Topochemical and phase transformation induced Co9S8/NC nanosheets for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

In this paper, a cobalt-based sulfide nanosheet structure (Co9S8/NC) was successfully synthesized by topochemical and phase transformation processes from a dodecahedral cobalt-based imidazole skeleton (ZIF-67) as a self-template. The 2D sheet structure facilitates full contact of electrode materials with the electrolyte and shortens the diffusion distance for electrons and ions. In addition, the nitrogen-doped carbon framework derived from ZIF-67 promotes electron transfer and provides a reliable skeleton to buffer volume expansion during discharging and charging. Finally, Co9S8/NC exhibits excellent rate capability and stable cycling performance for the anode of a sodium ion battery, delivering a specific capacity remaining at 530 mA h g-1 after 130 cycles at a current density of 1 A g-1.

Fabrication of Hybrid Electrodes by Laser-Induced Forward Transfer for the Detection of Cu2+ Ions

Composites based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-graphene oxide (GO) are increasingly considered for sensing applications. In this work we aim at patterning and prototyping microscale geometries of PEDOT:PSS: GO composites for the modification of commercially available electrochemical sensors. Here, we demonstrate the laser-induced forward transfer of PEDOT:PSS: GO composites, a remarkably simple procedure that allows for the fast and clean transfer of materials with high resolution for a wide range of laser fluences (450-750 mJ/cm²). We show that it is possible to transfer PEDOT:PSS: GO composites at different ratios (i.e., 25:75 %wt and 50:50 %wt) onto flexible screen-printed electrodes. Furthermore, when testing the functionality of the PEDOT:PSS: GO modified electrodes via LIFT, we could see that both the PEDOT:PSS: GO ratio as well as the addition of an intermediate release layer in the LIFT process plays an important role in the electrochemical response. In particular, the ratio of the oxidation peak current to the reduction peak current is almost twice as high for the sensor with a 50:50 %et PEDOT:PSS: GO pixel. This direct transfer methodology provides a path forward for the prototyping and production of polymer: graphene oxide composite based devices.

Sustainable conversion of saturated adsorbents (SAs) from wastewater into value-added products: future prospects and challenges with toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Following circular economy principles, the reuse or recycling of saturated adsorbents (SAs or adsorbate-laden adsorbents) into a low-cost engineered product is a valuable alternative to eliminate secondary pollution after adsorption. This review evaluates the application of SAs for the generation of products that can serve as (i) antimicrobial agents or disinfectants, (ii) materials for civil construction, (iii) catalysts, (iv) fertilizers, and (v) secondary adsorbents. The importance of SAs configuration in terms of functional groups, surface area and pore morphology played a crucial role in their reutilization. The SAs-laden silver ions (Ag⁺) strongly inhibit (~ 99%) the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus microbes found in drinking and wastewaters. The intra-solidification of SAs containing toxic metal pollutants (As³⁺ and F^-) with cementitious materials can effectively reduce their leaching below permissible limits of USEPA standards for their utility as additives in construction work. The existence of transition metal ions (Cu²⁺, Cr^3+/6+, Ni²⁺) on the surface of SAs boosted activity and selectivity towards the desired product during catalytic oxidation, degradation, and conversion processes. The thermally recycled SAs can assist in the secondary adsorption of pollutants from another waste solution due to a larger surface area (> 1000 m²g^-1). However, there are chances that the SAs discussed above will contain traces of PFAS. The article summarizes the challenges, performance efficacy, and future prospects at the end of each value-added product. We also highlight critical challenges for managing PFAS-laden SAs and stimulate new perspectives to minimize PFAS in air, water, and soils.

