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Kasprzyk W, Romańczyk PP, Kurek SS, Świergosz T. A switchable green emitting dye and its phenomenal properties: implications for the photoluminescence features of carbon dots. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:17079-17089. [PMID: 39189364 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr02517b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
New molecular fluorophores are constantly being discovered in post-synthetic mixtures of carbon dots (CDs), prompting researchers to elucidate their role in the optical properties of these nanomaterials. It has been reported that the green-emitting fluorophore that forms during the synthesis of popular citric acid/urea CDs is HPPT (4-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridine-1,3,6(2H,5H)-trione). However, due to the low concentration of HPPT-like molecules within the structure of CDs, their actual binding and contribution to the optical properties of CDs has not so far been convincingly confirmed. In this joint experimental and quantum chemical study, we show that HPPT is a strong acid and only its anionic form, HPPT-, present in solutions of pH 0-10, is emissive. Next, its fluorescence can be switched off rapidly in strongly alkaline environments as a result of HPPT- hydrolysis, leading to the opening of its pyrrole ring and formation of CDPC (3-carbamoyl-2,6-dihydroxypyridine-4-carboxylic acid), existing as the CDPC2- dianion under these conditions. Eventually, we found that the ring opening hydrolysis is reversible and the green emission may be restored in acidic environments. The kinetics and mechanism of this hydrolysis were also revealed. The optical features of citric acid (CA)-urea CDs under various conditions were compared with a simpler CD system prepared by treating the CDs obtained from CA solely with HPPT- (HPPT@CDs). Our results indicate the feasibility of the post-synthetic modification of HPPT- present in the structures of CA-urea CDs and HPPT@CDs. Without HPPT- they emit blue fluorescence only. Thus, this makes the nanosystem switch the PL emission colour reversibly from green to blue owing to the opening and closing of the pyrrole ring in HPPT-like molecules. More importantly, the latter process may be considered a first step toward genuine fine tuning of the PL emission colour from CDs. These findings are of general importance to the further development of citric acid-based CDs with tailored properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktor Kasprzyk
- Biotechnology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Piotr P Romańczyk
- Biotechnology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Stefan S Kurek
- Biotechnology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Świergosz
- Biotechnology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Kraków, Poland.
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2
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Warrington S, Montanaro S, Elsegood MRJ, Nichol GS, Wright IA. Structure-Property Relationships for Potential Inversion From Electron Acceptors Based on Thiophene-Fused Triptycene Quinones, 1,4-Diketones and Their Malononitrile Adducts. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400782. [PMID: 38517200 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The synthesis and properties of a series of 11,11,12,12-tetracyano-9,10-anthraquinodimethane (TCAQ) inspired electron acceptors based on thiophene-fused quinone and triptycene motifs is presented. This has yielded insights into structure-property relationships for establishing and modulating simultaneous two-electron reduction processes in TCAQ analogues. These new compounds were synthesised using a Friedel-Crafts acylation between triptycene and thiophene-3,4-dicarbonyl chloride. Isomeric para-quinones featuring a [c]-fused thiophene on one side and a β,β- or α,β-fused triptycene on the other were isolated alongside a thiophene-3,4-diketone which bears two triptycene fragments. Knoevenagel condensation of these products with malononitrile produced a quinoidal bis(dicyanomethylene), an oxo-dicyanomethylene and an acyclic bis(dicyanomethylene). This series of new electron accepting molecules has been studied using X-ray crystallography and the implications of their 3D structures on NMR and UV/vis absorbance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry results have been ascertained with conclusions underpinned by computational methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Warrington
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5PL, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Montanaro
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R J Elsegood
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Gary S Nichol
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5PL, United Kingdom
| | - Iain A Wright
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5PL, United Kingdom
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3
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Ferrer-Ruiz A, Moreno-Naranjo JM, Rodríguez-Pérez L, Ramírez-Barroso S, Martín N, Herranz MÁ. n-Type Fullerene-Carbon Dots: Synthesis and Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202302850. [PMID: 38100513 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202302850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The covalent incorporation of C60 and C70 derivatives of the well-known n-type organic semiconductor PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) onto carbon dots (CD) is described. Morphological and structural characterization reveal combined features of both pristine starting materials (CD and PCBM). Electrochemical investigations evidenced the existence of additional reduction processes to that of CD or PCBM precursors, showing rich electron-acceptor capabilities, with multistep processes in an affordable and narrow electrochemical window (ca. 1.5 V). Electronic communication in the obtained nanoconjugated species were derived from steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopies, which showed bathochromically shifted absorptions and emissions well entering the red region. Finally, the lower fluorescence quantum yield of CD-PCBM nanoconjugates, compared with CD, and the fast decay of the observed emission of CD, support the existence of an electronic communication between both CD and PCBM units in the excited state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Ferrer-Ruiz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Moreno-Naranjo
