•The decoration of CuO on the surface of ZnO were synthesized by hydrothermal growth.•The functional properties of the ZnO/CuO nanostructures were extensively studied.•The formation of ZnO/CuO ...hetero-junction improved the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes which results in enhanced activity.•The enhanced photocatalytic activity is 10 times higher than pure ZnO.
Degradation of organic pollutant using ZnO/CuO composites has become an attractive method for detoxification of water. The effect of copper acetate concentration and the functional properties of nanocomposites were investigated. The morphological analysis revealed that CuO nanoparticles dispersed uniformly on the surface of ZnO nanorods. X-ray photoelectron spectra analysis showed peak shift in the electronic states of Zn and Cu states. Elemental clearly confirms the presence of CuO were uniformly distributed on the surface of ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CuO composites was enhanced compared to pure ZnO under visible light irradiation. The optimal CuO content for the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO/CuO composites is 1%, which is almost ten times higher than that of pure ZnO. Owing to these synergic advantages, the degradation efficiency of ZnO/CuO composites reached 92.52% after 5min of irradiation. The synergistic photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on the photodegradation results.
Recently, it has been found that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene could prove to be the most promising carbonaceous fillers in polymers nanocomposites field because of their better structural and ...functional properties. Their uniform dispersion in polymer matrix leads to significant improvements in their several properties. This paper reviews the effect of nanofillers, ie, CNTs, derivatized CNTs, and graphene on the polycarbonate nanocomposite and its application in aerospace, automobile, sports, electronic sectors, and various industries. The comparative analysis of carbon‐based fillers on the different properties of polycarbonate nanocomposites is also included.
•Joint approaches of Y3+ ions integrated with rGO in TiO2 resulted in enhanced optical and electrical properties.•Induced oxygen defects improved the electron concentration in the doped TiO2 ...lattice.•Improved average carrier lifetime of YTO/rGO leads to efficient charge separation and electrical properties.
The efficient tuning of defects in the host lattice to obtain the desired electrical and optical properties is the recent trend in the research arena. Here we aim to tune to oxygen vacancies in TiO2 lattice by dopant incorporation and also investigated the influence of rGO on the electrical properties of doped TiO2 lattice. In this paper, Yttrium incorporated TiO2 (YTO) and YTO/rGO nanocomposites are synthesized. YTO and YTO/rGO nanocomposites are characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Differential reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Hall measurement studies, electrical impedance spectroscopic studies and TRPL measurements. Yttrium (6 mol%) in the TiO2 lattice introduces more oxygen defect sites, modifying the charge carrier dynamics of the lattice (improved electron concentration, enhanced electrical properties, lowered the charge transfer resistance). To improve the average lifetime of the charge carrier, YTO was composited with rGO. YTO/rGO nanocomposite formation was confirmed by XPS and Raman analysis. Nyquist plot of YTO/rGO nanocomposites exhibited reduced charge transfer resistance and lesser relaxation time. TRPL measurements of YTO/rGO nanocomposites showed a significant improvement in the average lifetime of the charge carriers from 19.7 ns for YTO to 30.7 ± 0.5 ns. This improved lifetime of electrons in the nanocomposite system signifies efficient charge separation and reduced charge recombination at the YTO and rGO interface, thus proving YTO/rGO nanocomposite as a better electron extraction layer.
