In this study, TiO₂ heterostructures with anatase and brookite phases, as well as oxygen vacancies, were synthesized using a modified sol-gel method and a heat treatment process. Subsequently, Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) were deposited onto TiO₂ through photo-deposition. Detailed structural and chemical analyses verified the successful creation of anatase-brookite phases, efficient incorporation of Au NPs, and strong interactions between the Au NPs and the oxygen vacancies on the TiO₂ surface. Spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) from the Au NPs, indicating enhanced light absorption properties. The photocatalytic efficiency of the Au-TiO₂ composites was evaluated under solar light irradiation for the conversion of o-phenylenediamine to 2-methylbenzimidazole and hydrogen (H₂) production. Notably, the 2 % Au-TiO₂ catalyst achieved a remarkable 99.7 % conversion rate of o-phenylenediamine, with 90 % selectivity toward 2-methylbenzimidazole and the highest H₂ production rate within 9 h, significantly outperforming 2 % Au/UV100 (commercial TiO₂), 2 % Pd/TiO₂, and pure TiO₂. This enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to increased surface acidity (from both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites), efficient charge separation, increased photocurrent, reduced charge transfer resistance and the synergistic interactions between Au NPs and surface oxygen vacancies in TiO₂. These findings highlight the potential of Au-TiO₂ heterostructures for advancing solar-driven catalytic applications, promoting both clean energy generation and efficient organic transformations.

Designing efficient TiO₂-based composites for photocatalytic H₂ production from H₂O is a forward-looking aim in research; however, the lack of sufficient active sites still necessitates the addition of noble-metal cocatalyst. Herein, we report a protocol for synthesizing a ternary photocatalyst based on TiO₂, carbon dots (CDs), and either carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO), denoted as CDs/TiO₂/CNTs and CDs/TiO₂/rGO, and their application in photocatalytic H₂ generation. After optimizing the contents of CDs, CNTs, and rGO in the composites, the CDs/TiO₂/CNTs and CDs/TiO₂/rGO photocatalysts achieved H₂ generation rates of 9082 and 2398 µmol•g⁻¹•h⁻¹, representing 44-fold and 12-fold enhancements compared with bare TiO₂, respectively. Interestingly, the synthesized ternary photocatalysts demonstrated significantly higher photocatalytic activity compared to their binary photocatalysts, TiO₂/CNTs, TiO₂@CDs, and TiO₂/rGO. Additionally, The CDs/TiO₂/CNTs composites showed excellent structural and catalytic photostability. The incorporation effect of carbon dots (CDs) was further explored through optical and photoelectrochemical measurements, which revealed that CDs act as electron mediators, facilitating charge transfer and transport. These findings highlight the potential of carbon dots in improving the performance of TiO₂-based composites for sustainable hydrogen production and provide insights into the design of advanced composites for photocatalytic applications.

This study presents the green synthesis and characterization of NiFe₂O₄@CdS core-shell nanocatalysts for enhanced photocatalytic sustainable hydrogen production. An eco-friendly approach was adopted to fabricate cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles using watermelon rind (WR), banana peel (BP) extracts, and nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) nanoparticles using star anise (SA) extract. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV–Vis spectroscopy to investigate their structural, morphological, and optical properties. The integration of CdS with NiFe₂O₄ aimed to overcome limitations such as charge carrier recombination and photo corrosion, commonly encountered in conventional CdS-based photocatalysts. The core-shell structure demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution. Photocatalytic hydrogen production analysis showed that NiFe₂O₄(300 °C)@BP-CdS achieved the most remarkable hydrogen evolution average rate of 1220.6 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ after 5 h of irradiation, surpassing both the as-prepared and 600 °C calcined samples. The enhanced activity is ascribed to improved charge separation and elevated light absorption from the refined calcination procedure. Photoelectrochemical assessments, including chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), also validated the enhanced photocurrent response and reduced charge transfer resistance of the NiFe₂O₄/CdS nanocomposite compared to its bare CdS. These findings underscore the potential of green-synthesized NiFe₂O₄@CdS nanocatalysts in advancing sustainable hydrogen production technologies. The findings contribute to both environmental preservation and economic sustainability.

