Layer-by-layer thinning of two-dimensional materials.

Etching technology - one of the representative modern semiconductor device makers - serves as a broad descriptor for the process of removing material from the surfaces of various materials, whether partially or entirely. Meanwhile, thinning technology represents a novel and highly specialized approach within the realm of etching technology. It indicates the importance of achieving an exceptionally sophisticated and precise removal of material, layer-by-layer, at the nanoscale. Notably, thinning technology has gained substantial momentum, particularly in top-down strategies aimed at pushing the frontiers of nano-worlds. This rapid development in thinning technology has generated substantial interest among researchers from diverse backgrounds, including those in the fields of chemistry, physics, and engineering. Precisely and expertly controlling the layer numbers of 2D materials through the thinning procedure has been considered as a crucial step. This is because the thinning processes lead to variations in the electrical and optical characteristics. In this comprehensive review, the strategies for top-down thinning of representative 2D materials (e.g., graphene, black phosphorus, MoS2, h-BN, WS2, MoSe2, and WSe2) based on conventional plasma-assisted thinning, integrated cyclic plasma-assisted thinning, laser-assisted thinning, metal-assisted splitting, and layer-resolved splitting are covered in detail, along with their mechanisms and benefits. Additionally, this review further explores the latest advancements in terms of the potential advantages of semiconductor devices achieved by top-down 2D material thinning procedures.

Fe-based MOFs as promising adsorbents and photocatalysts for re-use water contained arsenic: Strategies and challenges.

Arsenic (As) contaminated water, especially groundwater reservoirs, is a major issue worldwide owing to its hazardous consequences on human health and the global environment issues. Also, irrigating agricultural fields with As-contaminated water not only produces an accumulation of As in the soil but also compromises food safety due to As entering into agricultural products. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop an efficient method for As removal in water. Fe-based MOFs have attained special attention due to their low toxicity, high water stability, better physical and chemical properties, and high abundance of iron. The arsenic species removal by Fe-MOF follows the adsorption and oxidation mechanism where As (III) converts into As (V). Moreover, the adsorption mechanism is facilitated by electrostatic interactions, H-bonding, acid-base interaction, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals forces, π-π stacking interactions, and coordinative bindings responsible for Fe-O-As bond generation. This review thoroughly recapitulates and analyses recent advancements in the facile synthesis and potential application of Fe-based MOF adsorbents for the elimination of As ions. The most commonly employed hydro/solvothermal, ultrasonic, microwave-assisted, mechanochemical, and electrochemical synthesis for Fe-MOF has been discussed along with their adsorptive and oxidative mechanisms involved in arsenic removal. The effects of factors like pH and coexisting ions have also been discussed. Lastly, the article also proposed the prospects for developing the application of Fe-based MOF in treating As-contaminated water.

Sustainability, performance, and production perspectives of waste-derived functional carbon nanomaterials towards a sustainable environment: A review.

The survival of humanity is severely threatened by the massive accumulation of waste in the ecosystem. One plausible solution for the management and upcycling of waste is conversing waste at the molecular level and deriving carbon-based nanomaterial. The field of carbon nanomaterials with distinctive properties, such as exceptionally large surface areas, good thermal and chemical stability, and improved propagation of charge carriers, remains a significant area of research. The study demonstrates recent developments in high-value carbon-based photocatalysts synthesis from various waste precursors, including zoonotic, phytogenic, polyolefinic, electronic, and biomedical, highlighting the progression as photocatalysts and adsorbents for wastewater treatment and water splitting applications. This review highpoints the benefits of using waste as a precursor to support sustainability and circular economy and the risks associated with their use. Finally, we support that a sustainable society will eventually be realized by exploring present obstacles and potential steps for creating superior carbon-based nanomaterials in the future.

DFT and experimental studies of the facet-dependent oxygen vacancies modulated WS2/BiOCl-OV S-scheme structure for enhanced photocatalytic removal of ciprofloxacin from wastewater.

The present study explores visible light-assisted photodegradation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) antibiotic as a promising solution to water pollution. The focus is on transforming the optical and electronic properties of BiOCl through the generation of oxygen vacancies (OVs) and the exposure of (110) facets, forming a robust S-scheme heterojunction with WS2. The resultant OVs mediated composite with an optimal ratio of WS2 and BiOCl-OV (4-WS2/BiOCl-OV) demonstrated remarkable efficiency (94.3%) in the visible light-assisted photodegradation of CIP antibiotic within 1.5 h. The CIP degradation using 4-WS2/BiOCl-OV followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with the rate constant of 0.023 min-1, outperforming bare WS2, BiOCl, and BiOCl-OV by 8, 6, and 4 times, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis aligned well with experimental results, providing insights into the structural arrangement and bandgap analysis of the photocatalysts. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis utilized for identifying potentially degraded products while scavenging experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping analysis elucidated the S-scheme charge transfer mechanism. This research contributes to advancing the design of oxygen vacancy-mediated S-scheme systems in the realm of photocatalysis, with potential implications for addressing water pollution concerns.

