The synthesis of solvent-adoptable monometallic Ni and NiCo alloy nanochains by a one-pot solution phase reduction method in the presence of poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVPh) is demonstrated. The elemental compositions of the as-prepared alloys are determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), which are matching well with the target compositions. The morphology analysis by TEM and FESEM confirms that the nanochains are made up of organized spherical monometallic Ni or bimetallic NiCo alloy nanoparticles (NPs). However, there is no nanochain formation when the alloy is prepared without the polymer PVPh. A possible mechanism for the formation of such NiCo alloy nanochains is discussed. The X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction patterns reveal that the Ni/NiCo alloys are polycrystalline with fcc structure. The obtained Ni or NiCo alloy nanostructures are ferromagnetic with very high coercivity. The polymer Ni/NiCo alloy nanochains are dispersible in both water and organic media that makes them versatile enough to use as catalysts in the reactions carried out in both types of media. The catalytic activities of these Ni/NiCo alloy nanochains are extremely high in the borohydride reduction of p-nitrophenol in water. In organic solvents, these nanochains can act as efficient catalysts, under ligand-free condition, for the C-S cross-coupling reactions of various aryl iodides and aryl thiols for obtaining the corresponding cross-coupled products in good to excellent yield up to 96%. The NiCo nanochain also successfully catalyzes the C-O cross-coupling reaction in organic medium. A possible mechanism for NiCo alloy nanochain-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction is proposed.

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Porous cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanorod (50-100 nm) and nanosheet-like (70-100 nm) particles were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method at 150 °C for 2-5 h and 12-24 h, respectively, using aqueous-based precursors like cobalt nitrate, urea and water in the absence of any templating agents followed by their calcination at 300 °C. Morphology and textural properties were tuned by changing the synthesis time at 150 °C. A 3D architecture of Co3O4 was formed by the self-assembly of nanostructured (nanorod and nanosheet) particles. The BET surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of the sample prepared at 150 °C for 5 h were 112 m(2) g(-1), 0.5 cm(3) g(-1) and 7.4 nm, respectively, and it exhibited the highest catalytic performance with a rate constant of 56.8 × 10(-3) min(-1) for the degradation of Chicago Sky Blue 6B, a carcinogenic azo dye used in the textile, paper and food industries. Rod-like particles with a mesoporous structure rendered a better catalytic efficiency than sheet-like particles having both microporous and mesoporous structures. An interrelationship amongst the morphology, textural properties and the catalytic efficiency of Co3O4 was established.

Demand of pure drinking water is increasing day by day in line with both a growing population and global industrialization. Studies in the past few decades on the application of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for the treatment of wastewater containing perilous organic pollutants, are promising when compared to conventional water treatment methods. In case of AOP, generation of powerful oxidant radicals (.OH, HOO.) is crucial for the purpose of degradation. Several processes for the in‐situ generation of such highly reactive oxidants have been discussed. This Review highlights the literature reports on the degradation of various organic pollutants (dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides) by means of photocatalysis. A number of scientific investigations have been performed, which elucidate suitable properties (band gap energy, carrier transport, crystallinity etc.) for the deliberate design of efficient photocatalysts. The oxidation rates and degradation efficiency of photocatalysts are governed by some basic parameters, like organic pollutant concentration, photocatalyst concentration, pH, reaction temperature, light intensity, irradiation time, inorganic ions, oxidants, and these are also discussed. Titania and titania based materials have many attractive properties (nontoxicity, less costly, advanced optical properties, high stability) towards photo degradation process. Several studies have been reported investigating the intermediates produced during degradation process as well as the final degraded product, which might be toxic and/or hazardous to the human as well as to the environment. This review assimilates elaborate study on the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of various organic pollutants.

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