Aloe vera gel-mediated sol-gel synthesis of Ce-Ni Co-doped TiO2 nanomaterials for efficient visible-light-driven binary dye degradation and antimicrobial applications

IF 3.2 4区材料科学 Q2 MATERIALS SCIENCE, CERAMICS

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology Pub Date : 2025-06-17 DOI:10.1007/s10971-025-06834-1

Sai Supriya Singupilla, Siva Rao Tirukkovalluri, Divya Gorli, Sandhya Rani Nayak, Raffiunnisa, Samuel Chufamo Jikamo, Nageswara Rao Kadiyala, Jaishree Genji

{"title":"Aloe vera gel-mediated sol-gel synthesis of Ce-Ni Co-doped TiO2 nanomaterials for efficient visible-light-driven binary dye degradation and antimicrobial applications","authors":"Sai Supriya Singupilla, Siva Rao Tirukkovalluri, Divya Gorli, Sandhya Rani Nayak,  Raffiunnisa, Samuel Chufamo Jikamo, Nageswara Rao Kadiyala, Jaishree Genji","doi":"10.1007/s10971-025-06834-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This research explores the use of aloe vera gel as a capping agent to improve Ce-Ni co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanomaterial properties for dye degradation and antimicrobial activity. Structural and optical analyses verified the anatase phase formation via PXRD (Powder X-ray Diffraction), while UV-Vis-DRS (UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum) indicated a narrower TiO<sub>2</sub> band gap (2.24 eV) upon Ce-Ni co-doping. HRTEM (High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy), BET (Brunauer−Emmett−Teller), and FESEM (Field emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis threw light on the nanostructure of the catalyst with particle size 4.1 nm, surface area 166 m<sup>2</sup>/g, and spherical morphology with a smooth surface. EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy E<sub>fb</sub>: −0.72 V) and VB-XPS (Valence band XPS E<sub>vb</sub>: 2.17 eV) validated conduction and valence band formation, whereas PL (Photoluminescence Spectrum) analysis revealed slow electron-hole recombination. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-Red analysis) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) confirmed dopant incorporation in the TiO<sub>2</sub> lattice, and XPS also specified the elemental content and oxidation states. XRF (X- ray fluorescence) spectroscopy identified the presence of all the elemental components, including the dopants. The optimized catalyst CNT2AG2 showed high photocatalytic activity, fully degrading Indigo Carmine and Malachite Green dyes within 40 and 60 min, respectively. Its higher efficiency is owed to better absorption of solar light, higher adsorption sites on the surface, and better separation of charge carriers. In addition, CNT2AG2 exhibited better antibacterial activity against <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> (Gram-positive MTCC-442) and <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i> (Gram-negative MTCC-241) and antifungal activity against <i>Candida albicans</i> (MTCC-277). It was as efficient as conventional antimicrobial agents such as chloramphenicol and tinidazole. Generally, CNT2AG2 offers an economical and viable option for wastewater treatment, which has substantial potential for applications in environmental remediation.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"115 2","pages":"509 - 535"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10971-025-06834-1","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, CERAMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

This research explores the use of aloe vera gel as a capping agent to improve Ce-Ni co-doped TiO₂ nanomaterial properties for dye degradation and antimicrobial activity. Structural and optical analyses verified the anatase phase formation via PXRD (Powder X-ray Diffraction), while UV-Vis-DRS (UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum) indicated a narrower TiO₂ band gap (2.24 eV) upon Ce-Ni co-doping. HRTEM (High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy), BET (Brunauer−Emmett−Teller), and FESEM (Field emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis threw light on the nanostructure of the catalyst with particle size 4.1 nm, surface area 166 m²/g, and spherical morphology with a smooth surface. EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy E_fb: −0.72 V) and VB-XPS (Valence band XPS E_vb: 2.17 eV) validated conduction and valence band formation, whereas PL (Photoluminescence Spectrum) analysis revealed slow electron-hole recombination. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-Red analysis) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) confirmed dopant incorporation in the TiO₂ lattice, and XPS also specified the elemental content and oxidation states. XRF (X- ray fluorescence) spectroscopy identified the presence of all the elemental components, including the dopants. The optimized catalyst CNT2AG2 showed high photocatalytic activity, fully degrading Indigo Carmine and Malachite Green dyes within 40 and 60 min, respectively. Its higher efficiency is owed to better absorption of solar light, higher adsorption sites on the surface, and better separation of charge carriers. In addition, CNT2AG2 exhibited better antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes (Gram-positive MTCC-442) and Enterobacter aerogenes (Gram-negative MTCC-241) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MTCC-277). It was as efficient as conventional antimicrobial agents such as chloramphenicol and tinidazole. Generally, CNT2AG2 offers an economical and viable option for wastewater treatment, which has substantial potential for applications in environmental remediation.

Graphical Abstract

查看原文本刊更多论文

芦荟凝胶介导的溶胶-凝胶合成Ce-Ni共掺杂TiO2纳米材料，用于高效的可见光驱动二元染料降解和抗菌应用

本研究探索利用芦荟凝胶作为封盖剂，改善Ce-Ni共掺杂TiO2纳米材料的染料降解性能和抗菌活性。结构和光学分析通过PXRD（粉末x射线衍射）证实了锐钛矿相的形成，而UV-vis - drs （UV-vis漫反射光谱）表明Ce-Ni共掺杂后TiO2带隙更窄（2.24 eV）。HRTEM（高分辨率透射电子显微镜），BET （Brunauer - Emmett - Teller）和FESEM（场发射扫描电子显微镜）分析揭示了催化剂的纳米结构，粒径为4.1 nm，表面积为166 m2/g，表面光滑，呈球形。EIS（电化学阻抗谱Efb:−0.72 V）和VB-XPS（价带XPS Evb: 2.17 eV）验证了导电和价带的形成，而PL（光致发光光谱）分析显示了缓慢的电子-空穴复合。FTIR（傅里叶变换红外分析）和XPS （x射线光电子能谱分析）证实了TiO2晶格中掺杂了杂质，XPS还确定了元素含量和氧化态。XRF （X射线荧光）光谱鉴定了所有元素成分的存在，包括掺杂剂。优化后的催化剂CNT2AG2具有较高的光催化活性，分别在40 min和60 min内完全降解靛蓝胭脂红和孔雀石绿染料。其较高的效率是由于更好的吸收太阳光，更高的表面吸附位点和更好的电荷载流子分离。此外，CNT2AG2对化脓性链球菌（革兰氏阳性MTCC-442）和产气肠杆菌（革兰氏阴性MTCC-241）和白色念珠菌（MTCC-277）具有较好的抑菌活性。它与氯霉素和替硝唑等传统抗菌剂一样有效。总的来说，CNT2AG2提供了一种经济可行的污水处理选择，在环境修复中具有巨大的应用潜力。图形抽象

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology 工程技术-材料科学：硅酸盐

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

4.00%

发文量

280

审稿时长

2.1 months

期刊介绍： The primary objective of the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology (JSST), the official journal of the International Sol-Gel Society, is to provide an international forum for the dissemination of scientific, technological, and general knowledge about materials processed by chemical nanotechnologies known as the "sol-gel" process. The materials of interest include gels, gel-derived glasses, ceramics in form of nano- and micro-powders, bulk, fibres, thin films and coatings as well as more recent materials such as hybrid organic-inorganic materials and composites. Such materials exhibit a wide range of optical, electronic, magnetic, chemical, environmental, and biomedical properties and functionalities. Methods for producing sol-gel-derived materials and the industrial uses of these materials are also of great interest.