scholarly journals Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Waste Zn-C Battery via Thermal Route: Characterization and Properties

Nanomaterials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rifat Farzana ◽  
Ravindra Rajarao ◽  
Pravas Behera ◽  
Kamrul Hassan ◽  
Veena Sahajwalla

Disposable batteries are becoming the primary sources of powering day-to-day gadgets and consequently contributing to e-waste generation. The emerging e-waste worldwide is creating concern regarding environmental and health issues. Therefore, a sustainable recycling approach of spent batteries has become a critical focus. This study reports the detail characterization and properties of ZnO nanoparticles recovered from spent Zn-C batteries via a facile thermal synthesis route. ZnO nanoparticles are used in many applications including energy storage, gas sensors, optoelectronics, etc. due to the exceptional physical and optical properties. A thermal treatment at 900 °C under an inert atmosphere of argon was applied to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles from a spent Zn-C battery using a horizontal quartz tube furnace. X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed the formation of crystalline ZnO nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed that the size of synthesised ZnO particles were less than 50 nm and mainly composed of sphere shaped nanoparticles. Synthesized ZnO exhibited BET surface area of 9.2629 m2/g and showed absorption of light in the UV region. Excitation of ZnO by UV light showed photoluminescence in the visible range. This study will create an opportunity for potential applications of ZnO nanoparticles from spent batteries and will benefit the environment by reducing the volume of e-waste in landfills.

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3353
Author(s):  
Chih-Chiang Wang ◽  
Pao-Tai Lin ◽  
Fuh-Sheng Shieu ◽  
Han-Chang Shih

Bi2Se3 is a topological quantum material that is used in photodetectors, owing to its narrow bandgap, conductive surface, and insulating bulk. In this work, Ag@Bi2Se3 nanoplatelets were synthesized on Al2O3(100) substrates in a two-step process of thermal evaporation and magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that all samples had the typical rhombohedral Bi2Se3. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), XPS, and HRTEM confirmed the presence of the precipitated Ag. The optical absorptance of Bi2Se3 nanoplatelets in UV-visible range decreased with the Ag contents. Results of photocurrent measurements under zero-bias conditions revealed that the deposited Ag affected photosensitivity. A total of 7.1 at.% Ag was associated with approximately 4.25 and 4.57 times higher photocurrents under UV and visible light, respectively, than 0 at.% Ag. The photocurrent in Bi2Se3 at 7.1 at.% Ag under visible light was 1.72-folds of that under UV light. This enhanced photocurrent is attributable to the narrow bandgap (~0.35 eV) of Bi2Se3 nanoplatelets, the Schottky field at the interface between Ag and Bi2Se3, the surface plasmon resonance that is caused by Ag, and the highly conductive surface that is formed from Ag and Bi2Se3. This work suggests that the appropriate Ag deposition enhances the photocurrent in, and increases the photosensitivity of, Bi2Se3 nanoplatelets under UV and visible light.


2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (06n07) ◽  
pp. 1047-1051
Author(s):  
JIANPING MA ◽  
ZHIMING CHEN ◽  
GANG LU ◽  
MINGBIN YU ◽  
LIANMAO HANG ◽  
...  

Intense photoluminescence (PL) has been observed at room temperature from the polycrystalline SiC samples prepared from carbon-saturated Si melt at a temperature ranging from 1500 to 1650°C. Composition and structure of the samples have been confirmed by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. PL measurements with 325 nm UV light excitation revealed that the room temperature PL spectrum of the samples consists of 3 luminescent bands, the peak energies of which are 2.38 eV, 2.77 eV and 3.06 eV, respectively. The 2.38 eV band is much stronger than the others. It is suggested that some extrinsic PL mechanisms associated with defect or interface states would be responsible to the intensive PL observed at room temperature.


