@article {49962,
	title = {Ionic liquid driven Refined functionalization of graphene oxide: An insight via combined experiments and theory},
	journal = {Carbon},
	volume = {243},
	year = {2025},
	month = {AUG},
	pages = {120571},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	Functionalizing graphene and its derivative, or doping them with heteroatoms can significantly enhance their optoelectronic, photonic and bio-photonic properties; but controlled and tuneable functionalization of GO is still in their infancy. Herein, a series of functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) are synthesized solvothermally by using task specific ionic liquids (ILs) of varying alkyl chain length; 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetra fluoroborate, [Cnmim]BF4 (n = 2, 4 etc.). ILs are not only used as a solvent but also as source of fluoride ion for functionalization of GO. A drastic decrease in the oxygen containing functional groups of GO upon fluorination is evidenced by FTIR, Raman, XPS, EDX analysis and electrochemical study. Solid state 19F NMR spectroscopy indicates that, fluorination happens exclusively in edge positions, not on basal planes. Band gap of FGOs decreases along with increasing the chain length of ILs. Further, intense blue emission and high photocatalytic efficiency, using crystal violet as model dye are observed for all the FGOs under visible light. The tailored functionalization by varying alkyl chain length of IL has been rationalized by DFT calculations. It has been realized that owing to the ease of dissociation for [Cnmim]BF4 complexes with n \&gt;= 10; greater extent of fluorination/functionalization of GO has been observed. Elimination of a non-covalent interaction on increasing the alkyl chain length has been attributed for lower stability of higher chain length IL which in turn renders ease of dissociation. Easy yet controlled functionalization of GO using tuneable ILs can open a new direction in the environment friendly synthesis and applications.</p>
},
	keywords = {fluorination, Functionalization, graphene oxide, ionic liquids, Luminescence, Photocatalysis},
	issn = {0008-6223},
	doi = {10.1016/j.carbon.2025.120571},
	author = {Kewat, Heera Lal and Dutta, Debangkana and Ajithkumar, T. G. and Chavda, Dhruvil and Sharma, Rahul Kumar and Tiwari, Mrityunjay K. and Sidiqi, Ubaid and Manna, Moutusi and Nigam, Sandeep and Ghosh, Pushpal}
}
@article {50032,
	title = {Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in deionized/natural seawater and removal of organic pollutants using the heterostructure of CuO/Cu2O nanoparticles under visible light},
	journal = {Langmuir},
	volume = {42},
	year = {2026},
	month = {FEB},
	pages = {PMID 9882736},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	Water splitting for hydrogen production and reducing water pollution using solar light are part of the Sustainable Development Goals, which require highly active photocatalytic materials. The heterostructures have demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic advantages in visible light. Herein, we report microwave-assisted green synthesis of CuO/Cu2O nanoparticles using Tridax plant leaf extract. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by using PXRD, UV-DRS, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, PL, TRPL, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, BET, and photocurrent. The photocatalytic water splitting performance of CuO/Cu2O and CuO was measured under visible light (lambda \&gt;= 420 nm) irradiation using methanol as a sacrificial reagent in DI water and natural seawater. The H2 evolution rates in DI water for CuO/Cu2O and CuO are 2043.21 and 970.09 mu mol g-1 h-1 with apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) values of 5.60 and 2.66 \%, respectively. In natural seawater, the H2 evolution rates are 2599.29 and 1370.54 mu mol g-1 h-1 with AQE values of 7.12 and 3.75 \%, respectively. The rate of H2 evolution slightly increased in natural seawater. Also, the degradation of the methylene blue dye was examined here, and the efficiency of CuO/Cu2O was determined to be 97 \% under natural sunlight. Electrocatalytic H2 evolution was also studied here by using linear sweep voltammetry. Tafel slope values for CuO/Cu2O and CuO are 153 and 250 mV dec-1, respectively. The lowest Tafel value of CuO/Cu2O indicates a faster rate of reaction, thereby producing easier charge separation and lowering the electron-hole recombination due to the presence of surface defects, smaller particle size, enhanced crystallinity, and the synergistic effect between Cu2O and CuO.</p>
},
	issn = {0743-7463},
	doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c05701},
	author = {Kangutkar, Raju S. and Walko, Priyanka and Nayaka, Girish Praveen and Nigam, Sandeep and Majumder, Chiranjib and Manjanna, Jayappa}
}
