Microfunnel‐filter‐based emulsification microextraction followed by gas chromatography for simple determination of organophosphorus pesticides in environmental water samples

A simple and fast method named microfunnel‐filter‐based emulsification microextraction is introduced for an efficient determination of some organophosphorus pesticides including diazinon, malathion, and chlorpyrifos in the environmental samples including the river, sea, and well water. This method is based upon the dispersion of a low‐toxicity organic solvent (dihexyl ether), as the extractant, in a high volume of an aqueous sample solution (45 mL). It is implemented without a centrifugation step, and using a syringe filter and a micro‐funnel, the phase separation and transfer of the enriched analytes to the gas chromatograph are simply achieved. By filtration of the extractant phase, a suitable sample clean‐up is obtained, and the total extraction time is just a few minutes. The factors influencing the extraction efficiency are optimized, and under the optimal conditions, the proposed method provides a good linearity (in the range of 15–1500 ng/mL (R² > 0.996). A high enrichment factor is obtained (in the range of 306–342), and the method provides low limits of detection and quantification (in the ranges of 4–8 and 15–25 ng/mL, respectively).     

Liquid-Repellent Metal Oxide Photocatalysts

Metal oxide photocatalysts (MOPCs) decompose organic molecules under illumination. However, the application of MOPCs in industry and research is currently limited by their intrinsic hydrophilicity because MOPCs can be wetted by most liquids. To achieve liquid repellency, the surface needs to possess a low surface energy, but most organic molecules with low surface energy are degraded by photocatalytic activity. Herein, current methods to achieve liquid repellency on MOPCs, while preventing degradation of hydrophobic coatings, are reviewed. Classically, composite materials containing MOPCs and hydrophobic organic compounds possess good liquid repellency. However, composites normally form irregular coatings and are hard to prepare on surfaces such as those that are mesoporous or nanostructured. In addition, the adhesion of composites to substrates is often weak, resulting in delamination. Recent studies have shown that the direct grafting reaction of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) from silicone oil (methyl-terminated PDMS) under illumination results in a stable polymer brush. This easy and simple grafting method allows us to create stable liquid-repellent surfaces on MOPCs of various types, structures, and sizes. In particular, super-liquid-repellent drops with an underlying air layer can be created on PDMS-grafted nano-/microstructured MOPCs. Potential applications of surfaces combining liquid repellency and photocatalytic activity are also discussed; thus offering new ways of using MOPCs in a wider range of applications.     

Highly sensitive and selective detect of p‐arsanilic acid with a new water‐stable europium metal–organic framework

The p‐arsanilic acid (p‐ASA), as an aromatic organoarsenic compounds, had received considerable concerns for their potential toxicity and carcinogenic properties. It was essential to detect p‐ASA with a facile method. In this paper, an europium based fluorescent metal–organic framework (MOF) [Eu₂(clhex)·2H₂O)]·H₂O ( BUC‐69 ) was successfully prepared under hydrothermal conditions with 1,2,3,4,5,6‐cyclohexanehexacarboxylic acid (H₆clhex) as organic linker. BUC‐69 displayed superior fluorescence capability to achieve selective and sensitive detection toward p‐ASA in water, which presented the first example of a MOF‐based sensor to detect p‐ASA. BUC‐69 showed excellent chemical stability in solutions under pH ranging from 4 to 12, which makes it be a potential sensor both in acidity and alkalinity condition. Significantly, BUC‐69 performed well in fluorescent sensing of p‐ASA at a low concentration (10^?6 M) in the simulated wastewater prepared with real lake water, and the results were comparable to the values detected by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP‐OES). The corresponding mechanism of fluorescent sensing toward p‐ASA with BUC‐69 was proposed and affirmed.     

