Large Surface Area Research Articles

Facile and binder free nano-architecturing of anode with biocompatible g-C3N4-PPy for bacterial community enrichment and green energy generation in microbial fuel cells

The adoption of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as waste-to-power solution for green energy generation while treating wastewater has attracted considerable attention. However, their wide-scale expansion requires further improvements, particularly by anode modifications which necessitates the development of anodes with large surface area, high electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility. Thus, herein, we present a novel and facile approach for the modification of carbon felt (CF) with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and polypyrrole (PPy) to create a highly biocompatible anode following a binder-free route. Increased surface area with microporous rough surface of modified electrodes was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The g-C3N4@PPy-CF anode exhibited minimal water contact angle of 0.9°, in contrast to g-C3N4-CF (53.5°) and pristine CF (123.8°), indicating enhanced hydrophilicity essential for biofilm formation. The synergy between g-C3N4 and polypyrrole results in remarkable 80.7% higher power output (205.8 ± 7.36 mW/m2) and 47% higher current response (8.24 mA) as compared to pristine-CF. Efficient extracellular electron transport (EET) was enacted through better interfacial contact between electrode and electroactive bacteria (EAB), as evidenced by the minimal charge transfer resistance in g-C3N4@PPy-CF (4.21 Ω) and g-C3N4-CF (6.47 Ω), while 68% higher resistance (7.06 Ω) with pristine-CF. Microbial characterization of biofilms showed enrichment of electroactive bacteria, mainly the Proteobacteria phylum comprised 79–82% of total microbial community in modified electrodes while it was 74% in pristine CF. Acinetobacter (25.9%) and Desulfuromonas (17.9%) emerges as major electroactive genera on g-C3N4@PPy-CF contributing to its excellent bio-electrogenic performance. Thus, the low-cost, binder-free and facilely fabricated novel anode with stable electrogenic efficiency provides solution to longstanding challenge of suboptimal anode performance and opens new avenues for scale-up of sustainable energy generation from wastewater using MFCs.

ZIF-67 MOF derived in-doped Co3O4 nanoflowers for H2S gas-sensing performances

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless toxic acidic gas, so the development of gas sensors that can effectively detect H2S in the environment is critical to protecting human health. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as promising template for semiconductor materials in gas sensor technology, offering unique structural advantages for various sensing applications. This study aimed to understand the properties of Indium-doped ZIF-67 nanoflowers by analyzing their crystal structure, surface morphology, and chemical composition. It also investigated the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas-sensitive properties of these materials to fully comprehend their capabilities and limitations. It is demonstrated that the Co3O4 sensor doped with 5 % In displays excellent stability, gas selectivity, and responsiveness. Specifically, the Co3O4 sensor doped with 5 % In showed a response of 19–50 ppm H2S at an operating temperature of 180 °C, which was significantly higher than that of the pure Co3O4 sensor. This is mainly due to the high content of oxygen vacancy (11.26 %). In the 5 % In doped sample, and the relatively large specific surface area (60.58 m2g-1).

Preparation of highly hydrophilic cesium ion sieve and its performance in adsorbing Cs+

The unique properties of cesium compounds have garnered increasing attention, among which Cs2Ti6O13 shows great potential for applications. This paper synthesized Cs2Ti6O13(CTO-3) using a template-assisted solvothermal method with cesium carbonate as the cesium source and tetrabutyl titanate as the titanium source. Among them, F127 and hexadecylamine are used as template agents to modulate the surface morphology and hydrophilicity of the precursor. The cesium ion sieve H2Ti6O13 (HTO-3) synthesized after hydrochloric acid pickling has a large specific surface area and good hydrophilicity. This structure is conducive to the ion exchange between Cs+ and H+, resulting in a fast adsorption rate. It is completed within 2 h, and the adsorption capacity reaches 360 mg/g, which is significantly greater than that of the traditional high-temperature solid-phase method. The adsorption process of Cs+ on HTO-3 is more consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation model, and the adsorption process is chemical adsorption. HTO-3 exhibited good selectivity and cycle stability. At the fifth time of the adsorption-resolution cycle, the adsorption capacity was 87.1 % of the first time.