A microfluidic electrochemical sensing platform for in situ detection of trace cadmium ions

Among various detection and analysis platforms, a microfluidic chip-based electrochemical sensing detection platform is a new type of detection platform. In this study, a microfluidic electrochemical detection platform for cadmium ion detection is proposed, and the performance of the detection platform is optimized in terms of both the microchannel size and electrode modifications. The detection mixing processes of the detector with different microchannel sizes, including the concentration distribution in the channel, pressure decay variation and electrolyte current density variation in the detector, were investigated by finite element model calculations. The analysis shows that the size of the microchannel in the detector affects the fluid and thus further affects the chemical reaction. If the size of the electrode does not match the size of the microchannel, insufficient sample volume will lead to inaccurate measurements, reduced sensitivity and increased detection limits. It was found that the sensitivity of the electrochemical sensor was highest when the size of the microchannel in the chip was 400 μm. After optimization, the optimal detection limit for cadmium ions was 0.03 μg L^-1 (S/N = 3). The proposed sensing platform is simple in design and stable in structure, and is suitable for field screening and rapid response to heavy metal contamination events.

High-performance pseudocapacitive removal of cadmium via synergistic valence conversion in perovskite-type FeMnO3

Cadmium pollution is a serious threat for the global drink water and natural environment. Herein, a poly-pyrrole coated dual-metal perovskite-type oxide FeMnO₃ (PFMO@PPy) was developed firstly as pseudocapacitive cathode for the reversible capture and release of cadmium ions by asymmetry pseudocapacitive deionization (APCDI) technology, extending the library of CDI electrodes. Our work highlighted several points: (i) PFMO@PPy achieved a maximum Cd-removal capacity of 144.6 mg g^-1, and maintained the retention rate of 93.4% after 15-cycle CDI process for up to 150 h, far beyond other previous work. (ii) PFMO@PPy showed the superior removal ratio (~90%) under different real water environments such as tap water, lake water and the groundwater. (iii) The superior Cd(II) electrosorption and desorption behavior is ascribed to the reversible synergistic valence conversion (Fe³⁺/Fe⁰ and Mn³⁺/Mn²⁺), which is confirmed by ex-situ XPS measurement and electrochemical tests. (iv) DFT calculations confirmed the synergistic effect from Mn and Fe elements in perovskite-type bimetallic oxide FeMnO₃. This study paves a new way for promising future applications of perovskite-type oxides containing dual Faradic redox-activity for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) composites as promising materials for energy storage applications

Metal-organic framework (MOF) composites are considered to be one of the most vital energy storage materials due to their advantages of high porousness, multifunction, various structures and controllable chemical compositions, which provide a great possibility to find suitable electrode materials for batteries and supercapacitors. However, MOF composites are still in the face of various challenges and difficulties that hinder their practical application. In this review, we introduce and summarize the applications of MOF composites in batteries, covering metal-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, lithium-oxygen batteries and zinc-air batteries, as well as supercapacitors. In addition, the application challenges of MOF composites in batteries and supercapacitors are also summarized. Finally, the basic ideas and directions for further development of these two types of electrochemical energy storage devices are proposed.

Ultrasensitive detection of mercury(II) ions on a hybrid film of a graphene and gold nanoparticle-modified electrode

Aggravated by human and industrial activities, heavy metal pollution has become a severe problem, causing widespread concern in society, and cannot be ignored. Herein, a graphene/gold nanoparticle-hybrid (AuNPs/ERGO) was proposed and synthesized by electrochemical methods. Based on the AuNPs/ERGO hybrid, a novel electrochemical sensing platform was established and successfully applied for the selective, quantitative detection of Hg²⁺, taking advantage of the well-established anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). This hybrid material not only increases the surface area and charge transfer rate but also provides more active sites for Hg deposition due to the formation of homogeneous, high density and monodispersed AuNPs on the ERGO film. The prepared AuNPs/ERGO hybrid was modified on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to detect Hg²⁺ with a linear range from 0.5 to 20 μg L^-1 and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 μg L^-1. The selectivity and stability of the as-prepared electrode were investigated and showed promising results. In addition, a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was also employed to verify the practical application ability of our assay with an excellent performance, which presents a bright application prospect for in situ Hg²⁺ detection.

Facile and ultra-sensitive voltammetric electrodetection of Hg2+ in aqueous media using electrodeposited AuPtNPs/ITO

In this study, we have investigated the use of electrodeposited Au-Pt nanoparticles (AuPtNPs) on indium tin oxide (ITO) for the detection of Hg²⁺ heavy ions in water samples. The mechanism of AuPtNP electrocrystallization on ITO glass in an aqueous solution containing 0.5 mM HAuCl₄ + 0.5 mM H₂PtCl₆ is described for the first time. The nucleation mechanism of monometallic AuNPs on ITO was found to be progressive; however, a transition from progressive to instantaneous was observed for bimetallic AuPtNPs at elevated overpotentials. The modified ITOs were then assessed for the electrodetection of Hg²⁺ in aqueous media. It was shown by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) that the sensitivity of the constructed AuPtNPs/ITO electrode toward Hg²⁺ was about 2.08 μA nM^-1. An approximate detection limit of 4.03 nM Hg²⁺ was achieved, which is below the permissible level of 30.00 nM Hg²⁺ in drinking water, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Characterization of AuPt nanostructures was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and different electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)). Our results indicate a good potential of a facile and robust electrochemical assembly for on-site detection of heavy metals in water samples.

Studies on a glutathione coated hollow ZnO modified glassy carbon electrode; a novel Pb(ii) selective electrochemical sensor

Herein, we report the electrochemical detection of heavy metal ions such as Pb(ii), Cd(ii) and Hg(ii) ions while using glutathione coated hollow ZnO modified glassy carbon electrode (Glu-h-ZnO/GCE). An excellent voltammetric response of the modified electrode towards these metal ions was observed by different voltammetric techniques. Among the different target metal ions, a selective electrochemical response (sensitivity = 4.57 μA μM^-1) for the detection of Pb(ii) ions was obtained with differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) measurements. Besides, under optimal experimental conditions and in the linear concentration range of 2-18 μM, a very low detection limit of 0.42 μM was obtained for Pb(ii) ion. The observed electrochemical behaviour of Glu-h-ZnO/GCE towards these metal ions is in conformity with the band gap of the composite in the presence of various test metal ions. The band gap studies of the composite and various "Composite-Metal Ion" systems were obtained by reflectance as well as by computational methods where results are in close agreement, justifying the observed electrochemical behaviour of the systems. The lowest band gap value of the "Composite-Pb" system may be the reason for the excellent electrochemical response of the Glu-h-ZnO modified GCE towards the detection of Pb(ii) ion.

Engineered two-dimensional nanomaterials: an emerging paradigm for water purification and monitoring

Water scarcity has become an increasingly complex challenge with the growth of the global population, economic expansion, and climate change, highlighting the demand for advanced water treatment technologies that can provide clean water in a scalable, reliable, affordable, and sustainable manner. Recent advancements on 2D nanomaterials (2DM) open a new pathway for addressing the grand challenge of water treatment owing to their unique structures and superior properties. Emerging 2D nanostructures such as graphene, MoS₂, MXene, h-BN, g-C₃N₄, and black phosphorus have demonstrated an unprecedented surface-to-volume ratio, which promises ultralow material use, ultrafast processing time, and ultrahigh treatment efficiency for water cleaning/monitoring. In this review, we provide a state-of-the-art account on engineered 2D nanomaterials and their applications in emerging water technologies, involving separation, adsorption, photocatalysis, and pollutant detection. The fundamental design strategies of 2DM are discussed with emphasis on their physicochemical properties, underlying mechanism and targeted applications in different scenarios. This review concludes with a perspective on the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities in 2DM-enabled wastewater treatment and water-quality monitoring. This review can help to elaborate the structure-processing-property relationship of 2DM, and aims to guide the design of next-generation 2DM systems for the development of selective, multifunctional, programmable, and even intelligent water technologies. The global significance of clean water for future generations sheds new light and much inspiration in this rising field to enhance the efficiency and affordability of water treatment and secure a global water supply in a growing portion of the world.

Carbon Nanomaterials for Biomedical Application

The use of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNs) with outstanding properties has been rising in many scientific and industrial application fields. These CNs represent a tunable alternative for applications with biomolecules, which allow interactions in either covalent or noncovalent way. Diverse carbon-derived nanomaterial family exhibits unique features and has been widely exploited in various biomedical applications, including biosensing, diagnosis, cancer therapy, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. In this chapter, we aim to present an overview of CNs with a particular interest in intrinsic structural, electronic, and chemical properties. In particular, the detailed properties and features of CNs and its derivatives, including carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced GO (rGO) are summarized. The interesting biomedical applications are also reviewed in order to offer an overview of the possible fields for scientific and industrial applications of CNs.

