Photoreduction of Aqueous Protons Coupling with Alcohol Oxidation on a S-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalyst MnO/Carbon Nitride.

Crystalline carbon nitride (CCN), derived from amorphous polymeric CN, is considered as a new generation of metal-free photocatalyst because of its high crystallinity. In order to further promote the photocatalytic performance of CCN, p-type MnO nanoparticles are in situ synthesized and merged with n-type CCN through a one-pot process to form p-n heterojunction. The formed interfacial electric field between the semiconductors with different work functions efficiently breaks the coulomb interaction between MnO and CCN.

Bifunctionalization of carbon nitride by incorporation of thiophene ring and polar nickel complex to promote photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution.

Photocatalytic performance of polymeric carbon nitride (CN) is primarily restricted by limited light utilization and poor charge separation efficiency. To this end, skeleton modification strategy was adopted by attaching thiophene ring and polar nickel complex (NiL) onto CN. The obtained bifunctionalized carbon nitride (TCN-NiL) displayed obviously elevated optical absorption and photoexcited charge separation efficiency.

Anchoring nickel complex to g-CN enables an efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction through ligand-to-metal charge transfer mechanism.

The development of stable and efficient non-noble metal-based photocatalysts for water splitting is currently a key but challenging process for effective conversion and storage of sustainable energy. Here, we designed a new non-noble metal composite photocatalyst by covalently connecting nickel molecular ligand (NiL) to the graphitized carbon nitride (CN) framework for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. Compared to CN, NiL-modified CN (NiL/CN) shows excellent photogenerated carrier migration rate.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over a nickel complex anchoring to thiophene embedded g-CN.

Evolution of hydrogen from water by utilizing solar energy and photocatalysts is one of the most promising ways to solve energy crisis. However, designing a cost-effective and stable photocatalyst without any noble metals is of vital importance for this process. Herein, an extremely active molecular complex cocatalyst NiL(Cl) is successfully designed.

Nickel complex co-catalyst confined by chitosan onto graphitic carbon nitride for efficient H evolution.

Developing earth-abundant H-production heterogeneous photocatalysts with robust activity and stability has attracted great interests. Herein, a low-cost photocatalyst was prepared by binding nickel complex covalently from primary amines of chitosan (NiL) onto photosensitive carbon nitride nanosheets (CN) through electrostatic interaction. Introduction of NiL results in more efficient utilization of solar energy, photogenerated electrons' direct transfer and lower overpotential for water reduction.

Boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate over carbon nitride through tuning its crystallinity and its nitrogen composition.

The photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) is mainly restricted by its high recombination rate of charge carriers and narrow visible light absorption. In the present work, nitrogen-deficient CN (NDCCN) nanosheets with high crystallinity were synthesized using molten salt (NaLiCO) as an etching agent and high-temperature solvent. The electronic structure and energy band levels of the obtained NDCCN are optimized to extend its optical absorption and enhance separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers.

Noble Metal-Free Photocatalysts Consisting of Graphitic Carbon Nitride, Nickel Complex, and Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles for Efficient Hydrogen Generation.

A facile and simple synthetic route is developed to prepare earth-abundant and noble metal-free hybrid photocatalysts, which are composed of graphitic carbon nitride (CN), nickel complex, and NiO nanoparticles. Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction was employed to attach a nickel complex onto a graphitic CN framework through covalent bonds to support its high loading and dispersion. NiO nanoparticles were further incorporated into the catalysts to serve as a hole-transporting medium to improve the separation of photogenerated carriers for higher photocatalytic activity.

Triamterene-Grafted Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Electronic Potential Redistribution for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

In this study, a photocatalyst with a distorted skeleton and synthesized by grafting triamterene onto graphitic carbon nitride (g-C N ) frameworks was prepared. The pteridine ring of the triamterene-based nitrogen-enriched organic structure functions as a trapped electron site owing to its inductive effect. The benzene ring in triamterene plays an important role in the even dispersion of electrons by a conjugative effect.

Carbon nanotubes-modified graphitic carbon nitride photocatalysts with synergistic effect of nickel(II) sulfide and molybdenum(II) disulfide co-catalysts for more efficient H evolution.

