Xolile Fuku

Punicalagin Green Functionalized Cu/Cu2O/ZnO/CuO Nanocomposite for Potential Electrochemical Transducer and Catalyst

A novel ternary Punica granatum L-Cu/Cu2O/CuO/ZnO nanocomposite was successfully synthesised via green route. In this work, we demonstrate that the green synthesis of metal oxides is more viable and facile compare to other methods, i.e., physical and chemical routes while presenting a potential electrode for energy applications. The prepared nanocomposite was characterised by both microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques revealed different transitional phases with an average nanocrystallite size of 29–20xa0mm. It was observed that the nanocomposites changed from amorphous-slightly crystalline Cu/Cu2O to polycrystalline Cu/Cu2O/CuO/ZnO at different calcination temperatures (room temperature-RT- 600xa0°C). The Cu/Cu2O/ZnO/CuO metal oxides proved to be highly crystalline and showed irregularly distributed particles with different sizes. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the purity while together with ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy proved the proposed mechanism of the synthesised nanocomposite. UV-Vis showed improved catalytic activity of the prepared metal oxides, evident by narrow band gap energy. The redox and electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite were achieved by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance (EIS) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD). The maximum specific capacitance (Cs) was calculated to be 241xa0Fxa0g−1 at 50xa0mVxa0s−1 for Cu/Cu2O/CuO/ZnO nanoplatelets structured electrode. Moreover, all the CuO nanostructures reveal better power performance, excellent rate as well as long term cycling stability. Such a study will encourages a new design for a wide spectrum of materials for smart electronic device applications.

Synthesis and Characterization Studies of Pb:Zr:/O2 Nanorods for Optoelectronic Applications

Synthesis and Characterization Studies of Pb:Zr:/O2 Nanorods for Optoelectronic Applications nIn the present work, we have synthesized ZrO2 doped PbO2 nanocrystals were successfully prepared by hydrothermal method which is Zirconium nitrate hydrate (Zr(NO3)4.5H2O) and lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) were used as a precursor. In the experimental results show that the amount of Iodine (I) and the NaOH concentration plays a important roles in the formation of hexagonal defined amount of ethylene glycol at 900 °C within 21 hrs. In the physiochemical properties of Zr doped lead oxide nanorod were determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). In Zr doped Pb oxide nanorods were the highest photon activity under both UV and visible light irradiation.

Fabrication of Mixed Phase Bimetallic Zinc Cobaltite Nanocomposite via Moringa Oleifera Green Synthesis

Fabrication of Mixed Phase Bimetallic Zinc Cobaltite Nanocomposite via Moringa Oleifera Green Synthesis nMixed phase bimetallic nanocomposite oxides are combination of two different metal oxides of a nanoscaled range. These novel nanocomposites recently received attention due to their physical and optical properties, which can improve the activity of single metal oxides and allow new kinds of applications. In this paper, we demonstrate a facile and straightforward biosynthetic method for the preparation of spinal Zinc Cobaltite nanocomposite via green chemistry using Moringa oleifera extract as an effective chelating agent. The nano-scaled and the cubic crystallographic nature of the biosynthesized nanocrystals were confirmed by several surface & interface standard techniques. The crystal phase, morphology, particle size, optical and chemical bonding of the prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Photoluminescence and high resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction; and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The efficient synthetic method facilitated the production of spinel ZnCo2O4 with a particle size of 25-50 nm and having a cubical shape, whereas XRD revealed that the synthesized spinel Zinc Cobaltite non-annealed and annealed at 300oC are amorphous and crystalline in nature.

Photocatalytic effect of green synthesised CuO nanoparticles on selected environmental pollutants and pathogens

Highly crystalline irregular green synthesised CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) which are 10u2005nm in particle size were successfully characterised by HRSEM and AFM. EDS confirmed the main components of prepared sample which are Cu and O. Meanwhile, UV/Vis revealed the reflectance, transmittance, absorbance and the semiconducting nature of the synthesised nano-oxides. The optical band gap of CuO NPs was calculated to be 1.4 - 2.3 eV which indicates that CuO NPs can be used in metal oxide semiconductor-based devices. CuO NPs were found to be excellent photocatalysts for the degradation of methyl orange organic dye under the illumination of artificial light irradiation. The experiments demonstrated that MO in aqueous solution was more efficiently photo-degraded (65 %) using CuO NPs as photocatalysts. Further, the nanomaterials were also found to be good inhibitors of bacterial strains at both low and high concentrations of 5 - 10u2005mg mL-1.Highly crystalline irregular green synthesised CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) which are 10u2005nm in particle size were successfully characterised by HRSEM and AFM. EDS confirmed the main components of prepared sample which are Cu and O. Meanwhile, UV/Vis revealed the reflectance, transmittance, absorbance and the semiconducting nature of the synthesised nano-oxides. The optical band gap of CuO NPs was calculated to be 1.4 - 2.3 eV which indicates that CuO NPs can be used in metal oxide semiconductor-based devices. CuO NPs were found to be excellent photocatalysts for the degradation of methyl orange organic dye under the illumination of artificial light irradiation. The experiments demonstrated that MO in aqueous solution was more efficiently photo-degraded (65 %) using CuO NPs as photocatalysts. Further, the nanomaterials were also found to be good inhibitors of bacterial strains at both low and high concentrations of 5 - 10u2005mg mL-1.

Strain in Vanadium Thin Film due Nanosecond Laser Treatment

Strain in Vanadium Thin Film due Nanosecond Laser Treatment nA thin coating of vanadium was grown on a glass substrate using vacuum coating technique. Piezoelectric thickness monitor was used to measure the thickness of the deposited coatings in-situ. The vanadium layer was then treated with a nanosecond pulsed fiber laser source in ambient conditions, and this resulted in the surface cracking due to heat dissipation from the laser. The density of cracks was observed to increase in a direct proportion to the laser fluence. The increase in the density of the cracks was accompanied by the surface modification of the of the vanadium layer as observed in the high-resolution scanning electron microscope. At higher laser fluence there are pinholes forming on the surface of the laser, and this is due to the laser punching and taking place at those experimental conditions.

Nanoscaled Electrocatalytic Optically Modulated ZnO Nanoparticles through Green Process of Punica granatum L. and Their Antibacterial Activities

Most recently, green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles has become an interesting subject of the nanoscience and nanotechnology. The use of plant systems has been deemed a green route and a dependable method for nanoparticle biosynthesis, owing to its environmental friendly nature. The present work demonstrates the bioreductive green synthesis of nanosized zinc oxide (ZnO) using peel extracts of pomegranate. Highly crystalline ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) which are 5u2009nm in particle size were characterised by HRTEM and XRD. FT-IR spectra confirmed the presence of the biomolecules and formation of plant protein-coated ZnO NPs and also the pure ZnO NPs. Electrochemical investigation revealed the redox properties and the conductivity of the as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles. The optical band gap of ZnO NPs was calculated to be 3.48u2009eV which indicates that ZnO NPs can be used in metal oxide semiconductor-based devices. Further, the nanomaterials were also found to be good inhibitors of bacterial strains at both low and high concentrations of 5–10u2009mgu2009mL−1.