Recent studies in nanomedicine have intensively explored the prospective applications of surface-... more Recent studies in nanomedicine have intensively explored the prospective applications of surface-tailored graphene oxide (GO) as anticancer entity. However, the efficacy of nonfunctionalized graphene oxide nanolayers (GRO-NLs) as an anticancer agent is less explored. In this study, we report the synthesis of GRO-NLs and their in vitro anticancer potential in breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29), and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells. GRO-NLs-treated HT-29, HeLa, and MCF-7 cells showed cytotoxicity in the MTT and NRU assays via defects in mitochondrial functions and lysosomal activity. HT-29, HeLa, and MCF-7 cells treated with GRO-NLs exhibited substantial elevations in ROS, disturbances of the mitochondrial membrane potential, an influx of Ca2+, and apoptosis. The qPCR quantification showed the upregulation of caspase 3, caspase 9, bax, and SOD1 genes in GRO-NLs-treated cells. Western blotting showed the depletion of P21, P53, and CDC25C proteins in the above cancer cell lines after GRO-NLs tre...
In the present study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of Tabebuia roseo-alba in lu... more In the present study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of Tabebuia roseo-alba in lung cancer was assessed. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of T. roseo-alba were synthesized using an ethanolic extract and characterized by adopting various parameters. Herein, the eco-friendly, cost-effective, and green synthesis of AgNPs was evaluated using an ethanolic extract of T. roseo-alba. The as-synthesized AgNPs were then characterized using various characterization techniques, such as UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The AgNPs are crystalline, spherical, and highly stable AgNPs of varying sizes in the range of 5–20 nm. The anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract of T. roseo-alba and its AgNPs was determined using an MTT assay. The results indicated that, although both samples showed prominent anti-proliferative activity on lung cancer...
Green syntheses of metallic nanoparticles using plant extracts as effective sources of reductants... more Green syntheses of metallic nanoparticles using plant extracts as effective sources of reductants and stabilizers have attracted decent popularity due to their non-toxicity, environmental friendliness and rapid nature. The current study demonstrates the ecofriendly, facile and inexpensive synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AP-AgNPs) using the extract of aerial parts of the Anthemis pseudocotula Boiss. plant (AP). Herein, the aerial parts extract of AP performed a twin role of a reducing as well as a stabilizing agent. The green synthesized AP-AgNPs were characterized by several techniques such as XRD, UV-Vis, FT-IR, TEM, SEM and EDX. Furthermore, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of as-prepared AP-AgNPs were examined by a standard two-fold microbroth dilution method and tissue culture plate methods, respectively, against several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains and fungal species such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), multidr...
The formation of a C-C bond through Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions in water with efficien... more The formation of a C-C bond through Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions in water with efficient heterogeneous catalysts is a challenging task. In this current study, a highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) immobilized palladium (Pd) nanoparticle based catalyst (HRG-Py-Pd) is used to catalyze Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions in water. During the preparation of the catalyst, amino pyrene is used as a smart functionalizing ligand, which offered chemically specific binding sites for the effective and homogeneous nucleation of Pd NPs on the surface of HRG, which significantly enhanced the physical stability and dispersibility of the resulting catalyst in an aqueous medium. Microscopic analysis of the catalyst revealed a uniform distribution of ultrafine Pd NPs on a solid support. The catalytic properties of HRG-Py-Pd are tested towards the Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions of various aryl halides with acrylic acid in an aqueous medium. Furthermore, the catalytic efficacy of H...
In recent years, the development of green mechanochemical processes for the synthesis of new cata... more In recent years, the development of green mechanochemical processes for the synthesis of new catalysts with higher catalytic efficacy and selectivity has received manifest interest. In continuation of our previous study, in which graphene oxide (GRO) and highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) based nanocomposites were prepared and assessed, herein, we have explored a facile and solvent-less mechanochemical approach for the synthesis of N-doped graphene (NDG)/mixed metal oxide (MnCO3–ZrO2) ((X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2), as the (X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 nano-composite was synthesized using physical grinding of separately synthesized NDG and pre-calcined (300 °C) MnCO3–ZrO2 via green milling method. The structures of the prepared materials were characterized in detail using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N2 adsorption-de...
