Photo-assisted catalysis, distinguished by its mild reaction conditions, robust efficacy, and sustainable nature, is envisioned as a transformative solution for future environmental protection.

This study reports the green synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) modified bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanocomposite (GO@Bi2O3) utilizing fresh leaves of Chenopodium album as a sustainable reducing agent. The nanocomposites were designed to integrate the extensive surface area of GO with the inherent catalytic and magnetic properties of Bi2O3, creating a synergistic material system. Comprehensive characterization using XRD, SEM, EDAX, UV–Vis spectroscopy, BET surface area analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy revealed significant structural and electronic modifications. Key findings include altered crystalline structure, reduced band gap energy, the presence of surface defects, an increased specific surface area, and critically, enhanced charge separation efficiency. The incorporation of GO was pivotal in augmenting the surface area and facilitating these beneficial modifications. These combined properties significantly improve the material’s capability for effective light absorption and effective separation/transmission of photogenerated charge pairs. Consequently, GO@Bi2O3 nanocomposites demonstrate highly enhanced photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, the electrochemical characterization indicates their potential suitability for electrochemical applications. The efficacious green synthesis path and subsequent collaborative enrichments underscore the competence of these GO@Bi2O3 nanocomposites as efficient, eco-friendly materials for environmental applications (photocatalysis) as well as energy-related (electrochemical) technologies.

The synthesis method plays a pivotal role in determining both the efficiency and economic viability of electrode materials used in energy storage systems. In this study, nanocomposites of titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx-MXene) and cerium hydroxide (Ce(OH)3) were rapidly fabricated via a microwave-assisted technique, tailored for highperformance supercapacitor applications. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the development of porous, impurity-free active materials with properties conducive to efficient ion diffusion. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated an exceptional specific capacity of 852 C g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 , along with outstanding rate performance. To assess real-world applicability, a solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor (Ce(OH)3-Ti3C2Tx//AC) was constructed, delivering an energy density of 34.4 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 2500 W kg-1 , while maintaining full capacitance over 6000 charge-discharge cycles. The successful illumination of a light-emitting diode (LED) further validated the device's practical utility. These results highlight the synergistic advantages of combining Ce(OH)3-Ti3C2Tx nanostructures with microwave-assisted synthesis for next-generation solid-state energy storage solutions.

This work presents an innovative approach towards the preparation and supercapacitive study of polypyrrolemethylene blue dye composite (PMB), where MB is adsorbed as a dopant onto PPy. MB adsorption is optimized by adjusting physical and chemical factors and analyzed via UV-Vis spectroscopy to form a PMB composite. Characterization techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), confirmed MB's successful incorporation into PPy matrix. Adsorption followed a pseudosecond-order reaction and the Freundlich model, indicating heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed notable charge redistribution and a marked reduction in the electronic band gap upon MB incorporation, indicating enhanced electronic conductivity and redox activity. Electrochemical analysis through current-voltage (I/V), cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed the PMB's enhanced performance with a specific capacitance of 452.17 F/g at 2 A/g, improving over pure PPy (224.34 F/g), along with an energy density of 12.71 Wh/kg and power density of 2249.92 W/kg at 2 A/g. Long-term cycling tests further demonstrated the superior stability of PMB, retaining 75.50% of its initial capacitance after 5000 charge-discharge cycles at 10 A/g. This optimized MB adsorption enhances PPy's performance for energy storage applications, supporting the removal of hazardous dyes from water and repurposing of these dyes as functional supercapacitor materials.

The rising pollution of water resources with synthetic dyes creates serious environmental and health risks. Conventional dye removal techniques, such as physical, chemical, and biological processes, are frequently limited by high operational costs, partial degradation, and the formation of secondary pollutants. Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of green carbon dots (GCDs) as effective, environmentally friendly photocatalysts for dye degradation. This review provides a detailed summary of GCD production, methodologies, structural and optical features, along with its application as a catalyst for dye removal under light irradiation. Furthermore, a rigorous comparison is made between traditional dye-removal methods and photocatalytic systems using GCDs, emphasizing their higher degradation efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. The study concludes with future directions for improving photocatalytic performance through heteroatom doping, surface modification, and hybrid composites to enhance sustainable water treatment technologies. In addition to reviewing the synthesis and photocatalytic activity of GCDs, this study emphasizes their practical application in industrial-scale wastewater treatment systems, particularly in the textile and printing industries. The current study is unique in that it focuses solely on green-precursor-based carbon dots and their mechanism-driven function in dye degradation, a topic that has not been thoroughly studied. A qualitative comparison with established physicochemical and biological approaches reveals that GCDs exhibit higher degradation efficiency (>90%), improved photostability and recyclability, and lower operational costs. This analysis expands on the economic significance and future promise of GCDs as sustainable photocatalysts for real-world environmental remediation.

