Zeolite Imidazolate Frameworks-8@SiO-ZrO Crystal-Amorphous Hybrid Core-Shell Structure as a Building Block for Water Purification Membranes.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as promising materials for water purification membranes, owing to their uniform microporous structures and chemical functionalities. Here, we report a simple procedure for depositing MOF-based nanofiltration membranes on commercial TiO ceramic tubular supports, completely avoiding the use of dispersants or binders. Zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals were synthesized in methanol at room temperature and subsequently coated with an amorphous SiO-ZrO gel to generate a dispersion of ZIF-8@SiO-ZrO core-shell nanoparticles.

Development and Upscaling of SiO@TiO Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Methylene Blue Removal.

SiO@TiO core-shell nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a simple, reproducible, and low-cost method and tested for methylene blue adsorption and UV photodegradation, with a view to their application in wastewater treatment. The monodisperse SiO core was obtained by the classical Stöber method and then coated with a thin layer of TiO, followed by calcination or hydrothermal treatments. The properties of SiO@TiO core-shell NPs resulted from the synergy between the photocatalytic properties of TiO and the adsorptive properties of SiO.

Beneficial effect of cerium excess on grown SrCeFeO-CeO thermocatalysts for the degradation of bisphenol A.

Ce-doped SrFeO perovskite-type compounds are known as good thermocatalysts for the abatement of wastewater contaminants of emerging concern. In this work, SrCeFeO-CeO perovskite-oxide systems with increasing amounts of cerium excess (0, 5, 10 and 15 mol% Ce), with respect to its maximum solubility in the perovskite, were prepared in one-pot by solution combustion synthesis and the effects of cerium excess on the chemical physical properties and thermocatalytic activity in the bisphenol A degradation were evaluated. The powders were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction combined with Rietveld refinement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry, temperature programmed reduction, nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques.

Peculiar Properties of the LaBaSrCoFeO Perovskite as Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst.

The electrochemical reduction of molecular oxygen is a fundamental process in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and requires high efficiency cathode materials. Two LaBaSrCoFeO-based perovskite compounds were prepared by solution combustion synthesis, and characterized for their structural, microstructural, surface, redox and electrochemical properties as potential cathodes in comparison with BaSrCoFeO and LaSrCoFeO perovskites. Results highlighted that calcination at 900 °C led to a "bi-perovskite heterostructure", where two different perovskite structures coexist, whereas at higher calcination temperatures a single-phase perovskite was formed.