Building an Iron Chromophore Incorporating Prussian Blue Analogue for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

The replacement of traditional ruthenium-based photosensitizers with low-cost and abundant iron analogs is a key step for the advancement of scalable and sustainable dye-sensitized water splitting cells. In this proof-of-concept study, a pyridinium ligand coordinated pentacyanoferrate(II) chromophore is used to construct a cyanide-based CoFe extended bulk framework, in which the iron photosensitizer units are connected to cobalt water oxidation catalytic sites through cyanide linkers. The iron-sensitized photoanode exhibits exceptional stability for at least 5 h at pH 7 and features its photosensitizing ability with an incident photon-to-current conversion capacity up to 500 nm with nanosecond scale excited state lifetime. Ultrafast transient absorption and computational studies reveal that iron and cobalt sites mutually support each other for charge separation via short bridging cyanide groups and for injection to the semiconductor in our proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical device. The reorganization of the excited states due to the mixing of electronic states of metal-based orbitals subsequently tailor the electron transfer cascade during the photoelectrochemical process. This breakthrough in chromophore-catalyst assemblies will spark interest in dye-sensitization with robust bulk systems for photoconversion applications.     

A Facile Strategy for Construction of Sensor for Detection of Ondansetron and Investigation of its Redox Behavior and Thermodynamic Parameters

A sodium dodecylsulfate‐doped polypyrrole (SDS‐PPy) film was elaborated on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by an electrodeposition method in phosphate buffer solution (pH 2.0) containing pyrrole (Py) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). SDS‐PPy/GCE was used for the construction of sensor, which showed excellent electrochemical response for the detection of ondansetron (OND) compared to conventional PPy. The application of the square wave (SW), with the adsorptive accumulation, indicates a maximum response at 1.33 V in H₂SO₄ (0.5 M). The influence of experimental parameters on determination of OND is discussed. The adsorptive stripping technique showed to be more sensitive, giving responses twice as big as those of non‐accumulated OND. The substantial improvement of response permits the development of an electroanalytical technique with a linear concentration in the range (1.0–80 μM), low detection (0.09 μM), and quantification limits (0.3 μM), and acceptable relative standard deviations of repeatability (0.59 %), and reproducibility (1.51 %). Consequently, this electrode is promising candidate for an accurate electroanalytical determination of OND in pharmaceutical samples with high sensitivity and selectivity, good accuracy and precision. The electrooxidation of OND at SDS‐PPy/GCE at various temperatures were studied by cyclic voltammetry to evaluate both the kinetic (k_s and E_a) and thermodynamic (ΔG*, ΔH* and ΔS*) parameters.     

Synthesis,X-ray crystal structure and DFT studies of cobalt(II) and vanadium(V) complexes with N,N,O-tridentate aroyl-hydrazone based ligand

A new aroyl-hydrazone, 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde-derived hydrazone ligand and its cobalt(II) (1) and vanadium(V) (2) complexes were prepared. The structures of these compounds were investigated using elemental analysis, spectral (IR, UV), and X-ray diffraction measurements. The electrochemical properties of the complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry. The hydrazone ligand acted as tridentate and coordinated to vanadium and cobalt via N-imine, N-pyridine, and O-benzohydrazide atoms. The Co(II) complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c, and has a binuclear structure. Chloride ions behave as the linking bridge and a tridentate hydrazine ligand HL and water as the terminal capping ligands. The central Co(II) ion has distorted octahedral geometry. The vanadium(V) complex crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, space group P2₁/n, and can be described as having highly distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination. The geometries and electronic properties of the complexes were also obtained using DFT and TD-DFT calculations.     

