Thermal Evolution and Luminescence Properties of Zn−Al-Layered Double Hydroxides Containing Europium(III) Complexes of Ethylenediaminetetraacetate and Nitrilotriacetate

Europium insertion into MgAl hydrotalcite-like compound to promote the photocatalytic oxidation of nitrogen oxides

Easy synthesis of efficient, non-toxic photocatalysts is a target to expand their potential applications. In this research, the role of Eu3+ doping in the non-toxic, affordable, and easily prepared MgAl hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) was explored in order to prepare visible light semiconductors. Eu doped MgAl-HTlcs (MA-xEu) samples were prepared using a simple coprecipitation method (water, room temperature and atmospheric pressure) and europium was successfully incorporated into MgAl HTlc frameworks at various concentrations, with x (Eu3+/M3+ percentage) ranging from 2 to 15. Due to the higher ionic radius and lower polarizability of Eu3+ cation, its presence in the metal hydroxide layer induces slight structural distortions, which eventually affect the growth of the particles. The specific surface area also increases with the Eu content. Moreover, the presence of Eu3+ 4f energy levels in the electronic structure enables the absorption of visible light in the doped MA-xEu samples and contributes to efficient electron-hole separation. The microstructural and electronic changes induced by the insertion of Eu enable the preparation of visible light MgAl-based HTlcs photocatalysts for air purification purposes. Specifically, the optimal HTlc photocatalyst showed improved NOx removal efficiency, ∼ 51% (UV-Vis) and 39% (visible light irradiation, 420 nm), with excellent selectivity (> 96 %), stability (> 7 h), and enhanced release of •O2- radicals. Such results demonstrate a simple way to design photocatalytic HTlcs suitable for air purification technologies.

Emerging switchable ultraviolet photoluminescence in dehydrated Zn/Al layered double hydroxide nanoplatelets

Layered double hydroxides show intriguing physical and chemical properties arising by their intrinsic self-assembled stacking of molecular-thick 2D nanosheets, enhanced active surface area, hosting of guest species by intercalation and anion exchanging capabilities. Here, we report on the unprecedented emerging intense ultraviolet photoluminescence in Zn/Al layered double hydroxide high-aspect-ratio nanoplatelets, which we discovered to be fully activated by drying under vacuum condition and thermal desorption as well. Photoluminescence and its quenching were reproducibly switched by a dehydration–hydration process. Photoluminescence properties were comprehensively evaluated, such as temperature dependence of photoluminescence features and lifetime measurements. The role of 2D morphology and arrangement of hydroxide layers was demonstrated by evaluating the photoluminescence before and after exfoliation of a bulk phase synthetized by a coprecipitation method.

Undoped and Eu3+ Doped Magnesium-Aluminium Layered Double Hydroxides: Peculiarities of Intercalation of Organic Anions and Investigation of Luminescence Properties

The Mg₃/Al and Mg₃/Al0.99Eu0.01 layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were fabricated using a sol-gel chemistry approach and intercalated with different anions through ion exchange procedure. The influence of the origin of organic anion (oxalate, laurate, malonate, succinate, tartrate, benzoate, 1,3,5-benzentricarboxylate (BTC), 4-methylbenzoate (MB), 4-dimethylaminobenzoate (DMB) and 4-biphenylacetonate (BPhAc)) on the evolution of the chemical composition of the inorganic-organic LDHs system has been investigated. The obtained results indicated that the type and arrangement of organic guests between layers of the LDHs influence Eu3+ luminescence in the synthesized different hybrid inorganic⁻organic matrixes. For the characterization of synthesis products X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy (FLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used.

Study on a Novel Binary Zn n Eu Layered Double Hydroxide with Excellent Fluorescence

A group of binary Zn_nEu-LDHs with Zn²⁺/Eu³⁺ molar ratios of 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 have been obtained in ammonia water media by hydrothermal treatment. The structure, composition, and fluorescent property of samples have been investigated using various techniques. Compositional analyses revealed that the composition of samples was in agreement with that of the initial reactants. X-ray diffraction (XRD) suggested that the Zn_nEu-LDHs exhibited typical layered structure with orthorhombic symmetry. All the Zn_nEu-LDHs appeared strong red emissions attributed to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F _J (J = 1, 2) transitions of Eu³⁺. Moreover, the intensity of emissions due to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J (J = 1, 2) transitions of Eu³⁺ tended to increase with the Zn²⁺/Eu³⁺ molar ratio varied from 8.0, 7.0 to 6.0, then decreased as the Zn²⁺/Eu³⁺ molar ratio reduced to 5.0. The strongest fluorescence was found to be at Zn²⁺/Eu³⁺ molar ratio of 6.0. Further the fluorescence decay spectra show that the Zn _n Eu-LDH have similar behavior of fluorescent decay and decayed more slowly than that of the Eu(OH)₃. These results indicate that the novel binary Zn_nEu-LDHs have better fluorescent property and may be potential application as fluorescent materials.

