Marvin U. Herrera

Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity of Zinc Oxide-Copper Oxide Composites

Many traditional photocatalytic materials such as ZnO and TiO2 are ultraviolet light-triggered due to their wide band gap, however indoor light and sunlight reaching the surface of the earth are in the visible light region. This research aims to fabricate a photocatalytic material that can be triggered using visible light. Ceramic composites with ZnO and CuO interfaces were constructed using heterogeneous mixing technique. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were determined through their ability to degrade methyl orange dye under visible light illumination. Results show that the existence of the ZnO-CuO interface improved the visible light photocatalytic activity of the material.

Photochemical grafting of methyl groups on a Si(111) surface using a Grignard reagent.

The photochemical grafting of methyl groups onto an n-type Si(111) substrate was successfully achieved using a Grignard reagent. The preparation involved illuminating a hydrogen-terminated Si(111) that was immersed in a CH3MgBr-THF solution. The success was attributed to the ability of the n-type hydrogenated substrate to produce holes on its surface when illuminated. The rate of grafting methyl groups onto the silicon surface was higher when a larger illumination intensity or when a substrate with lower dopant concentration was used. In addition, the methylated layer has an atomically flat structure, has a hydrophobic surface, and has electron affinity that was lower than the bulk Si.

Fabrication of visible light-triggered photocatalytic materials from the coupling of n-type zinc oxide and p-type copper oxide

Coupling of copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) was done by chemical precipitation method. In this method, copper sulfate pentahydrate and zinc sulfate heptahydrate salt precursors were separately dissolved in distilled water; then were mixed together. The copper sulfate-zinc sulfate solution was then combined with a sodium hydroxide solution. The precipitates were collected and washed in distilled water and ethanol several times, then filtered and dried. The dried sample was grounded, and then undergone heat treatment. After heating, the sample was grounded again. Zinc oxide powder and copper oxide powder were also fabricated using chemical precipitation method. X-Ray Diffraction measurements of the coupled CuO/ZnO powder showed the presence of CuO and ZnO in the fabricated sample. Furthermore, other peaks shown by XRD were also identified corresponding to copper, copper (II) oxide, copper sulfate and zinc sulfate. Results of the photocatalytic activity investigation show that the sample exhibited superior photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under visible light illumination compared to copper oxide powder and zinc oxide powder. This may be attributed to the lower energy gap at the copper oxide-zinc oxide interface, compared to zinc oxide, allowing visible light to trigger its photocatalytic activity.

Embedding of polyaniline molecules on adhesive tape using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique

Polyaniline molecules are embedded on adhesive tape using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The infrared spectrum shows the existence of molecular vibrational modes associated with the presence of polyaniline molecules on the sample. With the addition of polyaniline molecules, the conductivity of adhesive tape increases. Surface conductivity increases with number of dipping cycle until it reaches a certain value. Beyond this value, surface conductivity begins to decrease. The surface conductivity of the sample is associated with the connectivity of the embedded polyaniline molecules. The connectivity increases as the number of dipping cycle progresses. Meanwhile, the decrease in surface conductivity is attributed to the eroding of existing embedded structure at higher number of dipping cycle.

Creation of hydrophobic surfaces using a paint containing functionalized oxide particles

Hydrophobic surfaces were created by coating various substrates (aluminum sheet, soda-lime glass, silicon carbide polishing paper, glass with double-sided adhesive) with paint containing functionalized oxide particles. The paint was created by functionalizing oxide particles (ground ZnO, TiO2 nanoparticles, or TiO2 microparticles) with fluorosilane molecules in absolute ethanol. Water contact angle of samples shows that the coated substrate becomes hydrophobic (water contact angle ≥ 90°). Among the oxides that were used, ground ZnO yielded contact angle exemplifying superhydrophobicity (water contact angle ≥ 150°). Scanning electron micrograph of paint-containing TiO2 nanoparticles shows rough functionalized oxides structures which probably increase the hydrophobicity of the surface.

