Near Infrared Light-to-Heat Conversion for Liquid-Phase Oxidation Reactions by Antimony-Doped Tin Oxide Nanocrystals

Effective utilization of the sunlight for chemical reactions is pivotal for dealing with the growing energy and environmental issues. So far, much effort has been focused on the development of semiconductor photocatalysts responsive to UV and visible light. However, the near infrared and infrared (NIR-IR) light occupying ∼50 % of the solar energy has usually been wasted because of the low photon energy insufficient for the band gap excitation. Antimony doping into SnO₂ (ATO) induces strong absorption due to the conduction band electrons in the NIR region. The absorbed light energy is eventually converted to heat via the interaction between hot electrons and phonons. This Concept highlights the photothermal effect of ATO nanocrystals (NCs) on liquid-phase oxidation reactions through the NIR light-to-heat conversion. Under NIR illumination even at an intensity of ∼0.5 sun, the reaction field temperature on the catalyst surface is raised 20-30 K above the bulk solution temperature, while the latter is maintained near the ambient temperature. In some reactions, this photothermal local heating engenders the enhancement of not only the catalytic activity and selectivity but also the regeneration of catalytically active sites. Further, the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors can be promoted. Finally, the conclusions and possible subjects in the future are summarized.

An ultrasensitive label-free colorimetric biosensor for the detection of glucose based on glucose oxidase-like activity of nanolayered manganese-calcium oxide

During the last years, enzyme-based biosensors have gained much more attention among the researchers and have had great success in the determination of different biological macromolecules. Nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-mimic activity are widely used in biomedicine as artificial enzymes. Here, we report glucose oxidase-mimic activity of nanolayered manganese-calcium (Mn-Ca) oxide nanoparticles (NL-MnCaO₂). In this work, NL-MnCaO₂nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using different techniques including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Also, the ability of these compounds for the glucose and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) determination was investigated. A non-enzymatic strategy for the colorimetric detection of glucose and H₂O₂ was reported which can be utilized not only for the rapid detection and analysis of glucose by the naked eye but also the quantitative assay of glucose by spectrophotometry. The in situ generated H₂O₂ and gluconic acid (GA) from the oxidation of glucose through the glucose oxidase-mimicking activity of NL-MnCaO₂ was detected using a colorimetric method. Also, the results confirmed the application of these compounds for the detection of glucose in human serum samples with a detection limit (LOD) of 6.12 × 10^-6 M. The results showed that NL-MnCaO₂ can be used as an alternative for the natural enzymes and act as a simple, sensitive and enzyme-free biosensor for the detection of glucose in real samples. The proposed strategy shows some advantages including sensitivity, short detection time and low detection limit.

Catalytic use of layered materials for fine chemical syntheses

The present work reviews the catalytic use of layered solid materials for fine chemical syntheses with focus on layered double hydroxides, but including other classes of layered compounds of catalytic relevance.

Cobalt aluminate nanoparticles supported on MIL-101 structure: catalytic performance investigation

Novel heterogeneous catalysts composed by CoAl₂O₄ nanoparticles supported on MIL-101(Cr) framework exhibiting remarkable catalytic performance for thioanisole oxidation under sustainable conditions.

Rapid oxidative degradation of methylene blue by various metal oxides doped with vanadium

The oxidative degradation of methylene blue in the presence of various metal oxides doped with vanadium was studied.

Nanolayered manganese–calcium oxide as an efficient catalyst toward organic sulfide oxidation

We for the first time report that nanolayered Mn–Ca oxide in the presence of H₂O₂ is an efficient catalyst toward sulfide oxidation to sulfoxide.

Antimicrobial effects of silver deposited on nanolayered manganese oxide

The antimicrobial effects of silver deposited on nanolayered manganese oxide for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were considered.