Two-Dimensional Materials Beyond Graphene: Emerging Opportunities for Biomedicine

With the rise of graphene, there is growing attention on two-dimensional (2D) materials in the physical science community during the last decade. Most studies to date focus on the rich set of their superior electrical, optical, catalytic and electrochemical properties and highlight the encouraging opportunities for developing next generation electronics, optoelectronics, catalysis, and energy storage technologies. On the contrary, the biomedicine community has barely recognized the potential of these materials other than graphene. There are very limited published studies on these materials’ biological effects and biomedical applications. Here, we present a brief overview of 2D materials and discuss their potential for biomedical applications in hope of raising biomedical researchers’ awareness of the great opportunities associated with these materials. We first discuss the emergence of 2D materials and review two most important prerequisites for 2D materials’ biomedical applications, synthesis and biocompatibility. We then categorize the existing studies on 2D materials’ biomedical applications into biosensing, drug/gene delivery, antimicrobial, bioimaging and multimode therapeutic applications. We would put special emphasis on the great flexibility of various rational combinations of 2D material superior properties for the design and construction of assorted forms of reagents or devices with highly effective simultaneous diagnostic and therapeutic functions (or theranostics functions). At last, the newly emerging 2D black phosphorous with very rare and interesting properties is introduced as the next promising and important 2D materials to study in the upcoming years.

Methotrexate intercalated layered double hydroxides with the mediation of surfactants: Mechanism exploration and bioassay study

Methotrexatum intercalated layered double hydroxides (MTX/LDHs) hybrids were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and three kinds of nonionic surfactants with different hydrocarbon chain lengths were used. The resulting hybrids were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD and FTIR investigations manifest the successful intercalation of MTX anions into the interlayer of LDHs. TEM graphs indicate that the morphology of the hybrids changes with the variation of the chain length of the surfactants, i.e., the particles synthesized using polyethylene glycol (PEG-7) present regular disc morphology with good monodispersity, while samples with the mediation of alkyl polyglycoside (APG-14) are heavily aggregated and samples with the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-10) exhibit irregular branches. Furthermore, the release and bioassay experiments show that monodisperse MTX/LDHs present good controlled-release and are more efficient in the suppression of the tumor cells.

Structure and luminescence behaviour of as-synthesized, calcined, and restored MgAlEu-LDH with high crystallinity

Highly crystalline Eu(3+)-incorporated MgAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were synthesized by the homogeneous precipitation method. For the crystals as-prepared, after their calcination from 200-1000 °C, and, further, after restoration in a Na(2)CO(3) solution, the structural and luminescent changes were investigated for the first time. Eu(3+) ions with a coordination number of, probably, 8, were incorporated into the hydrotalcite layer, which led to a basal spacing (d(basal)) increase, microstrain formation, and crystalline morphology imperfections, while retaining the original lattice symmetry, R3[combining macron]m. In the deconstruction process due to calcination, the Eu(3+) ions restrained the formation of the spinel phase from the layered double oxide (LDO), but did not significantly change the memory effect, by which LDOs can convert to LDHs during the hydration process. For the reversible phase transformation between LDH and LDO, the morphology observation revealed that, in addition to the formation of pores on the surface, nano-slabs were formed, especially for the restored crystals. A layered phase with a d(basal) of 5.8 Å, due to bridging bidentate carbonates with the hydrotalcite layer, was formed in the calcination process at low temperature (300 °C) before the formation of LDO, but could not be restored to a large spacing. Typical (5)D(0) → (7)F(J) (J = 0-4) transitions of Eu(3+) at 579, 593, 615, 653, and 698 nm were observed in the photoluminescence spectra and the intensity of the dominating 615 nm band decreased with the LDH deconstruction and the formation of free water, and then increased with the formation of LDOs in the calcination process, and vice versa in the reconstruction process. The Eu(3+) ions had a probable 9- or 10-coordination mode in addition to the probable 8-coordination mode as the spinel phase appeared.

Eu-doped Mg-Al layered double hydroxide as a responsive fluorescent material and its interaction with glutamic acid

The paper describes a study on the fluorescence of a Eu-doped Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (Eu-doped LDH) response to glutamic acid (Glu). Various characterizations (UV-Vis transmittance, TG-DTA and IR-spectrum) indicated that there is an interaction between the Eu-doped LDH and Glu. Fluorescent study was found that the red emissions resulted from (5)D(0)-(7)F(J) transition (J=1, 2) of Eu(3+) markedly decreased, while the blue emission at 440 nm contributed to Glu shifted to low energy after the addition of Glu to the Eu-doped LDH. The fluorescent changes may be relevant to the hydrogen-bond interaction between the Eu-doped LDH and Glu, and the mechanism of the interaction between Eu-doped LDH and Glu was discussed.

Fluorescence of Zn-Al-Eu ternary layered hydroxide response to phenylalanine

We reported the fluorescence of a Zn-Al-Eu ternary layered double hydroxide (LDH) response to an amino acid (phenylalanine) for the first time. As shown in fluorescence, the red emissions attributed to (5)D(0)-(7)F(J) transitions (J=1, 2, 3, 4) of Eu(3+) ions were quenched by the phenylalanine (Phe), and a strong blue emission at around 445 nm appeared. The fluorescent changes may be due to ligand-to-metal charges transfer, which was caused by the interaction between the Zn-Al-Eu LDH and Phe. This interaction was manifested by markedly different chemical shift positions of the Zn 3p(3/2), Al 2p, Eu 4d(3/2), O 1s, and C 1s peaks in the XPS spectra from those of the Zn-Al-Eu LDH and Zn-Al-Eu/Phe composite. Furthermore, the interaction between the LDH and Phe was supported by the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, and thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) analysis. The fluorescence of Zn-Al-Eu LDH response to Phe may be potential application in biological techniques.