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Hybrid lead halide spin coated perovskite films have been successfully tested as portable, flexible, operated at room temperature, self-powered, and ultrasensitive ozone sensing elements. The electrical resistance of the hybrid lead mixed halide perovskite (CHNHPbICl) sensing element, was immediately decreased when exposed to an ozone (O) environment and manage to recover its pristine electrical conductivity values within few seconds after the complete removal of ozone gas. The sensing measurements showed different response times at different gas concentrations, good repeatability, ultrahigh sensitivity and fast recovery time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a lead halide perovskite semiconductor material is demonstrating its sensing properties in an ozone environment. This work shows the potential of hybrid lead halide based perovskites as reliable sensing elements, serving the objectives of environmental control, with important socioeconomic impact.

The present study deals with the inactivation of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in water by means of heterogeneous photocatalysis under simulated solar irradiation. For this purpose, novel Mn-, Co-and Mn/Co-doped TiO 2 catalysts were prepared. A straightforward, simple and inexpensive process has been developed based on a co-precipitation method for the synthesis of metal-doped catalysts, which were subsequently assessed in terms of their disinfection efficiency. The effect of various operating conditions, such as metal dopant (Mn-, Co-and Mn/Co), dopant concentration (0.02-1 wt%), catalyst concentration (25-250 mg/L), bacterial concentration (10 2-10 8 CFU/mL), treatment time (up to 60 min), toxic effects on bacteria and photon flux (4.93-5.8×10-7 einstein/(L.s)), was examined under simulated solar irradiation. Metal-doped TiO 2 samples were prepared reproducibly and doping shifted the optical absorption edge to the visible region. Their activity was superior to the respective of commercially available P25 titania. The reference strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae proved to be readily inactivated during photocatalytic treatment of aqueous samples, since disinfection occurred rapidly (i.e. after only 10 min of irradiation) with the dopant concentration affecting the overall process to a certain extent. Disinfection follows a pseudofirst order kinetic rate in terms of both bacteria removal. Inactivation of the bacteria is attributed to the oxidative degradation of their cells and increase of their cell permeability and not to the potential toxicity of the metal-doped semiconductors, which did not exhibit any bactericidal properties. It has been shown that the improved activity of the Mn-, Co-, and binary Mn/Co doped TiO 2 is accredited to the fact that they can be activated in the visible part of the spectrum, in the absence of UV light (i.e. >420 nm).

Ordinary textiles are very often malodorous and the origin of cross-infection. Their microclimate, consisting of moisture, contaminants, and sweat, provides favorable conditions for microbial growth. Therefore, simple approaches of surface modification using functional materials are widely adopted to introduce antibacterial properties. This study reports a simple and low cost technique that renders cotton fabrics antibacterial. Manganese (Mn)-doped photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles of ∼150 nm average diameter have been prepared by sol gel and applied on textile fabrics using a silicone binder. The treated fabrics displayed 100% reduction of Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative) populations within 120 min under sunlight, demonstrating first order of reduction kinetics. Moreover, the functionalized fabrics demonstrated complete degradation of a methylene blue (MB) dye adsorbed on their surface, under both UV and visible light irradiation, turning them white. A similar effect was observed when the treated fabrics were immersed in a MB dye solution and subsequently irradiated. Here, the cotton fabrics functionalized with Mn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were able to discolour the dissolved MB dye, demonstrating a water purification effect. In addition, the modified fabrics were resistant to several laundry cycles. Physical properties like mechanical strength, color, breathability, and aesthetic of the treated cotton fabrics remained unchanged. The modified cotton fabrics can be envisioned as antibacterial, antiodorous, and self-cleaning textiles for sports, medical uses, uniforms, fashion, home furnishing, and leisure activities. Finally, the treated textiles were found to be biocompatible.

Hydrogen production through photocatalytic water reduction, a potential path for future renewable and sustainable energy generation.

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Quick and cost-effective fabrication of metal-halide nanostructure ozone sensors.