Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) are favorable in nanotechnology based on some remarkable properties. In this study, the crystalline CeO₂ NPs are successfully prepared by an efficient microwave combustion (MCM) and conventional route sol-gel (CRSGM) methods. The structural morphology of the as-prepared CeO₂ NPs was investigated by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Moreover, the XRD pattern confirmed the formation of CeO₂ NPs as a face centered cubic structure. The magnetometer studies indicated the low saturation magnetization (23.96 emu/g) of CeO₂ NPs for weak paramagnetic and high saturation magnetization (32.13 emu/g) of CeO₂ NPs for super paramagnetic. After that, the oxidation effect of benzyl alcohol was investigated which reveals good conversion and selectivity. Besides, the CeO₂ NPs modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) used for the detection of nitrite with linear concentration range (0.02–1200 μM), low limit of detection (0.21 μM) and higher sensitivity (1.7238 μAμM⁻¹ cm⁻²). However, the CeO₂ NPs modified electrode has the fast response, high sensitivity and good selectivity. In addition, the fabricated electrode is applied for the determination of nitrite in various water samples. Eventually, the CeO₂ NPs can be regarded as an effective way to enhance the catalytic activity towards the benzyl alcohol and nitrite.

This review article’s primary aim is to discuss different thin-film deposition technique methods and their important uses. The histories of thin-film technology, thin-film growth, thin-film classification, and thin-film preparation techniques are also covered in this review article. The preparation and characterization of functional thin films and nanostructured materials, as well as various devices based on these materials and recent developments are also focused on in this review. The properties of the materials and several thin-film deposition techniques are also covered in this article. This review article also discusses the classification and application of thin-film sensors. Furthermore, the formation of thin films and their physical properties are impacted by deposition conditions such as pH, temperature, deposition time, and deposition parameters, which are analyzed. This article discusses how a wide range of potential uses in structural, mechanical, and protective coatings; sensing; energy storage systems; catalysis; optoelectronics; and biomedicine are made possible by the special qualities of thin films and nanostructured materials, including their high surface area to volume ratio, structure, surface charge, anisotropic nature, and tunable functionalities.

In this manuscript, “Get two mangoes with one stone” strategy was used to study the electrochemical detection and photocatalytic mineralization of furaltadone (FLT) drug using Cu/Ni/TiO₂/MWCNTs nanocomposites for the first time. The bi-functional nanocomposites were synthesized through a hydrothermal synthesis technique. The successfully synthesized nanocomposites were analyzed by various analytical techniques. The Cu/Ni/TiO₂/MWCNTs nanocomposites decorated screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) exhibit a good electrocatalytic ability towards detection of FLT. Moreover, the electrocatalytic detection of FLT based on the nanocomposites decorated SPCE have high stability, lower detection limit, and excellent sensitivity of 0.0949 μM and 1.9288 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻², respectively. In addition, the nanocomposites decorated SPCE electrodes performed in real samples, such as river water and tap water, the satisfactory results were observed. As UV–Visible spectroscopy revealed that the Cu/Ni/TiO₂/MWCNTs nanocomposites had an excellent photocatalytic ability for degradation of FLT drug. The higher degradation efficiency of 75% was achieved within 45 min under irradiation of visible light. In addition, after the degradation process various intermediates are produced which is confirmed by GC–MS analysis. The excellent photocatalytic ability was improved to the dopant ions and restrictions of electron–hole pair.