Advances and perspectives of nanomaterials for photocatalytic degradation of biological ethylene toward the postharvest improvement of agricultural products.

To date, intensive emphasis is required to develop advanced postharvest technologies to ensure food security, increase nutrition, and improve farmers toward cleaner production. How to effectively degrade the harmful gaseous ethylene (C2H4) biosynthesis, which distributes heavy losses of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, has received considerable attention. Among various advanced techniques, photocatalytic degradation of biological C2H4 is proposed as the most promising method to solve this issue. In this context, the recent studies on the photodegradation of C2H4 have been critically summarized and highlighted. Many photocatalysts, including TiO2-based and non-TiO2-based (metal oxides (ZnO, WO3, Ga2O3), molybdates (ß-Ag2MoO4), phosphides (Ag3PO4), perovskite oxides (Bi2WO6)) nanomaterials, have been revealed with credible performance results. Also, varying reaction parameters to optimize the photocatalytic degradation efficacy in the literature are summarized. We also discussed the current status, challenges, and prospects for enhanced photodegradation of C2H4 in this study. The efficacy and economics of photodegradation have played an essential role in selecting a particular type of photocatalyst. Although many efforts have been made, significant improvements are still required for photocatalysis. In this work, we have also successfully suggested some strategies to further promote this concept for controlling and degrading plant-generated C2H4 in fruit and vegetable postharvest in a sustainable and economically feasible manner.

Contemporary innovations in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide-based P-N junctions for optoelectronics.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDCs) with various physical characteristics have attracted significant interest from the scientific and industrial worlds in the years following Moore's law. The p-n junction is one of the earliest electrical components to be utilized in electronics and optoelectronics, and modern research on 2D materials has renewed interest in it. In this regard, device preparation and application have evolved substantially in this decade. 2D TMDCs provide unprecedented flexibility in the construction of innovative p-n junction device designs, which is not achievable with traditional bulk semiconductors. It has been investigated using 2D TMDCs for various junctions, including homojunctions, heterojunctions, P-I-N junctions, and broken gap junctions. To achieve high-performance p-n junctions, several issues still need to be resolved, such as developing 2D TMDCs of superior quality, raising the rectification ratio and quantum efficiency, and successfully separating the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, among other things. This review comprehensively details the various 2D-based p-n junction geometries investigated with an emphasis on 2D junctions. We investigated the 2D p-n junctions utilized in current rectifiers and photodetectors. To make a comparison of various devices easier, important optoelectronic and electronic features are presented. We thoroughly assessed the review's prospects and challenges for this emerging field of study. This study will serve as a roadmap for more real-world photodetection technology applications.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) core@shell nanohybrids: Novel nanomaterial support towards environmental sustainability applications.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based on core@shell nanohybrids have recently received significant attention and have become one of the most promising strategies for improving the stability and catalytic activity of COFs. Compared with traditional core@shell, COF-based core@shell hybrids own remarkable advantages, including size-selective reactions, bifunctional catalysis, and integration of multiple functions. These properties could enhance the stability and recyclability, resistance to sintering, and maximize the electronic interaction between the core and the shell. The activity and selectivity of COF-based core@shell could be simultaneously improved by taking benefit of the existing synergy between the functional encapsulating shell and the covered core material. Considering that, we have highlighted various topological diagrams and the role of COFs in COF-based core@shell hybrid for activity and selectivity enhancement. This concept article provides all-inclusive advances in the design and catalytic applications of COF-based core@shell hybrids. Various synthetic techniques have been developed for the facile tailoring of functional core@shell hybrids, including novel seed growth, in-situ, layer-by-layer, and one-pot method. Importantly, charge dynamics and structure-performance relationships are investigated through different characterization techniques. Different COF-based core@shell hybrids with established synergistic interactions have been detailed, and their influence on stability and catalytic efficiency for various applications is explained and discussed in this contribution. A comprehensive discussion on the remaining challenges associated with COF-based core@shell nanoparticles and research directions has also been provided to deliver insightful ideas for additional future developments.