Low abundance, high cost and corrosiveness towards the liquid electrolyte is the main limitation of Platinum (Pt) as a counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) in spite of its ...excellent electrochemical properties. The present study focuses to enhance the electrochemical properties of CZTS by compositing it with MoS2 towards the replacement of Pt. Pure CZTS, pure MoS2, CZTS/MoS2 nanocomposites are synthesized by hydrothermal method, then characterized and compared to analyze their properties. The outcomes of characterizations techniques from XRD, Raman, XPS, SEM, EDS and TEM confirmed the formation of CZTS/MoS2 nanocomposites. The electrochemical characterizations and Impedance analysis of the pure CZTS, pure MoS2 and CZTS/MoS2 are compared. Results showed enhanced catalytic property and lower charge transfer resistance for the CZTS/MoS2 nanocomposites. Nanocomposite with 8 wt% of MoS2 in CZTS exhibited higher carrier concentration of 6.126 × 1018 cm−3, higher mobility of 5.03 cm2Vs−1 and lower resistivity of 2.62 Ωcm compared to CZTS and other nanocomposites. Electrical conductivity and catalytic activity were improved with increase in the wt% of MoS2 in the Cu2ZnSnS4/MoS2 nanocomposites. DSSC device fabricated by interpolating di-tetrabutylammonium cis-bis(isothiocyanate)bis(2,2″-bipyridyl-4,4′dicarboxylato) ruthenium (II) (N719) dye-loaded titanium dioxide (commercial P25 TiO2 as photoanode) and with CZMo8 (as CE) using iodine/iodide as a liquid electrolyte exhibited the maximum open circuit voltage of 720 mV, a short circuit current of 8.45 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 0.66, and a power conversion efficiency of 4.07%.
•CZTS/MoS2 nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method.•CZMo8 showed a higher carrier concentration of 6.126 × 1018 cm−3, higher mobility of 5.03 cm2Vs−1 and lower resistivity of 2.62 Ω cm, respectively.•CZMo8 exhibited lower charge transfer resistance compared to CZTS.•Power conversion efficiency of CZMo8 (4.07%) has higher compared with CZTS (3.03%).
One (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures of zinc oxide and tin oxide (ZnO/SnO) nanocomposites were synthesized by a hydrothermal method using ethylenediamine (EDA) as a capping ligand. The ...effect of Sn concentration on the morphology of the nanocomposites has been investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated good crystallinity of samples with the presence of both ZnO and SnO phases. The morphological analysis revealed the morphological transformation from ZnO nanorods to ZnO/SnO nanosheets by adding Sn. X-ray photoelectron spectra analyses showed significant peak shift in the electronic state of Zn at the higher concentration of Sn. Elemental mapping results clearly evidenced that both ZnO and SnO moieties were uniformly distributed in the nanosheets. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using as-prepared ZnO/SnO nanocomposites was nine times faster than that of pure ZnO under visible light irradiation. It could be attributed to the formation of a hetero-junction between ZnO and SnO. Our experimental results revealed that photogenerated superoxide (O2-&z.rad; ) radicals were the main reactive species for the degradation of MB. The maximum degradation efficiency was observed for the sample with 1 wt% of tin chloride, the MB related absorption peak completely disappeared after 6 min of irradiation. ZnO/SnO composites extended the light absorption spectra of ZnO to a visible light region and enhanced the visible light photocatalytic activity.
Attaining nanocomposites having high mechanical and electrical properties simultaneously via carbon based nanomaterials remains exciting as carbon nanomaterial have a pattern of formation of random ...dispersive networks in polymeric nanocomposites. Here, polycarbonate/ethylene methyl acrylate blend (PC/EMA) nanocomposites were fabricated using graphene to explore their effect on electrical, mechanical, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are improved by enhancing the graphene content. EMI shielding properties of graphene based composites were calculated in X band. The fabricated PC/EMA-graphene nanocomposites showed an EMI shielding of -51 dB for 15 phr graphene loading. Thus, the excellent EMI shielding performance and sensitive response combination make the nanocomposites promising material for many potential applications in next-generation electronics.
•Sb doped TiO2 NPs were synthesized and the effect of Sb doping and compositing with rGO were investigated.•Integration of Sb doped TiO2 with rGO improved the electrical conductivity (1.2 times).•The ...charge transfer process (1.8 times) as well as enhanced the mobility (2.3 times) in the TiO2 lattice.
