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Two sets of bi-magnetic, biocompatible Zn0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4@Fe3O4 core–shell nanoparticles with enhanced magnetic properties were prepared. These bi-magnetic nanoparticles have a vast potential as MRI contrast agents.

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The nitroaromatic compounds, known as organic pollutants, have arising attention due to their carcinogenic character, highly dangerous to human health. In this work, the Ag@ZnO/MWCNT ternary nanocomposite synthesized via conjugation of sonochemical and solvothermal treatments manifests high performance in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the aqueous media (TOF value of 246 min−1 μmol metal−1). The incorporation of MWCNT onto the nanocomposite structure favored the reusing of the catalysts even after eight consecutive catalytic runs without catalysts cleaning nor product removal. Obtained samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, UV–vis, Raman and FTIR spectroscopies. It was found that ultrasonic treatment at relatively moderate conditions leads to functionalization of MWCNT, the appearance of C=C and OH groups and change of electronic properties of Ag@ZnO/MWCNT composite which provide its stable material dispersion in aqueous solution and high catalytic performance in the 4-nitrophenol reduction. This technique may be effectively applied for the functionalization of carbon including materials for their usage in an aqueous media.

This work presents the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles of titanium. The extract from the nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) plant was used as the redactor agent. The results of transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) show that nanoparticles have a sphere-like shape with an approximate diameter of 1–4 nm. The presence of Ti in these particles was corroborated by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Optical properties were detected with the presence of absorption bands centered in 295 nm and 355 nm, similar to those reported in the literature. Two Raman bands centered at 359 cm-1 and 404 cm-1 were observed after the synthesis of titanium nanoparticles. Afterwards, structural and vibrational parameters of small clusters of Ti  ( Ti n, n = 3–13) were analyzed by the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP level of approximation combined with the basis set LANL2DZ. Radial breathing modes (RBMs) were detected in the vibrational spectrum of each cluster, placed around 298–387 cm-1.