Removal of Anionic Dyes from Aqueous Solution with Layered Cationic Aluminum Oxyhydroxide

It is highly desired yet challenged to find an adsorbent with low cost and excellent performance in the removal of organic dyes from aqueous solution. Here we reported that a layered cationic aluminum oxyhydroxide material hydrothermally synthesized from the low-cost source materials of AlCl₃∙6H₂O, CaO and H₂O, known as JU-111, can meet such criterion in removing methyl orange(MO) and Congo red(CR). JU-111 shows fast adsorption kinetics[especially for CR(15 s)] and high adsorption capacity(MO:>1000 mg/g; CR:>2900 mg/g), surpassing most of the reported adsorbents. Comprehensive characterizations of the adsorption process of MO and CR revealed that both adsorptions were achieved via the anion exchange process. The characteristics of extremely low cost and excellent performance render JU-111 great potential in the practical applications in the removal of anionic dyes.     

Facile synthesis of ZnO and Co3O4 nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of novel Schiff base complexes: Studying biological and catalytic properties

In this paper, a novel Zn(II) and Co(II) Schiff base complexes were synthesized by template method via refluxing 2,3-Naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde, Metal(II) chloride (Metal = Zn or Co), and L-phenylalanine. ZnO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes, respectively. The products were characterized using different instruments such as CHN, Conductivity, FT-IR, XRD, HR-TEM, and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The experimental results of elemental analysis for Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes, agree with the calculated results, indicating that the Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes have 1:1 ligand/metal ratios. The molar conductance of the Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes, is less than 5 Ω^?1cm^?1mol^?1, confirming the non-electrolytic nature of the synthesized complexes. The average crystallite diameter of the ZnO and Co₃O₄ samples is 39.64 and 30.38 nm, respectively. The optical energy gap of the ZnO and Co₃O₄ samples are 2.75 and 3.25 eV, respectively. Methylene blue dye was utilized to examine the photocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles using UV irradiations in the absence and presence of hydrogen peroxide. The % degradation of the methylene blue dye in the presence of hydrogen peroxide using ZnO and Co₃O₄ samples after 40 min is 94.55 and 98.98, respectively. Six pathogenic microbes were utilized to examine the antimicrobial properties of the synthesized Schiff base complexes and their nanoparticles: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus species, Aspergillus species, and Candida species. Zn(II) and Co(II) complexes display inhibition towards all the studied microbes. Besides, ZnO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles exhibit less inhibition towards Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus species. Moreover, ZnO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles have no activity towards Aspergillus and Candida species.     

Facile synthesis and characterization of β-cobalt hydroxide/hydrohausmannite/ramsdellitee/spertiniite and tenorite/cobalt manganese oxide/manganese oxide as novel nanocomposites for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye

In this paper, our research team has synthesized new nanocomposites by simple precipitation/ignition method and using low-cost chemicals. Hence, β-cobalt hydroxide/hydrohausmannite/ramsdellitee/spertiniite and tenorite/cobalt manganese oxide/manganese oxide new nanocomposites were synthesized by precipitation of Mn(II)/Co(II)/Cu(II) solution using sodium hydroxide and ignition of precipitate at 700 °C for 3 hrs, respectively. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using different instruments such as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), nitrogen gas sorption analyzer, and UV–vis spectrophotometer. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that the nanocomposite formed as a result of precipitation consists of copper, cobalt, manganese, and oxygen where the weight percentages are equal to 31.73, 27.01, 17.26, and 24 %, respectively. Also, the nanocomposite formed as a result of ignition consists of copper, cobalt, manganese, and oxygen where the weight percentages are equal to 31.26, 23.87, 14.56, and 30.31 %, respectively. Transmission electron microscope revealed that the nanocomposites formed as a result of precipitation and ignition consist of polyhedral and spherical shapes with an average diameter of 34.50 and 28.56 nm, respectively. The synthesized nanocomposites were used as new photocatalysts for the efficient degradation of methylene blue dye. 0.05 g of the synthesized nanocomposites degrade 100 % of 50 mL of 15 mg/L of methylene blue dye solution within 25 min in the presence of H₂O₂ under UV light.     

Jute stick extract assisted hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide nanoflakes and their enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial efficacy

In this paper, we used green and hydrothermal methodology to prepare zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflakes (NFs) with jute stick extract (J–ZnO NFs) as growth substrate. The prepared materials were characterized using different analytical techniques including ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characteristic absorption peak for ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs were observed from the UV–vis spectrum at 373 and 368 nm respectively. The hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs was confirmed by XRD analysis. FESEM and TEM analyses of synthesized J–ZnO NFs confirmed their NFs shape and collectively flower-like structure formation by the assembly of NFs of J–ZnO on cellulose of jute stick extract substrate. The FTIR analysis revealed the functional groups of jute stick extract biomolecules, mainly cellulose, are responsible for the formation of collectivel flower like J–ZnO NFs structure. The XPS analysis revealed the surface and chemical compositions (Zn, C, and O) of J–ZnO NFs. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs samples was carried out by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye solution under UV light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs was obtained 79 % and 89 %, respectively, for 5 h. Notably, the degradation efficiency of the J–ZnO NFs was 98 % after 8 h of irradiation, which is very inspiring. The both NFs exhibited first-order kinetics with MB photodegradation. We also examined the possible antibacterial activity of both samples against Escherichia coli (E. coli) pathogens, which demonstrated a significant result with a 17 mm and 19 mm zone of inhibition by ZnO NFs and J–ZnO NFs respectively.     

