Analysis Of Charge Distribution Research Articles

Theoretical Analysis of Coordination Geometries in Transition Metal-Histidine Complexes Using Quantum Chemical Calculations.

A theoretical investigation utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations was conducted to explore the coordination complexes formed between histidine (His) ligands and various divalent transition metal ions (Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+). Conformational exploration of the His ligand was initially performed to assess its stability upon coordination. Both 1:1 and 1:2 of metal-to-ligand complexes were scrutinized to elucidate their structural features and the relative stability of the complexes. This study examined the ability of His to act as a bidentate or tridentate coordinating ligand, along with the differences in coordination geometry when solvent effects were incorporated. The reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis and local electron attachment energy (LEAE) analysis were employed to elucidate the interaction planes and the nucleophilic and electrophilic properties. The electronic properties were analyzed through electrostatic potential (ESP) maps and natural population analysis (NPA) of atomic charge distributions. This computational study provides valuable insights into the diverse coordination modes of His and its interactions with divalent transition metal ions, contributing to a better understanding of the role of this amino acid ligand in the formation of transition metal complexes. The findings can aid in the design and construction of self-assembled structures involving His-metal coordination.

The adsorption of CO gas on the surface of boron nitride incorporating 2D carbon allotropes: a DFT analysis

The adsorption properties of different Carbon allotropes (i.e., graphene, γ-graphyne, Mobius graphene, and R-graphyne) and their corresponding Boron (N) and Nitrogen (N) incorporated BCN nanostructures toward carbon monoxide (CO) gas are studied via density functional theory calculation. All the adsorbents demonstrated negative formation energies and real frequencies, i.e., can be synthesized and have dynamical stability. The adsorption energies have increased due to B and N incorporation, although still comparatively low for practical application. The highest adsorption energy with suitable recovery time is observed for the Mobius BCN structure, about −0.112 eV and 77.8 ps, respectively. Very nominal charge transfer is observed via Mulliken charge distribution and electrostatic potential map analysis. The changes in energy gap and electrical conductivity are observed due to CO adsorption.

Insights into pseudocapacitive mechanism of aqueous ammonium-ion supercapacitors with exceptional energy density and cyclability

Aqueous ammonium-ion (NH4+) supercapacitors (AASCs) have recently garnered increased concerns but are consistently facing the challenge of lower energy density. Herein, a high-performance electrode (CuCo2S4@CP) with pseudocapacitive property has been synthesized and primordially applied to AASCs. The CuCo2S4@CP electrode has an ultrahigh specific capacity of 1512 C g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a distinguished cyclic stability of 87.74 % after 10,000 cycles. When the CuCo2S4@CP electrode is combined with the activated carbon (AC) negative electrode, the CuCo2S4@CP//AC device exhibits a high specific capacity of 547 C g−1 at 1 A g−1, excellent cycle stability (83.28 % at 10 A g−1), high energy density of 74.17 Wh kg−1, and excellent device consistency. In addition, the charge transfer mechanism of CuCo2S4@CP electrode in NH4+electrolyte has been elucidated. The CuCo2S4 surface density functional theory (DFT) elucidates that NH4+ has a minimal contribution to the surface, implying an insertion behavior of NH4+ within the CuCo2S4 lattice. Subsequent ex-situ characterization further confirms the energy storage process, revealing charge transfer to Co atoms following NH4+ insertion into CuCo2S4. The analysis of charge distribution illustrates an energy storage mechanism wherein the hydrogen bond formed between NH4+ and CuCo2S4 serves as the transport channel for charge transfer, facilitating the process of electrons from NH4+ to Co atoms. Therefore, the pseudocapacitive mechanism of CuCo2S4 with NH4+ provides a blueprint for sustainable energy storage with high energy density in aqueous electrolyte.

