Study of ZnO nanoparticle-supported clay minerals for electrochemical sensors,photocatalysis,and antioxidant applications

In view of the current study’s demonstration of the synthesis of clay-doped ZnO composites,we present a low-cost method for producing clay-metal oxide(clay/ZnO).Utilizing the solution combustion technique,a composite of clay/ZnO was produced utilizing citric acid as both a fuel and a complexing agent.The hexagonal unit cell structure of the created clay/ZnO may be seen using XRD patterns.The ZnO-infused clay was visible in FE-SEM micrographs as homogenous,sphere-shaped ZnO.The possible involvement of clay/ZnO photocatalytic activity in the UV-induced photodegradation of malachite green dye was investigated.The 90%degradation rate shows the composite’s outstanding photocatalytic degradation capacity.The resulting substance was electrochemically analyzed using a constructed electrode in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte.It increased its sensor capabilities,which now include chemical and biomolecule sensors,and it excelled in cyclic voltammetry-based redox potential studies.To efficiently evaluate chemically synthesized NPs for electrochemical,sensing,and photocatalytic applications,this study intends to create a solution combustion procedure for the synthesis of clay/ZnO nanocomposite using urea as fuel.

Synthesis and characterization of organomodified Na-MMT using cation and anion surfactants

The Sodium Montmorillonite(Na-MMT)is not susceptible to polymer due to its organophilic character and low basal spacing.The primary objective of this study was to improve Na-MMT platelets separation by organically modifying it with cation and anion exchanges using Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB)and Sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS)respectively.Basal spacing,presence of functional groups,Zetapotential with particle size analysis and thermal stability of the Organomodified Na-MMT(OMMT)were characterized using XRD,FTIR,zeta-potential analyzer and TGA respectively.The basal spacing of CTAB modified OMMTincreased to 19.5Åfrom 11.0Åwhich corresponds to the basal spacing of Na-MMT.The SDS modified OMMT did not show any increase in the basal spacing.FTIR spectra of CTAB modified Na-MMT illustrated the attachment of CTAB functional groups to Na-MMT,while the same was absent in the case of SDS modified Na-MMT.The zeta-potential of Na-MMT shifted from–24.88 mV to 15.66 mV in the case of CTAB modified Na-MMTand 12.49 mV for SDS modified Na-MMT,indicating a greater surface potential of the modified nanoclay.The TGA showed greater weight loss for CTAB modified Na-MMT than that for Na-MMT,indicating the effective Na+ion exchange with alkyl amines.