Enhancing photocatalytic tetracycline degradation through the fabrication of high surface area CeO from a cerium-organic framework.

Water pollution is a global environmental issue, and the presence of pharmaceutical compounds, such as tetracyclines (TCs), in aquatic ecosystems has raised growing concerns due to the potential risks to both the environment and human health. A high surface area CeO was prepared atmospheric thermal treatment of a metal-organic framework of cerium and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate. The effects of calcination temperature on the morphology, structure, light absorption properties and tetracycline removal efficiency were studied.

Voltammetric analysis of luminescent markers in gunshot residues.

Currently, SEM-EDS is used to detect gunshot residue (GSR) from the presence of Ba, Pb, and Sb in the sample. However, the development of new nontoxic ammunition (NTA) has prevented conventional metals from being found. In this work, we aim to determine the presence of an inorganic luminescent chemical marker based on rare earth in gunshot residues using the technique of squarewave voltammetry (SWV).

Investigation of the preparation and reactivity of metal-organic frameworks of cerium and pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylate.

The synthesis of three coordination polymers of cerium(III) and the ligand pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylate (PTC) is reported. Two of the materials crystallise under hydrothermal conditions at 180 °C, with [Ce(PTC)(HO)]·1.5HO, (1), being formed on extended periods of reaction time, 3 days or longer, and Ce(PTC)(HO), (2), crystallising after 1 day.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Glyphosate Detection in Water by an Europium Luminescent Complex and Effective Adsorption by HKUST-1 and IRMOF-3.

Designing an effective and simple detection method to quantify glyphosate (GLY) herbicide is desirable. Current chromatography-mass spectrometry and electrochemical methods can be used for this purpose, but these methods are difficult to be made portable and need high-cost equipment. Here, we evaluate a luminescent β-diketonate-Eu-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid complex for GLY quantification in aqueous media on the basis of the luminescent quenching process.

Influence of surface treatment on the fluorescence of composite resins subjected to in situ bleaching.

Objective: Use fluorescence analysis to evaluate the effect of polishing and surface sealant on the color of composite resin bleached with carbamide peroxide and subjected to staining.

Materials And Methods: Forty-eight composite resin specimens (Z250/Z350XT) were fabricated. After 24 hours stored in distilled water, all specimens were submitted to in situ bleaching with 16% home peroxide for 8 hours daily for a period of 14 days.

Ion-exchange resin as a new tool for characterisation of coordination compounds and MOFs by NMR spectroscopy.

1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy is used to investigate the organic constituents of metal complexes, MOFs and coordination compounds synthesised under solvothermal and precipitation conditions. The elucidation of the ligands in paramagnetic compounds bearing Cu2+ (d9), Gd3+ (f7), Eu3+ (f6), Fe3+ (d5), ions after treatment with a cationic exchange resin is possible. We prove the efficiency of two post-synthesis linker modifications on diamagnetic IRMOF-3 Zn2+ (d10) with ethyl isocyanate and benzyl bromide.

Effect of lanthanum loading on nanosized CeO-ZnO solid catalysts supported on cordierite for diesel soot oxidation.

We report the application of a solid lanthanum-ceria-zinc catalyst in the catalytic regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPF) in diesel engines. We synthesized a CeO-ZnO-LaO (Ce-Zn-La) mixed oxide by a lactic acid-mediated sol-gel method, which efficiently coated cordierite substrates for soot capture and combustion. We studied the effects of La loading on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of Ce-Zn mixed oxide during low-temperature soot combustion processes.

Lanthanoid-Doped Phosphate/Vanadate Mixed Hollow Particles as Ratiometric Luminescent Sensors.

Rare earth (RE) phosphates and vanadates are structurally similar compositions that display distinct but complementary luminescent properties. The properties of these phosphors can be combined in REPO-REVO heterostructures during the development of new sensing technologies for biological applications. This work presents the synthesis of hollow RE phosphate/vanadate colloidal particles and evaluates their applicability as luminescent markers.

Metalloporphyrins immobilized in Fe3O4@SiO2 mesoporous submicrospheres: Reusable biomimetic catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidation.

We successfully immobilized metalloporphyrins (MeP) in mesoporous silica coating magnetite spheres. In this sense, we prepared two different classes of core@shell supports, which comprise aligned (Fe3O4-AM-MeP, MeP=FeP or MnP) and non-aligned (Fe3O4-NM-MeP, MeP=FeP or MnP) mesoporous magnetic structures. X-ray diffractometry and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the mesoporous nature of the silica shell of the materials.

