD. UV–Visible spectral analysis displayed sunlight driven photocatalytic performance against C. I. Reactive Blue 194 by advanced oxidation process. Decolourization and 99.70% degradation within 30 min exhibited pseudo first order kinetic with reaction rate constant 0.1935 min−1 by linear method. These findings are superior physicochemical methods. Ecofriendly degradation was confirmed by UV–Vis. HPLC and LCMS etc and phytotoxic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goethite and modified goethites have been found as good photocatalysts because their conduction band can mediate electron transfer in various redox processes. Many kinds of metal elements can be incorporated into the structure of goethite to form solid solutions in nature, but their optoelectronic properties have not been well disclosed. Mn-substituted goethite is one of the potential photocatalysts, which can exhibit high-photocatalytic activity in many Earth's surface processes. Based on the first-principles calculation, pairwise interaction energies and static lattice energies of goethitegroutite solid solution were computed, and the most thermodynamically stable configurations of Mn-substituted goethite were determined. The results indicate that Mn3+ ion tends to distribute within the cation layer parallel to the (001) plane. Phase relations of goethite-groutite solid solution were derived by subsequent configurational statistics with energies of all 232 configurations of a 2 × 1 × 4 supercell with 32 exchangeable cations. The phase diagram shows that no more than 3 mol% Fe of goethite can be substituted by Mn ions. Therefore, Mn-substituted goethite is thermodynamically metastable or bears groutite-like clusters/lamellae. Furthermore, the effects of Mn substitutions on the band gap were experimentally and theoretically investigated. It is found that a small amount of Mn-substitution can reduce the band gap of goethite significantly, and the decrease ceases when the Mn content is higher than 3–4 mol%. Such a decrease in band gap causes red-shift to the photo response wavelength of goethite and improves the responding capability. This improvement was confirmed in the experiments of photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Such kind of photocatalytic reaction probably can happen widely in natural environments. Therefore, the contribution of photocatalysis of natural goethites to geochemical processes on Earth's surface should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core-shell nanoparticles of Au@TiO2 were synthesised via a simple and flexible hydrothermal route. The structure and properties were characterised by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet/visible diffuse reflectance spectra, photoluminescence spectra and Raman spectra. The photocatalytic activity and the photoelectrochemical behaviours were investigated. Compared to TiO2, Au@TiO2 exhibits superior photocatalytic activity and photoelectrochemical property. The enhanced properties of Au@TiO2 attributed to the Au core as electron trap to promote the separation of photogenerated charge carriers in the photocatalytic process, which was also confirmed by the results of electrochemical impedance spectra and photoluminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen vacancies (Vo) present in CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) can effectively boost their photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet (UV) light. To improve photocatalytic performance, Cr- and Fe-doped CeO2 NPs with increased Vo were prepared using a simple method of doping Cr and Fe ions into CeO2 NPs, which was confirmed by an in-depth analysis of the structural and electronic changes. Through photocatalytic degradation (PCD) experiments with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), we found that the PCD rates of the two doped CeO2 NPs were faster than that of the CeO2 NPs. In addition, the conversion of HMF to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) using the doped CeO2 NPs occurred only through the mechanism of the selective oxidation to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA), exhibiting better efficiency than using CeO2 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new mixed ligand-based compounds, namely [Zn(3,4'-bpdc)(bpp)]n·2n(H2O) (1) and [Co2(3,3'-bpdc)2(4,4'-dpp)]n·2n(H2O) (2) (3,4'-H2bpdc = 3,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid, bpp is 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane, 3,3'-H2bpdc = 3,3'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-dpp = 1,4-bis(pyridine-4-ylmethyyl)piperazine), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized via the PXRD, EA, as well as the diffraction analyses of single-crystal X-ray. Furthermore, compound 1's luminescent performance and compound 2's photocatalytic performance were also explored. Their enhancement activity on prostate cancer combined with 125I radioactive particle placement was evaluated, and the related mechanism was explored at the same time. Firstly, the ELISA was used to measure the inhibitory activity of the new compounds on the serum IGF-1. In addition to this, the activation of the VEGF signaling pathway was also determined with real-time RT-PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanoparticles with different Ho dopant were prepared by tartaric acid solution combustion method and followed by calcination at 600°C for 2 h. The XRD patterns of ZnO and Ho-doped ZnO samples were indexed to the pure phase of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure. TEM images of ZnO and Ho-doped ZnO showed that the samples were nanoparticles with different sizes. The particle size of sample was decreased with increasing in the weight content of Ho dopant. The XPS results certified that the Ho3+ ions contained in ZnO lattice. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles with different Ho contents was evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) as a dye pollutant under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation of MB in aqueous medium under visible light irradiation showed that the 3% Ho-doped ZnO nanoparticles have the highest photocatalytic activity in degrading of MB molecules because Ho3+ ions played the role in trapping electrons, inhibiting the recombination charge carrier pairs and enhancing the photocatalytic performance of ZnO under visible light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural stability, electronic structure and optical property of the monolayers SiH, GaSe and InSe as well as constructed SiH/GaSe and SiH/InSe heterojunctions are investigated based on first principles calculations. The band alignment and the charge transfer of SiH/GaSe and SiH/InSe heterojunctions as well as their solar-to-hydrogen production efficiency during photocatalytic process for water splitting are analyzed systematically. The effect of applied electric field or biaxial strain taking on the electronic structure of heterojunctions is also included. The results indicated that the absorption range and intensity of SiH/GaSe and SiH/InSe heterojunctions are significantly improved. Both SiH/GaSe and SiH/InSe heterojunctions have the relatively higher light absorption coefficient in the visible and ultraviolet range. These light absorption capacities are conducive to improve the solar-to-hydrogen production efficiency. Compared with the monolayers SiH, GaSe and InSe, the SiH/GaSe and SiH/InSe heterojunctions have the property of type-II band alignment. This band alignment is also in favor of improving the efficiency of photocatalytic activity. The band gap and band edge structure of SiH/GaSe and SiH/InSe heterojunctions can also be adjusted effectively by applied electric field or biaxial strain, which provides a method for improving the photocatalysis performance. • Solar-to-hydrogen production efficiency of SiH/InSe heterojunction can reach 10%. • Solar-to-hydrogen production efficiency of SiH/GaSe heterojunction can reach 13.1%. • Applied electric field can tune band gap and band edge structure of heterojunction. • Biaxial strain can also adjust the electronic structure of heterojunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, pyrochlore (La 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Gd 0.2 Y 0.2) 2 Zr 2 O 7 high-entropy oxide (p -RZHEO) powders with nanoscale grains have been synthesized using a simple coprecipitation–hydrothermal–calcination method. The effects of grain size on the thermal stability, mechanical property, phase transition, and photocatalytic property of p -RZHEO are investigated. The results show that decreasing the grain size yields poor thermal stability but a significant increase in the bulk modulus. Furthermore, as grain size increases, the dynamic process in the pressure-induced pyrochlore-cotunnite phase transition becomes more sluggish. The high-pressure cotunnite phase formed in the sample with small grains generates faster under pressure, significantly shortening the pyrochlore-cotunnite phase coexisting region. The photodegradation of Rhodamine B solution reveals that p -RZHEO powders exhibit good photocatalytic activity, which can be improved by reducing the powder grain size. The findings of this study could serve as a new guide for the development of novel high-entropy oxides with desirable properties. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two inorganic–organic hybrid complexes based on bi-capped Keggin-type cluster, {([CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[PMoVI8VV2VIV2O40(VIVO)2])[CuI(2,2′-bpy)]}∙2H2O (1) and {[CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[SiMoVI8.5MoV2.5VIVO40(VIVO)2]}[CuI0.5(2,2′-bpy)(H2O)0.5] (2) (bpy = bipyridine), had been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, TGA, PXRD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Compound 1 consists of a novel 1-D chain structure constructed from [CuI(2,2′-bpy)]+ unit linking bi-supported POMs anion {[CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[PMoVI8VV2VIV2O40(VIVO)2]}−. Compound 2 is a bi-capped Keggin cluster bi-supported Cu-bpy complex. The main highlights of the two compounds are that Cu-bpy cations contain both CuI and CuII complexes. Furthermore, the fluorescence properties, the catalytic properties, and the photocatalytic performance of compounds 1 and 2 have been assessed, and the results show that both compounds are active for styrene epoxidation and degradation and adsorption of Methylene blue (MB), Rhodamine B (RhB) and mixed aqueous solutions.

