Preparation of Photocatalytic Au–Ag2Te Nanomaterials

A facile approach has been developed for the preparation of various morphologies of Au–Ag₂Te nanomaterials (NMs) that exhibit strong photocatalytic activity. Te NMs (nanowires, nanopencils, and nanorice) were prepared from TeO₂ in the presence of various concentrations (16, 8, and 4 M ) of a reducing agent (N₂H₄) at different temperatures (25 and 60 °C). These three Te NMs were then used to prepare Au–Ag₂Te NMs by spontaneous redox reactions with Au³⁺ and Ag⁺ ions sequentially. The Au–Ag₂Te nanopencils exhibit the highest activity toward degradation of methylene blue and formation of active hydroxyl radicals on solar irradiation, mainly because they absorb light in the visible region most strongly. All three differently shaped Au–Ag₂Te NMs (10 μg mL^?1) provide a death rate of Escherichia coli greater than 80 % within 60 min, which is higher than that of 51 % for commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles (100 μg mL^?1). Under light irradiation, the Au NPs in Au–Ag₂Te NMs enhance the overall photo‐oxidation ability of Ag₂Te NMs through faster charge separation because of good contact between Ag₂Te and Au segments. With high antibacterial activity and low toxicity toward normal cells, the Au–Ag₂Te NMs hold great potential for use as efficient antibacterial agents.     

In situ formed silver nanoparticles on glass fibers grafted with polyacrylamide and their antibacterial activity

In this paper, grafted polyacrylamide from the surface of glass fibers was prepared by surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization in order to control the matrix surface structure and properties. The uniform and stable grafted polymer layer was utilized to prepare silver ions complexes, and then the silver ions were reduced by AlLiH₄ to form in situ silver nanoparticles. The structure, composition, properties and surface morphology of the modified glass fibers were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The antibacterial activities of modified glass fibers against E. coli, B. subtilis and S. cerevisiae had been studied respectively by Shake Flask Method. The results show that the antibacterial ratio of Ag nanoparticles loaded glass fibers is significantly improved than that of Ag⁺ loaded, and the highest antibacterial ratio is 72.2% against E. coli.     

A novel Ag/Ag3PO4-IRMOF-1 nanocomposite for antibacterial application in the dark and under visible light irradiation

MOF-5 that sometimes called IRMOF-1 has been intensively studied in recent years to develop efficient photocatalyst to degrade refractory organics and inactivate bacteria for wastewater treatment. In the present work, Ag/Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles incorporated in IRMOF-1 was successfully prepared via hydrothermal approach. The antibacterial activity of synthesized materials (IRMOF-1, Ag/Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles and Ag/Ag₃PO₄-IRMOF-1 nanocomposite was compared against two types of bacteria (Escherichia coli (E. coil) as Gram negative and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as Gram-positive bacteria). The deactivation of the bacteria by the prepared material was measured in the dark and under visible light irradiation. The antibacterial activity of synthesized samples was investigated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), growth inhibition assay and inhibition zone. The Ag/Ag₃PO₄-IRMOF-1 nanocomposite exhibited stronger antibacterial activities than the Ag/Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles and IRMOF-1 at all tested bacteria types. Based on inhibition zone, without any light irradiation, Ag/Ag₃PO₄-IRMOF-1 nanocomposite showed activity toward E. coil, but in presence of light nanocomposite depicted activity toward S. aureus. The results demonstrated that antibacterial activity of all synthesized samples in the dark and light against S. aureus bacteria was more than E. coil bacteria. The antibacterial activity mechanism was due to sustained-release of silver ions in the dark and reactive oxygen species (ROS) under visible light. The bioactivity of IRMOF-1 was related to the degradation of the its structure and the release of Zn²⁺ ions into the culture medium that bind to the cell wall and deactivation bacteria.     