Fe2+-NTA synergized UV254 photolytic defluorination of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS): Enhancing through intramolecular electron density perturbation via electron acquisition

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant posing a risk in environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and biotoxicity. This study was to reach a comprehensive and deeper understanding of PFOS elimination in a UV254 photolytic treatment with the co-presence of Fe2+ and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt (NTA). PFOS defluorination was noticeably enhanced in the UV/Fe2+-NTA treatment compared with UV/NTA, UV/Fe2+ and our previously studied UV/Fe3+ treatments. UV–vis, FTIR, and UPLC/MS-MS results indicated the formation of PFOS-Fe2+-NTA complex in PFOS, Fe2+ and NTA mixture. The transition energy gap of PFOS-Fe2+-NTA decreased below the excitation energy supplied by UV254 irradiation, corresponding with red shift appearing in UV–vis scanning spectrum. This favored intramolecular electron transfer from Fe2+-NTA to PFOS under UV254 irradiation to form electron-accepting PFOS. Molecular electrostatic potential and atom charge distribution analyses suggested electron density rearrangement and perturbation in the perfluorinated carbon chain of electron-accepting PFOS, leading to the decrease in bond dissociation energies. Intermediate products detection suggested the parallel defluorination pathways of PFOS desulfonation, middle carbon chain scission and direct C-F cleavage. NTA exhibited crucial functions in the UV/Fe2+-NTA treatment by holding Fe2+/Fe3+ in soluble form as a chelant and favoring water activation to generate hydrated electrons (eaq−) under UV irradiation as a photosensitizer. Fe2+ acting as the conduit for electron transfer and the bridge of PFOS anion and NTA was thought functioning best at 200 µM in this study. The degree of UV/Fe2+-NTA -synergized PFOS defluorination also depended on eaq− yield and UV254 photon flux. The structure dependence on the electron transfer process of PFOS and PFOA was explored incorporating molecular structure descriptors. Because of possessing greater potential to acquire electrons or less likeliness to donate its electrons than PFOA, PFOS exhibited faster defluorination kinetics in the published “reduction treatments” than “oxidation” ones. Whereas, PFOA defluorination kinetics were at similar level in both “reduction” and “oxidation” treatments.

Real space characterization of nonlinear hall effect in confined directions

The nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE) is a phenomenon which could produce a transverse Hall voltage in a time-reversal-invariant material. Here, we report the real space characterizations of NLHE evaluated through quantum transport in TaIrTe4 nanoribbon without the explicit Berry curvature dipole (BCD) information. We first characterize the NLHE in both transverse confined directions in global-level measurement. The impact of quantum confinement in NLHE is evaluated by adjusting the width of nanoribbons. Then, the probing area is trimmed to the atomic scale to evaluate the local texture, where we discover its patterns differ among the probed neighboring atomic groups. The analysis of charge distribution reveals the connections between NLHE’s local patterns and its non-centrosymmetric nature, rendering nearly an order of Hall voltage enhancement through probe positioning. Our work paves the way to expand the range of NLHE study and unveil its physics in more versatile material systems.

Formation Mechanism of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals on Alkaline Earth Oxide Surfaces.

The formation of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) is usually related to transition-metal oxides in particulate matter (PM). However, recent studies suggest that alkaline-earth-metal oxides (AEMOs) in PM also influence EPFRs formation, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. Here, density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the formation mechanism of EPFRs by C6H5OH on AEMO (MgO, CaO, and BaO) surfaces and compare it with that on transition-metal oxide (ZnO and CuO) surfaces. Results indicate that EPFRs can be rapidly formed on AEMOs by dissociative adsorption of C6H5OH, accompanied by electrons transfer. As the alkalinity of AEMOs increases, both adsorption energy and the number of electron transfers gradually increase. Also, the stability of the formed EPFRs is mainly attributed to the electrostatic and van der Waals interactions between the phenoxy radical and surfaces. Notably, the formation mechanism of EPFRs on AEMOs is similar to that on ZnO but differs from that on CuO, as suggested through geometric structure and charge distribution analyses. This study not only elucidates the formation mechanisms of EPFRs on AEMOs but also provides theoretical insights into addressing EPFRs pollution.

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Schiff Base Metal Complexes, Biological Activity, and Molecular Docking Studies.

