Magnetic aerogel: an advanced material of high importance

Facile synthesis of a 3D magnetic graphene oxide/Fe3O4/banana peel-derived cellulose composite aerogel for the efficient removal of tetracycline

Many initiatives have incorporated graphene oxide (GO) and biomass into aerogels for wastewater treatment. We report on the facile fabrication of a magnetic GO/Fe3O4/banana peel-derived cellulose (bio-cellulose) aerogel using an ultrasound-assisted mechanical mixing method and freeze-drying technique for the removal of tetracycline (TC). The component materials and composite aerogel were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The effects of solution pH and adsorbent dose on the adsorption performance of the synthesized adsorbents were investigated. The adsorption behavior at the equilibrium of the GO/Fe3O4/bio-cellulose aerogel was studied and analyzed using four well-known non-linear models: Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips, and Temkin. The results showed that the experimental data fitted well with the Freundlich and Sips isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity achieved from the Sips model was 238.7 mg g-1. The adsorption kinetics were studied and proved to follow the Elovich kinetic model with an initial rate of 0.89 g g-1 min-1. These results confirm the favorable adsorption of TC on the heterogeneous surface that exhibits a wide range distribution of adsorption energies of the desired GO/Fe3O4/bio-cellulose aerogel. The experimental findings demonstrate that the aerogel possesses the notable features of environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and comparatively high TC adsorption capacity. Therefore, utilizing biomass to develop the structure of the magnetic GO-based composite aerogel is significantly promising for antibiotic-containing wastewater treatments.

Aero-ZnS prepared by physical vapor transport on three-dimensional networks of sacrificial ZnO microtetrapods

Aeromaterials represent a class of increasingly attractive materials for various applications. Among them, aero-ZnS has been produced by hydride vapor phase epitaxy on sacrificial ZnO templates consisting of networks of microtetrapods and has been proposed for microfluidic applications. In this paper, a cost-effective technological approach is proposed for the fabrication of aero-ZnS by using physical vapor transport with Sn2S3 crystals and networks of ZnO microtetrapods as precursors. The morphology of the produced material is investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while its crystalline and optical qualities are assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, respectively. We demonstrate possibilities for controlling the composition and the crystallographic phase content of the prepared aerogels by the duration of the technological procedure. A scheme of deep energy levels and electronic transitions in the ZnS skeleton of the aeromaterial was deduced from the PL analysis, suggesting that the produced aerogel is a potential candidate for photocatalytic and sensor applications.

An Updated Overview of Magnetic Composites for Water Decontamination

Water contamination by harmful organic and inorganic compounds seriously burdens human health and aquatic life. A series of conventional water purification methods can be employed, yet they come with certain disadvantages, including resulting sludge or solid waste, incomplete treatment process, and high costs. To overcome these limitations, attention has been drawn to nanotechnology for fabricating better-performing adsorbents for contaminant removal. In particular, magnetic nanostructures hold promise for water decontamination applications, benefiting from easy removal from aqueous solutions. In this respect, numerous researchers worldwide have reported incorporating magnetic particles into many composite materials. Therefore, this review aims to present the newest advancements in the field of magnetic composites for water decontamination, describing the appealing properties of a series of base materials and including the results of the most recent studies. In more detail, carbon-, polymer-, hydrogel-, aerogel-, silica-, clay-, biochar-, metal-organic framework-, and covalent organic framework-based magnetic composites are overviewed, which have displayed promising adsorption capacity for industrial pollutants.

An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials

Silica aerogels have gained much interest due to their unique properties, such as being the lightest solid material, having small pore sizes, high porosity, and ultralow thermal conductivity. Also, the advancements in synthesis methods have enabled the creation of silica aerogel-based composites in combination with different materials, for example, polymers, metals, and carbon-based structures. These new silica-based materials combine the properties of silica with the other materials to create a new and reinforced architecture with significantly valuable uses in different fields. Therefore, the importance of silica aerogels has been emphasized by presenting their properties, synthesis process, composites, and numerous applications, offering an updated background for further research in this interdisciplinary domain.

