Mohammad Ghorban Dekamin

This research offers a bio-template synthesis for NiZrO3 and Ag-NiZrO3. On the other hand, it introduces simple and rapid preparation of carbon-based nano-photocatalyst including g-C3N4 and g-C3N5. The main objective was to obtain photocatalysts with improved efficiency while maintaining a sustainable synthesis strategy for overall water splitting. The obtained materials were examined using PXRD, DRS, FT-IR, FESEM, and BET techniques. These analyses verified the successful formation of crystalline phases and also revealed changes in the surface properties of the prepared samples. The photocatalytic performance of the prepared samples was evaluated under simulated solar light. Among them, the Ag–NiZrO₃/g-C₃N₅ nanocomposite exhibited the highest oxygen evolution activity, producing 6.9 μmol of O₂. Other nanocomposites showed lower oxygen evolution values, with oxygen production ranging from 5.3 to 5.9 μmol. This behavior may be attributed to the narrower band gap of the composite (1.8 eV) together with its larger specific surface area. These features can increase the number of available active sites and help to promote the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The presence of Ag nanoparticles in the NiZrO₃/g-C₃N₅ composite is likely associated with the observed enhancement in photocatalytic activity. This effect may arise from changes in the electronic structure including a reduction in band gap energy and more efficient charge transport across the heterostructure. Based on these results, Ag–NiZrO₃/g-C₃N₅ appears to be a suitable candidate for solar-driven water splitting, particularly when environmentally friendly photocatalytic systems are desired.

This research offers a bio-template synthesis for NiZrO3 and Ag-NiZrO3. On the other hand, it introduces simple and rapid preparation of carbon-based nano-photocatalyst including g-C3N4 and g-C3N5. The main objective was to obtain photocatalysts with improved efficiency while maintaining a sustainable synthesis strategy for overall water splitting. The obtained materials were examined using PXRD, DRS, FT-IR, FESEM, and BET techniques. These analyses verified the successful formation of crystalline phases and also revealed changes in the surface properties of the prepared samples. The photocatalytic performance of the prepared samples was evaluated under simulated solar light. Among them, the Ag–NiZrO₃/g-C₃N₅ nanocomposite exhibited the highest oxygen evolution activity, producing 6.9 μmol of O₂. Other nanocomposites showed lower oxygen evolution values, with oxygen production ranging from 5.3 to 5.9 μmol. This behavior may be attributed to the narrower band gap of the composite (1.8 eV) together with its larger specific surface area. These features can increase the number of available active sites and help to promote the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The presence of Ag nanoparticles in the NiZrO₃/g-C₃N₅ composite is likely associated with the observed enhancement in photocatalytic activity. This effect may arise from changes in the electronic structure including a reduction in band gap energy and more efficient charge transport across the heterostructure. Based on these results, Ag–NiZrO₃/g-C₃N₅ appears to be a suitable candidate for solar-driven water splitting, particularly when environmentally friendly photocatalytic systems are desired.

Developing efficient and environmentally sustainable photocatalysts for solar-driven water oxidation remains an important challenge in photocatalytic energy conversion. Here, CuMn₂O₄, Pr-doped CuMn₂O₄, Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene, and their heterostructured nanocomposites were synthesized through a green yeast-assisted route, where yeast served as an environmentally benign capping agent for the preparation of stable nanostructured materials. The crystal structure, morphology, optical properties, elemental composition, and surface characteristics of the synthesized photocatalysts were investigated using different analyses. Their photocatalytic activity was evaluated through oxygen evolution under simulated solar irradiation. Among the investigated samples, the Pr-CuMn₂O₄/Ti₃C₂Tₓ (1:1) nanocomposite exhibited the highest oxygen evolution yield (7.2 μmol), compared with CuMn₂O₄/Ti₃C₂Tₓ (6.2 μmol), Pr-CuMn₂O₄/Ti₃C₂Tₓ (1:2) (6.6 μmol), and Pr-CuMn₂O₄/Ti₃C₂Tₓ (2:1) (6.9 μmol). The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the reduced optical band gap (1.4 eV), higher specific surface area, and the intimate interfacial contact between Pr-CuMn₂O₄ and Ti₃C₂Tₓ, which collectively promote visible-light harvesting and interfacial charge transfer. In addition, the intimate coupling between Pr-CuMn₂O₄ and Ti₃C₂Tₓ is expected to facilitate interfacial charge transport, thereby contributing to the enhanced oxygen evolution activity. These findings demonstrate that integrating Pr-doped CuMn₂O₄ with Ti₃C₂Tₓ through a green synthetic strategy provides an effective approach for designing visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for solar-driven oxygen evolution.

