An ultrasensitive Ag-deposited TiO₂ flower-like nanomaterial (FLNM) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active substrate is synthesized via a hydrothermal method, and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are deposited through electron beam evaporation. Malachite green (MG), which is widely used in aquaculture, is employed to assess the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties of TiO₂/Ag FLNMs. They exhibit ultrasensitivity (limit of detection (LOD) of MG reaches 4.47 × 10^–16 M) and high reproducibility (relative standard deviations (RSDs) are less than 13%); more importantly, the TiO₂/Ag FLNMs are recyclable, as enabled by their self-cleaning function due to TiO₂ photocatalytic degradation. Their recyclability is achieved after three cycles and their potential application is examined in the actual system. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations and the charge-transfer (CT) mechanism further prove that the excellent SERS properties originate from localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag NPs and the coupling field between Ag and TiO₂ FLNMs. Therefore, TiO₂/Ag FLNMs show promising application in aquaculture.

Photocatalytic degradation research has attracted significant attention in the wake of the increasingly severe global challenge of water pollution. In this study, nano-ZnO was synthesized through a straightforward method using zinc acetate anhydrous as the precursor. The experimental results revealed that annealing conditions significantly influenced the bandgap energy (Eg) of ZnO, with a positive correlation observed between the intensity of photoluminescence (PL) spectra and photocatalytic activity. Under optimal annealing conditions at 300 °C for 1.5 h, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) exceeded 98% within 40 min of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, surpassing the efficiencies reported for ZnO in recent studies. This high performance underscores the excellent photocatalytic activity of the synthesized ZnO samples. Furthermore, after five photocatalytic cycles, the degradation efficiency of MB remained above 90%, and the crystalline structure of the ZnO samples remained stable, demonstrating their exceptional structural stability during the photocatalytic process. Additionally, this study examined the effects of stirring conditions and different light sources on MB degradation, providing valuable insights for future research in related fields.

Ni-doped ZnO nanowire arrays (Ni-ZnO NRs) with different Ni concentrations are grown on etched fluorine-doped tin oxide electrodes by the hydrothermal method. The Ni-ZnO NRs with a nickel precursor concentration of 0-12 at. % are adjusted to improve the selectivity and response of the devices. The NRs' morphology and microstructure are investigated by scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The sensitive property of the Ni-ZnO NRs is measured. It is found that the Ni-ZnO NRs with an 8 at. % Ni precursor concentration have high selectivity for H₂S and a large response of 68.9 at 250 °C compared to other gases including ethanol, acetone, toluene, and nitrogen dioxide. Their response/recovery time is 75/54 s. The sensing mechanism is discussed in terms of doping concentration, optimum operating temperature, gas type, and gas concentration. The enhanced performance is related to the regularity degree of the array and the doped Ni³⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions, which increases the active sites for oxygen and target gas adsorption on the surface.

Persistent organic pollutants pose significant long-term risks to environmental and human health due to their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties. This study focuses on the efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) through the rational design of a cobalt-based metal–organic framework (ZIF-67) catalyst, enabling rapid degradation of high-concentration dye pollutants. By optimizing the molar ratio of 2-methylimidazole (2-MeIM) to Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and employing a hydrothermal synthesis method, we fabricated ZIF-67 (4 : 1) with high crystallinity, large specific surface area (1656.68 m² g⁻¹), and stable degradation performance. The ZIF-67 (4 : 1)/PMS system achieved complete degradation of 20 mg L⁻¹ and 100 mg per L Rhodamine B (RhB) within 60 seconds and 6 minutes, respectively, surpassing recent reported efficiencies. The system also maintained high activity over a broad pH range (3–9). Radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis identified sulfate radicals (˙SO₄ ⁻ ₄) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) as the dominant reactive species. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited excellent recyclability with no significant loss in activity after five consecutive cycles. This work provides a facile and scalable strategy for preparing highly active cobalt-based catalysts, demonstrating great potential for practical applications in industrial wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.