A new 3D organic-inorganic hybrid solid [Cu4 (SCN)4 (bpp)2]n (1) was obtained via the self-assembly of inorganic ladder-like chains [Cu(SCN)]n with the flexible organic ligands 1,3-di(4-pyridyl) propane (bpp) under solvothermal conditions. It is noted that the bpp ligands show two kinds of conformations (trans-gauche or trans-trans) in the asymmetric unit, which linked by similar staircase-like [Cu(SCN)]n chains to form crystallographically distinct [Cu2 (SCN)2 (bpp)]n layers A and B. Furthermore, two different layers are packed in an offset ABB′A′ pattern to generate unique 3D structure. Compound 1 was further characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder diffraction (PXRD), thermal analysis, solid state diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and photoluminescent studies. The solid UV-Vis diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy shows strong absorption spectra in ultraviolet region, and a wide-gap semiconductor with band gap of 3.20 eV. Compound 1 shows different photocatalytic activities for neutral red (NR), methyl orange (MO), azure I (AI), methylene blue (MB) and brilliant blue (ED) degradation under UV-light irradiation, which could be related to the slight charge and size difference of organic dyes. Compound 1 shows strong green photoluminescence at room temperatures with emission peaks at about 525 nm, which may be associated with a ligand-centered excited state with a possible involvement of metal-to-ligand or ligand-to-ligand charge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO/SiC composites with different morphology of ZnO microstructures were obtained via hydrothermal synthesis using Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and silicon carbide as raw materials. The chemical composition, morphology and structure of the samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM and TEM. The results showed that the morphology of ZnO was rod-shaped and flower-like structures in the prepared ZnO/SiC composites. The photocatalytic properties of ZnO/SiC composites were researched by photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV irradiation. The photodegradation efficiency of MB had obvious differences with different ZnO morphology in ZnO/SiC composites, and the maximum degradation rate could reach 95.7% with excellent photocatalytic cycle stability. The removal rates of total organic carbon in the MB solution after 120 min and 240 min are 38.2% and 64.7%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Iodocuprate hybrids {[(4,4′-dtdpy) 2 Cu 2 I 2 ]·DMA} n (1) and [(2,2′-dtdpy)Cu 2 I 2 ] 2 (2) were prepared by reacting CuI and KI using 4,4′-dtdpy and 2,2′-dtdpy as SDAs, respectively, at room temperature. The reactions of CuI and KI with 2,2′-dtdpy in CH 3 OH and DMF solvents under solvothermal conditions produced polymeric iodocuprate hybrid [(mmtpy)(Cu 2 I 3)] n (3), and hexanuclear Cu(I) complex [Cu 6 (mtpy) 6 ] (4), respectively. Compounds 1 – 4 exhibit catalytically active in the photodegradation of MB with degradation ratios of 80.5%, 90.3%, 100%, and 84.6%, respectively. • Iodocuprates 1 – 3 and thiolate cluster 4 were prepared using dithiodipyridine as SDA. • 2,2′-dtdpy occurs S S bond cleavage during the solvothermal syntheses of 3 and 4. • 1 – 4 have photocurrent densities of 0.33, 0.69, 0.79 and 0.56 μA·cm−2, respectively. • 1 – 4 show photocatalytic degradation of MB with conversions of 80.5, 90.3, 100, and 84.6 %, respectively. Iodocuprate hybrids {[(4,4′-dtdpy) 2 Cu 2 I 2 ]·DMA} n (4,4′-dtdpy = 4,4′-dithiodipyridine; DMA = N, N -dimethylacetamide) (1) and [(2,2′-dtdpy)Cu 2 I 2 ] 2 (2,2′-dtdpy = 2,2′-dithiodipyridine) (2) were prepared by reacting CuI and KI using 4,4′-dtdpy and 2,2′-dtdpy as SDAs, respectively, at room temperature. The Cu 2 I 2 aggregates were joined by a μ-4,4′-dtdpy bridging ligand with N -donor atom, and by a 2,2′-dtdpy chelating ligand with N- and S-donor atoms to form a 1-D polymeric complex {[(4,4′-dtdpy) 2 Cu 2 I 2 ]·DMA} n and a tetranuclear complex [(2,2′-dtdpy)Cu 2 I 2 ] 2 , respectively. The reaction CuI, KI and 2,2′-dtdpy in CH 3 OH solvent under solvothermal conditions formed a polymeric iodocuprate hybrid [(mmtpy)(Cu 2 I 3)] n (mmtpy+ = 1-methyl-2-(methylthio)pyridinium) (3). 