A gadolinium hydroxide-MXene nanocomposite was synthesized through a microwave-assisted route as a supercapacitor electrode material. The prepared electrode material demonstrated a specific capacity of 128 mAh g-1, along with 98% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. An solid-state hybrid supercapacitor (Gd-MX//AC) delivered an energy density of 25.8 Wh kg-1 and a high power density of 3000 W kg-1, while maintaining outstanding capacitance retention over repeated cycles.

The emerging demand for efficient materials in environmental purification has drawn attention to multifunctional ferroics for their remarkable electronic and catalytic properties. In particular, bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) has emerged as a prominent multiferroic candidate, combining ferroelectric and magnetic functionalities with impressive photocatalytic potential for sustainable environmental and energy applications. In this work, distinct molar ratios of BiFeO3 (BFO) are engineered using a cost-efficient sol-gel technique and the influence of citric acid (CA) on the physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized samples is thoroughly analyzed as a function of varying molar ratios of metal nitrates. UV-visible absorption spectra revealed that the BFO samples fabricated with molar ratios i.e. 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 possess band gaps of 2.0 eV, 2.06 eV and 2.19 eV respectively, within the visible spectrum, which demonstrated their promise for photocatalytic applications that contribute to clean energy generation and sustainable development goals (SDG 7 and SDG 13). XRD analysis confirmed the rhombohedral perovskite structure of BiFeO3 with average crystalline size similar to 64.6 nm, similar to 47.1 nm, and similar to 62.3 nm for BFO 1:1, BFO 1:2 and BFO 2:1, respectively. SEM showed that the BiFeO3 samples with molar ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 demonstrated irregular spherical nanoparticles (NPs) forming a mosaic of assembled irregular spherical NPs owing to the presence of both BFO as well as Bi2Fe4O9 and uniform morphology throughout dispersion which is attributed to the stabilizing and dispersing effects of CA on BFO NPs. BFO 1:2 efficiently degrades sunset yellow (SSY) dye under the influence of visible light, accomplishing an excellent degradation efficacy of similar to 89 % under optimal conditions, as well as maintaining excellent proficiency even after four cycles (similar to 80 %), further demonstrating its repeatability. Also, the active species trapping analyses demonstrate that center dot OH radical and h(+) ions chiefly control SSY photodegradation using BFO. Furthermore, BFO 1:2 exhibits the highest hydrogen production rate of similar to 97.3 mmol/g in the presence of a platinum catalyst, demonstrating its excellent photocatalytic performance across diverse sacrificial agents. This study indicates that the prepared photochemically stable BFO NPs are underscoring their potential as durable photocatalysts for sustainable industrial practices and renewable hydrogen production applications.

This mini-review explores recent advancements in nanostructured solutions that support the sustainable production and storage of green hydrogen, a clean and efficient fuel that is garnering global attention in the transition to carbon-neutral energy. The development and integration of advanced nanomaterials, particularly those based on nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum composites, are emphasized for their capacity to enhance catalytic activity, electrical conductivity, and surface reactivity in electrochemical water splitting, thereby addressing the pressing need for scalable hydrogen production. The review details significant improvements in hydrogen storage, with a focus on cutting-edge metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), carbon-based nanostructures such as Fe- and Au-doped carbon nanotubes (demonstrating up to 6.92 wt

This study investigates the optical, structural, and electrochemical properties of polythiophene (PTh)-beta-carotene composites (PBCs) for advanced electrochemical energy storage applications. X-ray diffraction analysis of pristine beta-carotene confirmed its semi-crystalline nature, with sharp diffraction peaks in the 2 theta range of 15 degrees-35 degrees, indicating well-defined crystalline domains. Morphological analysis revealed a hierarchically organized three-dimensional microstructure consisting of radially aligned beta-carotene nanorods forming dense, flower-like PTh architectures, providing a highly porous and interconnected framework that facilitates efficient ion diffusion and electron transport. Optical studies showed that the band gap of PBCs decreased from 2.17 to 1.99 eV with increasing beta-carotene content, reducing the energy requirement for pi ->pi & lowast; transitions between HOMO and LUMO levels. Electrochemical investigations demonstrated that PBC-5 exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 865.2 F/g at 0.5 A/g, attributed to enhanced conductivity, charge transfer kinetics, and electroactive surface area. The maximum energy density of 24.08 Wh/kg was achieved for PBC-5, while pristine PTh exhibited the highest power density of 5.13 Wh/Kg at 0.5 A/g. A similar to 89% specific capacitance retention after 2000 cycles represents the stability and robustness of PBC-5 composite. These results confirm strong synergistic interactions between PTh and beta-carotene, enhancing electron mobility and redox activity. Overall, the PBC composites demonstrate significant potential as sustainable, high-performance electrode materials for next-generation supercapacitor applications.