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London White City Campus, London, UK
| | - Laura Rodríguez-Pérez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Ramírez-Barroso
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nazario Martín
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA-Nanociencia, c/Faraday 9, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Herranz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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4
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Bartolomei B, Sbacchi M, Rosso C, Günay-Gürer A, Zdražil L, Cadranel A, Kralj S, Guldi DM, Prato M. Synthetic Strategies for the Selective Functionalization of Carbon Nanodots Allow Optically Communicating Suprastructures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023:e202316915. [PMID: 38059678 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The surface of Carbon Nanodots (CNDs) stands as a rich chemical platform, able to regulate the interactions between particles and external species. Performing selective functionalization of these nanoscale entities is of practical importance, however, it still represents a considerable challenge. In this work, we exploited the organic chemistry toolbox to install target functionalities on the CND surface, while monitoring the chemical changes on the material's outer shell through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Following this, we investigated the use of click chemistry to covalently connect CNDs of different nature en-route towards covalent suprastructures with unprecedent molecular control. The different photophysical properties of the connected particles allowed their optical communication in the excited state. This work paves the way for the development of selective and addressable CND building blocks which can act as modular nanoscale synthons that mirror the long-established reactivity of molecular organic synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Bartolomei
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, INSTM UdR Trieste, University of Trieste, via Licio Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria Sbacchi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, INSTM UdR Trieste, University of Trieste, via Licio Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Cristian Rosso
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, INSTM UdR Trieste, University of Trieste, via Licio Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Current address: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Ayse Günay-Gürer
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lukáš Zdražil
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 241/27, 78371, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Alejandro Cadranel
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Física de Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía, (INQUIMAE), C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Slavko Kralj
- Materials Synthesis Department, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dirk M Guldi
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, INSTM UdR Trieste, University of Trieste, via Licio Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, 20014, Donostia San Sebastián, Spain
- Basque Fdn Sci, Ikerbasque, 48013, Bilbao, Spain
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5
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Shi Y, Su W, Yuan F, Yuan T, Song X, Han Y, Wei S, Zhang Y, Li Y, Li X, Fan L. Carbon Dots for Electroluminescent Light-Emitting Diodes: Recent Progress and Future Prospects. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2210699. [PMID: 36959751 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs), as emerging carbon nanomaterials, have been regarded as promising alternatives for electroluminescent light-emitting diodes (LEDs) owing to their distinct characteristics, such as low toxicity, tuneable photoluminescence, and good photostability. In the last few years, despite remarkable progress achieved in CD-based LEDs, their device performance is still inferior to that of well-developed organic, heavy-metal-based QDs, and perovskite LEDs. To better exploit LED applications and boost device performance, in this review, a comprehensive overview of currently explored CDs is presented, focusing on their key optical characteristics, which are closely related to the structural design of CDs from their carbon core to surface modifications, and to macroscopic structural engineering, including the embedding of CDs in the matrix or spatial arrangement of CDs. The design of CD-based LEDs for display and lighting applications based on the fluorescence, phosphorescence, and delayed fluorescence emission of CDs is also highlighted. Finally, it is concluded with a discussion regarding the key challenges and plausible prospects in this field. It is hoped that this review inspires more extensive research on CDs from a new perspective and promotes practical applications of CD-based LEDs in multiple directions of current and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Wen Su
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Fanglong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ting Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xianzhi Song
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yuyi Han
