A mixed metal oxide W-TiO nanopowder photocatalyst was prepared by using the sol-gel method with a broad range of elemental compositions x = C/(C + C), including TiO and WO. The material was structurally characterized and evaluated in adsorption and photocatalytic processes by testing its removal capacity of a representative pollutant methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions and under UV-A and sunlight illuminations. The nanopowders appeared to be more effective adsorbents than pure TiO and WO materials, showing a maximum at 15 mol% W, which was set as the tungsten solubility limit in anatase titania.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBulk nanomaterials with an open porosity offer exciting prospects for creating new functional materials for various applications in photonics, IR-THz optics, metamaterials, heterogeneous photocatalysis, monitoring and cleaning toxic impurities in the environment. However, their availability is limited by the complexity of controlling the process of synthesis of bulk 3D nanostructures with desired physicochemical and functional properties. In this paper, we performed a detailed analysis of influence of a silica monolayer chemically deposited on the surface of a monolithic ultraporous nanostructure, consisting of a 3D nanofibril network of aluminum oxyhydroxide, on the evolution of structure and morphology, chemical composition and phase transformations after heat treatment in the temperature range of 20-1700 °C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis chapter introduces unique methodology of antibacterial activity evaluation of nanoparticles in both solution and thin films. Nanoparticles of ZnO, TiO, and CuO are synthesized via the sol-gel method. Antibacterial tests are carried out against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria using disk diffusion and bioluminescence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, ultraporous aluminas (UPA) were synthesized as new effective adsorbents for Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) removal from aqueous solutions. The UPA monoliths were grown via facile oxidation process, followed by isochronous annealing treatment in air at different temperatures, through which γ, θ, and α phase polycrystalline fibrous grains of UPA can be accordingly obtained. The experimental factors that affect the material adsorption performances including initial pH, contact time, and temperature were comprehensively studied by batch experiments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutonomous flight for large aircraft appears to be within our reach. However, launching autonomous systems for everyday missions still requires an immense interdisciplinary research effort supported by pointed policies and funding. We believe that concerted endeavors in the fields of neuroscience, mathematics, sensor physics, robotics, and computer science are needed to address remaining crucial scientific challenges.
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