The aim of this work was to synthesize semiconducting oxide nanoparticles using a simple method with low production cost to be applied in natural sunlight for photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in waste water. Iron titanate (Fe 2 TiO 5 ) nanoparticles with an orthorhombic structure were successfully synthesized using a modified sol–gel method and calcination at 750°C. The as-prepared Fe 2 TiO 5 nanoparticles exhibited a moderate specific surface area. The mesoporous Fe 2 TiO 5 nanoparticles possessed strong absorption in the visible-light region and the band gap was estimated to be around 2.16 eV. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue under natural sunlight. The effect of parameters such as the amount of catalyst, initial concentration of the dye and pH of the dye solution on the removal efficiency of methylene blue was investigated. Fe 2 TiO 5 showed high degradation efficiency in a strong alkaline medium that can be the result of the facilitated formation of OH radicals due to an increased concentration of hydroxyl ions.

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Iron manganite (FeMnO 3 ) powder with a cubic (bixbyite, ̅ ) crystal structure was obtained by a solid state reaction. Thick film paste (powder + organic vehicles) was screen printed on alumina substrate with test interdigitated PdAg electrodes. Significant porosity (60.6%) composed of macropores (larger than 100 nm) was determined by Hg porosimetry, changing only slightly from the first extrusion run indicating a stable pore system. Hg porosimetry evaluation of thick film samples enabled estimation of true textural parameters of the thick film compared to powder. Impedance response of the thick film sensor was monitored in a humidity chamber in the relative humidity range 30-90%, at room temperature (25 o C) and frequency range from 42 Hz to 1 MHz. At 100 Hz the impedance reduced from 10.41 MΩ to 0.68 MΩ for relative humidity of 30 and 90%, respectively. Analysis of complex impedance using an equivalent circuit showed the dominant influence of grain boundaries. The sensor response and recovery was fast (several seconds) and a relatively low hysteresis value of 2.8% was obtained.

Iron manganite (FeMnO3) particles express antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, together with H2O2 release and Fe, Mn-ion release in LB bacterial medium.

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Nickel manganite nanocrystalline fibers were obtained by electrospinning and subsequent calcination at 400 °C. As-spun fibers were characterized by TG/DTA, Scanning Electron Microscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy analysis. X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of nickel manganite with a cubic spinel structure, while N2 physisorption at 77 K enabled determination of the BET specific surface area as 25.3 m2/g and (BJH) mesopore volume as 21.5 m2/g. The material constant (B) of the nanocrystalline nickel manganite fibers applied by drop-casting on test interdigitated electrodes on alumina substrate, dried at room temperature, was determined as 4379 K in the 20–50 °C temperature range and a temperature sensitivity of −4.95%/K at room temperature (25 °C). The change of impedance with relative humidity was monitored at 25 and 50 °C for a relative humidity (RH) change of 40 to 90% in the 42 Hzπ1 MHz frequency range. At 100 Hz and 25 °C, the sensitivity of 327.36 ± 80.12 kΩ/%RH was determined, showing that nickel manganite obtained by electrospinning has potential as a multifunctional material for combined humidity and temperature sensing.

Nanocrystalline nickel manganite (NiMn2O4) powder with a pure cubic spinel phase structure was synthesized via sol-gel combustion and characterized with XRD, FT-IR, XPS and SEM. The powder was mixed with sodium alginate gel to form a nano-biocomposite gel, dried at room temperature to form a thick film and characterized with FT-IR and SEM. DC resistance and AC impedance of sensor test structures obtained by drop casting the nano-biocomposite gel onto test interdigitated PdAg electrodes on an alumina substrate were measured in the temperature range of 20–50 °C at a constant relative humidity (RH) of 50% and at room temperature (25 °C) in the RH range of 40–90%. The material constant obtained from the measured decrease in resistance with temperature was determined to be 4523 K, while the temperature sensitivity at room temperature (25 °C) was −5.09%/K. Analysis of the complex impedance plots showed a dominant influence of grains. The decrease in complex impedance with increase in temperature confirmed the negative temperature coefficient effect. The grain resistance and grain relaxation frequency were determined using an equivalent circuit. The activation energy for conduction was determined as 0.45 eV from the temperature dependence of the grain resistance according to the small polaron hopping model, while the activation energy for relaxation was 0.43 eV determined from the Arrhenius dependence of the grain relaxation frequency on temperature.

Nanostructured Fe2TiO5 (pseudobrookite), a mixed metal oxide material holds significant promise for utilization in energy and environmental applications.