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Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoparticles for Catalytic Application

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Materials Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2023) | Viewed by 7126

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Interests: nanoparticles; titanium oxide; thin films; dip-coating; photocatalysis; advanced oxidation processes; emerging contaminants; wastewater treatment

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Interests: nanoparticles; electron microscopy; biomedical nanomaterials; semiconducting alloys; nanostructured materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the era of nanoscience, it is known that improving catalytic properties is possible by reducing the size of the catalyst. Nanoparticles present a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, which makes them especially attractive in their use as catalysts due to their high activity, selectivity, and stability. In this sense, the selection of the appropriate synthesis method is essential to control the size, shape, and composition of the nanomaterial, since these factors play a critical role in its functionality.

Thus, nanocatalysts have found applications in photocatalysis for environmental protection; organic synthesis; energy storage; fuel cell; production of biodiesel; medicine; and several more, since new applications are always emerging.

The areas to be covered in this Special Issue include the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles for catalytic applications. Specifically, we welcome studies on:

  • Work related to nanostructured materials for environmental protection.
  • Nanocatalysis in chemical and refining processes.
  • Work related to the synthesis of nanoparticles with applications in medicine.
  • Nanostructured catalysts for industrial applications.
  • Work addressing new concepts in nanocatalyst preparation and characterization.
  • Studies reporting the use of nanomaterials for energy storage, fuel cells and solar cells.
  • Theoretical modeling of nanocatalytic reactions.

Prof. Dr. Almudena Aguinaco Martin
Prof. Dr. José Manuel Mánuel Delgado
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanoparticles
  • nanocatalysis
  • synthesis method
  • characterization techniques
  • photocatalysis
  • environmental protection
  • energy storage
  • nanomedicine
  • nanocatalytic reactions

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3633 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Catalytic Effect of Ag and MgO Nanoparticles Supported on Defective BN Surface in CO Oxidation Reaction
by Anton S. Konopatsky, Denis V. Leybo, Vladislava V. Kalinina, Igor L. Zilberberg, Liubov Yu. Antipina, Pavel B. Sorokin and Dmitry V. Shtansky
Materials 2023, 16(2), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020470 - 4 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1644
Abstract
Micron-sized supports of catalytically active nanoparticles (NPs) can become a good alternative to nanocarriers if their structure is properly tuned. Here, we show that a combination of simple and easily scalable methods, such as defect engineering and polyol synthesis, makes it possible to [...] Read more.
Micron-sized supports of catalytically active nanoparticles (NPs) can become a good alternative to nanocarriers if their structure is properly tuned. Here, we show that a combination of simple and easily scalable methods, such as defect engineering and polyol synthesis, makes it possible to obtain Ag and MgO nanoparticles supported on defective hexagonal BN (h-BN) support with high catalytic activity in the CO oxidation reaction. High-temperature annealing in air of Mg-containing (<0.2 at.%) h-BN micropellets led to surface oxidation, the formation of hexagonal-shaped surface defects, and defect-related MgO NPs. The enhanced catalytic activity of Ag/MgO/h-BN materials is attributed to the synergistic effect of h-BN surface defects, ultrafine Ag and MgO NPs anchored at the defect edges, and MgO/Ag heterostructures. In addition, theoretical simulations show a shift in the electron density from metallic Ag towards MgO and the associated decrease in the negative charge of oxygen adsorbed on the Ag surface, which positively affects the catalytic activity of the Ag/MgO/h-BN material. Full article
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13 pages, 2462 KiB  
Article
Plasma-Assisted Synthesis of Surfactant-Free and D-Fructose-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Multiple Applications
by Hafiz M. Yasin, W. Ahmed, N. U. Rehman, Abdul Majd, Mohammad Alkhedher and ElSayed M. Tag El Din
Materials 2022, 15(21), 7579; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217579 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1439
Abstract
The excellent optical properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) make them promising for numerous applications. Herein, we present a facile synthesis of both surfactant-free (SFAuNPs) and non-toxic D-fructose (DF)-coated gold nanoparticles [...] Read more.
The excellent optical properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) make them promising for numerous applications. Herein, we present a facile synthesis of both surfactant-free (SFAuNPs) and non-toxic D-fructose (DF)-coated gold nanoparticles (DFAuNPs) via the plasma–liquid interactions (PLIs) method. Moreover, we demonstrate that both SFAuNPs and DFAuNPs are potential candidates for trace detection via surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and catalytic degradation of toxic dyes. However, SFAuNPs have superior SERS and catalytic performance compared to the DFAuNPs due to their surfactant-free nature. Moreover, SFAuNPs have also been shown to quench the fluorescence of analyte molecules, making their SERS-based trace detection more efficient. In particular, SERS enhancement of rhodamine 6G (R6G) and catalytic reduction of a toxic dye methylene blue (MB) have been explored. Full article
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19 pages, 3976 KiB  
Article
Fe3O4-TiO2 Thin Films in Solar Photocatalytic Processes
by Almudena Aguinaco, José M. Mánuel, Eduardo Blanco, Manuel Domínguez, Rocío Litrán, Juan J. Delgado and Milagrosa Ramírez-del-Solar
Materials 2022, 15(19), 6718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15196718 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3543
Abstract
The optical properties of 5wt% Fe3O4-TiO2 thin films were evaluated in detail with the aim of proposing a mechanism for solar photocatalytic processes and highlighting the advantages over the use of bare TiO2. The results showed [...] Read more.
The optical properties of 5wt% Fe3O4-TiO2 thin films were evaluated in detail with the aim of proposing a mechanism for solar photocatalytic processes and highlighting the advantages over the use of bare TiO2. The results showed that the incorporation of 5wt% Fe3O4 enhanced the optical properties by a redshift to a wavelength in the visible range, reducing the anatase/rutile band gap energy from 3.2 eV to 2.8 eV. Photoluminescence studies reveal a superior separation efficiency of photoexcited electron-hole pairs when Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are present in the photocatalyst. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra confirm the presence of Fe3O4 and existence of a chemical bonding between TiO2 and Fe3O4 NPs. Moreover, in this study, a mechanism of solar photocatalytic processes involving Fe3O4-TiO2 thin films is proposed and it is supported by experimental results. Finally, solar photocatalytic experiments were carried out, indicating that the effectiveness for the removal of the selected pharmaceutical is considerably improved when the composite material is used as catalyst. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity of the prepared Fe3O4-TiO2 thin films depends on their thickness, achieving the highest pharmaceutical removal yields using the 2 µm thick sample. The stability and reusability of the catalyst was confirmed studying the photocatalytic activity over three cycles. Full article
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