Integrating K and P co-doped g-C3N4 with ZnFe2O4 and graphene oxide for S-scheme-based enhanced adsorption coupled photocatalytic real wastewater treatment.

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the interest of using photocatalysis for environmental clean-up applications. In this research, potassium, and phosphorus co-doped graphitic carbon nitride (KPCN) photocatalyst modified with graphene oxide (GO) and heterostructured with ZnFe2O4 was synthesized via the hydrothermal method (KPCN/GO/ZnFe2O4). The photoactivity of KPCN/GO/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst was examined for the photocatalytic degradation of target pollutants such as methylene blue (MB) dye, rhodamine B (RhB) dye, and tetracycline (TC) antibiotic. Furthermore, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency for real wastewater was determined to explore the practical application of KPCN/GO/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst. The degradation efficiencies of bare graphitic carbon nitride, KPCN, KPCN/GO, and KPCN/GO/ZnFe2O4 photocatalysts for tetracycline antibiotics were 30%, 42%, 57%, and 87% within 60 min, respectively. Moreover, KPCN/GO/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst showed 71% COD removal efficiency within 240 min. The •OH and •O2- were the major reactive species in the photocatalytic process. Results showed that the degradation efficiencies of graphitic carbon nitride were greatly enhanced upon doping and further improved with the addition of GO and ZnFe2O4. Doping improved light harvesting, GO enhanced the adsorption ability and heterojunction with ZnFe2O4 enhanced the charge separation as well as the reusability of synthesized KPCN/GO/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst.

An overview on ZnO-based sonophotocatalytic mitigation of aqueous phase pollutants.

Over the past several decades, the increase in industrialization provoked the discharge of harmful pollutants into the environment, affecting human beings and ecosystems. ZnO-based photocatalysts seem to be the most promising photocatalysts for treating harmful pollutants. However, fast charge carrier recombination, photo corrosion, and long reaction time are the significant factors that reduce the photoactivity of ZnO-based photocatalysts. In order to enhance the photoactivity of such photocatalysts, a combined process i.e., sonocatalysis + photocatalysis = sonophotocatalysis was used. Sonophotocatalysis is one of several different AOP methods that have recently drawn considerable interest, as it produces high reactive oxygen species (ROS) which helps in the oxidation of pollutants by acoustic cavitation. This combined technique enhanced the overall efficiency of the individual method by overcoming its limiting factors. The current review aims to present the theoretical and fundamental aspects of sonocatalysis and photocatalysis along with a detailed discussion on the benefits that can be obtained by the combined process i.e., US + UV (sonophotocatalysis). Also, we have provided a comparison of the excellent performance of ZnO to that of the other metal oxides. The purpose of this study is to discuss the literature concerning the potential applications of ZnO-based sonophotocatalysts for the degradation of pollutants i.e., dyes, antibiotics, pesticides, phenols, etc. That are carried out for future developments. The role of the produced ROS under light and ultrasound stimulation and the degradation mechanisms that are based on published literature are also discussed. In the end, future perspectives are suggested, that are helpful in the development of the sonophotocatalysis process for the remediation of wastewater containing various pollutants.

Potential of novel dual Z-scheme carbon quantum dots decorated MnIn2S4/CdS/Bi2S3 heterojunction for environmental applications.

In this work, CQDs decorated MnIn2S4/CdS/Bi2S3 heterojunction was prepared successfully by hydrothermal technique for photocatalytic disinfection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and mineralization of methyl orange (MO) dye. The charge transferal route and mineralization process in CQDs-MnIn2S4/CdS/Bi2S3 heterojunction were comprehensively investigated by advanced spectroscopic techniques. The improved visible-light activity and enhanced photo-generated charge transferal efficacy caused dual Z-scheme CQDs-MnIn2S4/CdS/Bi2S3 heterojunction to achieve boosted photodegradation ability. The catalytic degradation trend was followed as CQDs-MnIn2S4/CdS/Bi2S3 > MnIn2S4 > CdS > Bi2S3. The dye was mineralized within 180 min under visible light irradiation. The effect of reaction parameters, pH effect, catalyst dosage, and H2O2 addition on MO degradation was also investigated. The degradation rate was maximal at pH 4 with a pseudo-first-order rate constant, 0.0438 min-1. The assessment of antibacterial properties revealed that CQDs-MnIn2S4/CdS/Bi2S3 composite effectively inactivated E. coli under visible light. Scavenging experiments, transient photocurrent response, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy suggested that •[Formula: see text] and holes were the dominant reactive species. The Z-scheme heterojunction is recyclable up to ten photocatalytic cycles according to recycling experiments. This research indicates the importance of dual Z-scheme CQDs decorated MnIn2S4/CdS/Bi2S3 heterojunction in wastewater remediation.