New cobalt(II), copper(II), and zinc(II) Schiff metal complexes were synthesized by the condensation reaction of 4-nitrobenzene-1,2-diamine with 3-4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible, electron paramagnetic resonance, and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and powder X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the synthesized H2L and its metal complexes. Conductance measurements, magnetic moment estimation, and metal estimation have all been determined and discussed. The electrochemical properties of the synthesized compounds have been determined and discussed using cyclic voltammetry. The molecular structures of H2L and its metal complexes have been optimized using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G (d,p) basis set, and their parameters have been discussed. The quantum chemical properties of these synthesized compounds have been predicted through charge distribution and molecular orbital analysis. The biological properties of the synthesized compounds' antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial activity have been studied and discussed. Furthermore, H2L and its complexes have been docked with HER2-associated target proteins in breast cancer.

Spectroscopic characterization, quantum chemical and molecular docking investigations on methyl indole-3-carboxylate: A potent cervical cancer drug

Bioactive indole derivatives had great importance in recent years due to their numerous biological and pharmaceutical applications. In the present work, the vibrational, electronic, physicochemical, and inhibitory properties of the Methyl Indole-3-Carboxylate (MIC) molecule were predicted and analyzed. Initially, the molecular structure of the title molecule was optimized and its structural parameters were calculated, which were highly correlated with the previous reports. The simulated infrared and Raman spectra of the molecule were in good agreement with the FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra that were observed via the experiment. The observed UV–Visible spectrum validates the MIC molecule's π→π* electronic transition, which was also well matched with the simulated UV–Visible spectrum. The investigation of frontier molecular orbitals highlights intramolecular charge transfer across the molecule, establishing the bioactivity of the MIC molecule. The electron transport from the methyl group hydrogen atom H22 to the oxygen atom O11 is confirmed by Mulliken atomic charge distribution analysis and molecular electrostatic potential surface analysis. The calculated Fukui functions values validated the FMOs and Mulliken atomic charge distribution results. The natural bond orbital study further confirms the MIC molecule's intramolecular charge transfer and bioactivity. Molecular docking investigation results that the MIC molecule hinders the function of an enzyme known as Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14, which has been linked to cervical cancer. As a result, the present study provides the possibility towards the development of innovative to treat cervical cancer.

A complex network of interdomain interactions underlies the conformational ensemble of monomeric TDP-43 and modulates its phase behavior.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a multidomain protein involved in the regulation of RNA metabolism, and its aggregates have been observed in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Numerous studies indicate TDP-43 can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vitro and is a component of biological condensates. Homo-oligomerization via the folded N-terminal domain (aa:1-77) and the conserved helical region (aa:319-341) of the disordered, C-terminal domain is found to be an important driver of TDP-43 phase separation. However, a comprehensive molecular view of TDP-43 phase separation, particularly regarding the nature of heterodomain interactions, is lacking due to the challenges associated with its stability and purification. Here, we utilize all-atom and coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to uncover the network of interdomain interactions implicated in TDP-43 phase separation. All-atom simulations uncovered the presence of transient, interdomain interactions involving flexible linkers, RNA-recognition motif (RRM) domains and a charged segment of disordered C-terminal domain (CTD). CG simulations indicate these inter-domain interactions which affect the conformational landscape of TDP-43 in the dilute phase are also prevalent in the condensed phase. Finally, sequence and surface charge distribution analysis coupled with all-atom simulations (at high salt) confirmed that the transient interdomain contacts are predominantly electrostatic in nature. Overall, our findings from multiscale simulations lead to a greater appreciation of the complex interaction network underlying the structural landscape and phase separation of TDP-43.

