Multifunctional nanocomposites (GO-TiO2-Ag) integrating 2D GO sheets, 1D TiO2 nanorods and 0D Ag nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile two-phase method and characterized by various analytical techniques including TEM, EDS and XRD. The GO-TiO2-Ag nanocomposites demonstrate remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activities in degrading AO 7 and phenol under solar irradiation compared with GO-TiO2 and GO-Ag. They also exhibit excellent intrinsic antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli, as well as significantly enhanced photo-biocidal capability over GO-TiO2 and GO-Ag. Through systematically investigating the influence of Ag content in the nanocomposites for their photocatalytic activities, it indicates that the optimal Ag content in the GO-TiO2-Ag nanocomposites varies for dye degradation and for phenol/bacterial degradation with different mechanisms. The superior photocatalytic activities under solar irradiation and the easy recovery make the GO-TiO2-Ag nanocomposites a good promising candidate for water purification.
Synthetic photobiocatalysts are promising catalysts for valuable chemical transformations by harnessing solar energy inspired by natural photosynthesis. However, the synergistic integration of all of the components for efficient light harvesting, cascade electron transfer, and efficient biocatalytic reactions presents a formidable challenge. In particular, replicating intricate multiscale hierarchical assembly and functional segregation involved in natural photosystems, such as photosystems I and II, remains particularly demanding within artificial structures.
Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) employed for seawater desalination and wastewater purification shows great promise to alleviate global freshwater scarcity. However, simultaneous optimization of water transfer direction in a cost-effective and reliable ISSG to balance thermal localization, salt accumulation, and resistance to oilfouling represents a rare feat. Herein, inspired by seabird beaks for unidirectional water transfer, eco-friendly and cost-effective plant extracts, sodium alginate, and tannic acid, are selected for crafting an innovative Sodium Alginate-Tannic Acid Hemispheric Evaporator (STHE).
Understanding the environmental fate of chemical herbicides is crucial to sustainable agriculture. Due to their joint-use with nitrogen fertilizers, their residues often coexist with NO in agricultural drainages. In this study, tribenuron-methyl was used as a model to evaluate the role of NO in the phototransformation of chemical herbicides, which was characterized by a two-stage process.
Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to characterize reaction products, resulting from solar wind irradiation, namely, H, of methane and methane-water ices. In our approach, we used seven 0.829 keV H (total energy of 5.
This paper investigates the evolution of changes in surface ultraviolet (UV) radiation globally, emphasizing the significant impacts of key factors influencing its variability, i.e., total column ozone, aerosols, clouds, and surface reflectivity.