Persistent pharmaceutical contaminants in water pose a major challenge to conventional wastewater treatment methods. Visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidation is a promising approach for their degradation, but achieving high efficiency, stability, and recyclability remains a key challenge. In this study, a magnetically recoverable hollow ZnFe2O4/CoO/CQDs nanocatalyst was synthesized and evaluated for the degradation of Daclatasvir under visible-light irradiation. Structural and morphological analyses (FTIR, XRD, FESEM, HRTEM) confirmed the hollow architecture, while VSM analysis demonstrated paramagnetic behavior enabling efficient magnetic recovery. BET measurements revealed a mesoporous structure, and DRS analysis indicated a suitable band gap for visible-light photocatalysis. The catalyst achieved 95.5% Daclatasvir degradation within 60 min and retained 88.7% efficiency after five reuse cycles. These results demonstrate that the synergistic combination of ZnFe2O4, CoO, and CQDs in a hollow, magnetically recoverable structure provides an effective and sustainable strategy for removing pharmaceutical pollutants from water, addressing the challenge of developing high-performance visible-light photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.

Periodic mesoporous silicas (PMOs) are emerging, as attractive supports, for heterogeneous catalysts due to several key properties. These materials offer extensive surface areas, precisely controlled pore structures, and can readily coordinate metal cations within their framework, making them excellent platforms for catalyst development. Supramolecular coordinated PMOs, in particular, are widely applicable in catalysis due to their uniform distribution of active sites inside walls along with higher thermal and mechanical stability. Herein, a novel supramolecular Cu(II) supported on the thiosemicarbazide-functionalized periodic mesoporous organosilica (Cu(II)@TSC-Pr-PMO) was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal self-assembly method and thoroughly characterized by using different spectroscopic, microscopic and analytical techniques as well as N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The Cu(II)@TSC-Pr-PMO Lewis acidic active sites and thiosemicarbazide functional groups within a high-surface-area framework featuring ordered mesoporous channels. The catalytic performance of the Cu(II)@TSC-Pr-PMO catalyst system was investigated in the transformation of CO2 and different epoxides to form cyclic carbonates under mild and green conditions. Ultimately, a synergistic catalytic mechanism of the Cu(II)@TSC-Pr-PMO/TBAB system for the formation of cyclic carbonates was provided. High yields, the simplicity of experimental and product isolation process, in conjunction with the easy recovery and reusability of the catalyst, established an attractive protocol for CO2 activation and conversion.

This study presents a green, efficient and sustainable method for synthesizing biologically active 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-one/thione (3,4-DHPMs/3,4-DHPMTs) and 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHPs) heterocycles. The protocol involves a one-pot, three-component condensation of aldehydes, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and urea or ammonium carbonate, catalyzed by heterogeneous CuO stabilized on magnetic decorated GO nanosheets (CuO/mGO-TA-Me-BTA) nanocomposite. The method adheres to green chemistry principles, offering advantages such as short reaction times, high yields, easy work-up, and the use of a recyclable and low-cost catalyst. The catalyst demonstrated remarkable stability and could be reused up to six times without significant loss of its activity. The CuO/mGO-TA-Me-BTA nanocomposite was extensively characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, EDX elemental mapping, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM).

In this work, chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin nanostructure was synthesized by cross-linking chitosan and cellulose with EDTA followed by bridging with ethylenediamine-β-cyclodextrin. The chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin bio-based nanostructure is a novel drug delivery system that has been developed for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. The chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin nanostructure was characterized by EDX, XRD, FESEM, TGA, FT-IR, in vitro drug loading and release study. The drug efficiency of the curcumin inclusion complex with chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin was higher compared to chitosan-EDTA-cellulose and increased with increasing β-cyclodextrin fragments. The curcumin release behavior from chitosan-EDTA-cellulose and chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin nanostructures was evaluated at two pHs of 5.5 (acidic extracellular microenvironment of tumors) and 7.4 (typical physiological pH of most body tissues and fluids) in 72 h, which was better fitted with the Korsmeyer’s–Peppas kinetic model. The cytotoxicity of curcumin-loaded chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin was less than free curcumin. It appeared that the presence of β-cyclodextrin appreciably reduced the burst release observed in chitosan-EDTA-cellulose network. Finally, chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin was obtained with nanoparticle size of about 56.07 ± 12.11 nm, zeta potential range of 31.26 ± 0.09 to 47.98 ± 0.11 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of 86.0 ± 0.17%. The outcomes indicated that the chitosan/cellulose/β-cyclodextrin nanostructure is applicable for the parenteral injection delivery of the curcumin anticancer drug.