Pollution and global warming are a few of the many reasons for environmental problems, due to ind... more Pollution and global warming are a few of the many reasons for environmental problems, due to industrial wastes and greenhouse gases, hence there are efforts to bring down such emissions to reduce pollution and combat global warming. In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles are green synthesized using cow dung as fuel, through combustion. Synthesized material was characterized by FTIR, XRD, UV, and FESEM. The as-prepared ZnO-GS NPs were employed as a transesterification catalyst for the preparation of biodiesel from discarded cooking oil. The biodiesel obtained is termed D-COME (discarded cooking oil methyl ester), which is blended with 20% commercial diesel (B20). Additionally, this blend, i.e., B20, is further blended with varying amounts of as-prepared ZnO-GS NPs, in order to ascertain its effects on the quality of emissions of various greenhouse gases such as hydrocarbons, COx, NOx. Moreover, the brake thermal efficiency (BTHE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) we...
Palladium-based carbon catalysts (Pd/C) can be potentially applied as an efficient catalyst for S... more Palladium-based carbon catalysts (Pd/C) can be potentially applied as an efficient catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura and Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions. Herein, a variety of catalysts of palladium on activated carbon were prepared by varying the content of ‘Pd’ via an in situ reduction method, using hydrogen as a reducing agent. The as-prepared catalysts (0.5 wt % Pd/C, 1 wt % Pd/C, 2 wt % Pd/C and 3 wt % Pd/C) were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses. The catalysts were tested as a coupling catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions involving aryl halides and phenyl boronic acid. The optimization of the catalyst by varying the palladium content on the activated carbon yielded Pd/C catalysts with very high catalytic activity for Suzuki reactions of aryl halides and a Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction of 4-bromoanisol and acrylic acid in an aqueous med...
Catalytic efficacy of metal-based catalysts can be significantly enhanced by doping graphene or i... more Catalytic efficacy of metal-based catalysts can be significantly enhanced by doping graphene or its derivatives in the catalytic protocol. In continuation of previous work regarding the catalytic properties of highly-reduced graphene oxide (HRG), graphene-oxide (GO) doped mixed metal oxide-based nanocomposites, herein we report a simple, straightforward and solventless mechanochemical preparation of N-doped graphene (NDG)/mixed metal oxide-based nanocomposites of ZnO–MnCO3 (i.e., ZnO–MnCO3/(X%-NDG)), wherein N-doped graphene (NDG) is employed as a dopant. The nanocomposites were prepared by physical milling of separately fabricated NDG and ZnO–MnCO3 calcined at 300 °C through eco-friendly ball mill procedure. The as-obtained samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and surface area ana...
Zinc oxide-ternary heterostructure Mn3O4/ZnO/Eu2O3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared via ... more Zinc oxide-ternary heterostructure Mn3O4/ZnO/Eu2O3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared via waste curd as fuel by a facile one-pot combustion procedure. The fabricated heterostructures were characterized utilizing XRD, UV–Visible, FT-IR, FE-SEM, HRTEM and EDX analysis. The photocatalytic degradation efficacy of the synthesized ternary nanocomposite was evaluated utilizing model organic pollutants of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) in water as examples of cationic dyes and anionic dyes, respectively, under natural solar irradiation. The effect of various experimental factors, viz. the effect of a light source, catalyst dosage, irradiation time, pH of dye solution and dye concentration on the photodegradation activity, was systematically studied. The ternary Mn3O4/ZnO/Eu2O3 photocatalyst exhibited excellent MB and MO degradation activity of 98% and 96%, respectively, at 150 min under natural sunlight irradiation. Experiments further conclude that the fabricated nanocom...
Degradation of organic dyes and their byproducts by heterogeneous photocatalysts is an essential ... more Degradation of organic dyes and their byproducts by heterogeneous photocatalysts is an essential process, as these dyes can be potentially discharged in wastewater and threaten aquatic and xerophyte life. Therefore, their complete mineralization into nontoxic components (water and salt) is necessary through the process of heterogeneous photocatalysis. In this study, Zr/CrO2 (Zirconium-doped chromium IV oxide) nanocomposite-based photocatalysts with different compositions (1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 wt.%) were prepared by an environmentally friendly, solid-state reaction at room temperature. The as-prepared samples were calcined under air at 450 °C in a furnace for a specific period of time. The synthesis of Zr/CrO2 photocatalysts was confirmed by various techniques, including XRD, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and BET. The photocatalytic properties of all samples were tested towards the degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange organic dyes under UV light. The results revealed a concentration-...
CoxOy–manganese carbonate (X%)(CoxOy–MnCO3 catalysts (X = 1–7)) were synthesized via a straightfo... more CoxOy–manganese carbonate (X%)(CoxOy–MnCO3 catalysts (X = 1–7)) were synthesized via a straightforward co-precipitation strategy followed by calcination at 300 °C. Upon calcination at 500 °C, these were transformed to CoxOy–dimanganese trioxide i.e., (X%)CoxOy–Mn2O3. A relative catalytic evaluation was conducted to compare the catalytic efficiency of the two prepared catalysts for aerial oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) to benzaldehyde (BzH) using O2 molecule as a clean oxidant without utilizing any additives or alkalis. Amongst the different percentages of doping with CoxOy (0–7% wt./wt.) on MnCO3 support, the (1%)CoxOy–MnCO3 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity. The influence of catalyst loading, calcination temperature, reaction time, and temperature and catalyst dosage was thoroughly assessed to find the optimum conditions of oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) for getting the highest catalytic efficiency. The (1%)CoxOy–MnCO3 catalyst which calcined at 300 °C displ...
In this study, we reported the eco-friendly fabrication of Ag2O–MnO2/GRO nanocomposites by the so... more In this study, we reported the eco-friendly fabrication of Ag2O–MnO2/GRO nanocomposites by the solid-state mixing of separately prepared GRO and Ag2O–MnO2 NPs using ball milling method, a mechanochemical approach. The prepared material was studied for the catalytic effect of GRO in the system for the aerial oxidation of a variety of alcohols. It was found that the (1%)Ag2O–MnO2/(5 wt.%)GRO nanocatalyst demonstrated a high conversion ability (~100%) and excellent selectivity in the presence of O2 as a clean oxidant. The higher catalytic properties of the nanocomposite were attributed to the presence of GRO, which exhibited extraordinary catalytic properties like improved surface area, excellent chemical compatibility, and stability, as well as the introduction of several defects in the obtained nanocomposite that enhance the catalytic performance. The specific activity of 13.3 mmol·g−1·h−1 is obtained for the catalyst i.e. (1%)Ag2O–MnO2/(5 wt.%)GRO, which is reportedly superior to th...
Due to their low cost and environmentally friendly nature, plant extracts based methods have gain... more Due to their low cost and environmentally friendly nature, plant extracts based methods have gained significant popularity among researchers for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. Herein, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles was performed using the aqueous solution of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves extract (ZM-LE) as a bio-reducing agent. The as-obtained silver nanoparticles were characterized by using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD (X-ray diffraction), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy). In addition, the effects of the concentrations of the leaves extract, silver nitrate, and the temperature on the preparation of nanoparticles were also investigated. In order to determine the nature of secondary metabolites present in leaves extract, a preliminary investigation of phytoconstituents was carried out using different methods including Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 methods. The results have indicated the presence of a considerable amou...
High-intensity ultrasonic waves have great potential for the green synthesis of various nanomater... more High-intensity ultrasonic waves have great potential for the green synthesis of various nanomaterials under mild conditions and offer an excellent alternative for hazardous chemical methods. Herein a facile approach for the eco-friendly synthesis of Au-ZrO2 nanocatalyst with a high catalytic activity using a facile ultrasonic method is presented. Gold (Au) in the nanosize regime was successfully deposited on the surface of solvothermally synthesized monodispersed ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) in a very short period of time (5 min) at room temperature. Spherical shape small size Au nanoparticles that are uniformly dispersed on the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles were obtained. Notably, in the absence of ZrO2 nanoparticles, HAuCl4 could not be reduced, indicating that nano-sized ZrO2 not only acted as support but also helped to reduce the gold precursor at the surface. The as-prepared Au-ZrO2 nanocatalyst was characterized by various techniques. The Au-ZrO2 nanocatalyst served as a high...
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2017
This work reports the zirconia (ZrOx) nanoparticles doped MnCO3 catalysts prepared by facile and ... more This work reports the zirconia (ZrOx) nanoparticles doped MnCO3 catalysts prepared by facile and simple coprecipitation technique and the synthesis of zirconia-manganese carbonate [X% ZrOx–MnCO3] (where X% = 0–7%) catalyst which upon calcination at 400°C is converted to zirconia-manganese dioxide [1% ZrOx–MnO2] and when calcined at 500°C is converted to zirconia-manganic trioxide [1% ZrOx–Mn2O3]. A comparative catalytic study was performed to investigate the catalytic efficiency between carbonate and oxides for the selective oxidation of 1-phenylethanol by using molecular O2 as a clean oxidant. The influence of several parameters such as w/w% of ZrOx, reaction time, calcination temperature, catalyst amount, and reaction temperature has been thoroughly examined using oxidation of 1-phenylethanol as a model substrate. The 1% ZrOx–MnCO3 precalcined at 300°C exhibited the best catalytic efficiency. It was found that ZrOx nanoparticles also play an essential role in enhancing the effecti...
Zinc oxide nanoparticles doped manganese carbonate catalysts [X% ZnOx–MnCO3] (where X = 0–7) were... more Zinc oxide nanoparticles doped manganese carbonate catalysts [X% ZnOx–MnCO3] (where X = 0–7) were prepared via a facile and straightforward coprecipitation procedure, which upon different calcination treatments yields different manganese oxides, that is, [X% ZnOx–MnO2] and [X% ZnOx–Mn2O3]. A comparative catalytic study was conducted to evaluate the catalytic efficiency between carbonates and oxides for the selective oxidation of secondary alcohols to corresponding ketones using molecular oxygen as a green oxidizing agent without using any additives or bases. The prepared catalysts were characterized by different techniques such as SEM, EDX, XRD, TEM, TGA, BET, and FTIR spectroscopy. The 1% ZnOx–MnCO3 calcined at 300°C exhibited the best catalytic performance and possessed highest surface area, suggesting that the calcination temperature and surface area play a significant role in the alcohol oxidation. The 1% ZnOx–MnCO3 catalyst exhibited superior catalytic performance and selectivi...
Recent studies in nanomedicine have intensively explored the prospective applications of surface-... more Recent studies in nanomedicine have intensively explored the prospective applications of surface-tailored graphene oxide (GO) as anticancer entity. However, the efficacy of nonfunctionalized graphene oxide nanolayers (GRO-NLs) as an anticancer agent is less explored. In this study, we report the synthesis of GRO-NLs and their in vitro anticancer potential in breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29), and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells. GRO-NLs-treated HT-29, HeLa, and MCF-7 cells showed cytotoxicity in the MTT and NRU assays via defects in mitochondrial functions and lysosomal activity. HT-29, HeLa, and MCF-7 cells treated with GRO-NLs exhibited substantial elevations in ROS, disturbances of the mitochondrial membrane potential, an influx of Ca2+, and apoptosis. The qPCR quantification showed the upregulation of caspase 3, caspase 9, bax, and SOD1 genes in GRO-NLs-treated cells. Western blotting showed the depletion of P21, P53, and CDC25C proteins in the above cancer cell lines after GRO-NLs tre...
In the present study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of Tabebuia roseo-alba in lu... more In the present study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of Tabebuia roseo-alba in lung cancer was assessed. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of T. roseo-alba were synthesized using an ethanolic extract and characterized by adopting various parameters. Herein, the eco-friendly, cost-effective, and green synthesis of AgNPs was evaluated using an ethanolic extract of T. roseo-alba. The as-synthesized AgNPs were then characterized using various characterization techniques, such as UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The AgNPs are crystalline, spherical, and highly stable AgNPs of varying sizes in the range of 5–20 nm. The anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract of T. roseo-alba and its AgNPs was determined using an MTT assay. The results indicated that, although both samples showed prominent anti-proliferative activity on lung cancer...
Green syntheses of metallic nanoparticles using plant extracts as effective sources of reductants... more Green syntheses of metallic nanoparticles using plant extracts as effective sources of reductants and stabilizers have attracted decent popularity due to their non-toxicity, environmental friendliness and rapid nature. The current study demonstrates the ecofriendly, facile and inexpensive synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AP-AgNPs) using the extract of aerial parts of the Anthemis pseudocotula Boiss. plant (AP). Herein, the aerial parts extract of AP performed a twin role of a reducing as well as a stabilizing agent. The green synthesized AP-AgNPs were characterized by several techniques such as XRD, UV-Vis, FT-IR, TEM, SEM and EDX. Furthermore, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of as-prepared AP-AgNPs were examined by a standard two-fold microbroth dilution method and tissue culture plate methods, respectively, against several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains and fungal species such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), multidr...
The formation of a C-C bond through Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions in water with efficien... more The formation of a C-C bond through Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions in water with efficient heterogeneous catalysts is a challenging task. In this current study, a highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) immobilized palladium (Pd) nanoparticle based catalyst (HRG-Py-Pd) is used to catalyze Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions in water. During the preparation of the catalyst, amino pyrene is used as a smart functionalizing ligand, which offered chemically specific binding sites for the effective and homogeneous nucleation of Pd NPs on the surface of HRG, which significantly enhanced the physical stability and dispersibility of the resulting catalyst in an aqueous medium. Microscopic analysis of the catalyst revealed a uniform distribution of ultrafine Pd NPs on a solid support. The catalytic properties of HRG-Py-Pd are tested towards the Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions of various aryl halides with acrylic acid in an aqueous medium. Furthermore, the catalytic efficacy of H...
In recent years, the development of green mechanochemical processes for the synthesis of new cata... more In recent years, the development of green mechanochemical processes for the synthesis of new catalysts with higher catalytic efficacy and selectivity has received manifest interest. In continuation of our previous study, in which graphene oxide (GRO) and highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) based nanocomposites were prepared and assessed, herein, we have explored a facile and solvent-less mechanochemical approach for the synthesis of N-doped graphene (NDG)/mixed metal oxide (MnCO3–ZrO2) ((X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2), as the (X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 nano-composite was synthesized using physical grinding of separately synthesized NDG and pre-calcined (300 °C) MnCO3–ZrO2 via green milling method. The structures of the prepared materials were characterized in detail using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N2 adsorption-de...
Pollution and global warming are a few of the many reasons for environmental problems, due to ind... more Pollution and global warming are a few of the many reasons for environmental problems, due to industrial wastes and greenhouse gases, hence there are efforts to bring down such emissions to reduce pollution and combat global warming. In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles are green synthesized using cow dung as fuel, through combustion. Synthesized material was characterized by FTIR, XRD, UV, and FESEM. The as-prepared ZnO-GS NPs were employed as a transesterification catalyst for the preparation of biodiesel from discarded cooking oil. The biodiesel obtained is termed D-COME (discarded cooking oil methyl ester), which is blended with 20% commercial diesel (B20). Additionally, this blend, i.e., B20, is further blended with varying amounts of as-prepared ZnO-GS NPs, in order to ascertain its effects on the quality of emissions of various greenhouse gases such as hydrocarbons, COx, NOx. Moreover, the brake thermal efficiency (BTHE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) we...
Palladium-based carbon catalysts (Pd/C) can be potentially applied as an efficient catalyst for S... more Palladium-based carbon catalysts (Pd/C) can be potentially applied as an efficient catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura and Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions. Herein, a variety of catalysts of palladium on activated carbon were prepared by varying the content of ‘Pd’ via an in situ reduction method, using hydrogen as a reducing agent. The as-prepared catalysts (0.5 wt % Pd/C, 1 wt % Pd/C, 2 wt % Pd/C and 3 wt % Pd/C) were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses. The catalysts were tested as a coupling catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions involving aryl halides and phenyl boronic acid. The optimization of the catalyst by varying the palladium content on the activated carbon yielded Pd/C catalysts with very high catalytic activity for Suzuki reactions of aryl halides and a Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction of 4-bromoanisol and acrylic acid in an aqueous med...