Understanding sensing mechanism of N-doped graphene-based toxic gas sensors using electronic, thermal, mechanical, electrical, and sensing properties:A DFT study

A facile and feasible protocol for the evolution of sensing characteristics of three dissimilar nitrogen-doped graphene (N-G)-based ethanol, methanol, and nitrogen-oxide gas sensors using first-principle calculations. Simulated X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation demonstrates the sharp peak located at 7.9, 11, 13.8, and 15.4° represents (100), (111), (026), and (012) facets. Electronic properties calculations predict that toxic gas adsorption reduces the charge carrier concentration and induces internal resistance. Thermal properties analyses suggest that the nature of adsorption depends on changes in Gibbs free energy. Charge density and distribution analysis disclose that the adsorption of toxic gases leads to charge transfer between toxic gases and N-G. Mechanical properties analyses predict the mechanical superiority. The N-G's electrical conductivity and resistivity of are 49.95 × 103 Ω/m, and 2 × 10−5 Ω-m respectively. The electrical properties demonstrate that the adsorption of toxic gases would be a reason for the change in electrical conductivity and resistivity. The sensing response of N-G-M in terms of resistivity is 96.04 %. The sensing response of ethanol, NO are 17.12 %, and 5.95 %. Responses of N-G-E, N-G-M, N-G-N″-Z are 0.01, 0.06, 0.14 respectively.

Chemical bonding misnomer in AeF- (Ae = Be-Ca) anions.

Chemical bonding is the fundamental concept in chemistry and multiple bonding holds a special position. Recent quantum chemical calculations predicted the presence of triple dative bonds in BeF- and MgF- and quadruple dative bonds in CaF- anions. The present quantum chemical calculations based on quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), electron localization function (ELF) and adaptive density partitioning (AdNDP) analyses find no sign of multiple dative bonding in these anions. In fact, the bond is actually an electron-sharing covalent one, rather than dative. Charge distribution analysis and comparison with a neutral AeF molecule reveal no difference in bonding between the neutral AeF molecule and its anion.

Exploration of 4-Chloro-3-nitrocoumarin: Spectroscopic Analysis, DFT Insights, Molecular Docking, Assessments of Antibacterial and In Vitro Anticancer Activities as a Potent Bioactive Agent

The detailed theoretical and experimental (FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV-visible) spectroscopy analyses of the 4-Chloro-3-nitrocoumarin (CNC) molecule were carried out. The CNC compound's pharmacological properties were also investigated utilizing antibacterial and anticancer activity investigations. Initially, the CNC molecule was optimized by the density functional theory B3LYP method with a cc-pVTZ basis set using the Gaussian 09W program. The optimized molecular structure provides the harmonic vibrational frequencies of the CNC molecule. The observed and computed vibrational wavenumbers were assigned and found to be well correlated. UV-Vis absorption spectrum analysis indicates that the molecule contains π→π* electronic transition. Frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) analysis indicates that the LUMO of CNC molecule is mainly located over the nitro group, it indicates that the nitro group is particularly prone to accepting electrons from other molecules and participate in chemical reactions where acts as an electrophile. Mulliken atomic charge distribution analysis further confirms the FMOs results. The antibacterial test results validate that the CNC molecule exhibits a stronger inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus compared to the other tested bacteria. In vitro anticancer cytotoxicity analysis clearly evidences that the CNC compound inhibits the growth of HeLa cervical cancer cell lines more than A549 lung cancer cell lines. In silico molecular docking study further validates that the CNC molecule inhibits the function of the p38a Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14, which has been associated with cervical cancer. As a result, the present study paves the way for the development of new drugs to treat cervical cancer.
 Keywords: 4-Chloro-3-nitrocoumarin; DFT; FT-IR; FT-Raman; Anticancer; Molecular docking; Cervical cancer drug.

Exploring electronic properties, surface energies and cleavage energies of low-Index surfaces of AlB2 by first-principles calculation

In this work, employing density functional theory (DFT) simulations and calculations, a thorough analysis of surface relaxation, electronic structure, and charge distribution on various low-index surfaces of AlB2 was performed. It reveals the existence of uniform internal structures on the Al-(0001) and B-(0001) surfaces, while revealing the non-uniform nature of the Al-(10 1‾ 0) and B-(101‾ 0) surfaces. Furthermore, the (112‾ 0) surface has a relatively unstable configuration, characterized by a notable propensity for Al atoms to migrate more freely. Besides, the stability of these surfaces under different chemical potential conditions was also explored. It is worth noting that, in the Al-rich condition, the Al-(0001) surface assumes thermodynamic favorability, whereas in the B-rich condition, the B-(0001) surface exhibits higher stability. The calculation of the work function emphasizes the unique characteristics of the B-(0001) surface, since it has the highest work function. This observation indicates that the electron release energy from this surface is relatively high, implying unique properties and promising application potential.