This work reports effective photocatalysts which are composed of carbon nitride (CN), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), MoS and NiS, for hydrogen evolution aiming at energy crises and environmental pollutions. The morphologies and optical properties of the photocatalysts were carefully characterized and their photocatalytic performance towards water reduction was studied afterwards. MoS and NiS exhibit a significant synergistic effect working as co-catalysts.

Creating Graphitic Carbon Nitride Based Donor-π-Acceptor-π-Donor Structured Catalysts for Highly Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Conjugated polymers with tailored donor-acceptor units have recently attracted considerable attention in organic photovoltaic devices due to the controlled optical bandgap and retained favorable separation of charge carriers. Inspired by these advantages, an effective strategy is presented to solve the main obstructions of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C N ) photocatalyst for solar energy conversion, that is, inefficient visible light response and insufficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. Donor-π-acceptor-π-donor polymers are prepared by incorporating 4,4'-(benzoc 1,2,5 thiadiazole-4,7-diyl) dianiline (BD) into the g-C N framework (UCN-BD).

Enhancing visible light photocatalytic activity of nitrogen-deficient g-CN via thermal polymerization of acetic acid-treated melamine.

Nitrogen-deficient graphitic carbon nitride (CN-HAc) was synthesized by thermal condensation of acetic acid-treated melamine as a precursor. The nitrogen vacancies play a remarkable role on controlling the electronic structure of g-CN, such as extending the optical absorption and enhancing the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers, resulting in the improvement of photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated by splitting water and degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation (λ>420nm).

Carbonyl-Grafted g-C N Porous Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Carbonyl-grafted g-C N porous nanosheets (COCNPNS) were fabricated by means of a two-step thermal process using melamine and oxalic acid as starting reagents. The combination of melamine with oxalic acid to form a melamine-oxalic acid supramolecule as a precursor is key to synthesizing carbonyl-grafted g-C N . The bulk carbonyl-grafted g-C N (COCN) was further thermally etched onto porous nanosheets by O under air.

High and stable photoelectrochemical activity of ZnO/ZnSe/CdSe/Cu(x)S core-shell nanowire arrays: nanoporous surface with Cu(x)S as a hole mediator.

Advanced materials for electrocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting are key for taking advantage of renewable energy. In this study, ZnO/ZnSe/CdSe/Cu(x)S core-shell nanowire arrays with a nanoporous surface were fabricated via ion exchange and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) processes. The ZnO/ZnSe/CdSe/Cu(x)S sample displays a high photocurrent density of 12.

Electrodeposition of polyaniline onto TiO2 nanoparticles/multiwalled carbon nanotubes for visible light photoelectrocatalysis.

In this study, polyaniline (PANI) was coated onto TiO2 nanoparticles/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2/MWCNTs) hybrid by electrochemical polymerization. Modification of TiO2/MWCNTs with PANI endows the resulted hybrid with visible light activity. The PANI/TiO2/MWCNTs hybrid shows remarkable photoelectrocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation.

Wide bandgap Bi2O2CO3-coupled Bi2MoO6 heterostructured hollow microspheres: one-pot synthesis and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Hierarchical Bi2O2CO3/Bi2MoO6 heterostructured photocatalysts composed of nanoplatelets of Bi2O2CO3 and Bi2MoO6 were successfully prepared by a facile template-free solvothermal process. The microsphere-like Bi2O2CO3/Bi2MoO6 composites exhibited superior visible light photocatalytic activity towards degradation of rhodamine B. The highest degradation efficiency was observed on the material with the Bi/Mo molar ratio of 2.

Construction of ZnO/ZnS/CdS/CuInS₂ core-shell nanowire arrays via ion exchange: p-n junction photoanode with enhanced photoelectrochemical activity under visible light.

ZnO/ZnS/CdS/CuInS2 core-shell nanowire arrays with enhanced photoelectrochemical activity under visible light were successfully prepared via ion exchange and hydrothermal methods. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis absorption, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical response. As a p-n junction photoanode, ZnO/ZnS/CdS/CuInS2 heterostructure shows much higher visible light photoelectrocatalytic activity toward water splitting than ZnO/ZnS/CdS and ZnO/ZnS films.