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Shuyan Wei
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yunchao Li
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Louzhen Fan
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
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6
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Zhang Y, Jia Q, Nan F, Wang J, Liang K, Li J, Xue X, Ren H, Liu W, Ge J, Wang P. Carbon dots nanophotosensitizers with tunable reactive oxygen species generation for mitochondrion-targeted type I/II photodynamic therapy. Biomaterials 2023; 293:121953. [PMID: 36521428 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as promising nanomaterials for bioimaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, designing red-emissive CDs (RCDs) with tunable type I and type II reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to simultaneously meet PDT applications in aerobic and hypoxic scenarios still remain major challenges. Herein, three types of RCDs with maximum emission at approximately 680 nm are successfully prepared. It is noteworthy that they exhibit the adjustable ROS production with equal superoxide anion (via type I PDT) and incremental singlet oxygen (via type II PDT). Detailed structural and optical characterizations along with theoretical calculation reveal that the unique type I/II ROS formation mainly depends on the core sizes and surface states of RCDs, which determine their identical redox potentials and tapering energy gaps between singlet- and triplet states, respectively. Additionally, due to the inherent mitochondria targeting capability, RCDs enable themselves to induce cell programmed death via activating mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic pathways. This work exploits the unprecedented RCDs with tunable type I and type II ROS generation that could ensure highly efficient tumor eradication both in vitro and in vivo, even under the harsh tumor microenvironment, providing a new prospect for CDs as nanophotosensitizers to conquer the limitations of single type PDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qingyan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE), Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 West Youyi Road, Xi'an, 710072, China.
| | - Fuchun Nan
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ke Liang
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian Li
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaokuang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Haohui Ren
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China
| | - Weimin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiechao Ge
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Pengfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and CityU-CAS Joint Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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7
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Wang S, Dong L, Zhang M, Cheng F, Chen S. N-doped carbon-coated Cu 2O nanowire arrays on copper foam for rapid and stable water disinfection. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 625:761-773. [PMID: 35772206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
High-speed, low-cost and long-term water disinfection method is important for us to away from waterborne diseases. Nanowires-modified electrodes can inactivate microorganisms under low energy consumption. However, small processing capacity remains a major obstacle for practical application. In this study, we coated N-doped carbon layer on Cu2O NWs to improve the conductivity and stability for electrodes. Compared with Cu2O, the work functions of Cu2O-PANI structures is 3.623 eV, indicating the electrodes can prevent the recombination of electron-hole pairs and improve the carrier transport efficiency. In addition, Mulliken charge density showed that Cu2O-PANI structure reduce the oxidation trend of Cu atom and improve the stability of electrodes. Besides, the Cu2O NWs@NC electrodes showed excellent disinfection performance for E. coli and S. aureus, which can achieve 99.9% sterilizing rate under high flux (1200 mL min-1). Under this condition, the electrodes can continuously treat 576 L wastewater, which is about 10-folds handling capacity than others. Moreover, the bactericidal mechanism is synergistic of electroporation and reactive oxygen species, and the main ROS were electrons, OH and O2-. Therefore, this electrodes has a great prospect for rapid and stable water treatment system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Liting Dong
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Mutian Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Frank Cheng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Shougang Chen
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
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8
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Zhou Z, Zhu Y, Fernández-García JM, Wei Z, Fernández I, Petrukhina MA, Martín N. Stepwise reduction of a corannulene-based helical molecular nanographene with Na metal. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:5574-5577. [PMID: 35353101 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc00971d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The chemical reduction of a corannulene-based molecular nanographene, C76H64 (1), with Na metal in the presence of 18-crown-6 afforded the doubly-reduced state of 1. This reduction provokes a distortion of the helicene core and has a significant impact on the aromaticity of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York Albany, NY 12222, USA. .,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Cao'an Road, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Yikun Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Jesús M Fernández-García
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Zheng Wei
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Israel Fernández