The present work focuses on the charge transfer process in the Titanium dioxide (TiO2) lattice due to Antimony (Sb) doping and compositing it with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Herein, we have prepared Sb doped TiO2 (STO) samples with different concentrations of Sb by solvothermal method and investigated its charge dynamics. From the TEM and HRTEM analysis spherical morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles and d-spacing variation in lattice due to Sb doping was observed. Optical measurements showed improved absorption in visible range as well as a low band tailing effect in the STO samples. XPS peak shift and PL intensity variations confirmed the formation of oxygen defects in the TiO2 lattice. EIS and Hall measurement investigation demonstrated slightly decreased electrical properties due to the heavy doping of Sb ions. Integration of STO NPs with rGO improved the electrical conductivity (1.2 times), accelerated the charge transfer process (1.8 times) as well as enhanced the mobility (2.3 times) in the TiO2 lattice.
Herein, we report the synthesis of quaternary chalcopyrite sulfide semiconductors Cu
2
MSnS
4
(M = Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe) by a hydrothermal process. The formation of kesterite structure was confirmed by ...XRD. XPS analysis confirmed the composition of Cu–(Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe)–Sn–S. Morphologies of the hierarchical structures were characterized. Hall measurements revealed that the Zn was replaced with Ni which exhibited higher carrier density and lower resistivity. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed peak-to-peak separation (
E
pp
) value of Cu
2
NiSnS
4
about 268 mV, which was smaller than that of Cu
2
ZnSnS
4
, and a higher cathodic current density (
I
c
) of 0.000334 mA cm
−2
compared to those of Pt. This indicated that the electrocatalytic activity of Cu
2
NiSnS
4
was better for the
I
−
/
I
3
−
redox reaction, with a long-term stability for 250 cycles.
•Cu2NiSnS4 nanostructures were synthesized by hydrothermal method.•Surfactants play a crucial role in enhancing the properties.•Flower-like hierarchical Cu2NiSnS4 exhibited photo conversion ...efficiency of 3.86 %.
New hierarchical quaternary Cu2NiSnS4 nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using different surfactants. The crystal structure, elemental composition and morphologies of the as-synthesized nanostructures were characterised by XRD, XPS and FESEM as well as TEM respectively. The charge transfer resistance, catalytic and photovoltaic performance of Cu2NiSnS4 exhibited morphological dependence. The nanosheet based flower like hierarchical structure formed in the presence of ethylenediamine exhibited favourable electrocatalytic properties when used as counter electrode in DSSC with an overall conversion efficiency of 3.86 % with a fill factor of 65 %, a short circuit current of 8.02 mA cm2 which were comparable with those of Pt (3.93 %), fill factor of 66 %, a short circuit current of 8.23 mA cm2 under the same device configuration.
•ZnO/SrO nanorods and nanopods were prepared by hydrothermal growth..•Effect of SrO concentration on the formation of ZnO/SrO nanocomposites is investigated..•The photocatalytic degradation of ...ZnO/SrO nanocomposites is 9 times higher than the pure ZnO..•Photogenerated superoxide (O2−) radicals are the main reactive species for the degradation of MB.
To enhance the photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures, strontium oxide (SrO) nanoparticles (NPs) have introduced into ZnO through a facile, inexpensive, one pot hydrothermal approach. The as prepared samples were extensively characterized using various techniques. The morphological analysis revealed, in the absence of Sr, ZnO nanoflowers consist of hexagonal nanorods. Addition of Sr in various amount has profound effect on the morphology. Initially, SrO nanoparticles were formed on the surface of ZnO nanorods. As the weight percentage of SrO increased, the morphology of SrO nanoparticles have been changed to bipods and tripods. The XRD studies revealed good crystallinity of samples with presence of both phases, ZnO as well as SrO, simultaneously. The photocatalytic degradation of ZnO/SrO nanocomposites were 9 times faster than the pure ZnO under visible light irradiation. The optimum Sr weight percentage was found to be 3%. Our experimental results revealed that photogenerated superoxide (O2−) radicals are the main reactive species for the degradation of MB. The maximum degradation efficiency was observed for 3% of Sr, the MB completely degrades after 6min of irradiation.