High speed enrichment of benzoylurea insecticides by hierarchical pore nitrogen doped carbon materials induced with hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks

The high speed enrichment of benzoylurea insecticides (BUs) in complex matrices is an essential and challenging step. The present study focuses on the synthesis of a hierarchical pore nitrogen-doped carbon material for magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) of BUs. This material was prepared through the carbonization of a composite material ZIF-67@MCA which assembly with hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (melamine-cyanurate, MCA) and zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) at room temperature. The optimal adsorption effect is achieved when the mass ratio of ZIF-67 to MCA is 1/3, and the carbonization was performed at 600 °C, the such obtained carbon material was denoted as 1/3ZIF-67@MCA-DCs-600. The material was characterized with various physical methods including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), water contact angle measurement, Raman spectrometry. 1/3ZIF-67@MCA-DCs-600 exhibits a macro-mesoporous 3D structure with a high degree of nitrogen doping and relatively large specific surface area, making it suitable for magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE). The adsorption of BUs with concentration of 100 ng mL-1 can reach equilibrium within 5 s. The interaction between BUs and the adsorbent, facilitated by π-π stacking, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding forces, as well as the material's porosity, enables efficient extraction recoveries ranging from 45 % to 92 %. The enrichment of BUs was achieved through the establishment of an MSPE method under optimized conditions, which was further coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of the four BUs. The linear range spans from 5 ng ml-1 to 1000 ng ml-1 with the correlation coefficient (R2) of ≥ 0.99, Meanwhile, the detection limit for these four BUs falls within the range of 0.01 to 0.10 ng ml-1. The material exhibits good reusability and can be reused for at least 5 cycles. Inter day and intra-day precision ranges from 2.1-7.9 % and 1.0-5.4 %, respectively. The method demonstrates a high level of reliability in practical applications for the determination of BUs.

Sensitive sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensing of p53 protein based on Ti3C2Tx MXene nanoribbons and ferrocene/gold

Since the p53 protein is an important promising biomarker of lung tumor and colorectal tumor, it is very essential to design a highly effective mean to monitor the degree of p53 for the early clinical analysis/therapy of the related tumors. In this work, a sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensing (SES) platform is proposed for the first time to detect p53 via synthesizing Ti3C2Tx MXene nanoribbons (Ti3C2Tx Nb) and ferrocene/gold nanoparticles (Fc/Au) respectively as the sensing substrate and signal-amplifier. The superior electrical property and large surface area of Ti3C2Tx Nb are beneficial to assemble the initial p53-antibodies (Ab1), while the synthesized Fc/Au is devoted to assemble the secondary p53 antibodies (Ab2) and gives a magnified signal. By adopting the Fc molecules as the probes, the experiments reveal the response current of Fc resulted from the SES structure increases along with the p53 increase from 1.0 to 200.0 pg mL−1. A considerable low detection limit (1.0 pg mL−1) is achieved after optimizing several key conditions, it is thus confirmed the as-proposed SES mean exhibits significant application in the detection of p53 protein and other targets.