A sonochemical assisted synthesis of hollow sphere structured tin (IV) oxide on graphene oxide sheets for the low-level detection of environmental pollutant mercury in biological samples and foodstuffs

In modern approaches for nanomaterials synthesis, ultrasonication plays an important role in providing the larger surface area and smaller crystalline size properties that are favorable to electrochemical techniques. Herein, we report the tin (IV) oxide on graphene oxide nanoparticles were synthesized (SnO₂@GO NPs) by ultrasonic methodology (UZ SONOPULS HD 3400 Ultrasonic homogenizer) with the total power of 400 W and the (frequency of 20 kHz; 140 W/dm³). The formation of as-prepared SnO₂@GO NPs and its surface morphology were scrutinized over XRD, XPS, TEM, and FESEM. Besides, the sonochemically prepared SnO₂@GO NPs were employed for the determination of environmental hazardous mercury (Hg). As a result, the modified electrode acquired a very low-level detection limit of 1.2 nM with a wider range of 0.01-10.41-µM and 14.52-225.4-µM for the detection of Hg. Finally, the practical applicability of SnO₂@GO NPs in spiked human blood serum and tuna fish samples shows appreciable found and recovery values. .

Biomass-Derived, Water-Induced Self-Recoverable Composite Aerogels with Robust Superwettability for Water Treatment

Polluted water is a worldwide problem; therefore, effective separation of oil/water and removal of dyes, organic micropollutants, and heavy metals in wastewater are the need of the hour. Herein, hydrophilic β-cyclodextrin-grafted carboxymethyl cellulose, biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol, and chitosan were used as main raw materials to construct a multifunctional aerogel framework by simple sol-gel and directional freeze-drying methods. Featuring intrinsic superamphiphilic wettability in air, robust superoleophobic wettability underwater, and excellent shape-recovery characteristics, the biomass-derived aerogel presents durable oil/water separation even after 10 cycles. The aerogels possess prominent adsorption capacity for methyl blue, 1-naphthylamine, and Cu²⁺, which was as high as 121.55 mg/g, 33.96 mg/g, and 122.6 mg/g, respectively. In addition, various pollutant mixtures could be effectively adsorbed by the aerogel at the same time with the adsorption capacity of 121.75 mg/g for methyl blue, 0.97 mg/g for bisphenol A, and 20.11 mg/g for Cu²⁺.

Highly sensitive determination of cancer toxic mercury ions in biological and human sustenance samples based on green and robust synthesized stannic oxide nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide sheets

This work proposes the conventional sonochemical synthesis of nanoparticles of tin (IV) oxide on reduced graphene oxide (rGOS@SnO₂) influencing the formation of a composite with enhanced properties. The combination of SnO₂ nanoparticles with rGOS weakens the accumulation in layered structures of the latter system, which leads to better exposure of SnO₂ active sites and thus increases the conductivity of rGOS@SnO₂ composite. This validates the improved electro-catalytic activity of the composite based on previous reports for its successful utilization in the electrochemical determination of toxic contaminants. The quantitative determination of mercury ions, through the use of the electrochemical sensor based on rGOS@SnO₂ manifests several advantages such as simple operator, promptness, cost effectiveness and time independency when compared to other traditional techniques. The fabricated sensor displays two wide linear responses in the range of 0.25-705.3 μM for mercury ions, with a rapid response time about 1 s, and with a high sensitivity of 10.18 μA μM^-1 cm^-2 under optimized conditions. The accumulation of traces of mercury in the bodies of fish in the marine eco system marks the significance of its detection in real samples. The satisfactory results of the proposed sensor establish the supreme efficacy of layered nanomaterials in conjunction with nanoparticles for the simple, rapid and efficient detection of pollutants in food and biological samples.