Spectroscopic Characterization, Quantum Chemical, Molecular Docking, Antibacterial and Anticancer Studies on Ethyl Coumarin-3-Carboxylate: an Antibacterial and Lung Cancer Agent

The detailed theoretical and experimental (FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV-visible) spectroscopy analyses of the Ethyl Coumarin-3-Carboxylate (ECC) molecule were carried out. The ECC compound’s pharmacological properties were also investigated, utilizing antibacterial and anticancer activity investigations. Initially, the ECC molecule was optimized by the density functional theory B3LYP method with a 6-311 G++ (d,p) basis set using the Gaussian 09 W program. The optimized molecular structure provides the harmonic vibrational frequencies of the ECC molecule. The observed and computed vibrational wavenumbers were assigned and found to be well correlated. UV-Vis absorption spectrum analysis indicates that the molecule contains π →π* and n → π* electronic transitions. The Frontier molecular orbital analysis confirmed the molecular reactivity and bioactivity of ECC, while the Mulliken atomic charge distribution analysis pinpointed the molecule’s reactive sites. Antibacterial testing demonstrated the ECC compound’s inhibitory effect on various bacterial strains, with a particular impact on Klebsiella pneumonia. In vitro, anticancer assessments showcased ECC's stronger inhibitory effects on A549 lung cancer cell lines compared to HeLa cervical cancer cell lines. Additionally, in silico molecular docking investigations provided further validation that the ECC compound can inhibit the function of the epidermal growth factor receptor, a factor associated with lung cancer. As a result, this study lays the foundation for the development of novel drugs for lung cancer treatment.

Improved DC Dielectric Performance of Cross-Linked Polyethylene Modified by Free Radical-Initiated Grafting BMIE.

To enhance the direct current (DC) dielectric properties of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) for high-voltage (HV) cable insulation, the polyethylene molecular chain is modified by grafting bismaleimide ethane (BMIE), which creates carrier deep traps within the polymer material. Compared to the traditional modified molecule maleic anhydride (MAH), BMIE has a significantly higher boiling point than the production temperature of XLPE. Additionally, it does not release bubbles during the production process and, thus, preserves the dielectric properties. It was proved by infrared spectroscopy and a gel content test that BMIE was successfully grafted onto the polyethylene molecular chain and had no effect on the crosslinking degree of the polymer while reducing the amount of crosslinker, thereby reducing the influence of the by-products of the decomposition of dicumene peroxide (DCP) on the electrical resistance of polymers. The analysis of DC breakdown field strength, current density, and space charge distribution at various temperatures demonstrates that grafting BMIE can greatly enhance the dielectric properties of insulation. Polar groups in the BMIE molecule create deep trap energy levels in XLPE-g-BMIE, and these trap energy levels contribute to the formation of a charged layer near the electrode, which is shielded by Coulomb potential. As a result, the charge injection barrier increases. Additionally, the presence of these polar groups reduces the mobility of charge carriers through trap-carrier scattering, effectively suppressing the accumulation of space charge within the material. First-principle calculations also confirm that bound states can be introduced as carrier traps by grafting BMIE onto polyethylene molecules. The agreement between experimental results and simulation calculations indicates that grafting BMIE to enhance the dielectric properties of polyethylene is a new and feasible research direction in the exploitation of materials for HVDC cables.