via an addition reaction, a tetrahedral cobalt(II) complex with the asymmetric ligand 1-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-3-phenylthiourea (L) was synthesized. Crystal structure of the complex, [CoL₂Cl₂], demonstrated a monoclinic system packing and coordination of the divalent cobalt ion with S atoms of two thiourea ligand molecules and two chlorine atoms. Fusarium species are very destructive phytopathogens, causing considerable economic loss. Drawbacks of organic antifungals include their poor solubility, instability and limited bioavailability. Environmental accumulation and negative effects on people’s health are results of their extensive use. The complex [CoL₂Cl₂], comparing with its precursors, offered higher inhibitions in plates of three Fusarium phytopathogens, i.e. Fusarium lateritium, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium solani. [CoL₂Cl₂] (150 µg/ml) inhibited F. oxysporum, F. solani, and F. lateritium by 28–38 mm, but 1-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-3-phenylthiourea and cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate inhibited these fungi by 7–8.5 and 7.5–24.5 mm, respectively. In the presence of [CoL₂Cl₂] (150 µg/ml), the percent pathogenicity to wheat seeds by F. oxysporum and F. lateritium was brought to zero (20% by F. solani). Phytotoxicity action of [CoL₂Cl₂], cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate, and 1-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-3-phenylthiourea (150 µg/ml) on wheat seed germination was weak, reducing the optimal germination percentage (100% for control) to 83.3, 76.7, and 90%, respectively.

This study investigates the mechanical, elastic wave, AC conductivity, and dielectric properties of (ZnSn)₁₋ₓMₓO nanocomposites (NCs), where M is Co or Cu (0.00 < x < 0.50), and compares them to those of ZnO and SnO nanosheets. Both Co and Cu series NCs showed minor changes in mechanical and elastic wave propagation up to x = 0.30. ZnSnO NCs exhibited higher AC conductivity and dielectric constants than ZnO or SnO nanosheets, which were subsequently reduced by incorporating Co or Cu ions. While ZnSnO NCs displayed high dielectric loss (tan δ), Co incorporation led to lower tan δ without affecting the quality factor (Q_factor); conversely, Cu significantly decreased tan δ and strongly improved the Q_factor. The conduction mechanism shifted from polaron in ZnO or SnO nanosheets to hole-dominated in ZnSnO and Co-doped ZnSnO NCs, whereas the Cu-doped ZnSnO NCs exhibited a mixed polaron and hole conduction depending on the incorporated Cu content. ZnSnO NCs demonstrated lower bulk impedance and electronic polarizability than binary ZnO and SnO nanosheets; however, doped ZnSnO NCs with high Co concentration dramatically increased both, a trend opposite to that observed with Cu. Effective capacitance (C_eff) was significantly enhanced in ZnSnO NCs relative to binary ZnO and SnO nanosheets, followed by C_eff decrease with the addition of Co or Cu ions. Conversely, the electric modulus of ZnSnO NCs was considerably reduced compared to SnO or ZnO nanosheets, and this reduction was further amplified by Co or Cu incorporation. Parameters such as polaron binding energy and hopping distance were estimated using the correlated barrier polaron hopping modelVariations in properties between nanosheets and NCs are primarily attributed to differences in internal structures. Notably, these (ZnSn)_1-xMₓO NCs, both undoped and doped with Co or Cu, show promise for energy storage applications.

Using synthetic pesticides is the main strategy for controlling pests. However, these compounds have caused worry because of their harmful effects on health and their diminishing efficacy against pests that have developed resistance. Consequently, there is a growing interest in adopting more sustainable control methods. Stevia rebaudiana is a valuable medicinal plant used in the food industry for the production of steviol glycosides, a type of natural sweetener. An EO that could be useful for creating innovative insecticides may come from the industrially used plant biomass. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse the chemical composition of S. rebaudiana leaves. Sesquiterpenes, or caryophyllene oxide (20.7 %), spathulenol (14.9 %), and (E)-nerolidol (8.0 %), and diterpenes, or phytol (9.2 %), made up the majority of the EO composition. The efficacy of the EO major constituents, namely Phytol, (E)-nerolidol, Spathulenol, and Caryophyllene oxide, was also tested against S. frugiperda. Phytol was the most effective LC₅₀ = 14.38 mg/L, followed by (E)-nerolidol LC₅₀ = 15.88 mg/L, Spathulenol LC₅₀ = 18.42 mg/L, and Caryophyllene oxide LC₅₀ = 23.41 mg/L. Furthermore, some of the biological and histological features of the extracts were also studied in a lab setting. Overall, Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) should be given more consideration in the development of environmentally safe and efficient pesticides.

Fall armyworms, or Spodoptera frugiperda, are a major pest for numerous economically significant cultures. The majority of S. frugiperda control is still accomplished through the use of genetically modified plants and artificial chemicals, both of which have the potential to negatively impact no target animals. In order to further improve the insecticidal activity based on eco-friendly principles, we synthesized ten novel carbohydrazide derivatives and evaluated their insecticidal performance against S. frugiperda larvae in their second and fourth larval instars. A number of spectroscopic techniques, were used to verify the newly developed products' structural integrity. Target compound 10 was the most active, with an LC₅₀ of 2.14 mg/L for 2nd instar larvae and 15.33 mg/L for 4th instar larvae. In addition, some biological and histological characteristics of the demonstration compounds were also investigated. This work provides new insights into the production of carbohydrazide compounds and further supports the anti-proliferation of S. frugiperda.