Conducting polymers are widely explored as supercapacitor electrodes due to their reversible redox activity, electrical conductivity, and mechanical flexibility; however, their long-term cycling stability is often limited by structural degradation caused by repeated ion doping and dedoping. In this study, PPy-WS2 nanocomposites with systematically varied WS2 loadings were synthesized through an in-situ oxidative polymerization approach to elucidate how WS2 content influences morphology, surface chemistry, charge-transfer behaviour, and overall electrochemical performance. Unlike conventional reports that primarily highlight performance metrics of PPy-based hybrids, this work establishes a clear composition-structure-performance relationship and identifies the optimal WS2 fraction required to balance pseudocapacitive activity with mechanical and structural stability. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful integration of WS2 within the PPy matrix, forming an interconnected architecture that enhances electroactive-site accessibility and facilitates efficient ion and electron transport. Among the prepared materials, the PPy-20W electrode delivered the highest specific capacitance of 911 F g(-1) at 1 mV s(-1), along with excellent cycling durability. The improved performance arises from synergistic PPy redox activity, WS2-mediated interfacial charge storage, and enhanced charge-transfer kinetics. An asymmetric supercapacitor assembled using the optimized composite achieved an energy density of 32.5 Wh kg(-1) and a power density of 1400 W kg(-1), demonstrating the effectiveness of controlled WS2 incorporation for advancing PPy-based supercapacitor electrodes.

The growing need for energy throughout the world has made it even more important to find new materials that can generate and store energy efficiently. Smart photocatalysts made from polymer composites (PCs) are one of the new solutions that have gotten a lot of interest since they are very stable chemically, strong mechanically, conduct electricity well, and can be used in a variety of ways. The goal of this analysis is to look at the most recent changes in polymer composite-based materials that can be used to make hydrogen using photocatalysis. In particular, it looks at composites made by mixing nanoscale particles with a polymer matrix. These composites get over the problems that individual materials have and make energy conversion more efficient. The paper also talks about the uses and characteristics of conducting polymer composites in energy systems. The article talks about new materials and composites that can repair themselves and be printed in 3D. These materials might have higher energy density, better conductivity, and better photocatalytic activity. Lastly, the paper talks about the main problems that are getting in the way of photocatalytic hydrogen generation and offers ideas for how sustainable energy technologies might go forward in the future.

Development of an effective photocatalysts is a crucial for the enhancement of water splitting process. Cadmium sulphide (CdS) is a novel material, acts as a visible light active photocatalyst useful for photocatalytic water splitting. In present work, CdS nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by hydrothermal method. Synthesized samples were characterized using different techniques such as XRD, FTIR, SEM and DRS-UV. XRD results revealed the hexagonal crystal structure of CdS NPs with an average crystallite size of similar to 14 nm. FTIR analysis showed IR peaks at 1636, 1378 and 1007 cm-1 correspond to stretching vibrations of C-N bond. The vibrational bands obtained at 790 and 580 cm-1 confirms the fingerprint region thereby, revealing the development of CdS. Morphological analysis showed the formation of spherical NPs and agglomeration occurrence due to high surface energy. Optical analysis inferred that absorption edge lies in visible region with band gap value of 2.40 eV. Furthermore, photocatalytic water splitting experiments were performed showing hydrogen production rate of 163.4 and 289.5 mu mol h-1 g-1 for bare CdS and in the presence of sacrificial agent (N2S) respectively. The structure and activity retention were confirmed by XRD after stability testing during two hydrogen evolution cycles. Further, antibacterial activity of synthesized nanoparticles was assessed by using Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC-3160), and Escherichia coli (MTCC-1302) which displays good Zone of Inhibition.

Rare earth hydroxides have attracted growing interest in energy storage research owing to their favourable redox chemistry, multiple accessible oxidation states, and robust electrochemical stability. In this work, gadolinium hydroxide (Gd(OH)3) was prepared by microwave-assisted approach and evaluated as an electrode material for supercapacitor. Crystallographic and morphological studies confirmed the successful formation of crystalline hydroxide with a nanorod-like hierarchical morphology. The electrochemical behaviour of the prepared material was investigated, revealing a high specific capacitance of 894 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. Furthermore, the practical applicability of the synthesized Gd(OH)3 was demonstrated by assembling an asymmetric solid-state supercapacitor device, which delivered an energy density of 16 Wh kg−1and a power density of 2000 W kg−1, along with excellent cycling stability. These results highlight the strong potential of Gd(OH)3 as a promising electrode material for supercapacitor applications.