Photocatalytic degradation of Eosin B dye in aqueous solution by cadmium oxide nanoparticles

Cadmium oxide (CdO) and potassium (K) doped CdO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method and were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of Eosin B dye. The X-ray diffraction results presented that the crystallite size of undoped CdO and K doped CdO NPs were 43.74 and 42.31 nm, respectively. The morphological study and percent composition of synthesized undoped CdO and K doped CdO NPs was done by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The formation of NPs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The precursor decomposition to CdO after annealing at ∼500 °C was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The undoped CdO and K doped CdO nanoparticles degraded about 80% and 90% of the dye, respectively, in 140 min. The maximum degradation efficiency of the dye was achieved at a pH of 4, dye initial concentration of 15 ppm, catalyst dose of 20 mg, and a temperature of 45 °C. The degradation efficiency observed for recovered undoped CdO and recovered doped CdO nanoparticles was found to be 63% and 77%, respectively.

Zinc Titanate Nanopowders. Synthesis and Characterization

Zinc titanates nanopowders viz.; Zn2TiO4, ZnTi3O8 and ZnTiO3 were synthesized through the thermal decomposition course of ZnC2O4.2H2O-TiO2 precursor (1:1 mole ratio), prepared via a new co-precipitation method up to 900oC. Thermogravimetric measurement (TG) was utilized to characterize the precursor decomposition while X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) were used to characterize the decomposition products as well as the phase transitions at different temperatures. XRD revealed the starting of titanates formation at 700oC via detecting Zn2TiO4 along with ZnO and TiO2 (anatase) diffraction peaks. By increasing the calcination temperature to 800oC, the ZnO content vanished with the appearing of Zn2Ti3O8 besides ZnTi2O4 and impurities of TiO2 (anatase). Finally at 900oC, the Zn2Ti3O8 content was decomposed into ZnTiO3. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm of the calcined precursor at 900oC indicated low specific surface area of 7.1 m2 g-1 in accordance with the agglomeration nature estimated via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. The conductivity measurements showed semiconducting behavior of the prepared titanates with ferroelectric transition in the range 200-308oC.The obtained low dielectric value suggests the uses of present titanates as a co-fired ceramic or resonator ceramics.

The role of precursor decomposition in the formation of samarium doped ceria nanoparticles via solid-state microwave synthesis

The impact on the final morphology of ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles made from different precursors (commercial: cerium acetate/nitrate) and in house: cerium tri(methylsilyl)amide (Ce-TMSA)) via a microwave solid state reaction has been determined. In all instances, powder X-ray diffraction indicated that the cubic fluorite CeO2 phase (PDF# 04–004-9150, with the space group Fm-3 m) had formed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed spherical nanoparticles were produced from the Ce-TMSA precursor. The commercial acetate and nitrate precursors produced particles with irregular morphology. The roles of the precursor decomposition and binding energy in the synthesis of the nanocrystals with various morphologies, as well as a possible growth mechanism, were evaluated based on experimental and computational data. The formation of spherical shaped nanoparticles was determined to be due to the preferential single-step decomposition of the Ce-TMSA as well as the low activation energy to overcome decomposition. Due to the complicated decomposition of the commercial precursors and high activation energy the resulting particles adopted an irregular morphology. Highly uniform samarium doped ceria (SmxCe1-xO2-δ) nanospheres were also synthesized from Ce-TMSA and samarium tri(methylsilyl)amide (Sm-TMSA). The effects of reaction time and temperature, on the final morphology were observed through SEM. The rapid single-step decomposition of TMSA-based precursors as observed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and confirmed through the calculation of potential energy surfaces and binding energies from density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicated that nanoparticle formation follows LaMer’s classical nucleation theory.

Cobalt nanoparticle catalysed graphitization and the effect of metal precursor decomposition temperature

Porous carbon foams hold great promise for supercapacitors and next generation energy storage materials but greater control over the formation of the pore structure would aid the development of these...

Elucidating the effect of precursor decomposition time on the structural and optical properties of copper(i) nitride nanocubes

To study the effect of time on the colloidal synthesis of Cu3N nanoparticles, copper(ii) nitrate was thermally decomposed at 260 °C for up to 60 min in octadecylamine as a stabilizing ligand.

Ultra-broadband near-infrared emission CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots with high power efficiency and stability for the theranostic applications of mini light-emitting diodes

Broadband near-infrared CuInS2/ZnS quantum with up to 94.8% quantum yield was synthesized with fast precursor decomposition. The better power efficiency and stability of CuInS2/ZnS mini-LED were performed with penetration tests and vein imaging.

Pd Nanoparticles Stabilized by Hypercrosslinked Polystyrene Catalyze Selective Triple C-C Bond Hydrogenation and Suzuki Cross-Coupling

This paper describes the synthesis of Pd-containing catalysts based on nonfunctionalized hypercrosslinked polystyrene via impregnation with Pd acetate. Developed Pd nanoparticulate catalyst allowed achieving conversion of aryl halide up to 90% in Suzuki cross-coupling reaction under mild conditions and at the absence of phase-transfer agents. During the selective hydrogenation of triple C-C bond of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol, up to 96% selectivity with respect to corresponding olefinic alcohol was found at 95% conversion. The influences of the procedure of catalyst synthesis like precursor decomposition and reductive activation method on Pd nanoparticle formation are discussed.