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: 552; Downloads: 6 Full text (14,48 MB) This document has many files! More... |
2. |
3. |
4. Novel two-step vapor-phase synthesis of UV – Vis light active Fe2O3/WO3 nanocomposites for phenol degradationDavide Barreca, Giorgio Carraro, Alberto Gasparotto, Chiara Maccato, Cinzia Sada, Elza Bontempi, Mariangela Brisotto, Olena Pliekhova, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Supported Fe2O3/WO3 nanocomposites were
fabricated by an original vapor phase approach, involving
the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Fe2O3 on Ti sheets
and the subsequent radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of WO3.
Particular attention was dedicated to the control of the W/Fe
ratio, in order to tailor the composition of the resulting
materials. The target systems were analyzed by the joint use
of complementary techniques, that is, X-ray diffraction
(XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy
(FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy
dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry
(SIMS), and optical absorption spectroscopy. The results
showed the uniform decoration of α-Fe2O3 (hematite)
globular particles by tiny WO3
aggregates, whose content
could be controlled by modulations of the sole sputtering time. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol in the liquid phase
was selected as a test reaction for a preliminary investigation
of the system behavior in wastewater treatment applications.
The system activity under both UVand Vis light illumination
may open doors for further material optimization in view of
real-world end-uses. Keywords: Fe2O3, WO3, Nanocomposites, Chemical vapor deposition, Sputtering, Photocatalysis Published in RUNG: 03.08.2016; Views: 6499; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
5. ORR stability of Mn–Co/polypyrrole nanocomposite electrocatalysts studied by quasi in-situ identical-location photoelectron microspectroscopyPatrizia Bocchetta, Belen Aleman, Matteo Amati, Mattia Fanetti, Andrea Goldoni, Luca Gregoratti, Maya Kiskinova, Claudio Mele, Hikmet Sezen, Benedetto Bozzini, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: The stability of pyrolyzed Mn–Co/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites towards the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR)
in alkaline solution, was studied with a close-knit group of complementary microscopic and space-resolved spectroscopic
approaches: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning and High-Resolution Transmission Electron
Microscopy (SEM, HRTEM) and identical-location Scanning PhotoElectron Microscopy (SPEM). Tracking quasi-in
situ the morphochemical evolution of the Mn–Co/PPy catalyst upon electrochemical aging under ORR conditions
by this multi-technique approach, has allowed to clarify the key physico-chemical processes underlying
the dramatic impact of Co additions to stability improvement. Keywords: Mixed manganese oxides, Polypyrrole, Oxygen reduction, Electrocatalysis, Nanocomposites, X-ray photoelectron microspectroscopy Published in RUNG: 25.07.2016; Views: 6172; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |