Light-Assisted Formation of Nucleosides and Nucleotides from Formamide in the Presence of Cerium Phosphate.

The abiotic formation of nucleotides from small, simple molecules is of large interest in the context of elucidating the origin of life scenario. In what follows, it is shown that nucleosides and nucleotides can be formed from formamide in a one-pot reaction utilizing the mineral cerium phosphate (CePO) as a photocatalyst, a catalyst and a reactant that supplies the necessary phosphate groups. While the most abundant RNA/DNA building blocks were thymidine and thymidine monophosphate, considerable yields of other building blocks such as cytidine, cytidine monophosphate, and adenosine cyclic monophosphate were found.

Composite TiO films modified by CeO and SiO for the photocatalytic removal of water pollutants.

TiO particles of high photocatalytic activity immobilised on various substrates usually suffer from low mechanical stability. This can be overcome by the utilisation of an inorganic binder and/or incorporation in a robust hydrophobic matrix based on rare-earth metal oxides (REOs). Furthermore, intrinsic hydrophobicity of REOs may result in an increased affinity of TiO-REOs composites to non-polar aqueous pollutants.

Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Mixtures via Enantioselective Photocatalysis.

Despite the increasing demand for enantiopure drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, currently available chiral separation technologies are still lagging behind, whether due to throughput or to operability considerations. This paper presents a new kinetic resolution method, based on the specific adsorption of a target enantiomer onto a molecularly imprinted surface of a photocatalyst and its subsequent degradation through a photocatalytic mechanism. The current model system is composed of an active TiO layer, on which the target enantiomer is adsorbed.

Transient IR spectroscopy as a tool for studying photocatalytic materials.

Over the years, a considerable amount of attention has been given to the thermodynamics of photocatalysts, i.e. to the location of their valence and conduction bands on the energy scale.

Low-temperature direct bonding of silicon nitride to glass.

Direct bonding may provide a cheap and reliable alternative to the use of adhesives. While direct bonding of two silicon surfaces is well documented, not much is known about direct bonding between silicon nitride and glass. This is unfortunate since silicon nitride is extensively used as an anti-reflection coating in the PV industry, often in contact with a shielding layer made of glass.

The Structural, Photocatalytic Property Characterization and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities of Novel Photocatalysts Bi₂GaSbO₇ and Bi₂InSbO₇ during Visible Light Irradiation.

In order to develop original and efficient visible light response photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants in wastewater, new photocatalysts Bi₂GaSbO₇ and Bi₂InSbO₇ were firstly synthesized by a solid-state reaction method and their chemical, physical and structural properties were characterized. Bi₂GaSbO₇ and Bi₂InSbO₇ were crystallized with a pyrochlore-type structure and the lattice parameter of Bi₂GaSbO₇ or Bi₂InSbO₇ was 10.356497 Å or 10.

Correction: Enhanced photocatalytic activity of a self-stabilized synthetic flavin anchored on a TiO2 surface.

Correction for 'Enhanced photocatalytic activity of a self-stabilized synthetic flavin anchored on a TiO2 surface' by Manjula Pandiri et al., Phys. Chem.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of a self-stabilized synthetic flavin anchored on a TiO2 surface.

Synthetic flavin molecules were anchored on Degussa P25 titanium dioxide (TiO2). The effect of their presence on the photocatalytic (PC) activity of TiO2 was studied. Under UV light, an increase in the degradation rate of ethanol was observed.

Flavin Derivatives with Tailored Redox Properties: Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Behavior.

This study establishes structure-property relationships for four synthetic flavin molecules as bioinspired redox mediators in electro- and photocatalysis applications. The studied flavin compounds were disubstituted with polar substituents at the N1 and N3 positions (alloxazine) or at the N3 and N10 positions (isoalloxazines). The electrochemical behavior of one such synthetic flavin analogue was examined in detail in aqueous solutions of varying pH in the range from 1 to 10.

Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskites (HOIPs): Opportunities and Challenges.

The conclusions reached by a diverse group of scientists who attended an intense 2-day workshop on hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites are presented, including their thoughts on the most burning fundamental and practical questions regarding this unique class of materials, and their suggestions on various approaches to resolve these issues.

Using dyes for evaluating photocatalytic properties: a critical review.

This brief review aims at analyzing the use of dyestuffs for evaluating the photocatalytic properties of novel photocatalysts. It is shown that the use of dyes as predictors for photocatalytic activity has its roots in the pre visible-light activity era, when the aim was to treat effluents streams containing hazardous dyes. The main conclusion of this review is that, in general, dyes are inappropriate as model compounds for the evaluation of photocatalytic activity of novel photocatalysts claimed to operate under visible light.

On the similarity and dissimilarity between photocatalytic water splitting and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants.

The last four decades have shown a remarkable increase in scientific interest in photocatalysis as a tool for tackling the world's energy and waste problems. The apparent similarity between photocatalytic water splitting and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, which have been studied so far by two different scientific communities, raises the question regarding the extent to which one may utilize knowledge obtained in one field for the benefit of the other. This review examines the common features and differences between the two areas.

Ultra-thin SiO2 layers on TiO2: improved photocatalysis by enhancing products' desorption.

A study on the photocatalytic degradation of contaminants (salicylic acid and stearic acid) on titanium dioxide films overcoated with a few monolayers of silica is presented herein. A rather uncommon situation was observed, where the presence of the thin silica layers decreased the degradation rate of stearic acid while increasing that of salicylic acid. The results were explained by addressing the effect in the presence of silica films on the desorption of the intermediate products formed in the degradation of salicylic acid.

Self-assembled monolayers and titanium dioxide: From surface patterning to potential applications.

The ability to control the properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) attached to solid surfaces and the rare photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide provide a rationale for the study of systems comprising both. Such systems can be realized in the form of SAMs grown on TiO(2) or, in a complementary manner, as TiO(2) grown on SAMs. Accordingly, the current status of knowledge regarding SAMs on TiO(2) is described.

Structural, photophysical and photocatalytic properties of new Bi2SbVO7 under visible light irradiation.

Bi(2)SbVO(7) was prepared by solid-state reaction technique for the first time and the structural and photocatalytic properties of Bi(2)SbVO(7) and Bi(2)GaTaO(7) were investigated. The results showed that Bi(2)SbVO(7) crystallized with the tetragonal crystal system by space group I4/mmm. In addition, the band gaps of Bi(2)SbVO(7) and Bi(2)GaTaO(7) were estimated to be 2.

Composite polymer nanofibers with carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide particles.

Composite nanofibers containing nanometric TiO2 particles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersed in poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) were prepared by the electrospinning technique. The structure and quality of the precursor dispersions were evaluated by cryo-transmission electron microscopy. The fabricated nanofibers, the diameters of which were in the 20-200 nm range, contained well-oriented nanotubes and spherical TiO2 nanoparticles in close proximity.