O and S co-doping induced N-vacancy in graphitic carbon nitride towards photocatalytic peroxymonosulfate activation for sulfamethoxazole degradation.

Doping-induced vacancy engineering of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) is beneficial for bandgap modulation, efficient electronic excitation, and facilitated charge carrier migration. In this study, synthesis of oxygen and sulphur co-doped induced N vacancies (OSGCN) by the hydrothermal method was performed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotic degradation and H2 production. The results from experimental and DFT simulation studies validate the synergistic effects of co-dopants and N-vacancies, i.e., bandgap lowering, electron-hole pairs separation, and high solar energy utilization. The substitution of sp2 N atom by O and S co-dopants causes strong delocalization of HOMO-LUMO distribution, enhancing carrier mobility, increasing reactive sites, and facilitating charge-carrier separation. Remarkably, OSGCN/PMS photocatalytic system achieved 99.4% SMX degradation efficiency and a high H2 generation rate of 548.23 µ mol g-1 h-1 within 60 min and 36 h, respectively under visible light irradiations. The SMX degradation kinetics was pseudo-first-order with retained recycling efficiency up to 4 catalytic cycles. The results of EPR and chemical scavenging experiments revealed the redox action of reactive oxidative species, wherein 1O2 was the dominant reactive species in SMX degradation. The identification of formed intermediates and the SMX stepwise degradation pathway was investigated via LC-MS analysis and DFT studies, respectively. The results from this work anticipated deepening the understanding of PMS activation by substitutional co-doping favoring N-vacancy formation in GCN lattice for improved photocatalytic activity.

Constructing α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4/SiO2 S-scheme-based heterostructure for photo-Fenton like degradation of rhodamine B dye in aqueous solution.

This work successfully fabricated graphitic carbon nitride and magnetically recoverable α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4/SiO2 photo-Fenton catalysts using thermal polycondensation and in situ-simple precursor drying-calcination process, respectively, was examined for model synthetic rhodamine B (RhB) dye in the presence of H2O2 and acidic pH under simulated visible light irradiation. An aqueous suspension of the reaction mixture of dye-containing wastewater was fully degraded and reached 97% of photo-Fenton degradation efficiency within 120 min followed by the production of hydroxyl radical (•OH). The dominant hydroxyl radical position generated surface charge, electrostatic potential distribution, and average local ionization potential, which contributed to the complete mineralization of RhB dye, according to the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. HPLC and GCMS experiments were performed to examine the degradation fragments of RhB and draw a plausible mechanistic pathway which showed that RhB degradation generated a series of N-deethylated products, followed by a one-time ring-opening, which indicated that photosensitization induced a photocatalysis reaction mechanism.

Recent advances in Metal Organic Framework (MOF)-based hierarchical composites for water treatment by adsorptional photocatalysis: A review.

Architecting a desirable and highly efficient nanocomposite for applications like adsorption, catalysis, etc. has always been a challenge. Metal Organic Framework (MOF)-based hierarchical composite has perceived popularity as an advanced adsorbent and catalyst. Hierarchically structured MOF material can be modulated to allow the surface interaction (external or internal) of MOF with the molecules of interest. They are well endowed with tunable functionality, high porosity, and increased surface area epitomizing mass transfer and mechanical stability of the fabricated nanostructure. Additionally, the anticipated optimization of nanocomposite can only be acquired by a thorough understanding of the synthesis techniques. This review starts with a brief introduction to MOF and the requirement for advanced nanocomposites after the setback faced by conventional MOF structures. Further, we discussed the background of MOF-based hierarchical composites followed by synthetic techniques including chemical and thermal treatment. It is important to rationally validate the successful nanocomposite fabrication by characterization techniques, an overview of challenges, and future perspectives associated with MOF-based hierarchically structured nanocomposite.

Recent advances in cellulose supported photocatalysis for pollutant mitigation: A review.