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marina A Petrukhina
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Nazario Martín
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. .,IMDEA-Nanociencia, C/Faraday, 9, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Fernández-García JM, Izquierdo-García P, Buendía M, Filippone S, Martín N. Synthetic chiral molecular nanographenes: the key figure of the racemization barrier. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:2634-2645. [PMID: 35139140 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc06561k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chirality is one of the most intriguing concepts of chemistry, involving living systems and, more recently, materials science. In particular, the bottom-up synthesis of molecular nanographenes endowed with one or several chiral elements is a current challenge for the chemical community. The wilful introduction of defects in the sp2 honeycomb lattice of molecular nanographenes allows the preparation of chiral molecules with tuned band-gaps and chiroptical properties. There are two requirements that a system must fulfill to be chiral: (i) lack of inversion elements (planes or inversion centres) and (ii) to be configurationally stable. The first condition is inherently established by the symmetry group of the structure, however, the limit between conformational and configurational isomers is not totally clear. In this feature article, the chirality and dynamics of synthetic molecular nanographenes, with special emphasis on their racemization barriers and, therefore, the stability of their chiroptical properties are discussed. The general features of nanographenes and their bottom-up synthesis, including the main defects inducing chirality in molecular nanographenes are firstly discussed. In this regard, the most common topological defects of molecular NGs as well as the main techniques used for determining their energy barriers are presented. Then, the manuscript is structured according to the dynamics of molecular nanographenes, classifying them in four main groups, depending on their respective isomerization barriers, as flexible, detectable, isolable and rigid nanographenes. In these sections, the different strategies used to increase the isomerization barrier of chiral molecular nanographenes that lead to configurationally stable nanographenes with defined chiroptical properties are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús M Fernández-García
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Patricia Izquierdo-García
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Manuel Buendía
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Salvatore Filippone
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Nazario Martín
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain. .,IMDEA-Nanociencia, C/Faraday, 9, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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10
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Jana B, Reva Y, Scharl T, Strauss V, Cadranel A, Guldi DM. Carbon Nanodots for All-in-One Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:20122-20132. [PMID: 34843242 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Carbon nanodots (CNDs) were photochemically altered to produce dihydrogen under light irradiation. Within the complex structure of CNDs, photo-oxidation takes place at citrazinic acid molecular fluorophore sites. Important is the fact that the resulting CND materials have a dual function. On one hand, they absorb light, and on the other hand, they photo- and electrocatalytically produce dihydrogen from water and seawater, without any external photosensitizer or cocatalyst. Record HER activities of 15.15 and 19.70 mmol(H2) g(catalyst)-1 h-1 were obtained after 1 h of 75 mW/cm2 Xe lamp illumination, from water and seawater, respectively. This impressive performance outweighs the remaining structural uncertainties. A full-fledged physicochemical investigation based on an arsenal of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic characterizations together with microscopy enabled a comprehensive look into the reaction mechanism. For an efficient dihydrogen formation, a precatalytic activation by means of reduction with a sacrificial electron donor is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash Jana
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yana Reva
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Scharl
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Volker Strauss
- Max Planck Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alejandro Cadranel
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.,Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Física de Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dirk M Guldi
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Stergiou A, Tagmatarchis N. Interfacing Carbon Dots for Charge-Transfer Processes. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2006005. [PMID: 33522118 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202006005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs) are a booming material and the most recent incomer in the big family of carbon nanostructures. Specifically, CDs are nanosized fluorescent core-shell nanoparticles with tunable absorption and emission spectra, with high solubility in aqueous media and common organic solvents. Herein, the origins and the development of these unique nanoscale structures are discussed, key synthetic routes are briefly described, and the utilization of CDs in light-induced charge-transfer schemes is mainly focused upon. Beyond the impact of the CD's surface on the photoluminescence properties, functionalization, by covalent or supramolecular means, permits controllable incorporation of new functionalities with novel photophysical properties. Furthermore, the dual nature of CDs as electron donating or electron accepting species, unveiled upon interfacing them with organic chromophores, highlights their potentiality in managing diverse charge-transfer processes. Novel mechanisms, such as symmetry-breaking photoinduced charge-transfer can be activated upon covalent functionalization of CDs with organic dyes. Without a doubt, participation of CDs in energy conversion schemes opens up a wide avenue that may lead to the development of novel prototype devices suitable for technological applications and related to photonics and optoelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Stergiou
