MOF-Derived Defective CoO Nanosheets in Carbon Nitride Nanocomposites for CO Photoreduction and H Production.

In photocatalysis, especially in CO reduction and H production, the development of multicomponent nanomaterials provides great opportunities to tune many critical parameters toward increased activity. This work reports the development of tunable organic/inorganic heterojunctions comprised of cobalt oxides (CoO) of varying morphology and modified carbon nitride (CN), targeting on optimizing their response under UV-visible irradiation. MOF structures were used as precursors for the synthesis of CoO.

Photocatalytically Active Graphitic Carbon Nitride as an Effective and Safe 2D Material for In Vitro and In Vivo Photodynamic Therapy.

Thanks to its photocatalytic property, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C N ) is a promising candidate in various applications including nanomedicine. However, studies focusing on the suitability of g-C N for cancer therapy are very limited and possible underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that photoexcitation of g-C N can be used effectively in photodynamic therapy, without using any other carrier or additional photosensitizer.

The Effect of Materials Architecture in TiO /MOF Composites on CO Photoreduction and Charge Transfer.

CO photoreduction to C /C energized molecules is a key reaction of solar fuel technologies. Building heterojunctions can enhance photocatalysts performance, by facilitating charge transfer between two heterojunction phases. The material parameters that control this charge transfer remain unclear.

Layer-by-Layer Photocatalytic Assembly for Solar Light-Activated Self-Decontaminating Textiles.

Novel photocatalytic nanomaterials that can be used to functionalize textiles, conferring to them efficient solar-light-activated properties for the decontamination of toxic and lethal agents, are described. Textiles functionalized with one-dimensional (1D) SnS-based nanomaterials were used for photocatalytic applications for the first time. We showed that 1D SnS/TiO nanocomposites can be easily and strongly affixed onto textiles using the layer-by-layer deposition method.

Single-Step Synthesis of SnS₂ Nanosheet-Decorated TiO₂ Anatase Nanofibers as Efficient Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Gas-Phase Diethylsulfide.

We report on a facile one-step soft hydrothermal process for synthesizing 1D anatase TiO2 nanofibers decorated with ultrathin SnS2 nanosheets. H-titanate nanofibers were used as preshaped Ti precursor. Under controlled conditions, the H-titanate structure was transformed into anatase maintaining the fibril morphology, while at the same time SnS2 nanosheets were grown in situ on the surface of the nanofibers.

Effect of metal ions on the indigenous radicals of humic acids: high field electron paramagnetic resonance study.

The interaction of indigenous radicals of humic acid (HA) with metal cations has been studied using high magnetic field (10.5T-285 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy. Strong [HA]-[metal] interaction was observed in the case of heavy metals, Cd(2+), Pb(2+), and Sr(2+), leading to formation of covalent bonds with the radicals of HA.

High-field 285 GHz electron paramagnetic resonance study of indigenous radicals of humic acids.

Humic substances, the largest source of carbon on Earth, contain indigenous stable free radicals that are involved in important biogeochemical environmental processes occurring in soil and water systems. Here, we present the first high-magnetic-field 285GHz electron paramagnetic resonance spectra for humic acids from various geographical origins. All humic acids irrespective of their origin contain two limiting types of indigenous stable radicals, types I and II, with distinct electronic structure.

Structure-catalytic function relationship of SiO2-immobilized mononuclear Cu complexes: an EPR study.

Mononuclear CuL and Cu(2L) complexes, where L is propyl-thiazol-2-ylmethylene-amine, covalently immobilized onto SiO2, can catalyze efficiently the oxidation of 3,5-di-t-butylcatechol (DTBC) to 3,5-di-t-butylquinone (DTBQ) by utilizing ambient O2 as oxidant. By increasing the loading of L on SiO2, the DTBQ formation can be improved up to 400% vs the homogeneous catalyst. Equally important is however that grafting per se at low loading is not adequate for an improved catalytic activity.

Effects of dissolved carboxylates and carbonates on the adsorption properties of thiuram disulfate pesticides.

The adsorption of thiram and disulfiram onto alpha-Al2O3 and montmorillonite clay has been studied in the presence of small carboxylate anions, bicarbonate, formate, and oxalate. At natural concentrations, HCO3- enhances dramatically the adsorption of both pesticides on alpha-Al2O3 and clay. An analogous significant enhancement of pesticide adsorption is also observed in the presence of formate and oxalate.