Catalytic combustion of soot over ceria-zinc mixed oxides catalysts supported onto cordierite.

Modified substrates as outer heterogeneous catalysts was employed to reduce the soot generated from incomplete combustion of diesel or diesel/biodiesel blends, a process that harms the environment and public health. The unique storage properties of ceria (CeO2) makes it one of the most efficient catalysts available to date. Here, we proposed that ceria-based catalysts can lower the temperature at which soot combustion occurs; more specifically, from 610°C to values included in the diesel exhausts operation range (300-450°C).

Stability of sunscreens containing CePO4: proposal for a new inorganic UV filter.

Inorganic UV filters have become attractive because of their role in protecting the skin from the damage caused by continuous exposure to the sun. However, their large refractive index and high photocatalytic activity have led to the development of alternative inorganic materials such as CePO4 for application as UV filters. This compound leaves a low amount of white residue on the skin and is highly stable.

Effect of the vanadium(V) concentration on the spectroscopic properties of nanosized europium-doped yttrium phosphates.

Nanosized rare earth phosphovanadate phosphors (Y(P,V)O(4):Eu(3+)) have been prepared by applying the organic-inorganic polymeric precursors methodology. Luminescent powders with tetragonal structure and different vanadate concentrations (0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, and 100%, with regard to the phosphate content) were then obtained for evaluation of their structural and spectroscopic properties. The solids were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and infrared), and electronic spectroscopy (emission, excitation, luminescence lifetimes, chromaticity, quantum efficiencies, and Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters).

Chlorin photosensitizers sterically designed to prevent self-aggregation.

The synthesis and photophysical evaluation of new chlorin derivatives are described. The Diels-Alder reaction between protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester and substituted maleimides furnishes endo-adducts that completely prevent the self-aggregation of the chlorins. Fluorescence, resonant light scattering (RLS) and (1)H NMR experiments, as well as X-ray crystallographic have demonstrated that the configurational arrangement of the synthesized chlorins prevent π-stacking interactions between macrocycles, thus indicating that it is a nonaggregating photosensitizer with high singlet oxygen (Φ(Δ)) and fluorescence (Φ(f)) quantum yields.

Chitosan as a bioadhesive agent between porphyrins and phospholipids in a biomembrane model.

Porphyrins are currently used in photodynamic therapy as photosensitizers. In this paper we studied the interaction of two charged porphyrins, 5, 10, 15, 20-mesotetrakis(N-metyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin, (TMPyP/chloride salt) cationic, and 5, 10, 15, 20-meso-tetrakis(sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin, (TPPS4/sodium salt) anionic, nanoassembled in phospholipid Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films. Furthermore, we used chitosan to mediate the interaction between the porphyrins and the model membrane, aiming to understand the role of the polysaccharide in a molecular level.

Synthesis and study of the photophysical properties of a new Eu3+ complex with 3-hydroxypicolinamide.

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of a new complex of Eu(3+) with the 3-hydroxypicolinamide ligand (Hhpa). Here we present an approach for obtaining bis[2-carbamoyl(κO)pyridin-3-olato(κO')] lanthanide complexes, which were characterized through elemental analysis, thermal analysis, infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopies (emission, excitation, luminescence lifetimes, quantum efficiencies, Judd-Ofelt parameters and quantum yields). Although hpa can act as a bidentate ligand in different conformations, the results attest for the occurrence of a unique coordination site of low symmetry for the Eu(3+) ions, in which two anionic hpa ligands coordinate the cations through an O/O chelating system.

Efficient phosphodiester hydrolysis by luminescent terbium(III) and europium(III) complexes.

The synthesis and structures of two new isostructural mononuclear [Ln(L)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(3)](NO(3))(2) complexes, with Ln = Tb (complex 1) and Eu (complex 2), which display high activity in the hydrolysis of the substrate 2,4-bis(dinitrophenyl)phosphate, are reported. These complexes displayed catalytic behavior similar to the mononuclear gadolinium complex [Gd(L)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(3)](NO(3))(2) previously reported by us (Inorg. Chem.

Luminescence in colorless, transparent, thermally stable thin films of Eu3+ and Tb3+ beta-diketonates in hybrid inorganic-organic zinc-based sol-gel matrix.

