Recent Developments in ZnS-Based Nanostructures Photocatalysts for Wastewater Treatment.

The continuous growth of the world population has led to the constant increase of environmental pollution, with serious consequences for human health. Toxic, non-biodegradable, and recalcitrant organic pollutants (e.g.

Advances in Sustainable Polymeric Materials.

Sustainable polymeric materials are materials of great technological importance and are specially created to meet unique demands regarding: mechanical resistance and rigidity; corrosion resistance; resistance to the action of chemical agents; low weight; dimensional stability; resistance to variable stress, shock and wear; insulating properties; and aesthetics [...

Multifunctional Zn-Doped ITO Sol-Gel Films Deposited on Different Substrates: Application as CO-Sensing Material.

Undoped and Zn-doped ITO (ITO:Zn) multifunctional thin films were successfully synthesized using the sol-gel and dipping method on three different types of substrates (glass, SiO/glass, and Si). The effect of Zn doping on the optoelectronic, microstructural, and gas-sensing properties of the films was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), Raman spectroscopy, Hall effect measurements (HE), and gas testing. The results showed that the optical constants, the transmission, and the carrier numbers were correlated with the substrate type and with the microstructure and the thickness of the films.

The Influence of Fly Ash on the Mechanical Properties of Water Immersed All Waste Composites.

The paper presents new value-added composite materials prepared by recycling tire rubber, polyethene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethene (HDPE), wood sawdust, and fly ash. The composites were manufactured through the compression molding technique for three temperatures (150 °C, 160 °C, and 190 °C) previously optimized. The addition of fly ash as reinforcement in polymer blends is a viable route to improve the composite" properties.

Special Issue: Photocatalytic Materials for Environment Treatment and Energy Production.

Nowadays, given the major problems facing humanity, the increasing environmental pollution and the need for sustainable and cheap energy sources represent important research issues [...

Photocatalytic Activity of CuS/WO and CuS/SnO Heterostructures for Indoor Air Treatment.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are commonly found in indoor spaces (e.g., homes or offices) and are often related to various illnesses, some of them with carcinogenic potential.

Synergic Effect of TiO Filler on the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites.

Nanocomposites with polymer matrix offer excellent opportunities to explore new functionalities beyond those of conventional materials. TiO, as a reinforcement agent in polymeric nanocomposites, is a viable strategy that significantly enhanced their mechanical properties. The size of the filler plays an essential role in determining the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite.

Tuned S-Scheme CuS_TiO_WO Heterostructure Photocatalyst toward S-Metolachlor (S-MCh) Herbicide Removal.

A dual S-scheme CuS_TiO_WO heterostructure was constructed by sol-gel method using a two-step procedure. Due to the synthesis parameters and annealing treatment the heterostructure is characterized by sulfur deficit and oxygen excess allowing the passivation of oxygen vacancies. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated under UV and UV-Vis irradiation scenarios using S-MCh as reference pollutant.

Fly Ash Waste Recycling by Pt/TiO Incorporation for Industrial Dye Removal.

New materials are obtained by transforming fly ash wastes into a valuable composite, with tandem adsorption and photodegradation properties. Mild hydrothermal synthesis, from titanium dioxide, platinum nanoparticles and zeolite materials obtained from a waste, fly ash, as support, was involved in the composite preparation. The platinum nanoparticles extended the photocatalytic activity of the composite in visible range (Eg = 2.

Tandem Structures Semiconductors Based on TiO_SnO and ZnO_SnO for Photocatalytic Organic Pollutant Removal.

The photocatalyst materials correlation with the radiation scenario and pollutant molecules can have a significant influence on the overall photocatalytic efficiency. This work aims to outline the significance of optimizing the components mass ratio into a tandem structure in order to increase the photocatalytic activity toward pollutant removal. ZnO_SnO and TiO_SnO tandem structures were obtained by the doctor blade technique using different mass ratios between the components.

Pilot-plant evaluation of TiO and TiO-based hybrid photocatalysts for solar treatment of polluted water.

Materials with photocatalytic and adsorption properties for advanced wastewater treatment targeting reuse were studied. Making use of TiO as a well-known photocatalyst, CuS as a Vis-active semiconductor, and fly ash as a good adsorbent, dispersed mixtures/composites were prepared to remove pollutants from wastewater. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, band gap energy, point of zero charge (pH) and BET porosity were used to characterize the substrates.

Fly ash-TiO2 nanocomposite material for multi-pollutants wastewater treatment.

This paper reports on the synthesis, characterization and adsorption properties of a novel nano-composite obtained using the hydrothermal method applied to a fly ash-TiO2 slurry and hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide, as surface controlling agent. The new adsorbent was investigated in terms of crystallinity (XRD), surface properties (AFM, SEM, and porosity and BET surface) and surface chemistry (EDX, FTIR). The nanocomposite's properties were sequentially tested in adsorption and photocatalysis processes applied to multi-pollutant synthetic wastewaters loaded with copper cations and two industrial dyes: the acid dye Bemacid Blau and the reactive dye Bemacid Rot; the nano-composite substrate allowed reaching high removal efficiencies, above 90%, both in adsorption and in photodegradation experiments, in optimised conditions.