Selective Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles onto Potassium Hexaniobate: Structural Organisation with Bactericidal Properties

Silver‐based nanocomposites are known to act as biocides against a series of microorganisms and are largely studied as an alternative to substitute conventional antibiotics that show decreasing efficacy. In this work, an eco‐friendly method to synthesize silver nanoparticles assembled on the surface of hexaniobate crystals is reported. By means of ion exchange, K⁺ ions of layered potassium hexaniobate were partially substituted by Ag⁺ ions and the resulting material was exposed to UV light. The irradiation allowed the reduction of silver ions with consequent formation of silver nanoparticles located only on the hexaniobate surface, whereas Ag⁺ ions located in the interlayer space remained in the ionic form. Increasing UV‐light exposure times allowed controlling of the silver nanoparticle size. The antibacterial effects of the pristine potassium hexaniobate and of silver‐containing hexaniobate samples were tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The antibacterial efficacy was determined to be related to the presence of silver in hexaniobate. An increasing activity against E. coli was observed with the decrease in silver nanoparticles size, suggesting that silver nanoparticles of distinct sizes interact differently with bacterial cell walls.     

Antibacterial ultrafiltration membrane with silver nanoparticle impregnation by interfacial polymerization for ballast water

Interfacial polymerization technology was employed to immobilize silver (Ag) nanoparticles on the surface of commercial polyethersulfone (PES) membrane to develop antibacterial and antifouling ultrafiltration membrane. Ag nanoparticles were prepared from the reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) by sodium borohydride in the presence of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the stabilizer. The encapsulated Ag nanoparticles in the PEI solution were embedded into the PEI membrane when trimesoyl chloride solution was used to crosslink the PEI solution with the PES membrane, forming Ag-polyamide (PA) networks through the interfacial polymerization reaction. Experimental results showed that the membrane prepared with 50 mmol/L of AgNO₃ and 20 mmol/L of PEI had the optimized antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli. Bacterial concentration and species were also investigated. Exiguobacterium aestuarii and Staphylococcus aureus which are gram-positive bacteria, needed significantly more time for the Ag-PA/PES membrane to kill the bacteria completely when compared to E.coli and Vibrio coralliilyticus which are gram-negative bacteria. This study showed that Ag nanoparticles impregnated in membrane surfaces were 100% effective in killing various types of marine bacteria and bacteria in the seawater collected off Sentosa Island in Singapore. These membranes exhibit excellent antibacterial and antifouling properties which can be used to kill bacteria in ballast water and seawater.     

Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial properties of a novel nanocomposite based on polyaniline/polyvinyl alcohol/Ag

In this study, a novel nanocomposite based on polyaniline/polyvinyl alcohol/Ag (PANI/PVA/Ag) has been successfully synthesized. The chemical reduction method was used to produce Ag nanoparticle colloidal solution from Ag⁺ ions. The polymerization of aniline occurred in situ for the preparation of polyaniline (PANI) in the presence of ammonium persulfate. With exposure to Ag nanoparticles on the PANI/PVA composite, a new nanocomposite was obtained. The morphology and particle size of the novel nanocomposite was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analyses. According to XRD analysis, the size of nanoparticles was found to be in the range of 10–17 nm. SEM images showed the favored shape of nanoparticles as triangle which is a benign shape for antibacterial analysis. The antibacterial activity of the obtained nanocomposite was also evaluated against Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus) and Gram negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) using the paper disk diffusion method. The antibacterial study showed that the PANI/PVA composite did not have a very good antibacterial activity but PANI/PVA/Ag nanocomposites were found to be effective against two bacteria.     

Heavy Chalcogenide-Based Ionic Liquids in Syntheses of Metal Chalcogenide Materials near Room Temperature

This minireview describes two strategically different and unexplored approaches to use ionic liquids (IL) containing weakly solvated and highly reactive chalcogenide anions [E-SiMe₃]⁻ and [E−H]⁻ of the heavy chalcogens (E=S, Se, Te) in materials synthesis near room temperature. The first strategy involves the synthesis of unprecedented trimethylsilyl chalcogenido metalates Cat⁺[M(E-SiMe₃)_n]⁻ (Cat=organic IL cation) of main group and transition metals (M=Ga, In, Sn, Zn, Cu, Ag, Au). These fully characterized homoleptic metalates serve as thermally metastable precursors in low-temperature syntheses of binary, ternary and even quaternary chalcogenide materials such as CIGS and CZTS relevant for semiconductor and photovoltaics (PV) applications. Furthermore, thermally and protolytically metastable coinage metalates Cat⁺[M(ESiMe₃)₂]⁻ (M=Cu, Ag, Au; E=S, Se) are accessible. Finally, the use of precursors BMPyr[E-SiMe₃] (E=Se,Te; BMPyr=1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium) as sources of activated selenium and tellurium in the synthesis of high-grade thermoelectric nanoparticles Bi₂Se₃ and Bi₂Te₃ is shortly highlighted. The second synthesis strategy involves the metalation of ionic liquids Cat[S−H] and Cat[Se−H] by protolytically highly active metal alkyls or amides R_nM. This rather general approach towards unknown chalcogenido metalates Cat_m[R_n-1M(E)]_m (E=S, Se) will be demonstrated in a research paper following this short review head-to-tail.     

