Due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations imposed by governments throughout the world, the manufacture of low-sulfur fuels has received considerable assiduity in the petroleum industry. In this investigation, mesoporous V₂O₅-decorated two-dimensional ZnO nanocrystals were manufactured using a simple surfactant-assisted sol–gel method for thiophene photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization (TPOD) at ambient temperature applying visible illumination. When correlated to pure ZnO NCs, V₂O₅-added ZnO nanocomposites dramatically improved the photocatalytic desulfurization of thiophene, and the reaction was shown to follow the pseudo-first-order model. The photocatalytic effectiveness of the 3.0 wt.% V₂O₅-ZnO photocatalyst was the greatest among all the other samples, with a rate constant of 0.0166 min⁻¹, which was 30.7 significantly greater than that of pure ZnO NCs (0.00054 min⁻¹). Compared with ZnO NCs, and owing to their synergetic effects, substantial creation of hydroxyl radical levels, lesser light scattering action, quick transport of thiophene species to the active recenters, and efficient visible-light gathering, V₂O₅-ZnO nanocomposites were found to have enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. V₂O₅-ZnO nanocomposites demonstrated outstanding stability during TPOD. Using mesoporous V₂O₅-ZnO nanocomposites, the mechanism of the charge separation process was postulated.

In ferromagnetic semiconductors, the coupling of magnetic ordering with semiconductor character accelerates the quantum computing. The structural stability, Curie temperature (T_c), spin polarization, half magnetic ferromagnetism and transport properties of ZnX₂Se₄ (X = Ti, V, Cr) chalcogenides for spintronic and thermoelectric applications are studied here by density functional theory (DFT). The highest value of T_c is perceived for ZnCr₂Se₄. The band structures in both spin channels confirmed half metallic ferromagnetic behavior, which is approved by integer magnetic moments (2, 3, 4) μ_B of Ti, V and Cr based spinels. The HM behavior is further measured by computing crystal field energy $\Delta E$_crystal, exchange energies $\Delta$_x(d), $\Delta$_x (pd) and exchange constants (N_o$\alpha$ and N_o$\beta$). The thermoelectric properties are addressed in terms of electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and power factor in within a temperature range 0–400 K. The positive Seebeck coefficient shows p-type character and the PF is highest for ZnTi2Se4 (1.2 × 10¹¹ W/mK²) among studied compounds.

Vanadium carbide is known, for its hardness and other unique properties, as a refractory material. The synthesis of vanadium carbide is always associated with the utilization of expensive active metals, such as aluminum, calcium and magnesium, as a reducing agent to extract the vanadium metal from its corresponding oxide, followed by carbidization. The carbidization of reduced vanadium requires a complicated process and elevated temperature. Mechanical activation to synthesize vanadium carbide from its corresponding oxide and carbon source represents a promising, straightforward and less energy-intensive route. In the present study, vanadium carbide is synthesized by the carbothermic reduction of a mechanically activated mixture of V₂O₅ and carbon black as reducing agents without any additives. The reduction process is monitored by means of thermogravimetric analysis. The reduction products are characterized by X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope. It is found that V₈C₇ with an average crystallite size of 88 nm can be synthesized from a V₂O₅-C mixture after milling for 15 h and further heating at 1050 °C for 1 h in an inert atmosphere.

The preparation of a dextran (Dex)-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) blend impregnated with ammonium bromide (NH₄Br) is done via the solution cast method. The phases due to crystalline and amorphous regions were separated and used to estimate the degree of crystallinity. The most amorphous blend was discovered to be a blend of 40 wt% Dex and 60 wt% HEC. This polymer blend serves as the channel for ions to be conducted and electrodes separator. The conductivity has been optimized at (1.47 ± 0.12) × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ with 20 wt% NH₄Br. The EIS plots were fitted with EEC circuits. The DC conductivity against 1000/T follows the Arrhenius model. The highest conducting electrolyte possesses an ionic number density and mobility of 1.58 × 10²¹ cm⁻³ and 6.27 × 10⁻⁷ V⁻¹s⁻¹ cm², respectively. The TNM and LSV investigations were carried out on the highest conducting system. A non-Faradic behavior was predicted from the CV pattern. The fabricated electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) achieved 8000 cycles, with a specific capacitance, internal resistance, energy density, and power density of 31.7 F g⁻¹, 80 Ω, 3.18 Wh kg⁻¹, and 922.22 W kg⁻¹, respectively.

The accumulation of Cr(VI) ions in water can cause serious influences on the environment and human health. This work reports a humble synthesis of ZnSe nanoparticles anchored to the sol-gel prepared TiO ₂ for visible-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) ions. The 7.9 nm ZnSe nanoparticles were attached to TiO ₂ surfaces at a content of 1.0−4.0 wt% as experiential by TEM investigation. The designed nanocomposite unveiled mesostructured surfaces exhibiting surface areas of 176−210 m ² g ⁻¹ . The impregnation of ZnSe amended the visible-light absorption of TiO ₂ due to the bandgap decrease from 3.14 to 2.90 eV. The photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) applying the optimized portion of 3.0 wt% ZnSe/TiO ₂ was achieved at 177 μ mol min ⁻¹ . This photocatalytic activity is higher than the common Degussa P25 and pristine TiO ₂ by 20 and 30 times, respectively. The improved performance is signified by the efficient interfacial separation of charge carriers by the introduction of ZnSe. This innovative ZnSe/TiO ₂ has also shown photocatalytic stability for five consecutive runs.