A suitably fabricated ternary nanocomposite (Cu-CuO@rGO-SiO2) as a sustainable and common heterogeneous catalyst for C-S, C-O and C-N coupling reactions

A hybrid composite based on π-electron rich reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and mesoporous silica (SiO2) was prepared and decorated with copper species to afford a ternary nanocomposite material (Cu-CuO@rGO-SiO2). This copper-based nanocomposite was successfully used as a robust and multi-tasking heterogeneous catalyst for most common cross-coupling reactions (e.g. C-S, C-O and C-N coupling). A broad range of catalytic activities are believed to be originated from the synergism of different co-existing copper species (Cu(0) and CuO) and facile charge transfer from the metal ions towards rGO-SiO2 matrices, as established from XPS and other studies.

Pectin Nanoporous Structures Prepared via Salt-Induced Phase Separation and Ambient Azeotropic Evaporation Processes

Polysaccharide nanoporous structures are suitable for various applications, ranging from biomedical scaffolds to adsorption materials, owing to their biocompatibility and large surface areas. Pectin, in particular, can create 3D nanoporous structures in aqueous solutions by binding with calcium cations and creating nanopores by phase separation; this process involves forming hydrogen bonds between alcohols and pectin chains in water and alcohol mixtures and the resulting penetration of alcohols into calcium-bound pectin gels. However, owing to the dehydration and condensation of polysaccharide chains during drying, it has proven to be challenging to maintain the 3D nanoporous structure without using a freeze-drying process or supercritical fluid. Herein, we report a facile method for creating polysaccharide-based xerogels, involving the co-evaporation of water with a nonsolvent (e.g., a low-molecular-weight hydrophobic alcohol such as isopropyl or n-propyl alcohol) at ambient conditions. Experiments and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that salt-induced phase separation and hydrogen bonding between hydrophobic alcohols and pectin chains were the dominant processes in mixtures of pectin, water, and hydrophobic alcohols. Furthermore, the azeotropic evaporation of water and alcohol mixed in approximately 1:1 molar ratios was maintained during the natural drying process under ambient conditions, preventing the hydration and aggregation of the hydrophilic pectin chains. These results introduce a simple and convenient process to produce 3D polysaccharide xerogels under ambient conditions.

Bioderived Mesoporous Carbon@Tungsten Oxide Nanocomposite as a Drug Carrier Vehicle of Doxorubicin for Potent Cancer Therapy

Scientists have investigated the possibility of employing nanomaterials as drug carriers. These nanomaterials can preserve their content and transport it to the target region in the body. In this investigation, we proposed a simple method for developing distinctive, bioderived nanostructures with mesoporous carbon nanoparticles impregnated with tungsten oxide (WO3). Prior to characterizing and encapsulating WO3 with bioderived mesoporous carbon, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was added to the nanoparticles and examined loading and release study. The approaches for both nanoparticle production and characterization are discussed in detail. Colloidal qualities of the nanomaterial can be effectively preserved while also allowing transdermal transportation of nanoparticles into the body by forming them into green, reusable, and porous nanostructures. Although the theories of nanoparticles and bioderived carbon each have been studied separately, the combination presents a new route to applications connected to nanomedicine. Furthermore, this sample was used to study exotic biomedical applications, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. The W-3 sample had lower antioxidant activity (44.01%) than the C@W sample (56.34%), which was the most potent. A high DOX entrapment effectiveness of 97% was eventually achieved by the C@W sample, compared to a pure WO3 entrapment efficiency of 91%. It was observed that the Carbon/WO3 composite (C@W) sample showed more efficacy because the mesoporous carbon composition with WO3 increases the average surface area and surface-active locations.