Synergistic Surface Passivation of CH3NH3PbBr3 Perovskite Quantum Dots with Phosphonic Acid and (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane

CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) are synthesized by using four different linear alkyl phosphonic acids (PAs) in conjunction with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) as capping ligands. The resultant PQDs are characterized by means of XRD, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, UV/Vis, photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). PA chain length is shown to control the PQD size (ca. 2.9–4.2 nm) and excitonic absorption band positions (λ=488–525 nm), with shorter chain lengths corresponding to smaller sizes and bluer absorptions. All samples show a high PL quantum yield (ca. 46–83 %) and high PL stability; this is indicative of a low density of band gap trap states and effective surface passivation. Stability is higher for smaller PQDs; this is attributed to better passivation due to better solubility and less steric hindrance of the shorter PA ligands. Based on the FTIR, Raman, and XPS results, it is proposed that Pb²⁺ and CH₃NH₃⁺ surface defects are passivated by R−PO₃²⁻ or R−PO₂(OH)⁻, whereas Br⁻ surface defects are passivated by R−NH₃⁺ moieties. This study establishes the combination of PA and APTES ligands as a highly effective dual passivation system for the synergistic passivation of multiple surface defects of PQDs through primarily ionic bonding.     

旋涂法制备WO3薄膜电致变色性能

"智能窗"大规模推广顺应可持续发展潮流,三氧化钨(WO_3)是生产"智能窗"的一种重要电致变色材料,但调控WO_3薄膜电致变色性能机制仍待进一步研究。采用旋涂法制备WO_3薄膜,重点研究了溶液浓度和旋涂次数对调控WO_3薄膜电致变色性能的影响。通过表面轮廓仪测量薄膜厚度,X射线衍射(XRD)测量薄膜结晶情况,原子力显微镜(AFM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)分析薄膜表面形貌,光谱仪测量薄膜初始态、着色态和褪色态的透射率。实验结果表明,随着溶液浓度增加(0. 2～1. 0 mol/L),薄膜厚度从9. 7 nm增加到33. 3 nm,透射率调制能力从0%提升到37. 0%;多次旋涂薄膜厚度线性增长,线性拟合优度(R~2)达0. 98,5次旋涂后透射率调制能力达51. 3%。改变溶液浓度和旋涂次数都是调控薄膜透射率调制能力的有效手段,精准调控薄膜透射率调制能力对设计不同应用场景的电致变色器件具有重大意义。     

Comparative study between two fabricated potentiometric sensors to enhance selectivity towards ferrous ions

Electroanalytical methods are highly selective for measuring electrical quantities including the charge, potential and current with their relation to chemical parameters. They are widely applied in various fields such as biochemical analysis, industrial quality control and environmental monitoring. They have many advantages over other techniques in that they are not time consuming and are specific for certain oxidation states of certain elements which give these techniques high selectivity and sensitivity features. This paper is based on two parts: the first part describes the fabrication of screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with methyl red as electroactive material, while second part describes the preparation and characterization of Fe(II)–methyl red complex using various spectroscopic tools, the complex being used for the construction of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The two proposed electrodes were successfully applied for the determination of Fe(II) in water and pharmaceutical (pharovit) samples. The electrodes under investigation show potentiometric response for Fe(II) in the concentration range 8.0 × 10^?7–1.0 × 10^?2 and 5.0 × 10^?7–1.0 × 10^?2 M at 25°C for SPE and CPE, respectively, and the electrode response is independent of pH in the range 1.5–7.0. These sensors show Nernstian slopes of 29.1 ± 0.2 and 29.7 ± 0.16 mV decade^?1 with detection limit values of 8.0 × 10^?7 and 5.0 × 10^?7 M for SPE and CPE, respectively. These electrodes show fast response time of 6 and 4 s and exhibit a lifetime of 100 and 30 days for SPE and CPE, respectively. The mechanism of chemical reaction between modifier and Fe(II) on the SPE surface was studied using infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. The proposed potentiometric method was validated according to the IUPAC recommendations. The results obtained using the proposed sensors were comparable with those obtained with inductively coupled plasma analysis.     