Adsorption recovery of chlorinated volatile organic compounds on coffee ground-based activated carbon of tunable porosity

Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) play an indispensable role in industrial production, but meanwhile pose serious threats to human health. As a response to the urgent and challenging requirements of reducing pollution and carbon emissions, in this work, the critically favorable ultra-micropores and hierarchical porous structure are constructed onto the low-cost coffee ground-based activated carbon (AC) for the CVOCs adsorption recovery. To regulate the processes of carbonization and activation, the formation of the porosity is elaborated in terms of elements, functional groups and graphited structure. As expected, abundant ultra-micropores (<1 nm) are particularly apt to the adsorption of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) of small size and also contribute positively to the adsorption of chlorobenzene (CB). Moreover, the sample S400-4 possesses a large surface area (1643 m2/g), pore volume (0.89 cm3/g) and hierarchical porous structures that greatly benefit the adsorption of both 1,2-DCE (2.11 mmol/g) and CB (4.15 mmol/g). The advantage is ascribed to the facilitated transfer of CVOCs through the hierarchical porous structures and the higher affinity of CB for the π-π interaction. S400-4 presents a good performance in the recycle tests and with the interference of co-existing components alike, which indicates the engineering application potential of coffee ground-based AC. Hopefully, this work sheds light on the structure-function relationship between biomass-based AC and CVOCs adsorption, and contributes to the targeted development of suitable CVOCs adsorption materials and recovery technologies.

Phase-Engineered MoSe2/CeO2 Composites for Room-Temperature Gas Sensing with a Drastic Discrimination of NH3 and TEA Gases.

Detecting and distinguishing between hazardous gases with similar odors by using conventional sensor technology for safeguarding human health and ensuring food safety are significant challenges. Bulky, costly, and power-hungry devices, such as that used for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), are widely employed for gas sensing. Using a single chemiresistive semiconductor or electric nose (e-nose) gas sensor to achieve this objective is difficult, mainly because of its selectivity issue. Thus, there is a need to develop new materials with tunable and versatile sensing characteristics. Phase engineering of two-dimensional materials to better utilize their physiochemical properties has attracted considerable attention. Here, we show that MoSe2 phase-transition/CeO2 composites can be effectively used to distinguish ammonia (NH3) and triethylamine (TEA) at room temperature. The phase transition of nanocomposite samples from semimetallic (1T) to semiconducting (2H) prepared at different synthesis temperatures is confirmed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A composite sensor in which the 2H phase of MoSe2 is predominant lacks discrimination capability and is less responsive to NH3 and TEA. An MoSe2/CeO2 composite sensor with a higher 1T phase content exhibits high selectivity for NH3, whereas one with a higher 2H phase content (2H > 1T) shows more selective behavior toward TEA. For example, for 50% relative humidity, the MoSe2/CeO2 sensor's signal changes from the baseline by 45% and 58% for 1 ppm of NH3 and TEA, respectively, indicating a low limit of detection (LOD) of 70 and 160 ppb, respectively. The composites' superior sensing characteristics are mainly attributed to their large specific surface area, their numerous active sites, presence of defects, and the n-n type heterojunction between MoSe2 and CeO2. The sensing mechanism is elucidated using Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and GC-MS results. Their phase-transition characteristics render MoSe2/CeO2 sensors promising for use in distributed, low-cost, and room-temperature sensor networks, and they offer new opportunities for the development of integrated advanced smart sensing technologies for environmental and healthcare.

Highly efficient and durable water electrolysis via ligand modulated interfacial assembly

Herein, we report a robust ligand-modulated interfacial assembly strategy for controllable metal doping to yield high-efficiency and durable bifunctional electrocatalysts of FeCoS-embedded hollow N-doped carbon (denoted H-FeCoS/NC) for electrocatalytic overall water splitting (EOWS). Specifically, the hollow Co-based layered double hydroxide (Co-LDH) is employed to render interfacial assembly of CoFe-PBA with tunable composition, morphology, and interface on Co-LDH, regulated by inorganic ligand. Subsequent sulfidation produces H-FeCoS/NC, manifesting outstanding OER/HER activities owing to favourable ligand-modulated Fe-doping, large specific surface area, well-dispersed FeCoS nanoparticles. DFT calculation reveals that ligand-modulated Fe-doping effectively promotes charge transfer, optimizes the intermediates/electrocatalyst interaction, and reduces OER/HER energy barriers, thus boosting the EOWS performance. The H-FeCoS/NC-assembled electrolyzer delivers a low cell voltage of 1.52 V and stably operates for 1000 h in alkaline medium, surpassing most non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts. This work highlights a facile interfacial assembly route to engineer highly active electrocatalysts for high-performance and durable energy conversion and storage.