Recent advances in two-dimensional-material-based sensing technology toward health and environmental monitoring applications

Monitoring harmful and toxic chemicals, gases, microorganisms, and radiation has been a challenge to the scientific community for the betterment of human health and environment. Two-dimensional (2D)-material-based sensors are highly efficient and compatible with modern fabrication technology, which yield data that can be proficiently used for health and environmental monitoring. Graphene and its oxides, black phosphorus (BP), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), metal oxides, and other 2D nanomaterials have demonstrated properties that have been alluring for the manufacture of highly sensitive sensors due to their unique material properties arising from their inherent structures. This review summarizes the properties of 2D nanomaterials that can provide a platform to develop high-performance sensors. In this review, we have also discussed the advances made in the field of infrared photodetectors and electrochemical sensors and how the structural properties of 2D nanomaterials affect sensitivity and performance. Further, this review highlights 2D-nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors that can be used to check for contaminations from heavy metals, organic/inorganic compounds, poisonous gases, pesticides, bacteria, antibiotics, etc., in water or air, which are severe risks to human wellbeing as well as the environment. Moreover, the limitations, future prospects, and challenges for the development of sensors based on 2D materials are also discussed for future advancements.

Single-Atom Enzyme-Functionalized Solution-Gated Graphene Transistor for Real-Time Detection of Mercury Ion

Mercury ion (Hg²⁺), a bioaccumulating and toxic heavy metal, can cause severe damages to the environment and human health. Therefore, development of high-performance Hg²⁺ sensors is highly desirable. Herein, we construct a uniform dodecahedral shaped N-doped carbon decorated by single Fe site enzyme (Fe-N-C SAE), which exhibits good performance for Hg²⁺ detection. The N atom on Fe-N-C SAE can specifically recognize Hg²⁺ through chelation between Hg²⁺ and N atom, while the catalytic site on the single-atom enzyme acts as a signal amplifier. The Fe-N-C SAE-functionalized solution-gated graphene transistor exhibits a dramatic improvement in the selectivity and sensitivity of the devices. The sensor can rapidly detect Hg²⁺ down to 1 nM within 2 s. Besides, a relatively good repeatability and reproducibility for the detection of Hg²⁺ have also been found in our sensor platform. Our findings expand the application of single-atom catalysts in the field of food safety and environmental monitoring.

A review on exfoliation, characterization, environmental and energy applications of graphene and graphene-based composites

Because of an atom-thick two-dimensional structure with sp² hybridization, large specific area, high thermal conductivity, superior electron mobility, and chemical stability, graphene (GN) has developed substantial interest among researchers, exponentially accelerating GN based research. GN and its derivatives are the potentially attractive materials to develop composites for energy and environmental applications. This review covered a general overview on physical and chemical properties of GN and based composite materials, briefly summarizing exfoliation methodologies and characterization techniques in the first section. The environmental applications of GN and GN composites in detection of gases, bacteria as well as in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants were comprehensively addressed in the second section. Third section focused on recent progress associated with the applications of GN and its composites in solar energy conversion, electrochemical energy devices, storage and production of hydrogen. Finally, conclusive remarks emphasizing unresolved problems and major future challenges were covered in the last section. In addition, the prospects and further development of GN and GN composites in energy, environment and bioscience were discussed.

Biosensors in Monitoring Water Quality and Safety: An Example of a Miniaturizable Whole-Cell Based Sensor for Hg2+ Optical Detection in Water

Inorganic mercury (Hg2+) pollution of water reserves, especially drinking water, is an important issue in the environmental and public health field. Mercury is reported to be one of the most dangerous elements in nature since its accumulation and ingestion can lead to a series of permanent human diseases, affecting the kidneys and central nervous system. All the conventional approaches for assaying Hg2+ have some limitations in terms of bulky instruments and the cost and time required for the analysis. Here, we describe a miniaturizable and high-throughput bioluminescence sensor for Hg2+ detection in water, which combines the specificity of a living bacterial Hg2+ reporter cell, used as sensing element, with the performance of a silicon photomultiplier, used as optical detector. The proposed system paves the basis for portable analysis and low reactants consumption. The aim of the work is to propose a sensing strategy for total inorganic mercury evaluation in water. The proposed system can lay the basis for further studies and validations in order to develop rapid and portable technology that can be used in situ providing remote monitoring.

