1. First utilization of magnetically-assisted photocatalytic iron ▫$oxide-TiO_2$▫ nanocomposites for the degradation of the problematic antibiotic ciprofloxacin in an aqueous environmentJosip Radić, Gregor Žerjav, Lucija Jurko, Perica Bošković, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Alenka Vesel, Andraž Mavrič, Martina Gudelj, Olivija Plohl, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to antibiotics in the environment presents significant public health, economic, and societal risks. This study addresses the need for effective strategies to reduce antibiotic residues, focusing on ciprofloxacin degradation. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IO NPs), approximately 13 nm in size, were synthesized and functionalized with branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI) to obtain a positive charge. These IO-bPEI NPs were combined with negatively charged titanium dioxide NPs (TiO2@CA) to form magnetically photocatalytic IO-TiO2 nanocomposites. Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electrokinetic measurements, and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), confirmed the successful formation and properties of the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites exhibited a high specific surface area, reduced mobility of photogenerated charge carriers, and enhanced photocatalytic properties. Testing the photocatalytic potential of IO-TiO2 with ciprofloxacin in water under UV-B light achieved up to 70% degradation in 150 min, with a degradation rate of 0.0063 min−1. The nanocomposite was magnetically removed after photocatalysis and successfully regenerated for reuse. These findings highlight the potential of IO-TiO2 nanocomposites for reducing ciprofloxacin levels in wastewater, helping curb antibiotic resistance. Keywords: photocatalytic degradation, magnetic iron oxide-TiO2 nanocomposites, hetero-agglomeration, multifunctionality, antibiotic ciprofloxacin, antimicrobial resistance Published in RUNG: 09.09.2024; Views: 521; Downloads: 6 Full text (14,48 MB) This document has many files! More... |
2. Transparent vanadium doped titania-silica films : structural characterization and self-cleaning propertiesAndraž Šuligoj, Nejc Povirk, Ksenija Maver, Andraž Mavrič, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, Angelja Kjara Surca, 2024, original scientific article Keywords: photocatalysis, TiO2-SiO2, vanadium, film, Raman spectroscopy Published in RUNG: 09.09.2024; Views: 528; Downloads: 7 Full text (9,47 MB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Understanding the in-situ transformation of ▫$Cu_xO$▫ interlayers to increase the water splitting efficiency in NiO/n-Si photoanodesChao Feng, Zhi Liu, Huanxin Ju, Andraž Mavrič, Matjaž Valant, Jie Fu, Beibei Zhang, Yanbo Li, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The buried interface tens of nanometers beneath the solid-liquid junction is crucial for photocarrier extraction, influencing the overall efficiency of photoelectrochemical devices. Precise characterization of the interfacial properties is essential for device optimization but remains challenging. Here, we directly probe the in situ transformation of a CuxO interlayer at the NiO/n-Si interface by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that Cu(I) in the CuxO interlayer gradually transforms to Cu(II) with air exposure, forming an energetically more favorable interface and improving photoanode’s efficiency. Based on this finding, a reactive e-beam evaporation process is developed for the direct deposition of a CuO interlayer, achieving a half-cell solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 4.56% for the optimized NiO/CuO/n-Si heterojunction photoanode. Our results highlight the importance of precision characterization of interfacial properties with advanced hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in guiding the design of efficient solar water-splitting devices. Keywords: photo anode, energy harvesting, nickel oxide, interface Published in RUNG: 01.08.2024; Views: 1053; Downloads: 10 Full text (2,10 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Tunable emissive ▫$CsPbBr_3 /Cs_4PbBr_6$▫ quantum dots engineered by discrete phase transformation for enhanced photogating in field-effect phototransistorsHan Xiao, Siyuan Wan, Lin He, Junlong Zou, Andraž Mavrič, Yixi Wang, Marek Piotrowski, Anil Kumar Bandela, Paolo