Herein, we report the biosynthesis of pure NiO and NiO nanoparticles doped with Silver (Ag@NiO NPs) 2, 4, 6, and 8 mol% from aloe vera extract by solution combustion method at 400 °C and calcined at 500 °C for 3 h. By utilizing silver-doped NiO nanoparticles synthesized with Aloe Vera latex, which not only enhances the material's properties but also promotes environmentally friendly fabrication methods. The morphological, structural elemental compositions were analysed through SEM, HRTEM, SAED, XRD and EDAX. The band gap was determined as 2.48, 2.57, 2.58, 2.60, and 2.62 eV for pure NiO, 2–8% Silver doped NiO using Kubelka-Munk plot. The photocatalytic potential of the 6 % Ag doped NiO has been explored by assessing their effectiveness in degrading fast blue (FB) dye, demonstrating significant activity at 605 nm. Remarkably, with 120 min of UV radiation, the FB dye reaches an impressive photodegradation rate of 98 %, making the dye nearly colorless. The green synthesized NPs were tested in 1 M KOH to investigate their supercapacitor performance as an effective material for electrode. The Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), the Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and the Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies were conducted to determine the materials' electrochemical activity. The GCD study for 6 mol% Ag@NiO in a 3-electrode system shows a capacitance of 535 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 Ag^-1. 6 mol% Ag@NiO modified electrode shows excellent long-term stability, retention of more than 92 % of its initial capacitance after the operation of 2000 cycles. The important outcome of this work lies in multifunctional application of the as-synthesized materials, demonstrating their effectiveness for both efficient energy storage and improved photocatalytic performance, paving the way for sustainable and multifunctional devices.

Herein, we report the preparation of nanocomposites using activated biochar derived from rice husk (RHBC) by doping with a metal–organic framework, namely the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8). The morphological and structural characterization of the prepared nanocomposite was performed using SEM, BET, XRD, FTIR, TGA, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The average particle sizes as observed from SEM micrographs for ZIF-8 and ZIF-8@RHBC were 67 nm and 78 nm, respectively. The BET surface analysis of the ZIF-8@RHBC composite showed a value of 308 m²/g and a pore diameter of about 42.56 A°. The inclusion of RHBC in ZIF-8 resulted in a 4% increase in the optical band gap and a 5% increase in the optical conductivity. The electrochemical properties of this nanocomposite were investigated through cyclic voltammetry, and it was observed that ZIF-8@RHBC showed improved CV curves in comparison to bare ZIF-8. The specific capacitance of ZIF-8@RHBC was significantly enhanced from 348 F/g to 452 F/g at a 1 A/g current density after incorporating ZIF-8 into the RHBC matrix. The formation of a mesoporous structure in the ZIF-8@RHBC composite contributed to the improved diffusion rate at the electrode surface, resulting in excellent electrochemical features in the composite. Furthermore, the EIS studies confirmed the reduced charge transfer resistance and increased conduction at the electrode surface in the case of the ZIF-8@RHBC composite. Owing to the ease of its green synthesis and its excellent structural and morphological features and optical and electrochemical properties, this ZIF@RHBC nanocomposite could represent a novel multifunctional material to be used in optoelectronics and energy storage applications.

Background/Objectives: Biofilm-associated infections, particularly those involving Candida auris and Staphylococcus aureus, pose significant challenges in clinical settings due to their resilience and resistance to conventional treatments. This study aimed to synthesize novel triazole derivatives containing a piperazine ring via click chemistry and evaluate their efficacy in disrupting biofilms formed by these pathogens. Methods: Triazole derivatives were synthesized using click chemistry techniques. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds was tested against planktonic cells of C. auris and S. aureus in single and dual-species culture conditions. Biofilm disruption efficacy was assessed, alongside the evaluation of physicochemical properties, oral bioavailability potential, and toxicity profiles. Results: The compound T3 demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells of C. auris and S. aureus in both single and dual-species cultures. T3 exhibited significant efficacy in reducing microbial viability within biofilms formed by these pathogens. Physicochemical analyses revealed favorable solubility and permeability profiles, supporting its potential for oral bioavailability. Toxicity assessments showed a non-toxic profile, highlighting a promising safety margin for further development. Conclusions: This study underscores the anti-biofilm properties of novel triazole-piperazine derivatives, particularly T3, against single and dual-species biofilms of C. auris and S. aureus. These findings position T3 as a promising candidate for developing therapies targeting polymicrobial infections and provide a foundation for future research into alternative strategies for combating biofilm-associated infections.