NiAl-LDHs-derived NiO/Al2O3 with high specific surface area for wide range hydrogen detection

The construction of heterojunctions is generally considered as one of the effective strategies to improve gas sensing performance. Herein, the NiO/Al2O3 (NAO) hybrid structure is constructed by calcining Ni–Al layered double hydroxides (NiAl-LDHs). The specific surface area and pore size of NAO are effectively regulated by changing the content of NaOH. The XPS and BET characterization results indicate that NAO-5 exhibits a high oxygen vacancy content, a large specific surface area (468.524 m2 g−1), and abundant pore size. The hydrogen (H2) sensitivity property of NAO was investigated, and NAO-5 exhibited outstanding gas sensing performance to 500 ppm H2 at 370 °C, including high response (10.524), fast response recovery speed (21 and 30 s), and wide detection range (0.1–5000 ppm). The improved gas property is mainly attributed to the increased oxygen vacancies and specific surface area. This study provides a feasible approach for NiAl-LDHs in H2 monitoring and early warning.

Direct detection of ethyl carbamate in baijiu by molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensors based on perovskite and graphene oxide

Ethyl carbamate (EC), a carcinogen commonly found in Baijiu, requires an efficient detection method for quality control and monitoring. This study introduces a novel molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for sensitive and selective EC detection. We proposed a simple sol-gel method for the growth of perovskite-structured lanthanum manganate (LaMnO3) on graphene oxide (GO). A non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was developed by coating a molecularly imprinted polymer synthesized via precipitation polymerization onto the surface of LaMnO3@GO. LaMnO3, with its superior three-dimensional nanocube structure, demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic activity, while the addition of GO provided a large specific surface area. The results indicate that the developed sensor exhibits exceptional recognition ability and electrochemical activity, which is attributed to the high affinity of LaMnO3@GO@MIP for EC. The sensor displays a broad linear range from 10 to 2000 μM, with a detection limit as low as 2.18 μM and long-term durability of 28 days. Notably, it demonstrates excellent selectivity, reproducibility, and stability even under different interference conditions. The sensor was successfully used to determine EC in real Baijiu samples. Overall, the sensor has broad application prospects for detecting trace contaminants in the field of food safety.

Enhanced denitrification performance of Mo/Mn co-doped 5 %Fe/TiO2 catalysts via citric acid-assisted impregnation

This study investigates the denitrification performance of Fe5Mn3Mo3/TiO2 catalysts prepared using citric acid-assisted impregnation (CA) and conventional impregnation (IM) methods in the context of NH3-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reaction. Specifically, the influence of citric acid quantity on the catalytic activity is studied, with a special emphasis on Fe5Mn3Mo3/TiO2-0.5CA variant. Our results demonstrate that Fe5Mn3Mo3/TiO2-0.5CA exhibits superior low-temperature activity and prolonged stability compared to the conventional impregnation method. Remarkably, operating temperature window based on 80 % denitrification activity is T80 = 190–405 °C. Furthermore, the Fe5Mn3Mo3/TiO2-0.5CA maintains a noteworthy 98 % NO conversion at 300 °C for a duration of 100 hours. The excellent performance is attributed to the highly dispersed nature of the active species, the large specific surface area, the low apparent activation energy, and a robust interaction between the active components and the substrate. XPS analysis reveals a significantly higher Oα/(Oα+Oβ) ratio for Fe5Mn3Mo3/TiO2-0.5CA, underscoring the effectiveness of citric acid modification in promoting the formation of Fe2+ species. This research provides valuable insights into the design and optimization of catalysts for efficient denitrification processes.

