UV-assisted synthesis of reduced graphene oxide–ZnO nanorod composites immobilized on Zn foil with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Research on Chemical Intermediates - ZnO nanorods were hydrothermally grown on Zn foil in an alkaline solution and the immobilized nanorods were subsequently hybridized with reduced graphene oxide...     

Direct Solar Charging of an Organic–Inorganic,Stable, and Aqueous Alkaline Redox Flow Battery with a Hematite Photoanode

The intermittent nature of the sunlight and its increasing contribution to electricity generation is fostering the energy storage research. Direct solar charging of an auspicious type of redox flow battery could make solar energy directly and efficiently dispatchable. The first solar aqueous alkaline redox flow battery using low cost and environmentally safe materials is demonstrated. The electrolytes consist of the redox couples ferrocyanide and anthraquinone‐2,7‐disulphonate in sodium hydroxide solution, yielding a standard cell potential of 0.74 V. Photovoltage enhancement strategies are demonstrated for the ferrocyanide‐hematite junction by employing an annealing treatment and growing a layer of a conductive polyaniline polymer on the electrode surface, which decreases electron–hole recombination.     

Design of 2D–2D NiO/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts for degradation of an emerging pollutant

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The release of a large number of antibiotics to the environment has created a shade of sorrow in the scientific community. Herein, two-dimensional (2D)–2D...     

前驱体改性法制备薄层多孔富氨基的石墨相氮化碳用于光催化降解RhB和光催化制氢

半导体光催化是一种利用半导体将太阳能转换为高能化学能的绿色技术,在可再生清洁能源生产和污染物修复领域有着巨大的应用前景.石墨相氮化碳(g-C3N4)作为一种环境友好的非金属半导体,因其制备工艺简单、来源丰富、热稳定性和化学稳定性好、可见光吸收范围及特殊的电子性能而受到广泛关注.但一般常用氮源前驱体如二氰二胺、三聚氰胺等...     

Mixed metal oxide nanocomposites derived from layered double hydroxides as photocatalysts for C.I. Basic Blue 3 degradation under UV light

In this research we report synthesis of the heterostructure Mg‐Al‐Zn mixed metal oxide (ZnO/MMO) nanocomposite photocatalysts derived from Zn(OH)₂/Mg‐Al‐layered double hydroxides (ZLDHs) precursors. The obtained samples were characterized by the X‐ray diffraction (XRD), FT‐IR, BET surface area, ICP and TG/DTG methods. The chemical compositions and morphology of the synthesized materials were investigated by the energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX) and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that at the reaction time 96 h, ZLDH has the highest crystalinity which was confirmed by the X‐ray diffraction spectra. The calcined samples at 500, 600 and 700 °C for 4 h show that the crystallinity of the nanocomposite improves with the increase of calcination temperature. The photocatalytic activities of synthesized nanocomposites were compared for the degradation of C. I. Basic Blue 3 (BB3) dye under UV illumination in aqueous solution. Among the synthesized nanocomposites, ZnO/MMO calcined at 700 °C shows the highest efficiency towards the removal of dye. The effect of UV illumination on the stability of ZnO in ZnO/MMO nanocomposite and pure ZnO was also investigated. The results showed that the photostability of ZnO in ZnO/MMO nanocomposite is increased compared to the pure ZnO.     

Fe3O4@SiO2-BenzIm-Fc[Cl]/ZnCl2: a novel and efficient nano-catalyst for the one-pot three-component synthesis of pyran annulated bis-heterocyclic scaffolds under ultrasound irradiation

Research on Chemical Intermediates - In this study, a novel magnetically recoverable Fe3O4@SiO2-BenzIm-Fc[Cl]/ZnCl2 nano-particle was synthesized using a simple chemical coprecipitation approach....     

Two‐stage phase separation of cellulose acetate membranes modified with plasma‐treated natural zeolite: Response surface modeling

Cellulose acetate (CA) microfiltration membranes were prepared by two‐stage vapor‐induced phase separation (VIPS) and immersion precipitation. To improve the hydrophilicity and permeability of the membranes at low operating pressures, plasma‐treated natural zeolite was incorporated into the membranes. A response surface methodology based on the three‐level central composite design (CCD) was used to model and optimize the casting solution composition of the membranes with the aim of maximizing membranes permeability. Three independent variables for CCD optimization were concentration of CA, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) pore former, and plasma‐treated zeolite additive. The results showed that a second‐order polynomial model could properly predict the response (pure water flux) at any input variable values with a satisfying determination coefficient (R²) of 0.954. Also, analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed the adequacy of the obtained model. The permeability of the prepared membranes increased by increasing zeolite loading from 0.10 to 0.50 wt%, which was related to the membranes morphology and porosity and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Pure water flux of the membranes decreased by increasing CA concentration while an optimum PVP amount was required to reach the maximum flux. The result of the bubble point analysis well matched with surface SEM images of the membranes and permeability trend predicted by CCD model. Also, the prepared CA membranes with different compositions showed no toxicity for mouse L929 fibroblast, which indicated their nontoxic and biocompatible nature.     

Direct Solar Charging of an Organic–Inorganic,Stable, and Aqueous Alkaline Redox Flow Battery with a Hematite Photoanode

The intermittent nature of the sunlight and its increasing contribution to electricity generation is fostering the energy storage research. Direct solar charging of an auspicious type of redox flow battery could make solar energy directly and efficiently dispatchable. The first solar aqueous alkaline redox flow battery using low cost and environmentally safe materials is demonstrated. The electrolytes consist of the redox couples ferrocyanide and anthraquinone‐2,7‐disulphonate in sodium hydroxide solution, yielding a standard cell potential of 0.74 V. Photovoltage enhancement strategies are demonstrated for the ferrocyanide‐hematite junction by employing an annealing treatment and growing a layer of a conductive polyaniline polymer on the electrode surface, which decreases electron–hole recombination.     

Pb(II) removal from aqueous solution by polyacrylic acid stabilized zero-valent iron nanoparticles: process optimization using response surface methodology

Optimization and modeling of Pb(II) removal using polyacrylic acid stabilized zero-valent iron nanoparticles (PAA-ZVINs) from aqueous solution was performed. Central composite design (CCD) as the most applicable method in response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for optimization of Pb(II) removal. ZVINs were synthesized using the borohydride reduction method in the presence of PAA as a stabilizer and characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The independent variables for CCD optimization of Pb(II) removal were initial solution pH, ZVINs concentration (g/L), and initial concentration of Pb(II) (mg/L). Results showed a significant correlation between predicted values obtained from second-order polynomial model and experimental values (R ² = 93.19 and adj-R ² = 87.07). Maximum removal of Pb(II) (90.09 %) was observed at the optimal conditions of ZVINs concentration of 3 g/L, initial Pb(II) concentration of 10 mg/L, and initial solution pH of 5.