An antibacterial silver(I) supramolecular network assembled from thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate and benzimidazole

Abstract

A silver(I) supramolecular network Ag(BIm)₂(HTDC) (1) was assembled from thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H₂TDC) and benzimidazole (BIm) ligands and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, FT-IR, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Complex 1 possesses a two-dimensional structure with a hydrogen-bonded grid network, in which the adjacent [Ag(BIm)₂]⁺ cations and (HTDC)^– are bridged via N–H···O hydrogen bonds forming undulating ribbons. The antibacterial properties of 1 were investigated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), the growth curve of bacteria and zone inhibition value assays against Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli, and Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. The MIC of 1 against E. coli and S. aureus are 15-20?ppm and 20-30?ppm which showed that 1 has higher antibacterial activity than commercial silver nanoparticles. The mechanism of antibacterial activity of 1 was also discussed.     

Crystal structure of the new compound Co6(TeO3)2(TeO6)Cl2

The new compound Co₆(TeO₃)₂(TeO₆)Cl₂ has been isolated during an investigation of the system CoO:CoCl₂:TeO₂. The new compound is deep purple in color and crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group P4₂/mbc, a=8.3871(7) Å, c=18.5634(19) Å, Z=4. The Co(II) ions have octahedral [Co1O₆] and tetrahedral [Co2O₃Cl] coordinations. Tellurium is present both as Te(IV) with a tetrahedral [Te1O₃E] coordination, where E is the 5s² lone-pair and as Te(VI) with an octahedral [Te2O₆] coordination. The structure is made up of intersecting layers of tetrahedra forming channels comprising octahedra chains that run along the c-axis. The new compound is the first cobalt tellurium oxochloride described.     

Treatment of Silylene–Phosphinidene with Chalcogens Resulted Exclusively in the Formation of Silicon-Bonded Chalcogens

Chalcogen-bonded silicon phosphinidenes LSi(E)−P−^MecAAC (E=S ( 1 ); Se ( 2 ); Te ( 3 ); L=PhC(NtBu)₂; ^MecAAC=C(CH₂)(CMe₂)₂N-2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃)) were synthesized from the reactions of silylene–phosphinidene LSi−P−^MecAAC ( A ) with elemental chalcogens. All the compounds reported herein have been characterized by multinuclear NMR, elemental analyses, LIFDI-MS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Furthermore, the regeneration of silylene–phosphinidene ( A ) was achieved from the reactions of 2 – 3 with L′Al (L′=HC{(CMe)(2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃N)}₂). Theoretical studies on chalcogen-bonded silicon phosphinidenes indicate that the Si−E (E=S, Se, Te) bond can be best represented as charge-separated electron-sharing σ-bonding interaction between [LSi−P−^MecAAC]⁺ and E⁻. The partial double-bond character of Si−E is attributed to significant hyperconjugative donation from the lone pair on E⁻ to the Si−N and Si−P σ*-molecular orbitals.     

Copper,gold, and silver decorated magnetic core–polymeric shell nanostructures for destruction of pathogenic bacteria

Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles were silica coated using TEOS, and then modified by the polymeric layers of polypropylene glycol (PPG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Finally, the core-shell samples were decorated with Ag, Au, and Cu nanoparticles. The products were characterized by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), TGA, SEM, XRD, and FTIR methods. The antibacterial activity of the prepared samples was evaluated in inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus microorganisms, representing the Gram-negative and Gram-positive species, respectively. The effect of solid dosage, bacteria concentration and type of polymeric modifier on the antibacterial activity was investigated. TEM images of the bacteria were recorded after the treatment time and according to the observed changes in the cell wall, the mechanism of antibacterial action was discussed. The prepared nanostructures showed high antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This was due to the leaching of metal ions which subsequently led to the lysis of bacteria. A theoretical investigation was also done by studying the interaction of loaded metals with the nucleotide components of the microorganism DNA, and the obtained results were used to explain the experimental data. Finally, based on the observed inactivation curves, we explain the antibacterial behavior of the prepared nanostructures mathematically.

