Ce⁴⁺-doped nanometer ZnO powder was synthesized by so-l gel method. The microstructures and properties of the samples were characterized through XRD, UV-Vis and FTIR. The results indicated that the Ce⁴⁺ was successfully incorporated into ZnO, and the diameter of the nanometer was about 10.7nm. It induced the redshifting in the UV-Vis spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was investigated using methylene blue (MB) as the model reaction under irradiation with ultraviolet light. The results showed that the doping of Ce⁴⁺ could increase the photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanopowders and that the best molar ratio of Ce⁴⁺ was n(Ce)/n(Zn) = 0.05, that the surfactant was sodium dodecyl sulfate, and that the nanometer ZnO was calcinated at 550 ℃ for 3 hours. Meanwhile, it inspected the effect of photocatalytic efficiency through the pH of MB, the amount of catalyst, and illumination time. The experimental results revealed that the initial mass concentration of MB was 10 mg/L, that the pH value was 7-8, that the dosage of Ce⁴⁺/ZnO photo-catalyst was 5 g/L, that the UV-irradiation time was 2 h, and that the removal rate of MB reached above 85%. Under the optimized conditions, the degradation rate of real dye wastewater was up to 87.67% and the removal efficiency of COD was 63.5%.

An alternative for sustainable management in the cultivation of Capsicum annuum L. has focused on the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This research selected PGPRPGPR and AMF based on their effect on Bell Pepper and Jalapeño bell pepper plants. Five bacterial strains isolated from different localities in the state of Mexico (P61 [Pseudomonas tolaasii], A46 [P. tolaasii], R44 [Bacillus pumilus], BSP1.1 [Paenibacillus sp.] and OLs-Sf5 [Pseudomonas sp.]) and 3 AMF treatments (H1 [consortium isolated from Chile rhizosphere in the state of Puebla], H2 [Rhizophagus intraradices] and H3 [consortium isolated from lemon rhizosphere from the state of Tabasco]). In addition, a fertilized treatment (Steiner solution 25%) and an absolute control were included. Jalapeño bell pepper “Caloro” and Bell Pepper “California Wonder” seedlings were inoculated with AMF at sowing and with CPB 15 days after emergence, and grown under controlled environment chamber conditions. In Jalapeño bell pepper, the best bacterial strain was P61 and the best AMF treatment was H1; in Bell Pepper the best strain was R44 and the best AMF were H3 and H1. These microorganisms increased the growth of jalapeño bell pepper and Bell Pepper seedlings compared to the unfertilized control. Likewise, P61 and R44 positively benefited the photosynthetic capacity of PSII.

BiVO₄ was hydrothermally synthesized under different preparing conditions and characterized by XRD, SEM, Raman spectrum and BET specific surface area. The influence of different pH value and annealing temperature and hydrothermal time on the morphologies and structures of the BiVO₄ samples was investigated systematically. It can be found that annealing would eliminate the effects caused by the pH of precursor, heating temperature and heating time, but preparing conditions still influenced the size and specific surface area of samples. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activities of the fabricated BiVO₄ were also evaluated by the degradation of methyl blue in aqueous solution under UV and visible light irradiation.

Lead halide perovskites are the new rising generation of semiconductor materials due to their unique optical and electrical properties. The investigation of the interaction of halide perovskites and light is a key issue not only for understanding their photophysics but also for practical applications. Hence, tremendous efforts have been devoted to this topic and brunch into two: (i) decomposition of the halide perovskites thin films under light illumination; and (ii) influence of light soaking on their photoluminescence (PL) properties. In this review, we for the first time thoroughly compare the illumination conditions and the sample environment to correlate the PL changes and decomposition of perovskite under light illumination. In the case of vacuum and dry nitrogen, PL of the halide perovskite (MAPbI_3–xCl_x, MAPbBr_3–xCl_x, MAPbI₃) thin films decreases due to the defects induced by light illumination, and under high excitations, the thin film even decomposes. In the presence of oxygen or moisture, light induces the PL enhancement of halide perovskite (MAPbI₃) thin films at low light illumination, while increasing the excitation, which causes the PL to quench and perovskite thin film to decompose. In the case of mixed halide perovskite ((MA)Pb(Br_xI_1-x)₃) light induces reversible segregation of Br domains and I domains. 

Regarding to the influence of chloride and fluoride ions on the corrosion resistance, the electrochemical behavior of Ti alloys has been deeply studied. In this work, the main goal was to investigate the electrochemical behavior of cp-Ti and Ti-Mo alloys containing 6, 10 and 15 wt% of Mo concentrations. All the samples were immersed in different solutions, such as 0.15 mol L^-1 Na₂SO₄, 0.15 mol L^-1 Ringer, 0.15 mol L^-1 Ringer plus 0.036 mol L^-1 NaF and 0.036 mol L^-1 NaF. Simulating the commercial fluorinated gels, the NaF solutions naturally-aerated were prepared with 1450 ppm of fluoride ions. The electrochemical techniques applied in this work were the open-circuit potential, cyclic voltammetry, besides the technique for chemical identification, which was X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The formation and growth of TiO₂ and MoO₂ were identified, without pitting corrosion. The electrochemical stability and the corrosion resistance of the Ti-Mo alloys decreased in the solutions containing chloride and fluoride ions, with an appreciative decrease especially in the fluorinated medium. The Ti-Mo alloy with higher Mo content concentration was the material with higher corrosion resistance. Therefore, it is a promising candidate as a biomaterial, once the osseointegration needs a satisfactory corrosion resistance for being achieved.

To investigate the possible role of arbuscular mycrrhizal fungi (AMF) in alleviating the negative effects of salinity on Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.), the regenerated plantlets in tissue culture was transferred to pots in greenhouse and inoculated with Glomus intraradices. Salinity caused a significant decrease in chlorophyll content, photosynthesis efficiency and enhanced the electrolyte leakage. The use of AMF in salt –affected plants resulted in improved all above mentioned characteristics. Hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents increased in salt stressed plants while a reduction was observed due to AMF inoculation. CAT activity showed a significant increase up to 2 g/l and then followed by decline at 5 g/l NaCl in both AMF and non-AMF treated stevia, however, AMF inoculated plants maintained lower CAT activity at all salinity levels (2 and 5 g/l). Enhanced POX activities in salt- treated stevia plants were decreased by inoculation of plants with AMF. The addition of NaCl to stevia plants also resulted in an enhanced activity of SOD whilst, AMF plants maintained higher SOD activity at all salinity levels than those of non-AMF inoculated plants. AMF inoculation was capable of alleviating the damage caused by salinity on stevia plants by reducing oxidative stress and improving photosynthesis efficiency.