Author(s):  
Katarzyna Matras-Postolek ◽  
A. Zaba ◽  
S. Sovinska ◽  
D. Bogdal

Zinc sulphide (ZnS) and zinc selenide (ZnSe) and manganese-doped and un-doped with different morphologies from 1D do 3D microflowers were successfully fabricated in only a few minutes by solvothermal reactions under microwave irradiation. In order to compare the effect of microwave heating on the properties of obtained  nanocrystals, additionally the synthesis under conventional heating was conducted additionally in similar conditions. The obtained nanocrystals were systematically characterized in terms of structural and optical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy (DR UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The photocatalytic activity of ZnSe, ZnS, ZnS:Mn and ZnSe:Mn nanocrystals with different morphologies was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and Rhodamine 6G (R6G), respectively. The results show that Mn doped NCs samples had higher coefficient of degradation of organic dyes under ultraviolet irradiation (UV).


Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos D. Charisiou ◽  
Georgios I. Siakavelas ◽  
Binlin Dou ◽  
Victor Sebastian ◽  
Steven J. Hinder ◽  
...  

In this study, a critical comparison between two low metal (Ni) loading catalysts is presented, namely Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/AlCeO3 for the glycerol steam reforming (GSR) reaction. The surface and bulk properties of the catalysts were evaluated using a plethora of techniques, such as N2 adsorption/desorption, Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP–AES), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), CO2 and NH3– Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD), and Temperature Programmed Reduction (H2–TPR). Carbon deposited on the catalyst’s surfaces was probed using Temperature Programmed Oxidation (TPO), SEM, and TEM. It is demonstrated that Ce-modification of Al2O3 induces an increase of the surface basicity and Ni dispersion. These features lead to a higher conversion of glycerol to gaseous products (60% to 80%), particularly H2 and CO2, enhancement of WGS reaction, and a higher resistance to coke deposition. Allyl alcohol was found to be the main liquid product for the Ni/AlCeO3 catalyst, the production of which ceases over 700 °C. It is also highly significant that the Ni/AlCeO3 catalyst demonstrated stable values for H2 yield (2.9–2.3) and selectivity (89–81%), in addition to CO2 (75–67%) and CO (23–29%) selectivity during a (20 h) long time-on-stream study. Following the reaction, SEM/EDX and TEM analysis showed heavy coke deposition over the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst, whereas for the Ni/AlCeO3 catalyst TPO studies showed the formation of more defective coke, the latter being more easily oxidized.


Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Liu ◽  
Xiao-Min Li ◽  
Jing He ◽  
Lu-Ying Wang ◽  
Jian-Du Lei

A core-shell Cu-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (Cu-BTC)@TiO2 was successfully synthesized for photocatalysis-assisted adsorptive desulfurization to improve adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) performance. Under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, the TiO2 shell on the surface of Cu-BTC achieved photocatalytic oxidation of thiophenic S-compounds, and the Cu-BTC core adsorbed the oxidation products (sulfoxides and sulfones). The photocatalyst and adsorbent were combined using a distinct core-shell structure. The morphology and structure of the fabricated Cu-BTC@TiO2 microspheres were verified by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. A potential formation mechanism of Cu-BTC@TiO2 is proposed based on complementary experiments. The sulfur removal efficiency of the microspheres was evaluated by selective adsorption of benzothiophene (BT) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) from a model fuel with a sulfur concentration of 1000 ppmw. Within a reaction time of 20 min, the BT and DBT conversion reached 86% and 95%, respectively, and achieved ADS capacities of 63.76 and 59.39 mg/g, respectively. The BT conversion and DBT conversion obtained using Cu-BTC@TiO2 was 6.5 and 4.6 times higher, respectively, than that obtained using Cu-BTC. A desulfurization mechanism was proposed, the interaction between thiophenic sulfur compounds and Cu-BTC@TiO2 microspheres was discussed, and the kinetic behavior was analyzed.