     

Durable antibacterial Ag/polyacrylonitrile (Ag/PAN) hybrid nanofibers prepared by atmospheric plasma treatment and electrospinning

Durable antibacterial Ag/polyacrylonitrile (Ag/PAN) hybrid nanofibers were prepared by atmospheric plasma treatment and electrospinning. Atmospheric helium plasma treatment was first used to reduce the AgNO₃ precursor in pre-electrospinning solutions into metallic silver nanoparticles, followed by electrospinning into continuous and smooth nanofibers with Ag nanoparticles embedded in the matrix. SEM, TEM, and EDX spectra were used to study the structure and surface elemental composition of the nanofibers. Silver nanoparticles, with diameters ranging between 3 and 6 nm, were found to be uniformly dispersed in the nanofiber matrix. The Ag/PAN nanofibers exhibited slow and long-lasting silver ion release, which provided robust antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Bacillus cereus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli microorganisms.     

Ag2Hg2(TeO4)3

Red single crystals of disilver(I) dimercury(II) tris­[tetra­oxo­tellurate(VI)], Ag₂Hg₂(TeO₄)₃, were obtained under hydro­thermal conditions at 523 K. The structure is built up of _∞¹[(TeO_2/1O_4/2)({TeO_2/1O_2/2}₂O_4/2)] chains, with an overall composition [TeO₄]²⁻, that run parallel to the crystallographic a axis. Distorted AgO₆ and HgO₆ polyhedra (the latter with two short and nearly collinear Hg—O bonds) link the tellurate chains into a three‐dimensional network. Except for one Te atom situated on an inversion center, all atoms occupy general positions.     

Highly Converged Valence Bands and Ultralow Lattice Thermal Conductivity for High-Performance SnTe Thermoelectrics

A two-step optimization strategy is used to improve the thermoelectric performance of SnTe via modulating the electronic structure and phonon transport. The electrical transport of self-compensated SnTe (that is, Sn_1.03Te) was first optimized by Ag doping, which resulted in an optimized carrier concentration. Subsequently, Mn doping in Sn_1.03−xAg_xTe resulted in highly converged valence bands, which improved the Seebeck coefficient. The energy gap between the light and heavy hole bands, i.e. ΔE_v decreases to 0.10 eV in Sn_0.83Ag_0.03Mn_0.17Te compared to the value of 0.35 eV in pristine SnTe. As a result, a high power factor of ca. 24.8 μW cm⁻¹ K⁻² at 816 K in Sn_0.83Ag_0.03Mn_0.17Te was attained. The lattice thermal conductivity of Sn_0.83Ag_0.03Mn_0.17Te reached to an ultralow value (ca. 0.3 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) at 865 K, owing to the formation of Ag₇Te₄ nanoprecipitates in SnTe matrix. A high thermoelectric figure of merit (z T≈1.45 at 865 K) was obtained in Sn_0.83Ag_0.03Mn_0.17Te.     

Planar Hypercoordinate Carbons in Alkali Metal Decorated CE32− and CE22− Dianions

After exploring the potential energy surfaces of M_mCE₂^p (E=S−Te, M=Li−Cs, m=2, 3 and p=m-2) and M_nCE₃^q (E=S−Te, M=Li−Cs, n=1, 2, q=n-2) combinations, we introduce 38 new global minima containing a planar hypercoordinate carbon atom (24 with a planar tetracoordinate carbon and 14 with a planar pentacoordinate carbon). These exotic clusters result from the decoration of V-shaped CE₂²⁻ and Y-shaped CE₃²⁻ dianions, respectively, with alkali counterions. All these 38 systems fulfill the geometrical and electronic criteria to be considered as true planar hypercoordinate carbon systems. Chemical bonding analyses indicate that carbon is covalently bonded to chalcogens and ionically connected to alkali metals.     