A family of mixed-metal cyanide cubes with alternating octahedral and tetrahedral corners exhibiting a variety of magnetic behaviors including single molecule magnetism

A series of structurally related pseudocubic metal cyanide clusters of Re(II) and 3d metal ions [{MX}4{Re(triphos)(CN)3}4] (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn; X = Cl, I, -OCH3) have been prepared, and their magnetic and electrochemical properties have been probed to evaluate the effect of changing the identity of the 3d metal ion. Electrochemistry of the clusters reveals several rhenium-based oxidation and reduction processes, some of which result in cluster fragmentation. The richest electrochemistry was observed for the iron congener, which exists as the Re(I)/Fe(III) cluster at the resting potential and exhibits six clear one-electron reversible redox couples and two, closely spaced one-electron quasi-reversible processes. The [{MnIICl}4{ReII(triphos)(CN)3}4] complex exhibits single molecule magnetism with a fast tunneling relaxation process observed at H = 0 determined by micro-SQUID magnetization measurements. A comparative evaluation of the magnetic properties across the series reveals that the compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal ions, except for [{NiIICl}4{ReII(triphos)(CN)3}4] that shows ferromagnetic behavior. Despite the large ground-state spin value of [{NiIICl}4{ReII(triphos)(CN)3}4] (S = 6), only manganese congeners exhibit SMM behavior to 1.8 K.     

X-ray-induced production of gold nanoparticles on a SiO(2)/Si system and in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix

Prolonged exposure to X-rays of HAuCl(4) deposited from an aqueous solution onto a SiO(2)/Si substrate or into a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix induces reduction of the Au(3+) ions to Au(0) and subsequent nucleation to gold nanoclusters as recorded by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The corresponding major oxidation product is determined as chlorine {HAuCl(4)(ads) + X-rays --> Au(ads) + (3/2)Cl(2)(ads) + HCl(ads)}, which is initially adsorbed onto the surface but eventually diffuses out of the system into the vacuum. The reduced gold atoms aggregate (three-dimensionally) into gold nanoclusters as evidenced by the variation in the binding energy during X-ray exposure, which starts as 1.3 eV but approaches a value that is 0.5 eV higher than that of the bulk gold. The disappearance of the oxidation product (Cl2p signal) and the growth of the nanoclusters (related to the measured binding energy difference between the Si2p of the oxide and Au4f of the reduced gold) exhibit first-order kinetics which is approximately 3 times slower than the reduction of Au(3+), indicating that both of the former processes are diffusion controlled. Similarly, gold ions incorporated into PMMA can also be reduced and aggregated to gold nanoclusters using 254 nm deep UV irradiation in air evidenced by UV-vis-NIR absorption spectrocopy.     

Investigating the Influence of Column Depth on the Treatment of Textile Wastewater Using Natural Zeolite

Textile industry production processes generate one of the most highly polluted wastewaters in the world. Unfortunately, the field is also challenged by the availability of relatively cheap and highly effective technologies for wastewater purification. The application of natural zeolite as a depth filter offers an alternative and potential approach for textile wastewater treatment. The performance of a depth filter treatment system can be deeply affected by the column depth and the characteristics of the wastewater to be treated. Regrettably, the information on the potential of these filter materials for the purification of textile wastewater is still scarce. Therefore, this study investigated the potential applicability of natural zeolite in terms of column depth for the treatment of textile wastewater. From the analysis results, it was observed that the filtration efficiencies were relatively low (6.1 to 13.7%) for some parameters such as total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, and sodium chloride when the wastewater samples were subjected to the 0.5 m column depth. Relatively high efficiency of 82 and 93.8% was observed from color and total suspended solids, respectively, when the wastewater samples were subjected to the 0.5 m column depth. Generally, the 0.75 m column depth achieved removal efficiencies ranging from 52.3% to 97.5%, whereas the 1 m column depth achieved removal efficiencies ranging from 86.9% to 99.4%. The highest removal efficiency was achieved with a combination of total suspended solids and 1 m column depth (99.4%). In summary, the treatment approach was observed to be highly effective for the removal of total suspended solids, with a 93.8% removal efficiency when the wastewater was subjected to the 0.5 m column depth, 97.5% for 0.75 m column depth, and 99.4% for 1 m column depth. Moreover, up to 218.233 mg of color per g of the filter material was captured. The results derived in this study provide useful information towards the potential applicability of natural zeolite in the textile wastewater treatment field.     