From waste to resource: Transforming Kraft black liquor into sustainable porous carbon fillers for radome applications

The study addresses environmental and commercial challenges posed by weak black liquor (WBL) generated through the Kraft process in the paper industry. WBL, a toxic waste, annually reaches a staggering 1.3 billion tonnes globally. Currently, it is either incinerated for energy production or subjected to costly and complex chemical treatments to extract valuable compounds. Despite efforts to develop a scalable value-added material, the existing methods are inefficient in fully reusing WBL. Here, we report a simple chemical synthesis process that reuses 100 % of WBL without generating any waste materials; even salts recovered during the process might be reintegrated into the industry as chemical byproducts. Furthermore, given the simplicity and efficiency of the proposed synthesis methodology to transform WBL into a novel and sustainable porous carbon material, the carbon Kraft (CK). The process can also be scaled by using the right synthesis proportions and within a circular economy. CK exhibited desirable characteristics with a renewable content of 65 wt%, including a turbostratic graphitic-like structure (48.8 % graphitized), carbon content of 85 wt%, large specific surface area of 234.0 m2∙g−1, nanoporosity of 0.13 cm3∙g−1, and density of 1.92 g∙(cm3)-1. Moreover, CK showed electrical and thermal insulating characteristics, essential for use as fillers for elastomeric composite in electromagnetic transparent radome structures used to protect antennas and radars of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from harsh environmental effects. Radomes were designed through the electromagnetic impedance match theory of half-wavelength calculations over specific frequencies of 1.3, 10, 15, 20, and 30 GHz. Results showed excellent transmission loss between −0.41 and −1.48 dB, representing 90.8 % and 70.5 % of transmittance, respectively.

Biochar Amendment in Green Roof Substrate: A Comprehensive Review of the Benefits, Performance, and Challenges

Green roofs (GRs) are a well-established green infrastructure (GI) strategy that have been extensively studied for decades to address a growing array of social and environmental challenges. Research efforts have been continuously made to contribute to the awareness of benefits of GRs and towards their widespread application. The substrate, which is one of the crucial layers of a GR system, plays a major role in the serviceability of GRs. Thus, several studies have been undertaken to alter the substrate characteristics by applying innovative substrate additives. Biochar, a carbon-rich material with a highly porous structure and large specific surface area, has been found advantageous in several areas such as agriculture, water filtration, environmental remediation, construction, and so on. However, the application of biochar in GRs has been insufficiently studied, partially because biochar amendment in GRs is a relatively recent innovation. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of the performance of biochar-amended GR substrates is lacking. This review paper aims to summarize the past performance of GRs enhanced with biochar by considering the various benefits that biochar offers. The results indicate that most of the reviewed studies observed increased retention of runoff and nutrients when utilizing biochar. Additionally, the capabilities of biochar in improving thermal insulation, plant performance, and microbial diversity, as well as its effectiveness in sequestrating carbon and controlling soil erosion, were mostly agreed upon. Notwithstanding, a definitive conclusion cannot yet be confidently made due to the limited research information from biochar–GR systems and the uneven research focus observed in the studies reviewed. The influence of biochar-related variables (including amendment rates, application methods, processed forms, and particle size) on the effectiveness of biochar was also discussed. Opportunities for future research were suggested to fill the research gaps and address challenges restricting the application of biochar in GRs. Detailed information from past research findings could serve as a foundation for further investigations into the large-scale implementation of biochar in GRs.