Removal of methyl orange dye and copper (II) ions from aqueous solution using polyaniline-coated kapok (Ceiba pentandra) fibers

Hollow tubular structured kapok fibers (Ceiba pentandra) were coated with polyaniline (PANI) molecules using an in situ oxidative polymerization technique. The tubular morphology of the kapok fibers was retained after PANI coating. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum of the PANI-coated kapok fibers illustrated the vibration modes associated with the presence of PANI molecules. The PANI-treated kapok fibers achieved complete wettability with water molecules (zero water contact angle) from initially being highly hydrophobic (contact angle = 120°). In the present work, the removal of contaminants such as methyl orange dye and Cu(II) from aqueous solution using polyaniline-coated kapok fibers was investigated. Isotherm studies show that the removal of methyl orange dye (R2 ≥ 0.959) and Cu(II) (R2 ≥ 0.972) using PANI-coated kapok fibers follow the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum sorption capacities determined to be 75.76 and 81.04 mg/g, respectively. Based from thermodynamic studies, the sorption of methyl orange dye and Cu(II) are endothermic, feasible and spontaneous. Furthermore, kinetic studies show that the both processes follow a pseudo-second-order model, implying that the rate-determining step is chemisorption.

Conducting Properties of Polyaniline Emeraldine Salt on Paper in the Low-Frequency Region

Polyaniline emeraldine salt (PAni-ES) was successfully deposited on paper through layer-by-layer technique. In this method, a paper was alternately dipped in aniline monomer and an oxidizing agent for different dipping cycles. This process produced green PAni-ES on paper. The morphology of the samples showed polymeric networks with pores, fiber-like structures and aggregates. There is a transition from frequency-independent to frequency-dependent conductivities of the samples. The conductivity increased with increasing number of dipping cycles. The frequency-dependent conductivities follow the power-law behavior reflecting conducting network and hopping mechanisms. Lastly, the conductivities with frequency followed a scaling behavior reflecting a common physical mechanism in PAni-ES on paper.

Effect of Acid-Doped Polyaniline-Zinc Oxide Composite on the Removal of Methyl Orange under Visible Light Exposure

In this study, acid-doped polyaniline-zinc oxide composites were prepared and used to investigate their effect on the removal of methyl orange dye under visible light exposure. The composites were prepared by mixing different volume fractions of polyaniline and ZnO powders. Their effect on the removal of methyl orange was determined through transmittance spectroscopy. Polyaniline-zinc oxide composites of 75% volume fractions showed the highest percent removal of methyl orange. This was attributed to the presence of p-n heterojunctions and adsorption capability of the polyaniline molecules.

Antimicrobial Activity of Copper Sulfate and Copper Oxide Embedded on Polyurethane Foam

CuSO4-deposited and CuO-deposited polyurethane foam (PUF) were fabricated in this study. Image analysis showed color transformation of the PUF from yellow to blue-green, which is indicative of the deposited CuSO4 particles on the substrate. Further color transformation of the material from blue-green to greenish-brown after soaking in NaOH suggest that the CuSO4 oxidized to form CuO, which was confirmed by the presence of CuO peaks during XRD analysis. SEM images also reveal the presence of CuO rods embedded in the PUF. The antibacterial activities of the CuSO4- and CuO-deposited samples against the gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria were conducted.

Synthesis and Characterization of Transparent Conducting Film from Abaca Hybrid 7 Cellulose Acetate Blend and Polyaniline

This study dealt with the synthesis and characterization of thin transparent conducting films (TCF) from cellulose acetate (CA) blend and polyaniline (PANI). CA was produced from the pulp of abaca hybrid 7. CA-PANI films with different PANI loadings (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 1.0 and 2.0%) were produced using solvent casting method. Chemical transformations were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The conductivity was measured using the Four-Point Probe Test. Morphological characterization was done using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The transparency of the films was determined using UV-Vis Spectroscopy. FTIR spectra proved the embedment of PANI in the CA matrix. It was found that increasing the PANI loading increases the conductivity of the films but up to a certain limit. The highest average conductivity at 2.0264 x 10-5 S/m was observed in CA-PANI films with 0.50% PANI loading. SEM images revealed that conductivity is a function of PANI loading by forming networks. Further addition of PANI (1.0 and 2.0%) resulted to decreased conductivity due to agglomeration. Transparency, on the other hand, is negatively affected by PANI loading.