In this work, we demonstrated for the first time, use of Europium doped lanthanum silicate nanoparticles (LS NPs) as electrodes for supercapacitor applications. Europium (Eu³⁺) doped (5 mol%) LS NPs were synthesized by green solution combustion method using Mexican mint leaf extracts. Various analytical techniques such as High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Selected Area Diffraction (SAED), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) techniques were used to confirm the morphological and structural characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles. The HRTEM and SAED patterns confirms the formation of NPs having agglomerated structure with a particle size less than 50 nm. The PXRD patterns reveals crystalline cubic structure for the NPs. Further, the FT-IR spectra reveal the successful doping of Europium in Lanthanum Silicate NPs. The DRS (Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy) studies confirm the reduced band gap for Europium (Eu³⁺) doped (5 mol%) LS NPs. Cyclic voltametric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments were performed in an alkaline medium to compare the electrochemical activity of Eu³⁺ doped LS NPs with that of their undoped counterpart. The Eu³⁺ doped (5 %) LS NPs electrodes attained a specific capacitance of 373.3 Fg^-1 at a current density of 0.5 Ag^-1 in comparison to pure LS NPs which is about 267 Fg^-1. The long-term stability of the Eu³⁺ doped (5 %) LS NPs electrodes show excellent stability up to 4000 cycles of operation in comparison pure LS NPs electrodes. Doping of Eu³⁺ had a favourable effect on the conductivity and electrochemical activity of LS NPs. Due to favourable green combustion synthesis, superior electrochemical performance, these Eu³⁺ doped LS NPs could be potential materials for new generation supercapacitors in energy storage applications.

Antimony oxide nanoparticles (Sb₂O₃ NPs) were synthesized via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and systematically characterized to evaluate their multifunctional performance. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirmed the formation of an orthorhombic Sb₂O₃ phase with an average crystallite size of 53.50 nm, while SEM analysis revealed elongated nanostructures with diameters in the range of 20–100 nm. The stoichiometric composition of Sb₂O₃ (Sb:O ≈ 2:3) was verified by EDAX, and optical studies indicated a direct band gap of 3.10 eV. The electrochemical sensing capability of Sb₂O₃ NPs was investigated using a modified nickel mesh electrode for the detection of Metronidazole (MTZ) in 0.1 N KOH. The presence of Sb₂O₃ NPs resulted in an additional irreversible reduction peak at −0.14 V, confirming enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward MTZ, along with excellent cycling stability (94.36% retention after 10 cycles). In addition, the photocatalytic performance of Sb₂O₃ NPs was evaluated through the degradation of Acid Orange (AO) dye under UV-Vis irradiation, achieving a degradation efficiency of 73.31%. These results demonstrate that Sb₂O₃ nanoparticles are promising multifunctional materials for environmental remediation and electrochemical sensing applications, highlighting their potential for industrial implementation.

In this study, zinc-doped magnesium ferrite (Zn_x-Mg_1−xFe₂O₄) nanoparticles were synthesized using a facile combustion method and investigated for their electrochemical sensing and photocatalytic applications. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy band gap (Eg) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized Zn–MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles exhibited crystallite sizes ranging from 18.7 to 27.9 nm with an optical band gap of 1.86–1.89 eV. The catalyst achieved degradation efficiencies of 78% for Eriochrome Black T and 85% for Methyl Orange within 120 min, while the electrochemical sensor exhibited excellent linearity toward HgCl₂ detection (R² = 0.99664), demonstrating the multifunctional capability of the synthesized nanostructure. The synergistic effects of Zn doping contributed to enhanced electrical conductivity, catalytic activity, and structural stability. The novelty of this work lies in the development of combustion-synthesized Zn–MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles as a multifunctional material capable of simultaneously achieving efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and sensitive electrochemical detection of mercury chloride using a simple and scalable synthesis route. These findings demonstrate that Zn–MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles hold significant potential for integrated environmental remediation and electrochemical sensing applications.