Graphene oxide-based materials for efficient removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution: A review

Graphene with atomic layer of sp²-hybridized carbon atoms in a hexagonal structure has attracted multidisciplinary attention since its discovery. Due to the inherent advantages of large specific surface area and abundant functional groups, its derivative graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials have achieved large-scale development in effective pollution treatment. In the past few years, novel GO-based nanomaterials through coupling with other nanomaterials have been synthesized with significant process and applied for efficient elimination of different kinds of pollutants. This paper aims to summarize recent research results on the excellent removal ability of GO-based nanomaterials for various heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. The synthesis, adsorption process characteristics and interaction mechanism of the adsorbent are emphasized and discussed. The effects of various environmental conditions are outlined. At last, a brief summary, perspective and outlook are presented. This review is intended to provide some thrilling information for the design and manufacture of GO-based nanomaterials for the elimination of heavy metal ions from wastewater in environmental pollution management.

Electrochemical microfluidics techniques for heavy metal ion detection

Heavy metals refer to metals with a density above 5 × 103 kg m-3, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Even a trace amount of heavy metals is detrimental to human health. With the increasing significance of detection of heavy metals, the use of the electrochemical detection technique combined with microfluidics is a promising strategy and has thus attracted wide attention from academia and is the subject of this review. First, this review introduces the basics of electrochemical detection and microfluidics. Second, this review presents and evaluates a variety of electrochemical microfluidics technologies for heavy metal ions detection that are user friendly, portable, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture compared to traditional methods. The categorization is based on different detected ions in the order of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Mn, and Zn. Finally, the author summarizes the development of detection technology in recent years and puts forward a perspective for the future prospects.

Adsorption of Cd2+ and Ni2+ from Aqueous Single-Metal Solutions on Graphene Oxide-Chitosan-Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels

The applications of graphene-based adsorbents were limited because of their complicated manufacturing technology and hi cost, thus it is very important to prepare new inexpensive and easily manufactured graphene-based adsorbents. Herein, novel GCP hydrogels with different graphene oxide (GO), chitosan (CS), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) ratios were facilely prepared through a method of freeze-thaw physical cross-linking, which was green and low-cost, and the structural characterization and adsorptive property of the optimum GCP_1:2:4 hydrogel toward Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ in wastewater was evaluated. It was found that the GCP_1:2:4 hydrogel had good mechanical strength and a special 3D interconnection porous structure. The isotherms of adsorption used the Langmuir model, and the kinetics of adsorption following the pseudo-second-order model were confirmed. Moreover, the adsorption property with respect to Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ in wastewater has been largely effected by the pH and was less influenced by the ionic strength and humic acid, and the GCP_1:2:4 hydrogel possessed excellent adsorptive and recyclable properties. These results demonstrated that the GCP_1:2:4 hydrogel could serve as a desirable adsorbent to get rid of heavy metal ions in sewage.

A review on graphene-based nanocomposites for electrochemical and fluorescent biosensors

Biosensors with high sensitivity, selectivity and a low limit of detection, reaching nano/picomolar concentrations of biomolecules, are important to the medical sciences and healthcare industry for evaluating physiological and metabolic parameters.

Supercapacitor with high cycling stability through electrochemical deposition of metal–organic frameworks/polypyrrole positive electrode

Through electrochemical deposition, a novel positive electrode comprising ZIF-67 and polypyrrole, showing ultrahigh cycling stability (100.7%, 40 000 cycles), was fabricated.

Chemical sensing with 2D materials

During the last decade, two-dimensional materials (2DMs) have attracted great attention due to their unique chemical and physical properties, which make them appealing platforms for diverse applications in sensing of gas, metal ions as well as relevant chemical entities.