Inlay of Bi2O2CO3 nanoparticles onto Bi2WO6 nanosheets to build heterostructured photocatalysts.

Surface-dispersive-type Bi2O2CO3/Bi2WO6 heterostructured nanosheets were successfully prepared via anion exchange in a hydrothermal process with the graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a precursor of CO3(2-). The Bi2O2CO3 nanoparticles (with diameters about 5 nm) were highly homogeneously dispersed and inlaid in the single-crystalline Bi2WO6 nanosheets. The composites with intimate interfacial contacts between Bi2O2CO3 and Bi2WO6 exhibited superior visible light photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB).

Hydrothermal synthesis of Fe-doped NiO nanoplatelets with enhanced sensing property.

Ni(1-x)Fe(x)O (x = 0-0.05) nanoplatelets were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process. The crystal structure and morphology of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy.

Preparation and antibacterial property of waterborne polyurethane/Zn-Al layered double hydroxides/ZnO nanocomposites.

In this work, a novel environmental-friendly waterborne polyurethane/ZnAl-layered double hydroxides/ZnO nanoparticles composite (WPU/ZnAl-LDHs/ZnO) was synthesized via in-situ polymerization. ZnAl-LDHs and ZnAl-LDHs/ZnO were synthesized by refluxing in an oil bath. In order to disperse ZnAl-LDHs/ZnO homogeneously into WPU matrix, ZnAl-LDHs/ZnO was firstly functionalized by isophorone diisocyanate.

Immobilization of glucose oxidase into a nanoporous TiO₂ film layered on metallophthalocyanine modified vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes for efficient direct electron transfer.

Glucose oxidase (GOD) was adsorbed into a nanoporous TiO₂ film layered on the surface of an iron phthalocyanine (FePc) vertically-aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) modified electrode. A Nafion film was then dropcast on the electrode's surface to improve operational and storage stabilities of the GOD-based electrode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed the formation of FePc and nanoporous TiO₂ nanoparticles along the sidewall and the tip of CNTs.

Phase transformation of ultrathin nanowires through lanthanide doping: from InOOH to rh-In(2)O(3).

The effect of Gd(3+) doping is harnessed to promote the phase transformation of ultrathin (2 nm) InOOH nanowires to corundum In(2)O(3) and to stabilize the nanowires against morphological deformation. The approach described here suggests a new route toward morphology and phase control of In(2)O(3) nanocrystals, which could be applied to prepare other nanocrystals.

Monodispersed Ag3PO4 nanocrystals loaded on the surface of spherical Bi2MoO6 with enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Spherical Bi(2)MoO(6) nanoarchitectures with scale of 500 nm-2 μm were prepared by a solvothermal reaction using bismuth nitrate and ammonium molybdate as precursors. Ag(3)PO(4) nanoparticles were then deposited onto the surface of Bi(2)MoO(6)via a facile deposition-precipitation technique. The photocatalytic tests display that the Ag(3)PO(4)/Bi(2)MoO(6) nanocomposites possess a much higher rate for degradation of rhodamine B and methylene blue than the pure Ag(3)PO(4) nanoparticles and Bi(2)MoO(6) under visible light.

Osteopontin promoter polymorphisms at locus -443 significantly affect the metastasis and prognosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Osteopontin (OPN) plays a crucial role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. However, little is known about the impact of OPN polymorphisms on cancer progression. In this study, we first identified the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the OPN promoter region by direct sequencing in 30 HCCs, and then evaluated the prognostic values of the selected ones in two large cohorts of 826 HCC patients.

A facile hydrothermal strategy for synthesis of SnO2 nanorods-graphene nanocomposites for high performance photocatalysis.

In this study, we report a facilely hydrothermal process for synthesizing SnO2 nanorods-graphene (SnO2 nanorods-GR) composite using graphite oxide and SnCl4 as raw materials. The SnO2 nanorods-GR composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, Xray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Compared to commercial TiO2 nanoparticles P25 and neat SnO2 nanorods, the SnO2 nanorods-GR composite exhibits higher photocatalytic activity under UV light irradiation.