Here, we report a novel and eco-friendly synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) hexagonal bugle beads in a closed polypropylene vessel. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report synthesis of ZnO nanostructures in a closed polypropylene vessel (a simple hydrothermal reactor). Structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of the nanostructures were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that ZnO nanocrystals grow in a single crystalline hexagonal phase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal formation of nano-dimensional hexagonal bugle beads (base diameter ∼70 nm). The ZnO nanostructures were used to carry photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The beads show high photocatalytic performance against MB dye and degraded 89% of the dye in 120 min of UV light irradiation. The reusability test of zinc oxide bugle beads determine high stability of the photocatalyst.

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Mn doping in SrSnO 3 perovskite material via hydrothermal process under subcritical conditions is reported for the very first time. The present article aims to carry this perovskite suitable for blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and spintronic applications. The influence of various Mn doping percentages on structural, morphological, compositional, optical, photoluminescent, and magnetic properties of SrSnO 3 is demonstrated. The perovskite material is grown in an orthorhombic crystal structure having a space symmetry of Pnma along with point group of mmm as determined from the Rietveld refinement. Doping is an excellent way to modify the properties of wide-band-gap perovskite nanostructures. Incorporation of Mn is the result of exact substitution. Morphological studies indicate formation of rodlike structures with thickness in nanoscale dimensions (180–280 nm), and the thickness is a function of doping concentration. The higher doping concentration resulted in enhanced growth of the nanorods. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) results showed the single-crystal nature of the nanorods. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the high stability of the material at elevated temperatures. Also, the doped perovskite material is transparent in the visible light, active in the ultraviolet region having a band gap of ∼2.78 eV, and is tuned up to 2.25 eV as the Mn doping concentration reaches 10%. The transfer of excitonic energy from the host material to the dopant Mn 2+ ion leads to the formation of spin-forbidden [ 4 T 1 – 6 A 1 ] emission. Later on, photoluminescence study indicates an enhancement in luminescence behavior of Mn doped perovskite nanostructures. The Commission Internationale de l’éclairage (CIE) diagram drawn to find the color coordinates of the nanorods determines their suitability for blue LEDs. In addition, Mn doping results the conversion of diamagnetic SrSnO 3 into a ferromagnetic material, making the nanorods suitable for spintronic applications.

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In this study, novel growth of WO3-ZnSe nanocomposites was carried out by a simple, low-cost hydrothermal process under subcritical conditions and is reported for the first time in just 5 h. The products were characterized in detail by multiform techniques: X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical studies, and Fourier transform analysis. The influence of ZnSe on the structural, morphological, compositional, optical, and catalytic properties of WO3 is demonstrated. The WO3 metal oxide material is grown in a hexagonal crystal structure with wide-band-gap and has been modified by ZnSe to form a composite nanostructures in the nanoscale range. The electrochemical properties of the prepared materials were studied by cyclic voltammetry, which revealed that the synthesized material exhibited remarkable electrochemical supercapacitive activity. Moreover, the composite nanostructures showed excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of phenol and almost 93% of phenol was degraded with good recyclability and stability. According to The International Commission on Illumination (CIE), the synthesized nanomaterial shows blue emission and is suitable for blue LEDs.