In recent times, green chemistry or "green world" is a new and effective approach for sustainable environmental remediation. Among all biomaterials, cellulose is a vital material in research and green chemistry. Cellulose is the most commonly used natural biopolymer because of its distinctive and exceptional properties such as reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and universality. Generally, coupling cellulose with other nanocomposite materials enhances the properties like porosity and specific surface area. The polymer is environment-friendly, bioresorbable, and sustainable which not only justifies the requirements of a good photocatalyst but boosts the adsorption ability and degradation efficiency of the nanocomposite. Hence, knowing the role of cellulose to enhance photocatalytic activity, the present review is focused on the properties of cellulose and its application in antibiotics, textile dyes, phenol and Cr(VI) reduction, and degradation. The work also highlighted the degradation mechanism of cellulose-based photocatalysts, confirming cellulose's role as a support material to act as a sink and electron mediator, suppressing the charge carrier's recombination rate and enhancing the charge migration ability. The review also covers the latest progressions, leanings, and challenges of cellulose biomaterials-based nanocomposites in the photocatalysis field.

Hexagonal-borocarbonitride (h-BCN) based heterostructure photocatalyst for energy and environmental applications: A review.

Formulation of heterojunction with remarkable high efficiency by utilizing solar light is promising to synchronously overcome energy and environmental crises. In this concern, hexagonal-borocarbonitride (h-BCN) based Z-schemes have proved potential candidates due to their spatially separated oxidation and reduction sites, robust light-harvesting ability, high charge pair migration and separation, and strong redox ability. H-BCN has emerged as a hotspot in the research field as a metal-free photocatalyst with a tunable bandgap range of 0-5.5 eV. The BCN photocatalyst displayed synergistic benefits of both graphene and boron nitride. Herein, the review demonstrates the current state-of-the-art in the Z-scheme photocatalytic application with a special emphasis on the predominant features of their photoactivity. Initially, fundamental aspects and various synthesis techniques are discussed, including thermal polymerization, template-assisted, and template-free methods. Afterward, the reaction mechanism of direct Z-scheme photocatalysts and indirect Z-scheme (all-solid-state) are highlighted. Moreover, the emerging Step-scheme (S-scheme) systems are briefly deliberated to understand the charge transfer pathway mechanism with an induced internal electric field. This review critically aims to comprehensively summarize the photo-redox applications of various h-BCN-based heterojunction photocatalysts including CO2 photoreduction, H2 evolution, and pollutants degradation. Finally, some challenges and future direction of h-BCN-based Z-scheme photocatalyst in environmental remediation are also proposed.

Spinel ZnCr2O4 nanorods synthesized by facile sol-gel auto combustion method with biomedical properties.

In this study, spinel zinc chromite nanorods (ZnCr2O4 NRs) were successfully manipulated by a simple sol-gel auto combustion process employing urea as fuel. The sample was only required to sinter at 500 °C for 2 h to obtain the single crystalline phase. The phase formation, crystallinity, and surface topography of synthesized ZnCr2O4 NRs were explored by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy (UVDRS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD analysis confirms the formation of spinel ZnCr2O4 NRs. The FTIR spectrum displays the two vibrational peaks of Cr-O, and Zn-O at 489 and 615 cm-1, correspondingly. These vibrational bonds were correlated with ZnCr2O4 and revealed the production of cubic spinel ZnCr2O4 NRs. FESEM indicates the presence of hexagonal-rod-shaped particles. EDX spectrum demonstrates the elemental composition of the ZnCr2O4 NRs and confirms the primary peak of Zn, Cr, and O. The obtained ZnCr2O4 NRs exhibit an antiferromagnetic behavior. The bandgap energy of ZnCr2O4 NRs was ascertained and was shown to be 3.45 eV. Furthermore, the antifungal and antibacterial effect of ZnCr2O4 NRs was examined against pathogenic strains by disc diffusion technique. Besides these, the antimalarial activity of ZnCr2O4 NRs was studied against Plasmodium falciparum. Thus, the as-synthesized ZnCr2O4 NRs showed significant antibacterial, antifungal and antimalarial activity and may be helpful for research opening a novel horizon in nanomedicine. Graphical abstract.

Rational design, structure properties, and synthesis strategies of dual-pore covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for potent applications: A review.

