Tailoring the phase composition of carbon-coated nickel sulfides to achieve a high specific capacitance.

As significant transition metal sulfides, nickel sulfides integrated with carbon were successfully synthesized in the presence of polyethylenimine and glutaraldehyde with a solvothermal route at 180 °C followed by carbonization. Glutaraldehyde prevented complete sulfur loss and allowed the formation of a mixed phase of nickel sulfide. The electrochemical performances of pure NiS2, NiS@C0, NiS2/NiS@C1, and NiS2/NiS@C2 electrodes were tested by a series of measurements. The specific capacitances obtained from GCD analysis were 698, 1160, 1484, and 908 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 for NiS2, NiS@C0, NiS2/NiS@C1, and NiS2/NiS@C2 electrodes, respectively. The results implied that the NiS2/NiS@C1 electrode possessed the highest specific capacitances and this study can be a good reference for the preparation of other hybrid metal sulfides as pseudocapacitive electrode materials.

Structural, magnetic, optical properties and cation distribution of nanosized Co0.7Zn0.3TmxFe2-xO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.04) spinel ferrites synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation.

This study expressed the influence of Tm substitution on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of Co-Zn spinel ferrites (Co0.7Zn0.3TmxFe2-xO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.04)). The different compositions were synthesized by sonochemical method using Qsonica ultrasonic homogenizer, frequency: 20 kHz and power: 70 W for 60 min. XRD patterns proved the presence of single-phase spinel ferrites with crystallites size in the 8-10 nm range. Cation distribution approved the occupancy of octahedral (B) site by Tm. The morphology and the elements stoichiometry are obtainable through FE-SEM, EDX and elemental mapping. Optical band gap (Eg) values were estimated via DR % (percent diffuse reflectance) investigations and Kubelka-Munk theory. Tauc plots revealed that direct Eg values are ranging between 1.49 and 1.68 eV. The analyses of magnetization versus magnetic field, M(H), were performed. The following magnetic parameters like saturation magnetization Ms, squareness ratio (SQR = Mr/Ms), magnetic moment nB, coercivity Hc and remanence Mr have been evaluated. M(H) curves revealed the superparamagnetic (SP) at RT and ferromagnetic property at 10 K. It was showed that the Tm3+ substitutions significantly affect the magnetic properties of host spinel ferrites. An increasing trend in the Ms, Mr, Hc, and nB values was noticed for lower Tm3+ substitution content.

Magnetically Recyclable Fe3O4@His@Cu Nanocatalyst for Degradation of Azo Dyes.

Fe3O4@His@Cu magnetic recyclable nanocatalyst (MRCs) was synthesized by reflux method using L-histidine as linker. The composition, structure and magnetic property of the product were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Powder XRD, FT-IR and EDAX results confirmed that the as-synthesized products has Fe3O4 with spinel structure and Cu nanoparticles with moderate crystallinity without any other impurities. The surface of the Fe3O4@His nanocomposite was covered by tiny Cu nanoparticles. We examine the catalytic activity of Fe3O4@His@Cu MRCs for the degradation of two azo dyes, methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) as well as their mixture. The reusability of the nanocatalyst was good and sustained even after 3 cycles. Therefore this innovated Fe3O4@His@Cu MRCs has a potential to be used for purification of waste water.