Assembling phenyl-modified colloidal silica on graphene oxide towards ethanol redispersible graphene oxide powder

Recently, ethanol has shown promising potential in the large-scale reduction of graphene oxide (GO) into graphene. However, dispersion of GO powder in ethanol is a challenge due to its poor affinity, which hinders permeation and intercalation of ethanol between GO molecule layers. In this paper, phenyl-modified colloidal silica nanospheres (PSNS) were synthesized by phenyl-tri-ethoxy-silane (PTES) and tetra-ethyl ortho-silicate (TEOS) using a sol-gel method. PSNS was then assembled onto a GO surface to form a PSNS@GO structure by possible non-covalent π-π stacking interactions between the phenyl groups and GO molecules. The surface morphology, chemical composition, and dispersion stability were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and particle sedimentation test. The results showed that the as-assembled PSNS@GO suspension had excellent dispersion stability with an optimal PSNS concentration of 5 vol% PTES. With the optimized PSNS@GO, ethanol can permeate between the GO layers and intercalate along with PSNS particles via formation of hydrogen bonds between assembled PSNS on GO and ethanol, achieving a stable dispersion of GO in ethanol. The optimized PSNS@GO powder remained redispersible after drying and milling according to this interaction mechanism which is favorable for large scale reduction processes. Higher PTES concentration may result in agglomeration of PSNS and formation of wrapping structures of PSNS@GO after drying and worsen its dispersion capability.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of nano-silica/copper plasmon by aminofunctional silane for dye pollutant degradation

The synthesis of silica gel nanostructures and loading it with copper specie via a hydrothermal process were performed. The sample is treated with an amino-functional reagent 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), TGA/DSC measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activities of the nanostructures were studied for degradation of methylene blue dye (as a classic dye contaminant) in aqueous solution utilizing visible light source. The results displayed that the sample treated with APTES is much more effective in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. This modified catalyst could eliminate methylene blue dye (50 mL, 18 µg mL^-1) within 60 min under visible light. The degradation efficiency was increased by shortening the degradation time to 30 min in the alkaline medium. The pseudo-first-order model well describes the kinetics of the reaction.

A three-dimensional nano-network WO3/F-TiO2-{001} heterojunction constructed with OH-TiOF2 as the precursor and its efficient degradation of methylene blue

In this study, three-dimensional nested WO₃/F-TiO₂-{001} photocatalysts with different WO₃ loadings were prepared by a hydrothermal process and used to degrade methylene blue (MB). The photocatalysts with various ratios of WO₃ to OH-TiOF₂ can be transformed into a three-dimensional network WO₃/F-TiO₂ hetero-structure with {001} surface exposure. The results showed that the composite catalyst with 5% WO₃, denoted as FWT5, had the best comprehensive degradation effect. FWT5 has a limited band gap of 2.9 eV, which can be used as an advanced photocatalyst to respond to sunlight and degrade MB. The average pore diameter of the composite catalyst is 10.3 nm, and the multi-point specific surface area is 56 m² g⁻¹. Compared with pure TiOF₂, the average pore size of the composite catalyst decreased by 8.44 nm and the specific surface area increased by 51.2 m² g⁻¹, which provides a larger contact space for the catalytic components and pollutants. Moreover, TiO₂ on the {001} surface has higher photocatalytic activity and methylene blue can be better degraded. Under the irradiation of 0.03 g FWT5 composite catalyst with a simulated solar light source for 2 h, the degradation rate of 10 mg L⁻¹ methylene blue can reach 82.9%. The trapping experiment showed that photo-generated holes were the principal functional component of WO₃/F-TiO₂-{001} photo-catalysis, which could capture OH⁻ and form hydroxyl radical (˙OH) and improved the photocatalytic degradation performance. Kinetic studies show that the photocatalytic degradation of MB fits with the quasi-first order kinetic model.

A new type of WO₃/F-TiO₂-{001} heterostructure semiconductor material with a three-dimensional network structure was successfully prepared by the hydrothermal method.