Novel thionin-functionalised core shell magnetic nanoparticles for dispersive solid-phase extraction of Hg(II) in food and water samples

To develop an accurate and precise method for separation and pre-concentration of Hg(II), a novel thionin functionalised core shell structure magnetic material has been prepared and characterised. The extraction ability of the material was evaluated by magnetic solid-phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination of Hg(II) in food and water samples. Combining the advantages of magnetic separation with selective extraction of thionin towards Hg(II), the material exhibits enhanced enrich selectivity and efficiency for Hg(II). The experimental parameters influencing Hg(II) extraction efficiency, including pH of the aqueous solution, the dosage of the adsorbent, extraction time and sample volume, were systematically investigated. Under the optimised conditions, concentration of Hg(II) at 1.0 μg L^?1 can be successfully enriched by the material without the interference of the common co-existing ions. The enrichment factor and adsorption capacity were 250 and 75.2 mg g^?1, and precise of the method was confirmed by analysing the spiked food, water samples and standard water reference samples with the recoveries of 92.5–101.8%.     

Two novel Co (II)-coordination polymers as bifunctional materials for efficient photocatalytic degradation of dyes and electrocatalytic water oxidation

Two novel Co (II)- coordination polymers (CPs) based on 2,5-bis(4-carboxylpheny)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (bcpo), namely [Co/(bcpo)_0.5(tib)(H₂O)₂]_n (1) and [Co (bcpo)_0.5(bidpe)(H₂O)₂]_n (2) (tib = 1,3,5-tirs(1-imidazolyl)benzene, bidpe = 4,4′-bis (imidazolyl)diphenyl ether) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), single crystal X-ray diffraction, photochemistry as well as electrochemistry. The investigation of the photo-degradation methyl blue and methyl violet (MB, MV) properties of CPs 1–2 demonstrates that CP 1 shows great performance for the degradation of MB, and CP 2 could efficiently degrade MB/MV. Meanwhile, the possible photo-degradation mechanism has been proposed and explored. Simultaneously, electrochemistry studies show that both CPs 1 and 2 can catalyze water oxidation under an alkaline condition at the potential around 1.20 V vs. NHE with relatively low overpotential of 330–510 mV vs. NHE.     

Chiral one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded architectures constructed from single‐enantiomer phosphoric triamides

The two single‐enantiomer phosphoric triamides N‐(2,6‐difluorobenzoyl)‐N′,N′′‐bis[(S)‐(−)‐α‐methylbenzyl]phosphoric triamide, [2,6‐F₂‐C₆H₃C(O)NH][(S)‐(−)‐(C₆H₅)CH(CH₃)NH]₂P(O), denoted L‐1 , and N‐(2,6‐difluorobenzoyl)‐N′,N′′‐bis[(R)‐(+)‐α‐methylbenzyl]phosphoric triamide, [2,6‐F₂‐C₆H₃C(O)NH][(R)‐(+)‐(C₆H₅)CH(CH₃)NH]₂P(O), denoted D‐1 , both C₂₃H₂₄F₂N₃O₂P, have been investigated. In their structures, chiral one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded architectures are formed along [100], mediated by relatively strong N—H…O(P) and N—H…O(C) hydrogen bonds. Both assemblies include the noncentrosymmetric graph‐set motifs R₂²(10), R₂¹(6) and C₂²(8), and the compounds crystallize in the chiral space group P1. Due to the data collection of L‐1 at 120 K and of D‐1 at 95 K, the unit‐cell dimensions and volume show a slight difference; the contraction in the volume of D‐1 with respect to that in L‐1 is about 0.3%. The asymmetric units of both structures consist of two independent phosphoric triamide molecules, with the main difference being seen in one of the torsion angles in the OPNHCH(CH₃)(C₆H₅) part. The Hirshfeld surface maps of these levo and dextro isomers are very similar; however, they are near mirror images of each other. For both structures, the full fingerprint plot of each symmetry‐independent molecule shows an almost asymmetric shape as a result of its different environment in the crystal packing. It is notable that NMR spectroscopy could distinguish between compounds L‐1 and D‐1 that have different relative stereocentres; however, the differences in chemical shifts between them were found to be about 0.02 to 0.001 ppm under calibrated temperature conditions. In each molecule, the two chiral parts are also different in NMR media, in which chemical shifts and P–H and P–C couplings have been studied.