Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

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Nickel phosphorus alloy coatings were prepared by electrodeposition route from sulfate electrolyte bath at various current densities. SEM studies reveal spherical grains covered the entire surface with uniform distribution. EDX results showed a linear increase of P content in the developed deposits with current density and therefore, enhancing the grains size and drop of the hardness values. XRD studies reveal monocrystalline orthorhombic alloys at a low amount of phosphorus (10.88 wt. %). Corrosion tests show that 1 A.dm-2 is the best applied current density giving the nobler Ecorr (-171.4 mV) and the lower icorr (4.64 µA/cm²).

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In this study, we thoroughly examine β-Bi₂O₃ thin films as potential photocatalysts. We produced these films using an environmentally friendly Sol Gel method that is also cost-effective. Our research focuses on how different precursor concentrations, ranging from 0.1 M to 0.4 M, affect the photocatalytic performance of these films. We conducted a comprehensive set of tests to analyze various aspects of the films, including their structure, morphology, topography, optical properties, wettability, and photocatalytic capabilities. These tests provided us with a well-rounded understanding of the films' characteristics. To assess their photocatalytic efficiency, we used Methylene Blue (MB) as a contaminant and found that the films, particularly those with a 0.1 M concentration, achieved an impressive 99.9% degradation of MB within four hours. The 0.1 M film had a crystalline size of 39.7 nm, an indirect band gap of 2.99 eV, and a contact angle of 51.37°. Our findings suggest that β-Bi₂O₃ films, especially the 0.1 M variant, have promising potential for treating effluents from complex industrial dye processes. This research marks a significant step in utilizing sustainable materials to address pollution and environmental remediation challenges.