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, Athens, 11635, Greece
| | - Nikos Tagmatarchis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, Athens, 11635, Greece
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Liu Z, Li B, Feng Y, Jia D, Li C, Sun Q, Zhou Y. Strong Electron Coupling of Ru and Vacancy-Rich Carbon Dots for Synergistically Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2102496. [PMID: 34510740 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202102496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The exploitation of ingenious strategies to improve the activity and stability of ruthenium (Ru) is crucial for the advancement of Ru-based electrocatalysts. Vacancy engineering is a typical strategy for modulating the catalytic activity of electrocatalysts. However, creating vacancies directly into pure metallic Ru is difficult because of the extremely stringent conditions required and will result in instability because the integrity of the crystal structure is destroyed. In response, a compromise tactic by introducing vacancies in a Ru composite structure is proposed, and vacancy-rich carbon dots coupled with Ru (Ru@CDs) are elaborately constructed. Specifically, the vacancy-rich carbon dots (CDs) serve as an excellent platform for anchoring and trapping Ru nanoparticles, thus restraining their agglomeration and growth. As expected, Ru@CDs exhibited excellent catalytic performance with a low overpotential of 30 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in 1 m KOH, a small Tafel slope of 22 mV decade-1 , and robust stability even after 10 000 cycles. The low overpotential is comparable to those of most previously reported Ru-based electrocatalysts. Additionally, spectroscopic characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the rich vacancies and the electron interactions between Ru and CDs synergistically lower the intermediate energy barrier and thereby maximize the activity of the Ru@CDs electrocatalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zonglin Liu
- Institute for Advanced Ceramics, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Advanced Structural-Functional Integration Materials and Green Manufacturing Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Baoqiang Li
- Institute for Advanced Ceramics, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Advanced Structural-Functional Integration Materials and Green Manufacturing Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Yujie Feng
- Institute for Advanced Ceramics, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Dechang Jia
- Institute for Advanced Ceramics, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Advanced Structural-Functional Integration Materials and Green Manufacturing Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Caicai Li
- School of Engineering, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, P. R. China
| | - Qingfeng Sun
- School of Engineering, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Institute for Advanced Ceramics, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Advanced Structural-Functional Integration Materials and Green Manufacturing Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
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Yang L, De-Jager CR, Adsetts JR, Chu K, Liu K, Zhang C, Ding Z. Analyzing Near-Infrared Electrochemiluminescence of Graphene Quantum Dots in Aqueous Media. Anal Chem 2021; 93:12409-12416. [PMID: 34464100 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mechanisms of emissions, especially electrochemiluminescence (ECL), for graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are poorly understood, which makes near-infrared (NIR)-emitting GQDs difficult to create. To explore this poorly understood NIR ECL, two GQDs, nitrogen-doped GQDs (GQD-1) and nitrogen- and sulfur-doped ones (GQD-2), were prepared by a simple one-step solvothermal reaction with similar core structures but different surface states. The GQDs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Photoluminescence results, with a comparable quantum efficiency of 13% to strong luminophores in aqueous media, suggested a mechanism that the emission mainly depends on the core structure while slightly adjusted by the heteroatom doping. ECL of GQD-2 dispersed in aqueous media with K2S2O8 as the coreactant was measured by means of ECL-voltage curves and ECL spectroscopy, demonstrating strong NIR emissions between 680 and 870 nm, with a high ECL efficiency of 13% relative to that of the Ru(bpy)32+/K2S2O8 system. Interestingly, ECL is generated by surface excited states emitting light at a much longer wavelength in the NIR region. The easily prepared GQD-2 has several advantages such as low cost and quite strong NIR-ECL in aqueous media, with which wide applications in biodetection are anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuqing Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Cindy Rae De-Jager
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Jonathan Ralph Adsetts
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Kenneth Chu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Kehan Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Congyang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Zhifeng Ding
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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