Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li Xu, Min Guo, Chin-Te Hung, Xiao-Lei Shi, Yiwen Yuan, Xingmiao Zhang, Ren-Hua Jin, Wei Li, Qiang Dong, Dongyuan Zhao
Summary: We report a strategy for the synthesis of chiral mesoporous silica nanospheres with molecular-scale-like chirality. The functionalization of micelles with chiral amide gels leads to the growth of molecularly chiral silica sols, which self-assemble into dendritic large mesoporous silica nanospheres with molecular chirality. The resulting chiral mesoporous silica shows abundant large mesopores, high pore volumes, high surface areas, and exhibits notable optical activity. It also displays good chiral stability and exhibits significant inhibition of β-amyloid protein aggregation formation and cytotoxicity.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mirza Mahmood Baig, Sonia Zulfiqar, Muhammad Asif Yousuf, Imran Shakir, Mohamed F. Aly Aboud, Muhammad Farooq Warsi
Summary: A new composite material consisting of DyxMnFe2-xO4 nanoparticles decorated on mesoporous silica was synthesized for removal of organic pollutants. The material exhibited efficient adsorption and photocatalytic properties, making it suitable for environmental remediation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xun Sun, Mingming Chen, Jiayu Lei, Xinran Liu, Xin Ke, Wengang Liu, Jingkuan Wang, Xiaodan Gao, Xin Liu, Yun Zhang
Summary: In this study, β-cyclodextrin was successfully loaded onto mesoporous silica nanospheres, resulting in β-cyclodextrin@mesoporous silica nanospheres with enhanced adsorption capabilities. The loading method solved the solubility issue of β-cyclodextrin and altered the physical structure of the mesoporous silica nanospheres. The study also investigated the adsorption mechanism and interactions involved in the reaction process.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Xuwen Guo, Zhichao Chen, Yanping Huang, Hao Lv, Yaru Wang, Lizhi Sun, Kai Song, Ben Liu
Summary: Ternary noble metal-metalloid-nonmetal PdBS alloy mesoporous nanospheres with three-dimensional central-radial pore channels were prepared via precise control in reduction and nucleation growth, showing remarkably improved electrocatalytic performance. This finding extends knowledge on the rational design and targeted synthesis of novel noble metal-metalloid-nonmetal alloys for catalysis and other applications.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Praveen Lavudya, Harita Pant, Vadali V. S. S. Srikanth, Rajanikanth Ammanabrolu
Summary: An easy microwave-assisted hydrothermal method is used to prepare mesoporous and phase pure anatase TiO2 nanospheres in this research. The ATNS exhibits a high specific surface area, high N2 adsorption capacity, and shows a photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue dye as high as 98%.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Young Sunwoo, Gopalu Karunakaran, Eun-Bum Cho
Summary: Hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres were synthesized using pentablock copolymer templates under acidic aqueous conditions, with tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silica precursor. The structure could be tuned by using different length pentablock copolymer templates, resulting in variations in pore structure and morphology. The samples demonstrated hydrothermal stability and the formation of hollow mesopore structures under room temperature conditions.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jing Hu, Peiting Du, Ruoyi Xu, Weijun Deng
Summary: This study fabricated supersmall dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres (DMSNs) with tunable diameters, serving as nanocarriers for antioxidants and flavoring oils to generate stable emulsions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry (GC-MS-O) analysis demonstrated that DMSNs have outstanding protective functionalities for the encapsulated flavoring oil. The research indicates that DMSNs are an ideal platform for stable Pickering emulsions for aromatic compounds, offering a new approach for delivering flavor and sensitive bioactives with excellent stability in various applications such as food, medicine, and cosmetics.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Leticia F. Rasteiro, Abdul Motin, Luiz H. Vieira, Elisabete M. Assaf, Francisco Zaera
Summary: The atomic layer deposition of ZrO2 thin films over mesopores of SBA-15 was studied using TDMAZ as ZrO2 precursor. The thickness of the films was controlled by the number of deposition cycles. The homogeneous distribution of ZrO2 throughout the SBA-15 pores was confirmed by various characterization techniques. The deposition rate was observed to slow down after 4 cycles, possibly due to mass transport limitations caused by the chemisorption properties of TDMAZ and the pore diameter of SBA-15.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Muhammad Zeeshan Asghar, Khadijah Mohammedsaleh Katubi, Mehboob Hassan, Z. A. Alrowaili, Muhammad Usama Arif, Memoona Qammar, M. S. Al-Buriahi, Muhammad Shahid Mahmood, Mirza Mahmood Baig
Summary: Environmental remediation through adsorption and advanced oxidation processes under visible light irradiation is currently a hot research topic. In this study, a new Y-Zr doped g-C3N4 photocatalyst and its composite with mesoporous silica were prepared and characterized. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated through the degradation of crystal violet dye in water, showing excellent removal performance of 90% in just 60 minutes. Factors affecting the adsorption process were optimized, and adsorption isotherms and kinetic models were applied to understand the adsorption mechanism.
DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sukitha Geethma Kothalawala, Jinqing Jiao, Robert Speight, Hao Song, Yannan Yang, Jun Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the influence of the pore architecture of silica nanospheres on enzyme performance, and finds that fractal silica nanoparticles have higher immobilization capacity, sustained release, and enhanced reusability.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruyi Wang, Yuhui Zhang, Shichun Gu, Jing Shen, Xue Wang, Yapeng He
Summary: Monodisperse hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres with large cavity (62 nm) in the inner core, small mesopores in the outer shell, and high specific surface area of 373 m(2)/g are successfully synthesized via dual-template synthetic approach. The volume proportion of alcohols in the solution can effectively regulate the architectures of the nanospheres. The prepared hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres demonstrate high loading capacity and favorable selectivity towards anionic dye molecules.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bakhitah M. Alajmi, Amal S. Basaleh, Adel A. Ismail, Reda M. Mohamed
Summary: An efficient and straightforward strategy was developed to produce mesoporous CuO/ZrO2 nanocomposite photocatalyst for thiophene desulfurization under visible exposure. The obtained CuO/ZrO2 photocatalyst exhibited superior photocatalytic ability compared to pristine ZrO2. The excellent performance was attributed to the construction of heterojunctions, large surface area, intense absorption in the visible region, easy separation of electron-hole, and the design of mesopore structure. This research provides a green and efficient method for thiophene desulfurization and offers new insights for utilizing ZrO2-based photocatalysts to treat pollutants under visible light.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shi Wang, Chunsheng Lei, Shihao Liu, Ruofei Shen, Siyang Feng, Qiyu Jin
Summary: A molecularly imprinted Bi/Ti/activated carbon photocatalyst (MG-MI) was synthesized using surface molecular imprinting, showing superior selectivity, adsorption capacity, and degradation rate compared to nonimprinted materials. The perfect combination of surface MIT and photocatalyst has great potential for the treatment of mixed pollutants in wastewater.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chih-Yu Lin, Chia-Min Yang, Mika Linden
Summary: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) are potential drug carriers with high drug loading capacity and degradability under biologically relevant conditions. Dissolution studies of MCM-48 MSN in the presence of proteins show that protein concentration affects the kinetics of dissolution and leads to the formation of core-shell structured particles. The results suggest that MSN dissolution kinetics is faster under typical in vitro conditions compared to full serum conditions.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Reda M. Mohamed, Adel A. Ismail
Summary: In this paper, two-dimensional mesoporous Ag2O/ZrO2 heterostructures were synthesized for the first time and used for visible-light photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization. The Ag2O/ZrO2 heterostructures exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance and stability compared to pristine ZrO2 nanoparticles.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qiu-Ren Pan, Bi-Lin Lai, Li-Juan Huang, Yan-Nan Feng, Nan Li, Zhao-Qing Liu
Summary: In this study, a three-dimensional hierarchical porous copper, nitrogen, and boron codoped carbon catalyst was synthesized, which exhibited excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance and stability. The introduction of boron atoms increased the electron density around the active site, promoting the efficiency of the ORR process and preventing demetallization. This research provides a new approach for the development of Cu-based ORR electrocatalysts and guidance for high-performance microbial fuel cells (MFCs) design.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zepan Wang, Peiyuan Wu, Xubing Zou, Sheng Wang, Lei Du, Ting Ouyang, Zhao-Qing Liu