Simultaneous determination of amlodipine besylate and rosuvastatin calcium in binary mixtures by voltammetric and chromatographic techniques

Voltammetric and liquid chromatographic (LC) methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of amlodipine besylate (AML) and rosuvastatin calcium (ROS) for the first time. Detailed electrochemical behavior and simultaneous voltammetric determination of AML and ROS were investigated in detail using glassy carbon electrode (GCE). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) were also developed for the comparison. Voltammetric method exhibited linear dynamic responses for the simultaneous assay of AML and ROS in the concentration range between 0.006 and 2.85 μg/mL and between 0.01 and 5.00 μg/mL, with detection limits of 0.001 and 0.003 μg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, LC methods presented a wider linearity range than that of the SWV method between 0.5 and 100 μg/mL with the detection limits of 0.011 and 0.027 μg/mL for AML and 0.034 and 0.042 μg/mL for ROS by UPLC and HPLC techniques, respectively.     

A Robust,Precious‐Metal‐Free Dye‐Sensitized Photoanode for Water Oxidation: A Nanosecond‐Long Excited‐State Lifetime through a Prussian Blue Analogue

Herein, we establish a simple synthetic strategy affording a heterogeneous, precious metal‐free, dye‐sensitized photoelectrode for water oxidation, which incorporates a Prussian blue (PB) structure for the sensitization of TiO₂ and water oxidation catalysis. Our approach involves the use of a Fe(CN)₅ bridging group not only as a cyanide precursor for the formation of a PB‐type structure but also as an electron shuttle between an organic chromophore and the catalytic center. The resulting hetero‐functional PB‐modified TiO₂ electrode demonstrates a low‐cost and easy‐to‐construct photoanode, which exhibits favorable electron transfers with a remarkable excited state lifetime on the order of nanoseconds and an extended light absorption capacity of up to 500 nm. Our approach paves the way for a new family of precious metal‐free robust dye‐sensitized photoelectrodes for water oxidation, in which a variety of common organic chromophores can be employed in conjunction with CoFe PB structures.     

CO2 adsorption studies on hydroxy metal carbonates M(CO3)x(OH)y (M = Zn, Zn-Mg, Mg, Mg-Cu, Cu, Ni, and Pb) at high pressures up to 175 bar

Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) adsorption capacities of several hydroxy metal carbonates have been studied using the state-of-the-art Rubotherm sorption apparatus to obtain adsorption and desorption isotherms of these compounds up to 175 bar. The carbonate compounds were prepared by simply reacting a carbonate (CO(3)(2-)) solution with solutions of Zn(2+), Zn(2+)/Mg(2+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+)/Mg(2+), Cu(2+), Pb(2+), and Ni(2+) metal ions, resulting in hydroxyzincite, hydromagnesite, mcguinnessite, malachite, nullaginite, and hydrocerussite, respectively. Mineral compositions are calculated by using a combination of powder XRD, TGA, FTIR, and ICP-OES analysis. Adsorption capacities of hydroxy nickel carbonate compound observed from Rubotherm magnetic suspension sorption apparatus has shown highest performance among the other components that were investigated in this work (1.72 mmol CO(2)/g adsorbent at 175 bar and 316 K).     

Determination of the Anticancer Drug Sorafenib in Serum by Adsorptive Stripping Differential Pulse Voltammetry Using a Chitosan/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (AdSDPV) was applied to the assay of sorafenib in human serum sample. Cyclic voltammetry at a carbon based screen printed electrode (SPE) permitted to detect the irreversible oxidation of SOR with formation of a new compound reversibly oxidized at a lower potential. Quantitative assays were realized using a chitosan/carboxylic acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode in 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7.0 in the presence of 50 % methanol. The AdSDPV method provided two linear responses within the concentration ranges 1×10^?8–8×10^?8 M and 1×10^?7–8×10^?7 M in serum with LOQ and LOD of 3.2×10^?9 and 9.6×10^?10 of lower linear range, respectively. The recovery of sorafenib in spiked serum was 97.5 %.