Catalytic efficacy of metal-based catalysts can be significantly enhanced by doping graphene or i... more Catalytic efficacy of metal-based catalysts can be significantly enhanced by doping graphene or its derivatives in the catalytic protocol. In continuation of previous work regarding the catalytic properties of highly-reduced graphene oxide (HRG), graphene-oxide (GO) doped mixed metal oxide-based nanocomposites, herein we report a simple, straightforward and solventless mechanochemical preparation of N-doped graphene (NDG)/mixed metal oxide-based nanocomposites of ZnO–MnCO3 (i.e., ZnO–MnCO3/(X%-NDG)), wherein N-doped graphene (NDG) is employed as a dopant. The nanocomposites were prepared by physical milling of separately fabricated NDG and ZnO–MnCO3 calcined at 300 °C through eco-friendly ball mill procedure. The as-obtained samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and surface area ana...
Zinc oxide-ternary heterostructure Mn3O4/ZnO/Eu2O3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared via ... more Zinc oxide-ternary heterostructure Mn3O4/ZnO/Eu2O3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared via waste curd as fuel by a facile one-pot combustion procedure. The fabricated heterostructures were characterized utilizing XRD, UV–Visible, FT-IR, FE-SEM, HRTEM and EDX analysis. The photocatalytic degradation efficacy of the synthesized ternary nanocomposite was evaluated utilizing model organic pollutants of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) in water as examples of cationic dyes and anionic dyes, respectively, under natural solar irradiation. The effect of various experimental factors, viz. the effect of a light source, catalyst dosage, irradiation time, pH of dye solution and dye concentration on the photodegradation activity, was systematically studied. The ternary Mn3O4/ZnO/Eu2O3 photocatalyst exhibited excellent MB and MO degradation activity of 98% and 96%, respectively, at 150 min under natural sunlight irradiation. Experiments further conclude that the fabricated nanocom...
Degradation of organic dyes and their byproducts by heterogeneous photocatalysts is an essential ... more Degradation of organic dyes and their byproducts by heterogeneous photocatalysts is an essential process, as these dyes can be potentially discharged in wastewater and threaten aquatic and xerophyte life. Therefore, their complete mineralization into nontoxic components (water and salt) is necessary through the process of heterogeneous photocatalysis. In this study, Zr/CrO2 (Zirconium-doped chromium IV oxide) nanocomposite-based photocatalysts with different compositions (1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 wt.%) were prepared by an environmentally friendly, solid-state reaction at room temperature. The as-prepared samples were calcined under air at 450 °C in a furnace for a specific period of time. The synthesis of Zr/CrO2 photocatalysts was confirmed by various techniques, including XRD, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and BET. The photocatalytic properties of all samples were tested towards the degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange organic dyes under UV light. The results revealed a concentration-...
CoxOy–manganese carbonate (X%)(CoxOy–MnCO3 catalysts (X = 1–7)) were synthesized via a straightfo... more CoxOy–manganese carbonate (X%)(CoxOy–MnCO3 catalysts (X = 1–7)) were synthesized via a straightforward co-precipitation strategy followed by calcination at 300 °C. Upon calcination at 500 °C, these were transformed to CoxOy–dimanganese trioxide i.e., (X%)CoxOy–Mn2O3. A relative catalytic evaluation was conducted to compare the catalytic efficiency of the two prepared catalysts for aerial oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) to benzaldehyde (BzH) using O2 molecule as a clean oxidant without utilizing any additives or alkalis. Amongst the different percentages of doping with CoxOy (0–7% wt./wt.) on MnCO3 support, the (1%)CoxOy–MnCO3 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity. The influence of catalyst loading, calcination temperature, reaction time, and temperature and catalyst dosage was thoroughly assessed to find the optimum conditions of oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) for getting the highest catalytic efficiency. The (1%)CoxOy–MnCO3 catalyst which calcined at 300 °C displ...
In this study, we reported the eco-friendly fabrication of Ag2O–MnO2/GRO nanocomposites by the so... more In this study, we reported the eco-friendly fabrication of Ag2O–MnO2/GRO nanocomposites by the solid-state mixing of separately prepared GRO and Ag2O–MnO2 NPs using ball milling method, a mechanochemical approach. The prepared material was studied for the catalytic effect of GRO in the system for the aerial oxidation of a variety of alcohols. It was found that the (1%)Ag2O–MnO2/(5 wt.%)GRO nanocatalyst demonstrated a high conversion ability (~100%) and excellent selectivity in the presence of O2 as a clean oxidant. The higher catalytic properties of the nanocomposite were attributed to the presence of GRO, which exhibited extraordinary catalytic properties like improved surface area, excellent chemical compatibility, and stability, as well as the introduction of several defects in the obtained nanocomposite that enhance the catalytic performance. The specific activity of 13.3 mmol·g−1·h−1 is obtained for the catalyst i.e. (1%)Ag2O–MnO2/(5 wt.%)GRO, which is reportedly superior to th...