Hybrid Amyloid-Chitin Nanofibrils for Magnetic and Catalytic Aerogels

In the quest for a sustainable and circular economy, it is essential to explore environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional petroleum-based materials. A promising pathway toward this goal lies in the leveraging of biopolymers derived from food waste, such as proteins and polysaccharides, to develop advanced sustainable materials. Here, we design versatile hybrid materials by hybridizing amyloid nanofibrils derived by self-assembly of whey, a dairy byproduct, with chitin nanofibrils exfoliated from the two distinct allomorphs of α-chitin and β-chitin, extracted from seafood waste. Various hydrogels and aerogels were developed via the hybridization and reassembly of these biopolymeric nanobuilding blocks, and they were further magnetized upon biomineralization with iron nanoparticles. The pH-phase diagram highlights the significant role of electrostatic interactions in gel formation, between positively charged amyloid fibrils and negatively charged chitin nanofibrils. Hybrid magnetic aerogels exhibit a ferromagnetic response characterized by a low coercivity (<50 Oe) and a high specific magnetization (>40 emu/g) at all temperatures, making them particularly suitable for superparamagnetic applications. Additionally, these aerogels exhibit a distinct magnetic transition, featuring a higher blocking temperature (200 K) compared to previously reported similar nanoparticles (160 K), indicating enhanced magnetic stability at elevated temperatures. Finally, we demonstrate the practical application of these hybrid magnetic materials as catalysts for carbon monoxide oxidation, showcasing their potential in environmental pollution control and highlighting their versatility as catalyst supports.

Exploring the Versatility of Aerogels: Broad Applications in Biomedical Engineering, Astronautics, Energy Storage, Biosensing, and Current Progress

Aerogels are unique and extremely porous substances with fascinating characteristics such as ultra-low density, extraordinary surface area, and excellent thermal insulation capabilities. Due to their exceptional features, aerogels have attracted significant interest from various fields, including energy, environment, aerospace, and biomedical engineering. This review paper presents an overview of the trailblazing research on aerogels, aiming at their preparation, characterization, and applications. Various methods of aerogel synthesis, such as sol-gel, supercritical drying, are discussed. Additionally, recent progress in the characterization of aerogel structures, including their morphology, porosity, and thermal properties, are extensively reviewed. Finally, aerogel's utilizations in numerous disciplines, for instance, energy storage, thermal insulation, catalysis, environmental remedy, and biomedical applications, are summarized. This review paper provides a comprehensive understanding of aerogels and their prospective uses in diverse fields, highlighting their unique properties for future research and development.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Iron-Based Aerogels with Tailored Textural and Morphological Properties

Iron aerogels have been synthesized by microwave heating for the first time. Therefore, it is essential to optimize this synthesis process to evaluate the possibility of obtaining nanometric materials with tailored properties and fitting them to the needs of different applications. Herein, the effect of the ratio between reagents and the time of synthesis on the final textural, morphological, and structural properties has been evaluated. The micro-meso-macroporosity of the samples can be tailored by modifying the ratio between reagents, whereas the time of synthesis has only a slight effect on the microporosity. Both the proportion between reagents and the time of synthesis are essential to controlling the nanometric morphology, making it possible to obtain either cluster- or flake-type structures. Regarding the chemical and structural composition, the samples are mainly composed of iron(II) and iron(III) oxides. However, the percentage of iron(II) can be modulated by changing the ratio between reagents, which implies that it is possible to obtain materials from highly magnetic materials to materials without magnetic properties. This control over the properties of iron aerogels opens a new line of opportunities for the use of this type of material in several fields of applications such as electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, and electrical and electronic engineering.

Utilizing a nanocomposite aerogel grafted with Fe3O4@GO for the extraction and determination of metoprolol in exhaled breath condensate

This article presents a solid-phase extraction method combined with a spectrofluorometric method for the extraction/pre-concentration and determination of metoprolol (MET) in exhaled breath condensate. The extraction sorbent is an agarose aerogel nanocomposite grafted with graphene oxide (GO) Fe3O4. The size and morphology of the nanosorbent were characterized via X-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. Factors affecting the extraction/determination of MET were optimized using the one-at-a-time method. Under optimized experimental conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.005 to 2.0 μg mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.001 μg mL-1. The method was successfully applied for the determination of MET in biological samples taken from patients receiving MET.

SiO2/Zn0.4Co0.6Fe2O4 aerogel: an efficient and reusable superparamagnetic adsorbent for oily water remediation

Magnetic SiO2/Zn0.4Co0.6Fe2O4 aerogels were successfully prepared by sol-gel method with two different drying steps: ambient pressure drying (APD) and freeze-drying (FD). The surface chemistry of silica was modified to be hydrophobic by oleic acid. The prepared materials were fully characterized, displaying superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetizations of 10.2 and 15.1 emu g-1, and contact angles of ∼130° and ∼140° for the materials prepared by the APD and FD methods, respectively, indicating the hydrophobic surfaces of the prepared materials. This hydrophobicity allows the efficient separation of oil. Specifically, as high as 1.7 and 2 g g-1 adsorption capacities were obtained when using APD-dried and FD-dried silica aerogels, respectively, suggesting the preference for the FD method. Additionally, magnetic recovery and reuse of the adsorbents were successfully implemented in an attempt to reduce the overall practical application costs. To sum up, the prepared materials are good candidates for oil removal from wastewater and the protection of the environment.