Dual-pore covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer a molecular scaffold for introducing building blocks into periodically organized polygonal skeletons to produce fascinating structural features. The rapid development of this material has attracted intensive interest from researchers with diverse expertise. This review selects the leading scientific findings about dual-pore COFs and highlights their functions and perspectives on design, structure properties, and synthesis strategies. Dual-pore COFs, as newly hetero-pore COFs by integrating particular pores into one polygonal skeleton, have been compared to conventional COFs. Dual-pore COFs display hierarchical/heterogeneous porosities and homogeneous porosity, which endow them with exceptional features involving mass diffusion, charge transfer, and large surface area with abundant active sites. Additionally, the strategic dual-pore design by opting for different approaches, such as integration of [D2h + C2] symmetries, kagome-type lattices, and other symmetric arrangements of monomers, are inclusively discussed. Identification and construction of dual-pores in COFs via optimal synthetic methods, such as desymmetrization, multiple linking sites, and orthogonal reactions, are highlighted as the primary pore engineering routes to simultaneously regulate the growth and alter the characteristics of COFs for promising applications. Lastly, a focused discussion on various challenges and critical fundamentals of dual-pore engineering is successfully outlined, with potential prospects of introducing dual-pore in COFs.

A concept for the biotechnological minimizing of emerging plastics, micro- and nano-plastics pollutants from the environment: A review.

Plastics, micro- and nano-plastics pollution are undoubtedly a severe and crucial ecological threat due to the durability of plastics and their destructive impacts on humans and wildlife. Most scientific investigations have addressed the classification, types, distribution, ingestion, fate, impacts, degradation, and various adverse effect of plastics. Heretofore, scanty reports have addressed implementing strategies for the remediation and mitigation of plastics. Therefore, in this paper, we review the current studies on the degradation of plastics, micro- and nano-plastics aided by microorganisms, and explore the relevant degradation properties and mechanisms. Diverse microorganisms are classified, such as bacteria, fungi, algae, cyanobacteria, wax worms, and enzymes that can decompose various plastics. Furthermore, bio-degradation is influenced by microbial features and environmental parameters; therefore, the ecological factors affecting plastic degradation and the resulting degradation consequences are discussed. In addition, the mechanisms underlying microbial-mediated plastic degradation are carefully studied. Finally, upcoming research directions and prospects for plastics degradation employing microorganisms are addressed. This review covers a comprehensive overview of the microorganism-assisted degradation of plastics, micro- and nano-plastics, and serves as a resource for future research into sustainable plastics pollution management methods.

Auricular Acupressure Effect on Autonomic Responses Evoked by a Cold Pressor Test in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study.

Objective: This pilot study was conducted to investigate changes in the pulse rate and blood pressure in healthy volunteers after applying auricular acupressure at the "heart acupoint." Methods: A total of 120 healthy volunteers with hemodynamic indexes within normal limits were randomly allocated into 4 groups to receive auricular acupressure treatment either at the heart acupoint of the left or the right, or in both ears, and one control group without applying auricular acupressure. Results: Before the application of auricular acupressure, there were no statistical differences in pulse rate and blood pressure increments among the four groups during the first cold pressor test. In groups in which auricular pressure was applied, the pulse rate was significantly reduced after the application of auricular acupressure in three groups; however, no statistically significant difference was detected among the groups. Changes in blood pressure were not statistically significant in or among the different groups after applying auricular acupressure. The average recorded pulse rate values during the second cold pressor test (after auricular acupressure) were significantly lower compared to the corresponding values taken during the first cold pressor test (before auricular acupressure) (p < 0.05); however, pulse rate increments during the two cold pressor tests (with and without auricular acupressure) were similar (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that auricular acupressure could be used as an adjunctive nonpharmacological method for reducing the pulse rate.

Recent trends in Bi-based nanomaterials: challenges, fabrication, enhancement techniques, and environmental applications.

One of the most enticing approaches to environmental restoration and energy conversion is photocatalysis powered by solar light. Traditional photocatalysts have limited practical uses due to inadequate light absorption, charge separation, and unknown reaction mechanisms. Discovering new visible-light photocatalysts and investigating their modification is crucial in photocatalysis. Bi-based photocatalytic nanomaterials have gotten much interest as they exhibit distinctive geometric shapes, flexible electronic structures, and good photocatalytic performance under visible light. They can be employed as stand-alone photocatalysts for pollution control and energy production, but they do not have optimum efficacy. As a result, their photocatalytic effectiveness has been significantly improved in the recent decades. Numerous newly created concepts and methodologies have brought significant progress in defining the fundamental features of photocatalysts, upgrading the photocatalytic ability, and understanding essential reactions of the photocatalytic process. This paper provides insights into the characteristics of Bi-based photocatalysts, making them a promising future nanomaterial for environmental remediation. The current review discusses the fabrication techniques and enhancement in Bi-based semiconductor photocatalysts. Various environmental applications, such as H2 generation and elimination of water pollutants, are also discussed in terms of semiconductor photocatalysis. Future developments will be guided by the uses, issues, and possibilities of Bi-based photocatalysts.