Samorì, Zhiming M. Wang, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Precise control of quantum structures in hybrid nanocrystals requires advancements in scientific methodologies. Here, on the design of tunable CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 quantum dots are reported by developing a unique discrete phase transformation approach in Cs4PbBr6 nanocrystals. Unlike conventional hybrid systems that emit solely in the green region, this current strategy produces adjustable luminescence in the blue (450 nm), cyan (480 nm), and green (510 nm) regions with high photoluminescence quantum yields up to 45%, 60%, and 85%, respectively. Concentration‐dependent studies reveal that phase transformation mechanisms and the factors that drive CsBr removal occur at lower dilutions while the dissolution–recrystallization process dominates at higher dilutions. When the polymer‐CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 integrated into a field‐effected transistor the resulting phototransistors featured enhanced photosensitivity exceeding 105, being the highest reported for an n‐type phototransistor, while maintaining good transistor performances as compared to devices consisting of polymer‐CsPbBr3 NCs. Keywords: crystallization mechanisms, dilution-induced kinetic trapping, photogating effect, phototransistors, quantum dots Published in RUNG: 26.06.2024; Views: 921; Downloads: 11 Full text (4,02 MB) This document has many files! More... |
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6. Designing atomic interface in ▫$Sb_2S_3/CdS$▫ heterojunction for efficient solar water splittingMinji Yang, Zeyu Fan, Jinyan Du, Chao Feng, Ronghua Li, Beibei Zhang, Nadiia Pastukhova, Matjaž Valant, Matjaž Finšgar, Andraž Mavrič, Yanbo Li, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: In the emerging Sb2S3‐based solar energy conversion devices, a CdS buffer layer prepared by chemical bath deposition is commonly used to improve the separation of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs. However, the cation diffusion at the Sb2S3/CdS interface induces detrimental defects but is often overlooked. Designing a stable interface in the Sb2S3/CdS heterojunction is essential to achieve high solar energy conversion efficiency. As a proof of concept, this study reports that the modification of the Sb2S3/CdS heterojunction with an ultrathin Al2O3 interlayer effectively suppresses the interfacial defects by preventing the diffusion of Cd2+ cations into the Sb2S3 layer. As a result, a water‐splitting photocathode based on Ag:Sb2S3/Al2O3/CdS heterojunction achieves a significantly improved half‐cell solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of 2.78% in a neutral electrolyte, as compared to 1.66% for the control Ag:Sb2S3/CdS device. This work demonstrates the importance of designing atomic interfaces and may provide a guideline for the fabrication of high‐performance stibnite‐type semiconductor‐based solar energy conversion devices. Keywords: alumina, defect passivation, interface engineering, photoelectrochemical water splitting Published in RUNG: 11.03.2024; Views: 1440; Downloads: 3 Full text (4,59 MB) This document has many files! More... |
7. Resolving a structural issue in cerium-nickel-based oxide : single compound or a two-phase system?Jelena Kojčinović, Dalibor Tatar, Stjepan Šarić, Cora Pravda Bartus, Andraž Mavrič, Iztok Arčon, Zvonko Jagličić, Maximilian Mellin, Marcus Einert, Angela Altomare, Rocco Caliandro, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: CeNiO3 has been reported in the literature in the last few years as a novel LnNiO3 compound with promising applications in different catalytic fields, but its structure has not been correctly reported so far. In this research, CeNiO3 (RB1), CeO2 and NiO have been synthesized in a nanocrystalline form using a modified citrate aqueous sol-gel route. A direct comparison between the equimolar physical mixture (n(CeO2) : n(NiO) = 1:1) and a compound RB1 was made. Their structural differences were investigated by laboratory powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy detector (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. The surface of the compounds was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while the thermal behaviour was explored by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their magnetic properties were