Spectroscopic, Quantum Chemical and Molecular Docking Studies on N-(9H-Purin-6-yl) Benzamide: A Potent Antimalarial Agent

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of N-(9H-purin-6-yl) Benzamide (NPB) using a combination of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and experimental techniques. The molecular configuration of NPB was optimized using DFT/B3LYP method employing the 6-311++G (d,p) basis set. The fundamental frequencies were calculated and assigned, which agree well with the experimental results. The UV-Vis spectroscopic analyses, HOMO-LUMO energy gap assessment, Molecular Electrostatic Potential calculation, and Mulliken charge analysis, Fukui function calculation and Natural bond orbital analysis were performed for the NPB molecule. The UV-Visible spectral analysis, which predicts the transition of bonding and anti-bonding π-electrons from the purine ring to the aromatic ring of the NPB molecule. A smaller energy gap in the HOMO-LUMO analysis reveals that the NPB molecule is more reactive and Mulliken atomic charge distribution analysis indicates that the carbon atoms are highly influenced by their substituents. Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis was employed to investigate the bonding within the NPB molecule. The Fukui function analysis indicates that the biological activity of the NPB molecule. In order to analyze the structure of NPB molecule, the thermodynamic properties in the temperature range 100–1000 K were obtained by thermodynamic analysis software SHERMO calculator. The molecular docking analysis was carried out for antimalarial proteins (5ZNC, 2BMA, 7E27, 7E26) using auto-docking simulations. This computational method confirms the bioactivity and drug-likeness parameters of the NPB molecule. The molecular docking results predicts the formation of hydrogen bonds between the ligand (NPB) and the protein receptors. Based on these findings, this study establishes that the distinctive methodology applied to identify NPB molecule as a potential candidate for an antimalarial drug designing, which is suitable for in vivo and in vitro investigations.

Tunable optical and structural characteristics with improved electrical properties of (PVA-GO-CuO) eco-friendly-polymer nanocomposites and their DFT study

The research in this study have been motivated by the unique combination of GO (graphene oxide) and CuO nano-fillers with optimized composition in the poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer. The (PVA-CuO-GO) polymer nanocomposites were created using a melt blending process with varying weight percentages of GO and CuO (ranging from 1 to 6 wt%) nanofillers. The composite was fashioned into a dumble-like structure. XRD (x-ray diffractometer), UV–Vis-NIR spectrophotometer, FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscope) and impedance analyzer were utilized to get the effect of nanofillers on the structural parameters, optical characteristics, surface morphology, and electrical properties of the composites. The influence of wt% of nano-fillers on crystalline size and micro-strain has been examined using XRD data. Tauc graphs were studied using UV–Vis-NIR spectrophotometer data for determining the direct and indirect optical bandgaps, and they show that increasing the weight percentage of nano-fillers causes the optical band gap (direct and indirect) to rise. The direct and indirect bandgap rose from 2.98 to 3.19 eV and 2.23 to 2.80, respectively, as the concentration of nano-fillers increased from 1 to 6 wt%. With increasing nanofillers amount, refractive index and Urbach energy were found to reduce; while peak extinction coefficient was found to increase. FESEM along with the EDAX analysis was also performed to investigate the smoothness of the composites' surfaces. Improvement in capacitance, dielectric constant and ac conductivity was also observed with increase in amount of nanofillers. DFT (Density functional theory) study has also been performed for Natural Bond Orbitals (NBO) analysis of charge and spin distribution, as well as HOMO, LUMO and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP). Based on the findings of the characterization results, the synthesized polymer nanocomposites can be employed in a variety of optoelectronics applications.

Engineering green MOF-based superhydrophobic sponge for efficiently synchronous removal of microplastics and pesticides from high-salinity water.