Highly magnetic hybrid foams based on aligned tannic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers

Lightweight iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP)/TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibril (TOCNF) hybrid foams with an anisotropic structure and a high IONP content were produced using magnetic field-enhanced unidirectional ice-templating. Coating the IONP with tannic acid (TA) improved the processability, the mechanical performance, and the thermal stability of the hybrid foams. Increasing the IONP content (and density) increased the Young's modulus and toughness probed in compression, and hybrid foams with the highest IONP content were relatively flexible and could recover 14% axial compression. Application of a magnetic field in the freezing direction resulted in the formation of IONP chains that decorated the foam walls and the foams displayed a higher magnetization saturation, remanence, and coercivity compared to the ice-templated hybrid foams. The hybrid foam with an IONP content of 87% displayed a saturation magnetization of 83.2 emu g-1, which is 95% of the value for bulk magnetite. Highly magnetic hybrid foams are of potential interest for environmental remediation, energy storage, and electromagnetic interference shielding.

Dispersible SnO2 :Sb and TiO2 Nanocrystals After Calcination at High Temperature

High-temperature treatment of functional nanomaterials, through postsynthesis calcination, often represents an important step to unlock their full potential. However, such calcination steps usually severely limit the preparation of colloidal solutions of the nanoparticles due to the formation of sintered agglomerates. Herein, a simple route is reported to obtain colloidal solutions of calcined n-conductive antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) as well as titanium dioxide (TiO₂ ) nanoparticles without the need for additional sacrificial materials. This is achieved by making use of the reduced contact between individual nanoparticles when they are assembled into aerogels. Following the calcination of the aerogels at 500 °C, redispersion of the nanoparticles into stable colloidal solutions with various solvents can be achieved. Although a slight degree of sintering is inevitable, the size of the resulting aggregates in solution is still remarkably small with values below 30 nm.

Aerogel-Based Single-Ion Magnets: A Case Study of a Cobalt(II) Complex Immobilized in Silica

The chemical immobilization of cobalt(II) ions in a silica aerogel matrix enabled the synthesis of the first representative example of aerogel-based single-ion magnets. For the synthesis of the lyogels, methyl-trimethoxysilane and N-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl ethylenediamine were co-hydrolyzed, then the ethylenediamine groups that were immobilized on the silica matrix enabled the subsequent binding of cobalt(II) ions. Lyogels with various amounts of ethylenediamine moieties (0.1-15 mol %) were soaked in isopropanol solutions of cobalt(II) nitrate and further supercritically dried in carbon dioxide to obtain aerogels with a specific surface area of 210-596 m²·g^-1, an apparent density of 0.403-0.740 cm³·g^-1 and a porosity of 60-78%. The actual cobalt content in the aerogels was 0.01-1.50 mmol per 1 g of SiO₂, which could easily be tuned by the concentration of ethylenediamine moieties in the silica matrix. The introduction of cobalt(II) ions into the ethylenediamine-modified silica aerogel promoted the stability of the diamine moieties at the supercritical drying stage. The molecular prototype of the immobilized cobalt(II) complex, bearing one ethylenediamine ligand [Co(en)(MeCN)(NO₃)₂], was synthesized and structurally characterized. Using magnetometry in the DC mode, it was shown that cobalt(II)-modified silica aerogels exhibited slow magnetic relaxation in a nonzero field. A decrease in cobalt(II) concentration in aerogels from 1.5 mmol to 0.14 mmol per 1 g of SiO₂ resulted in a weakening of inter-ion interactions; the magnetization reversal energy barrier likewise increased from 4 to 18 K.

Magnetic GO/Fe3O4 for rapid malachite green (MG) removal from aqueous solutions: a reversible adsorption

Magnetic GO/Fe₃O₄ was synthesized using co-precipitation of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ composited with graphene oxide (GO) in alkaline conditions. SEM, XPS, FTIR, N₂ adsorption and VSM techniques were employed to characterize the surface peculiarities of GO/Fe₃O₄ and it was then used for removal of malachite green (MG). The key influencing factors on adsorption, such as mass ratio of GO, pH value and dosage of GO/Fe₃O₄, were investigated. The Freundlich isotherm was well fitted to the experimental data, suggesting GO/Fe₃O₄ has more than one type of reactive site. By comparing the adsorption of anionic dyes and cationic dyes onto GO/Fe₃O₄, it was concluded that GO/Fe₃O₄ could be extensively applied to take up cationic dyes mainly for electrostatic interaction. In addition, the spent GO/Fe₃O₄ was almost 100% recovered in a water bath at 80 °C. An ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer and an atom adsorption spectrophotometer (AAS) were used to determine leached GO and Fe ions discharged into the treated solutions. Low leaching showed that magnetic GO/Fe₃O₄ is a stable environmentally-friendly material.

MG adsorbed onto magnetic GO/Fe₃O₄ by electrostatic interaction and π–π band.