Photophysical Study and Biological Applications of Synthetic Chalcone-Based Fluorescent Dyes

A chalcone series (3a–f) with electron push–pull effect was synthesized via a one-pot Claisen–Schmidt reaction with a simple purification step. The compounds exhibited strong emission, peaking around 512–567 nm with mega-stokes shift (∆λ = 93–139 nm) in polar solvents (DMSO, MeOH, and PBS) and showed good photo-stability. Therefore, 3a–f were applied in cellular imaging. After 3 h of incubation, green fluorescence was clearly brighter in cancer cells (HepG2) compared to normal cells (HEK-293), suggesting preferential accumulation in cancer cells. Moreover, all compounds exhibited higher cytotoxicity within 24 h toward cancer cells (IC₅₀ values ranging from 45 to 100 μM) than normal cells (IC₅₀ value >100 μM). Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of chalcones 3a–f were investigated. Interestingly, 3a–f exhibited antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of 0.10–0.60 mg/mL (375–1000 µM), suggesting their potential antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Thus, this series of chalcone-derived fluorescent dyes with facile synthesis shows great potential for the development of antibiotics and cancer cell staining agents.     

Ultrasonically induced ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite for degradation of a textile dye in aqueous phase

In the present study, a porous clay-like support with unique characteristics was used for the synthesis and immobilization of ZnO nanostructures to be used as sonocatalyst for the sonocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue (MB) dye in the aqueous phase. As a result, the sonocatalytic activity of ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite (77.8%) was higher than that of pure ZnO nanostructures (53.6%). Increasing the initial pH from 3 to 10 led to increasing the color removal from 41.8% to 88.2%, respectively. Increasing the sonocatalyst dosage from 0.5 to 2.5 g/L resulted in increasing the color removal, while further increase up to 3 g/L caused an obvious drop in the color removal. The sonocatalysis of MB dye over ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite was temperature-dependent. The presence of methanol produced the most adverse effect on the sonocatalysis of MB dye. The addition of chloride and carbonate ions had a negligible effect on the sonocatalysis, while the addition of persulfate ion led to increasing the color removal from 77.8% to 99.4% during 90 min. The reusability test exhibited a 15% drop in the color removal (%) within three consecutive experimental runs. A mineralization efficiency of 63.2% was obtained within 4 h.     

Specificity of Cyanine Dye L-21 Aggregation in Solutions with Nucleic Acids

Optical spectroscopy experiments were used to study the features of cyanine dye 3,3′-dimethyl-9-(2-thienyl)-thiacarbocyanine iodide (L-21) aggregation in binary solutions DMF:Tris–HCl buffer (pH = 8) containing nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). The appearance of absorption and luminescence bands associated with J-aggregates and dimers that are formed within the minor groove of DNA has been observed. The model of L-21 J-aggregate structure is proposed. It has been found that dimers are the building blocks of L-21 J-aggregates. Disorientation in dimers caused by the minor groove curvature is reason of observation of Davydov splitting in absorption spectrum of L-21 J-aggregates. In the solution containing DNA the absorption and luminescence bands of L-21 J-aggregates exhibit the specific properties that allows the dye L-21 to be used as a fluorescent probe for DNA detection.     

非平衡溶剂化新理论在有机染料电子光谱中的应用

总结了非平衡溶剂化新理论和在量子化学软件Q-Chem中基于含时密度泛函理论(TD-DFT)实现溶剂效应下计算电子吸收和发射光谱的数值解方法.采用该方法计算了染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSCs)中三苯胺型有机染料■在真空和乙腈溶剂中的电子结构与光谱性质,研究发现,π共轭桥上碳碳双键的个数和溶剂效应会促进光电转换.     

The regulation of biothiol-responsive performance and bioimaging application of benzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazole dyes

The different oxidation states of sulphur atom play a significant role on functional materials. In this work, a aryl-thioether and its sulphone substituted benzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazole dyes were synthesized and utilized to determine thiol-containing amino acids. The result of selectivity experiments showed they detected the cysteine and homocysteine under physiological condition with negligible interference from other amino acids. In comparison to the thioether dye, the sulphone-based dye exhibited much faster response time for Cys and Hcy. However, the sulphone restricted its thiol-reactivity and bioimaging performance in living cells. By reducing the oxidation state of sulphur atom, we amazedly found that the sulfoxide-based dye still maintained high selectivity ultrafast response time for Cys/Hcy under physiological condition. It was worth mentioning that it also had high reactivity and good bioimaging performance that sulfone compounds did not have.     

Mapping of the Photoinduced Electron Traps in TiO2 by Picosecond X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is the most popular material for applications in solar‐energy conversion and photocatalysis, both of which rely on the creation, transport, and trapping of charges (holes and electrons). The nature and lifetime of electron traps at room temperature have so far not been elucidated. Herein, we use picosecond X‐ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ti K‐edge and the Ru L₃‐edge to address this issue for photoexcited bare and N719‐dye‐sensitized anatase and amorphous TiO₂ nanoparticles. Our results show that 100 ps after photoexcitation, the electrons are trapped deep in the defect‐rich surface shell in the case of anatase TiO₂, whereas they are inside the bulk in the case of amorphous TiO₂. In the case of dye‐sensitized anatase or amorphous TiO₂, the electrons are trapped at the outer surface. Only two traps were identified in all cases, with lifetimes in the range of nanoseconds to tens of nanoseconds.