Short time deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on SiC as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes

The deposition of TiO₂ nanoparticles on SiC was carried out by mechanical milling under different conditions. SiC–TiO₂ samples were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes such as methylene blue and rhodamine B. A short time deposition of TiO₂ nanoparticles was observed during mechanical milling (2 min at 200 rpm) to cover the SiC particles. The presence of SiC and TiO₂ (anatase and rutile) was confirmed by means of X-ray diffraction after thermal treatment at 450 °C. The deposition of TiO₂ on SiC was corroborated by scanning electron microscopy analysis; the thickness of the thin layer of TiO₂ deposited on SiC increases as the proportion of TiO₂ increases. The energy band gap values obtained for these compounds were around 3.0 eV. SiC–TiO₂ photocatalysts prepared by mechanical milling exhibited better activity under UV-light irradiation for the degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B than commercial TiO₂ powder (titania P25).     

Photochemistry of fluorophenyl azides in aniline: Asymmetric fluoroazobenzenes by NH singlet nitrene insertion

Several fluorophenyl azides were photolyzed with aniline at room temperature. Only pentafluoro and 2,6-difluorophenyl azides gave asymmetrical fluoroazobenzenes as the major products. These products were generated by singlet NH insertion reaction with aniline followed by oxidation of the resulting aromatic hydrazine.     

Determination of the structure of quinolone-γ-cyclodextrin complexes and their binding constants by means of UV–Vis and <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR

The host–guest inclusion complex structure and binding ability of two different quinolones with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) were investigated in solution by means of UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Competition of oxolinic and nalidixic acid molecules for the γ-CD cavity was evaluated by determination of association constants. Both quinolones form 1:1 inclusion complexes, their binding constants at room temperature (25 °C) under acidic and basic conditions were calculated using Benesi–Hildebrand equation. The stability of the complexes was dependent on the structure of the quinolone. In general, the weaker binding constants were observed for oxolinic acid-γ-CD complexes (1616 and 1765 M^?1) and the larger binding constants were obtained for nalidixic acid-γ-CD complexes (3760 and 3840 M^?1). ¹H NMR studies in D₂O were performed to elucidate the structure of each inclusion complex, nalidixic acid molecule penetrates more deeply into the γ-CD cavity and an intermolecular hydrogen bond is formed. Knowledge about structure and relative stability of quinolone-γ-CD complexes will be useful for future applications of these antimicrobial agents in medicinal chemistry.     

Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic activity of FeTiO3/TiO2 for photodegradation of organic pollutants with visible light

Research on Chemical Intermediates - High-purity ilmenite, FeTiO3, was prepared by the sol–gel method and calcination under nitrogen atmosphere. Several FeTiO3/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by...     

Sol–gel synthesis of Sm2InTaO7 and its photocatalytic activity on degradation of crystal violet dye and reduction of Cr(VI) ions

This paper reports the synthesis of Sm₂InTaO₇ and its photocatalytic activity on the degradation of crystal violet dye and reduction of Cr(VI) ions in aqueous solution. Sm₂InTaO₇ was prepared by sol–gel method at 1,200 °C. For comparison purposes, Sm₂InTaO₇ was prepared also by solid-state reaction at 1,400 °C. The evolution of the crystalline phases of the sol–gel sample with the annealing temperature was followed by X-ray diffraction. The cubic crystalline structure of Sm₂InTaO₇ was determined by Rietveld refinement method. Specific surface area was 5 m²g^?1 for sol–gel sample and 1 m²g^?1 for solid-state sample, whereas energy band gap was around 3.5 eV. Sm₂InTaO₇ prepared by sol–gel method showed better photocatalytic activity than Sm₂InTaO₇ prepared by solid-state reaction for the mineralization of crystal violet dye and reduction of Cr(VI) solution under UV-light irradiation.     

Sonochemical synthesis of Fe–TiO2–SiC composite for degradation of rhodamine B under solar simulator

Fe–TiO₂–SiC composite with photocatalytic activity has been synthesized by a low cost sonochemical process in the presence of citric acid. The addition of citric acid during the sonochemical process allows the formation of a photocatalytic coating of Fe–TiO₂ onto silicon carbide. Experimental characterization results indicate that the composite was formed over all the surface of the silicon carbide (SiC) with an anatase crystalline TiO₂ phase with iron incorporation. The incorporation of iron narrows the band gap of TiO₂ which allow the absorbtion of light with a large wavelength. The obtained Fe–TiO₂–SiC composite exhibits good enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B under solar simulator irradiation in comparison with the commercial TiO₂–P25.     

High-temperature memory in multiferroic cobalt–bromine boracite

The observation of the domain dynamics of the ferroelectric–ferroelastic domains near the paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition is reported. The study was performed by means of high-temperature polarized light microscopy. Close to the phase transition an increase in the number of domain walls was observed. After several heating–cooling cycles around the transition temperature, a memory domain microstructure at high temperature was observed. The possible physical mechanisms responsible for the high-temperature domain dynamics are discussed. Using a complex systems approach the complexity of the domain behavior is characterized.     

Spectrometric and 2D NMR Studies on the Complexation of Chlorophenols with Cyclodextrins

The formation and structure of inclusion complexes of - and-cyclodextrins with 2-chlorophenol (2CP), 3-chlorophenol (3CP),4-chlorophenol (4CP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (24DCP), 2,6-dichlorophenol(26DCP) and 3,4-dichlorophenol (34DCP) have been studied by UV-VIS and¹H NMR spectroscopy. Both cyclodextrins were found to form 1:1inclusion complexes. Bindingconstants estimated from titration studies revealed that the stability of the complexes was highly dependent on the structure and polarity of the chlorophenol and on the cyclodextrin used. In general, weaker binding constants were observed for a given chlorophenol with -cyclodextrin than with-cyclodextrin. The weakest binding constants (K_{b < 200} M^-1) were obtained for the ortho-substituted chlorophenols (2CP and 26DCP) and the largest binding constants were obtained between para-chlorophenols (4CP, 24DCP and 34DCP) and-cyclodextrin. 2D-TROESY studies of chlorophenol-cyclodextrincomplexes in D₂O provided insight into the structure of the complexes.