Due to their low cost and environmentally friendly nature, plant extracts based methods have gain... more Due to their low cost and environmentally friendly nature, plant extracts based methods have gained significant popularity among researchers for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. Herein, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles was performed using the aqueous solution of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves extract (ZM-LE) as a bio-reducing agent. The as-obtained silver nanoparticles were characterized by using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD (X-ray diffraction), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy). In addition, the effects of the concentrations of the leaves extract, silver nitrate, and the temperature on the preparation of nanoparticles were also investigated. In order to determine the nature of secondary metabolites present in leaves extract, a preliminary investigation of phytoconstituents was carried out using different methods including Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 methods. The results have indicated the presence of a considerable amou...
High-intensity ultrasonic waves have great potential for the green synthesis of various nanomater... more High-intensity ultrasonic waves have great potential for the green synthesis of various nanomaterials under mild conditions and offer an excellent alternative for hazardous chemical methods. Herein a facile approach for the eco-friendly synthesis of Au-ZrO2 nanocatalyst with a high catalytic activity using a facile ultrasonic method is presented. Gold (Au) in the nanosize regime was successfully deposited on the surface of solvothermally synthesized monodispersed ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) in a very short period of time (5 min) at room temperature. Spherical shape small size Au nanoparticles that are uniformly dispersed on the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles were obtained. Notably, in the absence of ZrO2 nanoparticles, HAuCl4 could not be reduced, indicating that nano-sized ZrO2 not only acted as support but also helped to reduce the gold precursor at the surface. The as-prepared Au-ZrO2 nanocatalyst was characterized by various techniques. The Au-ZrO2 nanocatalyst served as a high...
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2017
This work reports the zirconia (ZrOx) nanoparticles doped MnCO3 catalysts prepared by facile and ... more This work reports the zirconia (ZrOx) nanoparticles doped MnCO3 catalysts prepared by facile and simple coprecipitation technique and the synthesis of zirconia-manganese carbonate [X% ZrOx–MnCO3] (where X% = 0–7%) catalyst which upon calcination at 400°C is converted to zirconia-manganese dioxide [1% ZrOx–MnO2] and when calcined at 500°C is converted to zirconia-manganic trioxide [1% ZrOx–Mn2O3]. A comparative catalytic study was performed to investigate the catalytic efficiency between carbonate and oxides for the selective oxidation of 1-phenylethanol by using molecular O2 as a clean oxidant. The influence of several parameters such as w/w% of ZrOx, reaction time, calcination temperature, catalyst amount, and reaction temperature has been thoroughly examined using oxidation of 1-phenylethanol as a model substrate. The 1% ZrOx–MnCO3 precalcined at 300°C exhibited the best catalytic efficiency. It was found that ZrOx nanoparticles also play an essential role in enhancing the effecti...
Zinc oxide nanoparticles doped manganese carbonate catalysts [X% ZnOx–MnCO3] (where X = 0–7) were... more Zinc oxide nanoparticles doped manganese carbonate catalysts [X% ZnOx–MnCO3] (where X = 0–7) were prepared via a facile and straightforward coprecipitation procedure, which upon different calcination treatments yields different manganese oxides, that is, [X% ZnOx–MnO2] and [X% ZnOx–Mn2O3]. A comparative catalytic study was conducted to evaluate the catalytic efficiency between carbonates and oxides for the selective oxidation of secondary alcohols to corresponding ketones using molecular oxygen as a green oxidizing agent without using any additives or bases. The prepared catalysts were characterized by different techniques such as SEM, EDX, XRD, TEM, TGA, BET, and FTIR spectroscopy. The 1% ZnOx–MnCO3 calcined at 300°C exhibited the best catalytic performance and possessed highest surface area, suggesting that the calcination temperature and surface area play a significant role in the alcohol oxidation. The 1% ZnOx–MnCO3 catalyst exhibited superior catalytic performance and selectivi...
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