2,2′-dtdpy was converted in situ to the mmtpy+ cation via cleavage of the S S bond and methylation of the N and S atoms in the solvothermal reaction. In compound 3 , tetrahedral CuI 4 units are connected into a 1-D [Cu 2 I 3 ] n n− chain by edge- and face-sharing. In the same solvothermal reaction in DMF, the S S bond of 2,2′-dtdpy was cleaved to form a mtpy– anion. The mtpy– anion coordinated to Cu+ ions as a bidentate ligand with N and S-donor atoms to form a hexanuclear thiolate complex [Cu 6 (mtpy) 6 ] (Hmtpy = 2-mercaptopyridine) (4). A pseudohexagonal prismatic Cu 6 S 6 core is formed in 4. Compounds 1 – 4 showed strong photocurrent responses with steady current densities in the range of 0.33–0.79 μA·cm−2. Compounds 1 – 4 are catalytically active in the photodegradation of MB with degradation ratios of 80.5 %, 90.3 %, 100 %, and 84.6 %, respectively, after 120 min of light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Separation efficiency of carriers has been boosted. • OVs expand the light response range of the catalysts. • Sm-doped ZnO photocatalysts have enhanced photocatalytic activity. In this work, Sm-doped ZnO was prepared by a Sol-Gel method. The structure, morphology, composition and optical properties of the prepared samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), surface photovoltage spectrum (SPS) and X-ray photoelectron spectros-copy (XPS). Sm-doping results in high specific surface area and boosted photogenerated carriers separation efficiency, and produces more active free radicals to participate in the photocatalytic reaction. Photocatalytic activities of the samples toward removal of rhodamine B(RhB) were evaluated under UV light irradiation, the results display that Sm-doped ZnO shows higher photocatalytic activity than the reference ZnO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce-based organic framework materials [UIO-66(Ce)] were prepared, and the UIO-66(Ce)/ZnCdS composite was attained by microwave irradiation. Moreover, the photocatalytic hydrogen production activity was evaluated. The experimental results revealed that the ZnCdS nanoparticle was decorated on the surface of UIO-66(Ce), and the hydrogen production ability of ZnCdS nanoparticle was improved by UIO-66(Ce) significantly. The hydrogen production yield of UIO-66(Ce)/ZnCdS reaches 3.958 mmol/g·h, in which is as about 1.95 times as that of ZnCdS (2.031 mmol/g·h). The improvement for photocatalytic hydrogen production yield is because UIO-66(Ce) can facilitate the photoinduced carriers to separating. • UIO-66(Ce) was used to improve the photocatalytic H 2 production of ZnCdS nanoparticle. • UiO-66(Ce)/ZnCdS composites were synthesized by a simple microwave irradiation method. • The H 2 production rate of the UiO-66(Ce)/ZnCdS reached 3958.8 μmol g−1 h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoS2 Graphene Tourmaline (MoS2 GR T) composite photocatalyst was prepared via one step hydrothermal method. Raman spectroscopy showed that GO was reduced to graphene. The band gap energies of MoS2 jr MoS2 T and MoS2 GR T samples were 2.01, 1.91 and 1.79 eV, respectively. It improved that the introduction of tourmaline reduced the band gap width. The photocatalytic performance of rhodamine B dye was demonstrated under xenon lamp irradiation. Compared with MoS2 and MoS2 GR, MoS2 Graphene Tourmaline (MoS2 GR T)composites exhibited better photocatalytic degradation activity, and reaching 93. 9% after exposure to 60 min of light. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of M0S2 GR T composite was mainly due to its exposed adsorption photocatalytic active sites, which improve the photo adsorption capacity and charge separation efficiency. This paper showed that the metal free co catalyst coupled with polar minerals could improve the charge efficiency of photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline-oriented thick films have been fabricated with using plasma-synthesized (0–20.0 at.