1996 ◽  
Vol 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Coulthard ◽  
T. K. Sham

ABSTRACTApart from its well known ability to luminesce very intensely at room temperature in the visible range, porous silicon is also an effective reducing agent. We report the formation of several noble metal (Pd, Ag, Au, Pt) nanostructures by reductive dispersion of metal ions from aqueous solutions onto the surface of porous silicon. The nanophase systems produced by reductive deposition vary with the element deposited and the metallic salt utilized in the process. The resulting nanophase systems were studied using a variety of techniques including: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and spectroscopie methods using synchrotron radiation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 335-336 ◽  
pp. 460-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Mei Wang ◽  
Da Peng Zhou ◽  
Yuan Lian ◽  
Ming Pang ◽  
Dan Liu

Hexagonal flower-like CdS nanostructures were successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method with thiourea as sulfur source. By combining the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the structural and morphological characterizations of the products were performed. The photocatalytic activity of CdS nanostructures had been tested by degradation of Rhodamine B (RB) under UV light compared to commercial CdS powders, which indicated that the as-syntherized CdS nanostructures exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of RB. The possible growth mechanism of CdS nanostructures was proposed in the end.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Yang ◽  
Chuanguo Li ◽  
Wenjie Zhang

BACKGROUND: Photocatalytic oxidation of organic pollutants in the environment has been studied for more than half a century. Titanate has the activity on degradation of organic pollutants under UV light illumination. Template directed sol-gel method is capable of producing porous structure in titanate during high temperature thermal treatment. METHODS: The materials were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface area and pore size analyses, UV-Visible spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity of the CeTi2O6 material was evaluated through ofloxacin degradation. RESULTS: Brannerite structured CeTi2O6 was the major component in the samples, and the addition of CTAB caused a slight growth of CeTi2O6 crystals. Porous structure formed in the porous sample after the removal of CTAB template, and the surface area and pore volume were greatly enlarged. The first order reaction rate constant for photocatalytic degradation of ofloxacin was 9.60×10-3 min-1 on the nonporous CeTi2O6 sample, and it was as large as 2.44×10-2 min-1 on the porous CeTi2O6 sample. The addition of CTAB can influence the physico-chemical properties of the porous CeTi2O6, such as the improved activity on photocatalytic degradation of ofloxacin. CONCLUSION: The CeTi2O6 samples were composed of majority brannerite CeTi2O6, and CeTi2O6 crystallite sizes for the nonporous and porous samples were 38.1 and 43.2 nm. The burning up of CTAB during calcination produced abundant pores in the porous material. After 50 min of reaction, photocatalytic degradation efficiencies on the nonporous and porous CeTi2O6 samples were 38.1% and 70.5%.


NANO ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 09 (08) ◽  
pp. 1450097 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZENG BIN ◽  
LONG HUI

The nanocomposites of graphene loaded– ZnS nanoflowers (GR– ZnS ) had been successfully prepared. Materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra. A possible formation mechanism of this architecture was proposed. The experimental results revealed that these nanoflowers exhibited excellent UV-light photocatalytic activities for pollutant methyl orange (MO) dye degradation. These new nanostructures were expected to show considerable potential applications in the water treatment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-145
Author(s):  
M.L. Hernandez-Pichardo ◽  
R. Gonzalez-Huerta ◽  
P. del Angel ◽  
E. Palacios-Gonzalez ◽  
M. Tufiño-Velazquez ◽  
...  

Platinum reduction on Pt/C catalysts was studied on samples prepared by the impregnation method using different Pt precursors and reducing agents such as ethanol, sodium borohydride and ethanol-UV light (photo-assisted reduction), in order to compare the efficiency of the different reducing agents. The influence of the reduction level of the platinum species on the electrochemical behavior of these catalysts has been determined. The catalysts were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and linear and cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the reduction level depends mainly on the platinum precursor. Moreover, it was found that the higher electrochemical activity was found using catalysts reduced with ethanol, whereas by using NaBH4 as the reducing agent, the total reduction of the platinum precursor is very difficult in same synthesis conditions. The analysis of the XPS results shows that samples reduced with ethanol presented the lower PtOx/Pt reduction ratio.


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