also investigated with the aim of exploring the differences between these two compounds. There were clear differences between the physical mixture of CeO2 + NiO and RB1 presented by all of these employed methods. Synchrotron methods, such as atomic pair distribution function analysis (PDF), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) were used to explore the structure of RB1 in more detail. Three different models for the structural solution of RB1 were proposed. One structural solution proposes that RB1 is a single-phase pyrochlore compound (Ce2Ni2O7) while the other two solutions suggest that RB1 is a two-phase system of either CeO2 + NiO or Ce1–xNixO2 and NiO. Keywords: cerium oxide, nickel oxide, crystallography Published in RUNG: 22.12.2023; Views: 2054; Downloads: 9 Full text (4,13 MB) This document has many files! More... |
8. Infrared spectra in amorphous aluminaLuigi Giacomazzi, Nikita S Shcheblanov, Mikhail E Povarnitsyn, Yanbo Li, Andraž Mavrič, Barbara Zupančič, Jože Grdadolnik, Alfredo Pasquarello, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: We present a combined study based on experimental measurements of infrared (IR) dielectric function and first-principles calculations of IR spectra and vibrational density of states (VDOS) of amorphous alumina (am-Al₂O₃). In particular, we show that the main features of the imaginary part of the dielectric function ε₂(ω) at ~380 and 630 cm-¹ are related to the motions of threefold coordinated oxygen atoms, which are the vast majority of oxygen atoms in am-Al₂O₃. Our analysis (involving three model structures) provides an alternative point of view with respect to an earlier suggested assignment of the vibrational modes, which relates them to the stretching and bending vibrational modes of AlOₙ (n = 4, 5, and 6) polyhedra. Our assignment is based on the additive decomposition of the VDOS and ε₂(ω) spectra, which shows that: (i) the band at ~380 cm-¹ features oxygen motions occurring in a direction normal to the plane defined by the three nearest-neighbor aluminum atoms, i.e. out-of-plane motions of oxygen atoms; (ii) Al-O stretching vibrations (i.e. in-plane motions of oxygen atoms) appear at frequencies above ~500 cm-¹, which characterize the vibrational modes underlying the band at ~630 cm-¹. Keywords: amorphous alumina, infrared spectra, first-principles calculations Published in RUNG: 15.09.2023; Views: 1680; Downloads: 10 Link to file This document has many files! More... |
9. Utilizing structurally disordered AlMg-oxide phase in Cu/ZnO catalyst for efficient ▫$CO_2$▫ hydrogenation to methanolAndraž Mavrič, Gregor Žerjav, Blaž Belec, Matevž Roškarič, Matjaž Finšgar, Albin Pintar, Matjaž Valant, 2023, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: carbon dioxide, methanol, catalysis Published in RUNG: 15.09.2023; Views: 2055; Downloads: 7 Full text (99,69 KB) This document has many files! More... |
10. Self-adaptive amorphous ▫$CoO_xCl_y$▫ electrocatalyst for sustainable chlorine evolution in acidic brineMengjun Xiao, Qianbao Wu, Ruiqi Ku, Liujiang Zhou, Chang Long, Junwu Liang, Andraž Mavrič, Lei Li, Jing Zhu, Matjaž Valant, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction is of central importance in the chlor-alkali industry, but the chlorine evolution anode is largely limited by water oxidation side reaction and corrosion-induced performance decay in strong acids. Here we present an amorphous CoOxCly catalyst that has been deposited in situ in an acidic saline electrolyte containing Co2+ and Cl- ions to adapt to the given electrochemical condition and exhibits ~100% chlorine evolution selectivity with an overpotential of ~0.1 V at 10 mA cm−2 and high stability over 500 h. In situ spectroscopic studies and theoretical calculations reveal that the electrochemical introduction of Cl- prevents the Co sites from charging to a higher oxidation state thus suppressing the O-O bond formation for oxygen evolution. Consequently, the chlorine evolution selectivity has been enhanced on the Cl-constrained Co-O* sites via the Volmer-Heyrovsky pathway. This study provides fundamental insights into how the reactant Cl-itself can work as a promoter toward enhancing chlorine evolution in acidic brine. Keywords: catalyst synthesis, electrocatalysis, chlorine evolution Published in RUNG: 04.09.2023; Views: 2344; Downloads: 8 Full text (3,05 MB) This document has many files! More... |