%) Nb-doped TiO 2 powder by slip casting method in a strong magnetic field (12 T). Degree of c-axis orientation of the fabricated thick film was evaluated by Lotgering factor (f). The orientation degree along c-axis was improved by sintering at 600 °C, but was deteriorated at 700 °C. Photocatalytic performance under the UV light irradiation was conducted on the film surface and was determined by bleaching methyl orange aqueous solution. The improvement in the photocatalytic performance was greatly attributed to the dominated crystalline-orientation of the (0 0 1) plane for the Nb-doped TiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Ag doping and defect coexistence on the photoelectric properties of ZnO were studied by first-principles method. The calculation results indicate that O-rich condition is beneficial to Ag doping, while O-poor condition has an inhibitory effect. When Ag doping concentration is lower, AgZn is dominant doping model under O-rich or O-poor conditions, and the model is more stable. When Ag doping concentration is higher, AgZn-AgZn is dominant doping model under O-rich condition, and that is AgZn-Agi under O-poor condition. Under O-rich condition, it is difficult to introduce the coexistence defect of VZn and Oi by Ag doping. VO is a preferred model under O-poor condition, and it can promote Ag doping to a certain extent. Ag doping reduces the band gap of ZnO. The higher of doping concentration is, the narrower of band gap will be. The defect coexistence of VZn, VO and Oi increase the band gap of Ag doped models. Ag doping and the defect coexistence of VZn, Oi all red shift the absorption edge of ZnO to the visible region, which expands the absorption range of ZnO to sunlight. AgZn-VO is transparent in the visible region. In the low energy region, AgZn-AgZn shows higher optical absorptivity, but the corresponding formation energy is also higher than that of AgZn. VZn improves the optical absorptivity of AgZn-VZn and AgZn-AgZn-VZn in the low energy region. VO is beneficial to the adsorption of O2 by ZnO and can produce more H2O2 and ·HO. The defect coexistence of VZn and VO both improve the photocatalytic performance of ZnO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Jilin University (Science Edition) / Jilin Daxue Xuebao (Lixue Ban) is the property of Zhongguo Xue shu qi Kan (Guang Pan Ban) Dian zi Za zhi She and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Treatment of cis‐[Ru(acac)2(CH3CN)2] (acac−=acetylacetonate) with 1.5 equiv. of corresponding bidentate nitrogen and sulfur ligands in ethanol gave a series of bis(acetylacetonato) ruthenium(II/III) complexes [(acac)2Ru(dimbpy)](PF6) (dimbpy=4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) (1), [(acac)2Ru(phen)] (phen=o‐phenanthroline) (2), [(acac)2Ru(opd)] (opd=o‐phenylenediamine) (3), [(acac)2Ru(4‐Bropd)] (4‐Bropd=4‐bromo‐o‐phenylenediamine) (4) and [(acac)2Ru(S2CNMe2)] (5), respectively. Complexes 1–5 were characterized by FT‐IR, NMR and UV‐Vis spectroscopies along with their electrochemical properties. The structures of complexes 1–5 have been unambiguously established by single crystal X‐ray crystallography. The photocatalytic properties for hydrogen production by water splitting of complexes 1–5 under visible light (λ>420 nm) were also investigated in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen vacancies (Vo) present in CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) can effectively boost their photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet (UV) light. To improve photocatalytic performance, Cr- and Fe-doped CeO2 NPs with increased Vo were prepared using a simple method of doping Cr and Fe ions into CeO2 NPs, which was confirmed by an in-depth analysis of the structural and electronic changes. Through photocatalytic degradation (PCD) experiments with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), we found that the PCD rates of the two doped CeO2 NPs were faster than that of the CeO2 NPs. In addition, the conversion of HMF to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) using the doped CeO2 NPs occurred only through the mechanism of the selective oxidation to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA), exhibiting better efficiency than using CeO2 NPs.