Summary: By partially replacing Co3+ with the more electro-negative Mn3+ ion at the octahedral site, a ternary Zn-Mn-Co spinel oxide is formed, leading to a significant increase in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction/evolution activity. Physical characterization and theoretical calculations show that bond competition plays a crucial role in regulating the cobalt valence state and the electrocatalytic activity. The partial replacement of Co3+ by Mn3+ effectively modulates the adjacent Co-O bond and induces the Jahn-Teller effect, resulting in a change in crystal structure and optimization of the binding strength with reaction intermediates. The Mn-substituted ZnMn1.4Co0.6O4/NCNTs exhibit higher electrocatalytic activity than ZnCo2O4/NCNTs and ZnMn2O4/NCNTs, indicating that the covalency of the Co-O bond determines the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of spinel ZnCo2O4. This study introduces the competition between adjacent Co-O and Mn-O bonds through the B-Oh-O-B-Oh edge-sharing geometry, demonstrating that ion substitution at octahedral sites with less electronegative cations can effectively enhance the electrocatalytic performance of cobalt-based spinel oxides.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shangyu Hu, Yaxiong Zhan, Peilei Wang, Jingfei Yang, Fengxiu Wu, Meng Dan, Zhao-Qing Liu
Summary: The production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through electrochemical oxygen reduction is a convenient and clean approach. A universal urotropine modified carbon-based catalyst was developed, which not only provides isolated O-2 active sites to protect OOH* from further splitting, but also excites the carbon nanotube matrix to produce abundant secondary O-2 active sites. Furthermore, the end-on type adsorption of O-2 on the excited secondary reactive sites can be stabilized by the hydrogen bond effect, leading to a significant increase in H2O2 productivity.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Zhilong Jiang, Weiya Liu, Jun Wang, Bangtang Chen, Zihao Wu, Fan Fu, Rui Miao, Ting Ouyang, Wenzhi Lv, Yongchao Huang, Die Liu, Zhao-Qing Liu, Mingzhao Chen, Pingshan Wang
Summary: The design and synthesis of two bipyridyl and terpyridyl ruthenium(II) building units L1 and L2 were explained, and two different triangle self-assembled supramolecules S1 and S2 were successfully synthesized. The study of S2 showed that it maintains high luminous performance at ambient temperature, opening up new possibilities for the rational molecular design of terpyridyl ruthenium fluorescent materials and catalytic functional materials.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhilang Liu, Zhaoqing Liu, Bo Shu, Cuixia Lian, Jialin Wu, Qing Wen, Jiahuan Wu, Zhuohong Yang, Wuyi Zhou, Yang Hu
Summary: Flexible and biodegradable polymer hydrogels are widely studied for biomedical applications, but achieving satisfactory mechanical performance, anti-swelling behavior, antibacterial activity and conductivity in one single hydrogel is still challenging. Researchers have developed a simple one-pot approach to prepare multiple-crosslinked PVA/PA-Fe hydrogels with favorable mechanical properties, anti-swelling behavior, antibacterial activity, and conductivity.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinhu Wang, Mingyuzhi Sun, Changle Liu, Yuchuan Ye, Mengshan Chen, Zhemeng Zhao, Yongcai Zhang, Xiaohu Wu, Kaiwen Wang, Yingtang Zhou
Summary: This study presents the design of fully functional solar vaporization devices (SVD) based on organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites (CCMs-x). These devices exhibit efficient photothermal properties that facilitate multitargeted interfacial reactions, enabling simultaneous catalysis of sewage and desalination. The exceptional photothermal conversion rate of wastewater for environmental remediation and water capture is attributed to customized microenvironments within the system.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tianchi Zhang, Guoping Wang, Xuhui Xu, Zhuanzhong Zhou, Yongcai Zhang, Zhao Zhang
Summary: The main problems of liquid-phase oxidation of methylarenes to benzaldehydes are slow reaction rate, over-oxidation of benzaldehydes to form benzoic acids, and the requirement of a large amount of solvent. Hence, it is challenging to realize the liquid phase catalytic oxidation of methylarenes to benzaldehydes in industrial production.
