Monoclinic ZrMo₂O₈ was synthesized via solid state method and single crystals of the title compound have been grown by the hydrothermal method. The crystals belong to monoclinic crystal system with space group 𝐶2/c (No. 15) with 𝑎 = 11.4243(19) Å, 𝑏 = 7.9297(6) Å, 𝑐 = 7.4610(14) Å and 𝛽 = 122.15(2)°, 𝑍 = 4. The bandgap of the compound was 2.57 eV. Unlike the other polymorphs of ZrMo₂O₈, the monoclinic form has unique crystallographic features with ZrO₈ and Mo₂O₈ polyhedra. The photocatalytic activity of this compound has been investigated for the first time for the degradation of various dyes under UV irradiation and has been compared with the photoactivity of the trigonal form of ZrMo₂O₈. It has been observed that this compound exhibits specificity towards the degradation of cationic dyes.

Synthesis and structure of new (Bi, La)₃MSb₂O₁₁ phases (M = Cr, Mn, Fe) are reported in conjunction with their magnetic and photocatalytic properties. XRD refinements reflect that Bi₃CrSb₂O₁₁, Bi₂LaCrSb₂O₁₁, Bi₂LaMnSb₂O₁₁ and Bi₂LaFeSb₂O₁₁ adopt KSbO₃-type structure (space group, 𝑃𝑛$\bar{3}$). The structure can be described through three interpenetrating networks where the first is the (M/Sb)O₆ octahedral network and other two are the identical networks having Bi₆O₄ composition. The magnetic measurements on Bi₂LaCrSb₂O₁₁ and Bi₂LaMnSb₂O₁₁ show paramagnetic behaviour with magnetic moments close to the expected spin only magnetic moments of Cr⁺³ and Mn⁺³. The UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectra are broad and indicate that these materials possess a bandgap of ∼ 2 eV. The photocatalytic activity of these materials has been investigated by degrading Malachite Green (MG) under exposure to UV light.

In the present study, superabsorbents (SAPs) of cationicmonomer [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride have been prepared by free radical solution polymerization with different crosslinkers. They were subjected to repeated cycles of swelling and de-swelling in deionized water and NaCl solution. The conductivity of the swelling medium was measured and related to the swelling/de-swelling characteristics of the SAPs. The swelling capacity was also determined in saline solution. The swelling and de-swelling processes were described by first-order kinetics. The SAPs exhibited varied swelling capacity for crosslinkers of the same functionality as well as different functionality. The SAPs were used to adsorb the dye Orange G at different initial concentrations of the dye. The equilibrium adsorption data followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The SAPs were also used to adsorb three other dyes, namely, Congo red, Amido black and Alizarin cyanine green. They exhibited different adsorption capacities for different dyes. The adsorption phenomenon was found to follow first-order kinetics.