The three-dimensional (3D) sea urchin-like CuO microspheres structures were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. With the hydrothermal temperature increases, the morphology of CuO micro-/nanostructures has changed: When the hydrothermal temperature reaches above 40 °C, the irregular CuO particles transform into a 3D sea urchin-like CuO microspheres. X-ray diffraction spectrum and Raman scatting spectra confirm that the obtained 3D sea urchin-like CuO microspheres at hydrothermal temperature of 60 °C are composed of a high purity and single-phase monoclinic CuO. It is found that the 3D sea urchin-like CuO microspheres structures exhibit the better photocatalytic property for degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution under the visible light irradiation compared to the irregular CuO particles, which duo to the relatively larger specific surface area of the sea urchin-like CuO microspheres structures, exposing more active sites and increasing the contact area between the catalyst and dye molecule. This remarkable photocatalytic performance of the 3D sea urchin-like CuO microspheres structures might has a promising application in waste water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel compounds, named [Ti2Na4(BTC4A)2(μ6-O2−)(CH3O−)2·2H2O·2DMA] (1) and [Ti4(BTC4A)(OH−)4(EtO−)6(iPrO−)2] (2) (H4BTC4A= p-tert-Butylthiacalix [4] arene), have been synthesized and characterized. Single crystal diffraction shows that compound 1 features a dumbbell-like molecule based on an octahedral Ti2Na4 core and two BTC4A4− ligands with cone conformation. Compound 2 is composed of a bi-titanium(IV) unit and a BTC4A4− ligand with 1,2-alternate conformation. The estimated optical bandgaps of compounds 1 and 2 are 2.87 and 1.97 eV, respectively, which are smaller than that of TiO2. Moreover, compounds 1 and 2 display much higher and more efficient photocatalytic degradation abilities for methylene blue than TiO2 under visible light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work demonstrates that C-assisted Al, Si-doping can effectively regulate the band structure of SrTiO 3 for improving photocatalytic activity. The effects of (Al + C) and (Si + C) co-doping on electronic structure and optical properties of SrTiO 3 are performed by first-principles calculations. It is found that the auxiliary effect of the C element on the two doped systems is different. The (Al + C) co-doping effectively passivates the impurity band in the Al mono-doping case, which leads to the expansion of the band gap. On the contrary, the (Si + C) co-doping induces an impurity band near the top of the valence band and narrows the gap, which is ascribed to the strong coupling between C and O atoms. The calculated light absorption curves imply that (Al + C) and (Si + C) co-doping are effective ways to expand the light response region. The further analysis of band edge alignments of both the two co-doped systems indicates that (Si + C) co-doped SrTiO 3 is more favorable for water splitting. • The electronic structure of the (Al + C) and (Si + C) co-doped SrTiO 3 systems are first discussed by a theoretical calculation. • C-assisted (Al + C) co-doping can effectively passivate the intermediate impurity band in the forbidden gap. • (Si + C) co-doping induces the impurity bands near the top of the valence band resulting in a narrowed band gap. • The enhanced photocatalytic activities are observed in both the (Al + C) and (Si + C) co-doped systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, BaCO3/ZnO‐Al2O3 nanocomposite photocatalyst at different amount of Ba (1, 3 and 5 wt%) was prepared from Zn‐Al‐CO3 layered double hydroxides precursors using ceramic process. A range of physicochemical techniques including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), were employed to characterize the as‐prepared catalysts. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of caffeine as a model of pharmaceutical pollutant in aqueous solutions under UV irradiation. Detailed photocatalytic experiments based on the effects of dopant amount, irradiation time, catalyst dose, initial pH and reuse were performed and presented in this study. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was strongly dependent on the Ba amount and adsorption process. The 1%Ba/ZnO‐Al2O3 sample with high adsorption capacity showed the highest photocatalytic activity with a degradation efficiency of 98.2% after 70 min of irradiation. It showed a significantly higher rate of degradation compared to undoped, pure ZnO and standard Degussa P‐25 titanium dioxide. The photocatalyst showed high stability after three regeneration cycles.

La doped Bi2WO6 nanomaterials were synthesized by one step hydrothermal method using Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, Na2WO4·2H2O and La(NO3)3·6H2O as the raw materials. The phase composition and optical property of the as-prepared materials were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and BET surface area. XRD result reveals that La is doped in Bi2WO6 successfully, and the prepared samples still possess orthorhombic structure. UV-Vis study shows the absorption edge of the prepared samples has a red-shift with the increase of La doping, indicating that La doping can broaden the absorbance range of the La doped Bi2WO6 materials. BET measurement shows that the specific surface area of La doped Bi2WO6 materials is increased with more La doping. In addition, the effect of La doping on the photocatalytic activities of the samples were measured by the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Results show that the best photocatalytic property is found in the 2.0% La doped Bi2WO6 nanomaterial; after 120min of reaction, the degradation rate of MB reaches 91%.

ZnO sheets grown on an anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) template are prepared by a hydrothermal reaction method. The morphology of ZnO is tailored by varying the hydrothermal reaction time and its photocatalytic properties are studied. Based on XRD, SEM and TEM results, the growth process of ZnO on the AAO template is analysed, which includes the dissolution of fibre and porous AAO, the generation of ZnO sheets and the growth of sheet ZnO layer. Therefore, this work is helpful for subsequent research on the morphology tailoring and growth control of ZnO on AAO templates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]