APPLIED CATALYSIS A-GENERAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yiqing Wei, Aizhen Liao, Wenwu Zhu, Wentao Hou, Yongcai Zhang, Yubing Zheng, Boye Zhou, Yuxiang Yan, Huichao He, Xin Zhou, Yong Zhou, Zhigang Zou
Summary: A Co3O4@Pt-Fe2O3 photoanode with Co3O4 co-catalysis and Pt-doping was designed and investigated for H2O2 production. It demonstrated superior PEC performance, achieving a 77.38% Faraday efficiency and a H2O2 yield of 0.073 μmol cm-2 at 1.00 V vs. RHE under AM 1.5 G irradiation. The synergistic effect of Co3O4 co-catalysis and Pt-doping on H2O2 production was revealed by experimental investigations and theoretical calculations.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bingxing Wang, Qi Wang, Bingli Wang, Songlin Wang, Yongcai Zhang, Donglin Zhao
Summary: Tofu, a popular traditional Chinese food worldwide, involves chemistry in its production. This article presents a simple demonstration to help lower-level undergraduates understand the chemistry principles behind the curdling step in tofu processing.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fulin Wang, Zhenzhen Yu, Kaiyang Shi, Xiangwei Li, Kangqiang Lu, Weiya Huang, Changlin Yu, Kai Yang
Summary: This study prepared nitrogen-doped NiO semiconductors using a one-pot molten-salt method. The nitrogen doping enhanced the adsorption of CO2 on NiO and increased the separation of photogenerated carriers on the NiO, synergistically optimizing the CO2-reduction system and achieving highly active and selective CO2 photoreduction.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Si-Tong Guo, Yu-Wei Du, Huihua Luo, Ziyin Zhu, Ouyang Yang, Zhao-Qing Liu
Summary: Zn-based catalysts have great potential for CO2 reduction, and undercoordinated Zn sites can enhance CO production. However, the dynamic evolution and stability of Zn delta+ sites during CO2 reduction process are less explored. The study shows that Zn delta+ sites can suppress HER and HCOOH production to induce CO generation, and CeO2 nanotubes can stabilize Zn delta+ species.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Yu Wei, Jin-Ge Hao, Jia-Lin Zhang, Wei-Ya Huang, Shao-bo Ouyang, Kai Yang, Kang-Qiang Lu
Summary: In this study, hierarchical Co(OH)(2) nanosheet array-graphene composite cocatalysts were developed, and they exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and high quantum yields, providing a meaningful direction for achieving efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinhu Wang, Mingyuzhi Sun, Changle Liu, Yuchuan Ye, Mengshan Chen, Zhemeng Zhao, Yongcai Zhang, Xiaohu Wu, Kaiwen Wang, Yingtang Zhou
Summary: This study presents the design of a solar vaporization device based on organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites, which is capable of catalyzing wastewater and desalination simultaneously. The device achieves high water-vapor generation rate and efficient pollutant removal. The study also demonstrates the durability and adaptability of the device in multiple real-life scenarios.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jingwei Li, Zhengyi Huang, Cong Wang, Lei Tian, Xiaoqing Yang, Rongfu Zhou, Mohamed Nawfal Ghazzal, Zhao-Qing Liu
Summary: In this research, the efficient transfer of photoexcited carriers was achieved by introducing amorphous carbon into bandgap-broken heterojunctions. The formation of similar orbital energies enabled the migration of electrons and holes to the amorphous carbon, thereby enhancing carrier separation in the heterojunction. By controlling the relative amount of metal-O-C bonds at the interface, the charge transfer kinetics could be modulated, resulting in a significant increase in H2 generation. This strategy can be extended to other carbon allotropes, demonstrating its universality in optimizing charge transfer in broken-bandgap heterojunctions for photocatalytic H2 production.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Yu Wei, Jin-Ge Hao, Jia-Lin Zhang, Wei-Ya Huang, Shao-bo Ouyang, Kai Yang, Kang-Qiang Lu
Summary: The development of a highly efficient noble-metal-free cocatalyst is essential for photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this study, hierarchical Co(OH)(2) nanosheet array-graphene (GR) composite cocatalysts were developed, showing excellent photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