A comprehensive study on the enhanced photocatlytic activity of a double-shell mesoporous plasmonic Cu@Cu2O/SiO2 as a visible-light driven nanophotocatalyst

A novel sunlight-activated double-shell Cu^@Cu₂O/SiO₂ (m-pCu^@Cu₂O/SiO₂) photocatalyst is presented via a combined precipitation and sol-gel methods with a mesoporous silica outer shell. After applying several characterization techniques on the m-pCu^@Cu₂O/SiO₂, it was tested in the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). The experimental results demonstrated a higher photocatalytic activity of the double-shell m-pCu^@Cu₂O/SiO₂ nanophotocatalyst than the core-shell pCu^@Cu₂O nanophotocatalyst under the sunlight irradiation. When the content of pCu^@Cu₂O was 30 wt.%, it showed the highest activity. The Cu nanoparticles exhibited the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect which increased the light absorption in the visible region of light. It also caused the rapid separation of the photoexcited e^-/h⁺ pairs. Furthermore, the mesoporous structure of outer shell silica favors the transfer of reactants, resulting in the improved photoactivity performance for the supported pCu^@Cu₂O catalyst. Central composite design (CCD) based on RSM (response surface methodology) approach was used to optimize four of the most important experimental variables. The photodegraded intermediates were identified by HPLC-Mass.

A new synthesis methodology for SiO2 gel-based nanostructures and their application for elimination of dye pollutants

A new procedure for preparation of a high specific surface area silica-based nanostructure and its copper-containing active photocatalyst is described.

Novel cadmium oxide-graphene nanocomposite grown on mesoporous silica for simultaneous photocatalytic H2-evolution

Novel Cadmium Oxide-Graphene Nanocomposite Grown on Mesoporous Silica have been successfully prepared using a self-assembly method under the catering of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the surfactant template at ambient conditions. The structural and optical properties of the obtained nanocomposites were investigated by many different techniques. The results of photocatalytic measurements revealed that almost 100% of MB organic dye was removed with the presence of SiO₂/CdO-graphene composite under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the initial pH also plays an important role in the photodegradation processes. On the other hand, this work opens a way to enhance the photocatalytic activity of gallic acid at ambient conditions without any further different oxidation processes. From the evolutionary aspect, SiO₂/CdO-graphene composite revealed better H₂ generation than that of binary photocatalyst (CdO-graphene nanocomposite). The results of characterization and photodegradation suggest that SiO₂/CdO-graphene material constitutes a new photocatalyst for the degradation of organic contaminants, as well as the development of an efficient hetero-system for hydrogen production.

A tetraphenylporphyrin/WO3/exfoliated graphite nanocomposite for the photocatalytic degradation of an acid dye under visible light irradiation

Charge carrier separation in visible light photocatalytic degradation of a dye was achieved by the fabrication of a tetraphenylporphyrin/WO₃/exfoliated graphite nanocomposite.

Preparation of Cu2O@TiOF2/TiO2and its photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride wastewater

Cu₂O@TiOF₂/TiO₂composites with large surfaces were prepared by a hydrothermal method and exhibited excellent activity under simulated solar light, showing high efficiency for tetracycline hydrochloride photocatalytic degradation, and reusability.

An eco-friendly synthesized mesoporous-silica particle combined with WSe2-graphene-TiO2 by self-assembled method for photocatalytic dye decomposition and hydrogen production

To address the limitations of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and expand the applicability of the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂,WSe₂ and silica, an eco-friendly, self-assembled method for combining a silica precursor with a WSe₂-graphene-TiO₂ composite with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surface active agents is proposed. Firstly, for the main target, the photocatalytic degradation of organic dye solutions with different initial pH levels and catalyst dosages under visible light irradiation was surveyed. The as-synthesized sample exhibited highly efficient photocatalytic effects for the treatment of the SO dye solution in the optimal conditions of this study, which included a solution with a pH level of 11 and 0.05-gram dosage of the catalyst. Secondly, previous photocatalytic hydrogen production studies reported markedly better outcomes with SiO₂/WSe₂-graphene-TiO₂ than with the binary WSe₂-graphene and ternary WSe₂-graphene-TiO₂ composites under ambient conditions with and without 20% methanol sacrificing reagents. The SiO₂/WSe₂-graphene-TiO₂ composite is promising to become a potential candidate for photocatalytic performance that performs excellently as well as offer an efficient heterosystem for hydrogen production.