Three-Dimensional Networked Metal-Organic Frameworks with Conductive Polypyrrole Tubes for Flexible Supercapacitors

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with high porosity and a regular porous structure have emerged as a promising electrode material for supercapacitors, but their poor electrical conductivity limits their utilization efficiency and capacitive performance. To increase the overall electrical conductivity as well as the efficiency of MOF particles, three-dimensional networked MOFs are developed via using preprepared conductive polypyrrole (PPy) tubes as the support for in situ growth of MOF particles. As a result, the highly conductive PPy tubes that run through the MOF particles not only increase the electron transfer between MOF particles and maintain the high effective porosity of the MOFs but also endow the MOFs with flexibility. Promoted by such elaborately designed MOF-PPy networks, the specific capacitance of MOF particles has been increased from 99.2 F g^-1 for pristine zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-67 to 597.6 F g^-1 for ZIF-PPy networks, indicating the importance of the design of the ZIF-PPy continuous microstructure. Furthermore, a flexible supercapacitor device based on ZIF-PPy networks shows an outstanding areal capacitance of 225.8 mF cm^-2, which is far above other MOFs-based supercapacitors reported up to date, confirming the significance of in situ synthetic chemistry as well as the importance of hybrid materials on the nanoscale.

Competitive adsorption behavior toward metal ions on nano-Fe/Mg/Ni ternary layered double hydroxide proved by XPS: Evidence of selective and sensitive detection of Pb(II)

Hypersensitive and highly selective nanomaterials for the measurement of heavy metal ions (HMIs) hold a key to electro-analysis. Various works improved the results of analysis but without scientific understanding. Herein, Fe/Mg/Ni-layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been successfully prepared and its electrochemical behavior for Pb(II) detection is also studied using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The well performance of electrochemistry suggest that the modification with Fe/Mg/Ni-LDH significantly promotes the selectivity and sensitivity toward Pb(II). The sensitivity on Fe/Mg/Ni-LDH modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is 68.1μAμM^-1 over the range from 0.03 to 1.0μM under the optimized conditions. Otherwise, the selectivity, anti-interference, stability measurements and practical implications of Fe/Mg/Ni-LDH modified GCE are also performed. What^,s more, a reasonable mechanism of detection for Pb(II) including selectivity and sensitivity is proposed based on adsorption and characterized using XPS and XRD. These findings provide a potentially excellent material to improve the sensitivity and selectivity for toxic metal ions as well as a deep understanding of detection.

Hydrogels of polyaniline with graphene oxide for highly sensitive electrochemical determination of lead ions

Conducting polymers with graphene/graphene oxide hydrogels represent a unique class of electrode materials for sensors and energy storage applications. In this article, we report a facile in situ method for the polymerisation of aniline resulting in the decoration of 1D conducting polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers onto the surface of 2D graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets followed by hydrogel formation at elevated temperature. The synthesized nanomaterial exhibits significant properties for the highly sensitive electrochemical determination as well as removal of environmentally harmful lead (Pb²⁺) ions. The square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) determination of Pb²⁺ ions showed good electroanalytical performance with two linear ranges in 0.2-250 nM (correlation coefficient = 0.996) and 250-3500 nM (correlation coefficient = 0.998). The developed protocol has shown a limit of detection (LOD) of about 0.04 nM, which is much lower than that of the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold limits. The prepared electrode showed an average of ∼99.4% removal of Pb²⁺ ions with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.4%. Selectivity of the electrode towards Pb²⁺ ions were tested in presence of potential interferences such as Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ of similar and higher concentrations. The sensor showed good repeatability and reproducibility. The developed protocol was used to analyse samples from industrial effluents and natural water samples. The results obtained were correlated with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).

Investigation of uranium (VI) adsorption by polypyrrole

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adsorption of uranium (VI) ions on the polypyrrole adsorbent. Polypyrrole was synthesized by a chemical method using polyethylene glycol, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as the surfactant and iron (III) chloride as an oxidant in the aqueous solution. The effect of various surfactants on the synthesized polymers and their performance as the uranium adsorbent were investigated. Adsorbent properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The effect of different parameters such as pH, contact time, initial metal ion concentrations, adsorbent dose, and the temperature was investigated in the batch system for uranium adsorption process. It has been illustrated that the adsorption equilibrium time is 7min. The results showed that the Freundlich model had the best agreement and the maximum adsorption capacity of polypyrrole for uranium (VI) was determined 87.72mg/g from Langmuir isotherm. In addition, the mentioned adsorption process was fast and the kinetic data were fitted to the Pseudo first and second order models. The adsorption kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters ΔG⁰, ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ showed that the uranium adsorption process by polypyrrole was endothermic and spontaneous.