Photoactive Nanomaterials Inspired by Nature: LTL Zeolite Doped with Laser Dyes as Artificial Light Harvesting Systems

Green hydrothermal synthesis yields perylenebisimide-SiO2 hybrid materials with solution-like fluorescence and photoredox activity

In organic-inorganic hybrid materials' (HMs) synthesis, it is intrinsically challenging to, at the same time, achieve (i) the concomitant synthesis of the components, (ii) nanoscopic interpenetration of the components, and (iii) covalent linking of the components. We here report the one-pot hydrothermal synthesis (HTS) of inorganic-organic HMs consisting of perylene bisimide (PBI) dyes and silica, using nothing but water as the medium and directly from the corresponding bisanhydrides, n-alkyl amines, and alkoxysilane precursors. First, in the absence of a functionalized alkoxysilane for linking, a mixture of the products, PBI and SiO2, is obtained. This evinces that the two products can be synthesized in parallel in the same vessel. Except for minor micromorphological changes, the concomitant synthesis does not affect each component's physicochemical properties. The PBI/SiO2 mixtures do not show synergistic properties. Second, through adding the linker aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), covalently-linked class II hybrids are obtained. These PBI@SiO2 class II hybrids show synergistic materials properties: increased thermal stability is obtained in combination with nanoscopic homogeneity. The PBI moieties are dissolved in the solid SiO2 matrix, while being covalently linked to the matrix. This leads to solution-like fluorescence with vibronic fine-structure of the dyes. Moreover, through tuning the SiO2 amount, the band gaps of the class II hybrid materials can be systematically shifted. We exploit these optoelectronic properties by using the PBI@SiO2 hybrids as heterogeneous and reusable photoredox catalysts for the reduction of aryl halides. Finally, we present a detailed small-angle X-ray scattering and powder X-ray diffraction study of PBI@SiO2 synthesized at various reaction times, revealing the existence of an ordered PBI-oligomeric silesquioxane-type intermediate, which subsequently further condenses to the final nanoscopically homogeneous PBI@SiO2 material. These ordered intermediates point at HTS' propensity to favor crystallinity (to date known for organic and inorganic compounds, respectively) to also apply to hybrid structures, and shed additional light on the long-standing question of structure formation in the early stages of sol-gel processes: they corroborate Brown's hypothesis (1965) that trifunctional hydroxysilanes form surprisingly well controlled oligomers in the early stages of polycondensation.

Engineering microbial metabolic energy homeostasis for improved bioproduction

Metabolic energy (ME) homeostasis is essential for the survival and proper functioning of microbial cell factories. However, it is often disrupted during bioproduction because of inefficient ME supply and excessive ME consumption. In this review, we propose strategies, including reinforcement of the capacity of ME-harvesting systems in autotrophic microorganisms; enhancement of the efficiency of ME-supplying pathways in heterotrophic microorganisms; and reduction of unessential ME consumption by microbial cells, to address these issues. This review highlights the potential of biotechnology in the engineering of microbial ME homeostasis and provides guidance for the higher efficient bioproduction of microbial cell factories.

Synthetic strategies tailoring colours in multichromophoric organic nanostructures

Mimicking nature to develop light-harvesting materials is a timely challenge. This tutorial review examines the chemical strategies to engineer and customise innovative multi-coloured architectures with specific light-absorbing and emitting properties.

Water in zeolite L and its MOF mimic

Confinement of molecules in one dimensional arrays of channel-shaped cavities has led to technologically interesting materials. However, the interactions governing the supramolecular aggregates still remain obscure, even for the most common guest molecule: water. Herein, we use computational chemistry methods (#compchem) to study the water organization inside two different channel-type environments: zeolite L – a widely used matrix for inclusion of dye molecules, and ZLMOF – the closest metal-organic-framework mimic of zeolite L. In ZLMOF, the methyl groups of the ligands protrude inside the channels, creating nearly isolated nanocavities. These cavities host well-separated ring-shaped clusters of water molecules, dominated mainly by water-water hydrogen bonds. ZLMOF provides arrays of “isolated supramolecule” environments, which might be exploited for the individual confinement of small species with interesting optical or catalytic properties. In contrast, the one dimensional channels of zeolite L contain a continuous supramolecular structure, governed by the water interactions with potassium cations and by water-water hydrogen bonds. Water imparts a significant energetic stabilization to both materials, which increases with the water content in ZLMOF and follows the opposite trend in zeolite L. The water network in zeolite L contains an intriguing hypercoordinated structure, where a water molecule is surrounded by five strong hydrogen bonds. Such a structure, here described for the first time in zeolites, can be considered as a water pre-dissociation complex and might explain the experimentally detected high proton activity in zeolite L nanochannels.

Engineering Microorganisms for Enhanced CO2 Sequestration

Microbial CO₂ sequestration not only provides a green and sustainable approach for ameliorating global warming but also simultaneously produces biofuels and chemicals. However, the efficiency of microbial CO₂ fixation is still very low. In addition, concomitant microbial CO₂ emission decreases the carbon yield of desired chemicals. To address these issues, strategies including engineering CO₂-fixing pathways and energy-harvesting systems have been developed to improve the efficiency of CO₂ fixation in autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms. Furthermore, metabolic pathways and energy metabolism can be rewired to reduce microbial CO₂ emissions and increase the carbon yield of value-added products. This review highlights the potential of biotechnology to promote microbial CO₂ sequestration and provides guidance for the broader use of microorganisms as attractive carbon sinks.

Supramolecular Organization in Confined Nanospaces

Empty spaces are abhorred by nature, which immediately rushes in to fill the void. Humans have learnt pretty well how to make ordered empty nanocontainers, and to get useful products out of them. When such an order is imparted to molecules, new properties may appear, often yielding advanced applications. This review illustrates how the organized void space inherently present in various materials: zeolites, clathrates, mesoporous silica/organosilica, and metal organic frameworks (MOF), for example, can be exploited to create confined, organized, and self-assembled supramolecular structures of low dimensionality. Features of the confining matrices relevant to organization are presented with special focus on molecular-level aspects. Selected examples of confined supramolecular assemblies - from small molecules to quantum dots or luminescent species - are aimed to show the complexity and potential of this approach. Natural confinement (minerals) and hyperconfinement (high pressure) provide further opportunities to understand and master the atomistic-level interactions governing supramolecular organization under nanospace restrictions.