Microplastics (MPs) and pesticides are becoming an intractable environmental issue due to their wide spreading and non-degradable nature, posing serious threat to ecosystem and human health. To settle such dilemma, this work reasonably designed a superhydrophobic MOF-based coated sponge (ODSOSS/TiO2/Ni-MOF/PDA@Sponge) through the combination of an environmentally friendly in-situ supersaturated coprecipitation and polysesiloxane modification method. Among them, (I) the introduction of polydopamine (PDA) not only improves the adhesion between coatings and sponge, but also enhances the growth of MOF structure through complexation. (II) The obtained Ni-MOF shows large-area microscale anthemy structure with multilayered flaky texture, forming heterogeneously hierarchical structure with the deposited TiO2 nanoparticles, which promotes photodegradation ability of TiO2 owing to great specific surface area of Ni-MOF. (III) The high specific large area Ni-MOF supplies sufficient action sites for linkage of PDA and polysesiloxane molecules with unique nanocage-like structure, thus further greatly increasing adsorption force for various pollutants. (IV) The superhydrophobicity protect the porous channels of MOF from contamination of various absorbed pollutants, while TiO2 nanoparticles effectively photodegrade the absorbed organic pollutants, endowing the sponge superior recyclability. The superhydrophobic sponge selectively rapidly and synchronously adsorbs various MPs (maintained almost 100% after 60 cycles) and pesticides (adsorption rates 71.6%-95.1%) from high-salinity water. The large-area sponge (9cm×6cm×1cm) simultaneously removes almost 100% MPs (40mg/L), Sudan Ⅲ (10mg/L), kerosene (30mL/L), and four pesticides (10mg/L) within 1min. Particularly, four pesticides are quickly photocatalytic degraded by the coated sponge. The free radical capture trials show that hydroxyl radicals (·OH) are the main active species of pesticide degradation. Furthermore, we reveal the negative centers where pesticide molecules are most vulnerable to ·OH attack, on basis of the charge distribution and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis. The adsorption mechanisms are carefully clarified through theoretical calculation and experimental data. This work not only provide an effective superhydrophobic candidate for MPs and pesticides removal in a broad applicable scope (especially in high-salinity wastewater), but also opens a new strategy for environmental remediation.

Density functional theory study of NO adsorption on the transition metal M (M=Cu, Fe and Mn) modified TiO2 surface

To study the effect of different kinds of transition metals and their proportions on NO adsorption on TiO2 surface, the density functional theory (DFT) method was used to calculate the energetic, geometric structure and electronic structure of the adsorption of NO on transition metal M (M = Cu, Fe and Mn)-anatase TiO2 (101) surface. The above transition metals were adsorbed on anatase TiO2 (101) surface in three different adsorption ratios, which are single transition metal adsorption model, mixed 2:2 and 1:3 ratio models. On the basis of the study, 13 models were established to study the effects of transition metals and adsorption ratio on NO oxidation to determine the optimal adsorption model. It has been found from the energetic calculations that mixed adsorption model is more stable for the adsorption of NO. The results of electronic structure and charge distribution analysis showed that a large quantity of active electron clusters are distributed around Mn and Fe atoms, which are attached to a large area of N atoms in NO, indicating that Mn and Fe can provide more electrons for catalytic reaction and facilitate electron exchange between catalyst and NO. Among all the adsorption models, the 3Fe+1Mn–TiO2 and 3Mn+1Fe–TiO2 models are superior, i.e., they can exchange more electrons with NO before the catalytic reaction, which is conducive to the subsequent catalytic reaction.

Crystal Structure, Ionic Conductivity, Dielectric Properties and Electrical Conduction Mechanism of the Wyllieites Na1.5Mn3.5(AsO4)3 and Na1.5Mn3Fe0.5(AsO4)3

Na1.5MnII3MnIII0.5(AsO4)3 and Na1.5MnII3FeIII0.5(AsO4)3 compounds were synthesized via a high-temperature solid-state combustion reaction. The obtained samples were submitted to structural, morphological, and electrical characterizations. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic system with the space group P21/c. The lattice parameters were determined to be a = 6.78344 Å, b = 12.93830 Å, c = 11.22825 Å, and β = 98.5374° for Na1.5MnII3MnIII0.5(AsO4)3, and a = 6.76723 Å, b = 12.9864 Å, c = 11.256 Å, and β = 98.8636° for Na1.5Mn2+3Fe3+0.5(AsO4)3. The structures consist of octahedral MnII and MnIII or FeIII ions connected by sharing edges, forming infinite chains. These chains are further connected by AsO4 tetrahedra, resulting in a three-dimensional anionic framework with tunnels parallel to the a-direction and cavities according to the c-direction. The structural models were validated using bond valence and charge distribution analyses. In addition to the structural characterization, the electric results depended on the crystal structures, indicating the potential of the studied materials for being used in several applications.