Performance of silver nanocubes based on electrochemical surface area for catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction

Ag nanocubes that are 45 nm in size are synthesized and successfully used as catalysts in oxygen electroreduction. Electrochemical surface areas (ESAs) are considered to determine the effect on HO₂⁻ production, which is found to be in the following order: nanocubes < nanoparticles. Comparative data generated using Tafel analyses in 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte without and with methanol show that unchanged slopes on the prepared cubic catalysts can indicate high resistance of Ag nanocubes for methanol oxidation during oxygen reduction reaction. Among these Ag catalysts, nanocubes exhibit 9.29 × 10^− 2 mA cm^− 2 (at − 0.15 V vs. Ag/AgCl), the better activity in the oxygen reduction reaction.     

Engineering PdIr Nanostructures Synergistically Induced by Self-assembled Surfactants and Halide Ions for Alcohol Electrooxidation

The design and synthesis of metallic nanocatalysts with distinct nanostructures and composition is still a noteworthy topic in the electrochemistry field. In this work, we have realized the morphological evolution of PdIr nanostructures in aqueous solution through the synergistic effect of self-assembled functional surfactants and different halide ions, and achieved precise control of the kinetic and thermodynamic crystalline growth due to the different reduction potential between PdCl₄²⁻, PdBr₄²⁻, and PdI₄²⁻. The actual precursors of PdCl₄²⁻ resulted in ultrathin nanodendrites, PdCl_xBr_(4−x)²⁻ for nanosheets and fewer branched nanodendrites, PdCl_xI_(4−x)²⁻ for nanorings, nanoflowers and multiply concave nanocubes. Owing to the synergistic advantages of structure and composition (alloyed Ir), PdIr nanodendrites exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity, anti-poisoning ability, and stability toward alcohols (including ethanol, methanol, and glycerol) electrooxidation reactions. The results would be helpful for thoroughly understanding how structure-directing surfactants and halide ions synergistically determine the production of advanced metallic nanocrystals.     

Coinage Metal Complexes of a Tellurium Diimide: cis→trans Isomerization and Metal–Metal Interactions

The different coordination behavior of the ligand tBuN=Te(μ-NtBu)₂Te=NtBu (L) towards Cu⁺ and Ag⁺ results from a cis→trans isomerization. The two Cu⁺ ions in [Cu₂L₃]²⁺ (shown schematically) bridge trans and cis isomers of the ligand, whereas the Ag⁺ ions in [Ag₂L₂]²⁺ link two trans ligands and exhibit a weak Ag⋅⋅⋅Ag interaction.     

[(TeMe2)Mn(CO)4(μ5-Te)(μ4-Te)Mn4(CO)12]−: A Pentacoordinate Bridging Tellurido Ligand in a Square-Pyramidal Geometry

The first Te–Mn–CO clusters were obtained by the thermal reaction of K₂TeO₃ with [Mn₂(CO)₁₀] in MeOH. The basicity of the μ₄-Te ligand in the octahedral cluster anion [(μ₄-Te)₂Mn₄(CO)₁₂]²⁻ is demonstrated by its binding to the fragment [(TeMe₂)Mn(CO)₄]⁺ in an axial fashion to afford the novel cluster 1 .     

Synthesis and Study of Plasmon‐Induced Carrier Behavior at Ag/TiO2 Nanowires

Nanocomposites of Ag/TiO₂ nanowires with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance have been prepared by a facile solvothermal synthesis of TiO₂ nanowires and subsequent photoreduction of Ag⁺ ions to Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the TiO₂ nanowires. The as‐prepared nanocomposites exhibited significantly improved cathodic photocurrent responses under visible‐light illumination, which is attributed to the local electric field enhancement of plasmon resonance effect near the TiO₂ surface rather than by the direct transfer of charge between the two materials. The visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic performance of these nanocomposites in the degradation of methylene blue dye was also studied, and the observed improvement in photocatalytic activity is associated with the extended light absorption range and efficient charge separation due to surface plasmon resonance effect of AgNPs.