Luminescent zinc-based hybrid inorganic-organic films with rare-earth (RE) complexes have been prepared using a non-alkoxide sol-gel process. The films were fabricated by the dip-coating method starting from zinc acetate dihydrate, rare earth chloride, lactic acid as hydrolytic catalyst, and anhydrous ethanol. The beta-diketones thenoylltrifluoroacetone (Httfa) and dibenzoylmethane (Hdbm) were used as ligands to Eu(3+) and Tb(3+), respectively.

Synthesis of phthalocyanines-ALA conjugates: water-soluble compounds with low aggregation.

Syntheses of two water-soluble phthalocyanines (Pc) containing 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) linked to the core structure are described. These compounds were prepared by using original functionalizations, and they present remarkable structural and photophysical features, indicating that they could be applied to photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Photophysical properties of a photocytotoxic fluorinated chlorin conjugated to four beta-cyclodextrins.

A meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-chlorin with the reduced pyrrole ring linked to an isoxazolidine ring (FC) has been conjugated to four beta-cyclodextrins (CDFC). The CDFC exhibits excellent water solubility and is a potent photosensitizer towards proliferating NCTC 2544 human keratinocytes. The study by conventional steady state absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies and by time-resolved femto- and nanosecond laser flash spectroscopies suggests that in ethanol and pH 7 buffer the beta-cyclodextrins embed the highly hydrophobic tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-chlorin macrocycle and strongly interact with the chlorin rings in the singlet and triplet manifolds.

Dextrin-microencapsulated porphyrin: luminescent properties.

Photophysical properties of porphyrins in aqueous solutions are strongly affected by aggregation. One possible solution to this problem is to encapsulate the porphyrin into polymeric spheres, to provide an environment where the photosensitizer can be administered in its monomeric form in such treatments as photodynamic therapy. Here we report the microencapsulation of the meso-tetrakis(4-sulphonatophenyl) porphyrin (TPPS(4)) photosensitizer by the ultrasonic spray-drying technique.

Hexagonal mesoporous silica modified with copper phthalocyanine as a photocatalyst for pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxiacetic acid degradation.

A new mesoporous catalyst was prepared by the reaction between 3-aminopropyltrimethoxisylane and Cu(II)-hexadecafluorophthalocyanine, followed by co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate around a micelle formed by n-dodecylamine. The surfactant was removed from the pores by continuous extraction with ethanol, giving the Si-CuF16Pc catalyst. This catalyst was characterized by SEM, FTIR, TGA, 29Si NMR, N2 adsorption and X-ray diffraction.

Europium luminescent polymeric microspheres fabricated by spray drying process.

The spray drying method was used to prepare luminescent microspheres. These microspheres were prepared by spraying an aqueous solution of dextrin and an europium(III) complex with subsequent drying in a hot medium. The spray dried powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL).

Tripolyphosphate as precursor for REPO(4):Eu (3+) (RE = Y, La, Gd) by a polymeric method.

A modification of the Pechini method was applied to obtain luminescent rare earth orthophosphates. The developed synthetic route is based on the ability of the tripolyphosphate anion (P(3)O(5-)(10)) to act both as a complexing agent and as an orthophosphate precursor. Heating of aqueous solutions containing RE(3+), Eu(3+), P(3)O(5-)(10), citric acid, and ethylene glycol led to polymeric resins.

Er, Yb doped yttrium based nanosized phosphors: particle size, "host lattice" and doping ion concentration effects on upconversion efficiency.

The upconverter phosphors studied herein have different percentages of Er3+ and Yb3+ as doping ions in different Y3+ matrixes (Y2O3, Y2O2S), and were prepared from different precursors (polymeric resin, oxalate, basic carbonate) and method (combustion). Upconversion emission spectra were recorded at 298 K for all the doped samples in the visible region, for efficiency and Green/Red emission relative intensity comparisons. Therefore, an investigation of the influence of the doping ion concentration, particle size and host lattice on the upconversion process is provided in view of the UPT (Upconverting phosphor technology application).

Photophysical properties of new terbium (III) organophosphonates.

This paper reports on the synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of the Tb3+ organophosphonates, TbH(O3PR)2, methylphosphonate (R = CH3), ethylphosphonate (R = C2H5), propylphosphonate (R = C3H7), and phenylphosphonate (R = C6H5). The layered Tb3+ organophosphonates were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, TG and elemental analysis. The interlayer distances of the Tb3+ organophosphonates evaluated by the X-ray diffractogram were 9.