Preparation of conducting polyaniline/protoporphyrin composites and their application for sensing VOCs

Bacterium-Sculpted Porphyrin-Protein-Iron Sulfide Clusters for Distinction and Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus

Microbe-catalyzed surface modification is a promising method for the production of special targeting nanomaterials. A bacterium-selective material can be obtained by investigating the microbe-catalyzed mineralization of proteins. Herein, a novel method was fabricated for the biosynthesis of FeS-decorated porphyrin-protein clusters (P-CA@BE) via E. coli (Escherichia coli)-catalyzed bio-Fe(III) reduction and bio-sulfidation of porphyrin (P), caffeic acid (CA), and protein [bovine serum albumin (BSA)] assemblies. The assembly (P-CA@BSA) was identified by spectroscopic methods. Next, the P-CA@BSA assembly was transferred into FeS-decorated porphyrin-protein clusters (P-CA@BE) catalyzed by E. coli. There are partial β-folding proteins in P-CA@BE, which selectively recognize S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) and show different antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. Results demonstrate that the E. coli-catalyzed mineralization of the porphyrin-protein assembly is an effective method for the biosynthesis of S. aureus-sensitive metal-protein clusters.

Electrochemical Sensors Based on Conducting Polymers for the Aqueous Detection of Biologically Relevant Molecules

Electrochemical sensors appear as low-cost, rapid, easy to use, and in situ devices for determination of diverse analytes in a liquid solution. In that context, conducting polymers are much-explored sensor building materials because of their semiconductivity, structural versatility, multiple synthetic pathways, and stability in environmental conditions. In this state-of-the-art review, synthetic processes, morphological characterization, and nanostructure formation are analyzed for relevant literature about electrochemical sensors based on conducting polymers for the determination of molecules that (i) have a fundamental role in the human body function regulation, and (ii) are considered as water emergent pollutants. Special focus is put on the different types of micro- and nanostructures generated for the polymer itself or the combination with different materials in a composite, and how the rough morphology of the conducting polymers based electrochemical sensors affect their limit of detection. Polypyrroles, polyanilines, and polythiophenes appear as the most recurrent conducting polymers for the construction of electrochemical sensors. These conducting polymers are usually built starting from bifunctional precursor monomers resulting in linear and branched polymer structures; however, opportunities for sensitivity enhancement in electrochemical sensors have been recently reported by using conjugated microporous polymers synthesized from multifunctional monomers.

Enhanced optical limiting and hydrogen evolution of graphene oxide nanohybrids covalently functionalized by covalent organic polymer based on porphyrin

Herein, we report a novel graphene oxide (GO) nanohybrid covalently functionalized by covalent organic polymer (COP) based on porphyrin (GO-TPPCOP), as the optical limiter and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst. The GO-TPPCOP nanohybrid exhibits markedly enhanced optical limiting and HER activity over that of TPP, GO and TPPCOP alone. More importantly, the optical limiting property and HER activity of GO-TPPCOP nanohybrid are comparable to the state-of-the-art activity of materials from some previous reports. The possible mechanisms of optical limiting and HER are explored by various means, including UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, photocurrent, electrochemical impedance spectra and Raman spectroscopic techniques. It is demonstrated that the synergistic effect and charge transfer between GO and TPPCOP are important factors in determining its optical limiting and HER performances. These results demonstrate a new strategy to design and develop functional nanohybrids for efficient optical limiting and HER activity by the covalent linkage of GO with COPs.

Oxidative Hydroxylation of Aryl Boronic Acid Catalyzed by Co-porphyrin Complexes via Blue-Light Irradiation

Oxidative reactions often require unstable and environmentally harmful oxidants; therefore, the investigation of safer alternatives is urgent. Here, the hydroxylation of aryl boronic acid in the presence of Co-complexes is demonstrated. Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) Co(II)-porphyrin was combined with biodegradable polymers such as chitosan catalyzed hydroxylation of phenyl boronic acids to form phenol derivatives under blue-light irradiation. This catalytic system can be used as an eco-friendly oxidation process that does not release oxidizing agents into the atmosphere.

Nonlinear optical performances of graphene oxide ternary nanohybrids functionalized by axially coordinated gallium porphyrins

A GaTPP-GO-GaTTP ternary nanohybrid possesses enhanced optical nonlinearities compared to other samples due to the efficient charge transfer effect.