Triarylamine-based polyimide COFs for achieving high performance ambipolar multi-color electrochromic energy-storage films

Electrochromic energy storage materials that possess both electrochromic and electrochemical energy-storage properties have attracted significant attention for applications in visual energy-storage, energy-efficient windows, as well as displays. To fulfill their comprehensive applications, electrochromic energy-storage materials require specific characteristics, such as transparency, ambipolarity, multi-color capabilities, and high capacitance. Here, the polyimide covalent-organic framework based on triarylamine (PM-TPI and NT-TPI) COF films were grown successfully on FTO glass through solvothermal polycondensation, and exhibited crystallization, hierarchical porous structures, and ambipolar electrochemical redox activity. Notably, NT-TPI COF film displayed transparent bleached state, ambipolar electrochromism, multi-color (transparent, orange-red, cyan, gray), and high optical contrast. Due to their large specific surface area and efficient electron/ion transport ability, the NT-TPI COF film effectively controlled visible and near-infrared light, achieving optical contrasts of 49.8 % and 70.0 % at 420 and 850 nm, respectively. Moreover, the NT-TPI COF films showed promising electrochemical energy-storage properties and excellent charge–discharge rate performance, with a specific capacitance of 141.0 mAh/g. Additionally, NT-TPI COF/WO3-based ambipolar eclectrochromic energy-storage devices also exhibited high optical contrast from visible to near-infrared regions, and large capacitance. In summary, the NT-TPI COF film effectively combines the electrochromic and electrochemical energy-storage capabilities, making it a promising candidate for electrochromic energy-storage materials with transparency, ambipolarity, high optical contrast, multi-color functionality, and high specific capacitance.

Carbon quantum dots assemblies integrated with spatial confined Co nanoparticles for antibiotic degradation via peroxymonosulfate activation

Heterogeneous Co-based materials are well-known for their exceptional catalytic properties in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of antibiotic pollutants. However, the potential applications of these materials are often hindered by significant Co nanoparticle aggregation and ion leaching. In this study, a carbon quantum dot-mediated self-assembly strategy was used to fabricate three-dimensional porous sponge-like Co@CDs-x (x represents the calcination tempeatures) catalysts with spatially confined Co nanoparticles. Among the samples, Co@CDs-900 exhibited a remarkable 97.8 % removal efficiency of TC in 11 minutes, with an apparent rate constant of 0.313 min−1. The exceptional performance of Co@CDs-900/PMS can be attributed to its large specific surface area, unique porosity, and abundant catalytically active sites, which generate ample reactive oxygen species for TC degradation. The catalyst demonstrated good degradation capabilities across a wide pH range of 3–11 and various organic pollutants such as tetranitrophenol, oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin, methyl orange, and rhodamine B. Moreover, Co@CDs-900 maintained high activity even after the 5th cycle due to its magnetic property and spatial confinement effect, preventing catalyst loss and ion leaching during recycling tests. The degradation mechanism involved both free-radical and non-free radical pathways, with SO4•− and 1O2 identified as the primary reactive oxygen species. The degradation intermediates of TC were identified and a plausible degradation pathway was proposed. Toxicity assessment revealed that the Co@CDs-900/PMS system effectively reduced the toxicity of TC post-degradation. This study presents an effective approach for developing sponge-like CDs assemblies with spatially confined metal nanoparticles for activating PMS in antibiotic degradation.

Boosting adsorption of ciprofloxacin on Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified sepiolite composite synthesized via a vacuum-filtration assisted coprecipitation strategy

Treatment of antibiotics-containing wastewater is imperative for ensuring environmental and public health. However, effectively removing antibiotics in environment is still a great challenge. Fabrication of sepiolite-supported iron oxide nanomaterials with large specific surface area and high reactivity is a promising solution for efficient antibiotics removal. In this work, a highly dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticle modified sepiolite composite (Fe3O4-sep-vacuum) was synthesized in-situ by employing a novel vacuum-filtration assisted coprecipitation strategy for the first time. Fe3O4-sep-vacuum exhibited the highest adsorption capacity to ciprofloxacin compared with those of pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles, sepiolite, and those composites obtained by traditional coprecipitation methods. Approximately 93 % of CIP (20 mg/L) could be removed by Fe3O4-sep-vacuum within 20 min at initial pH 6.0. The kinetic and adsorption isotherms followed pseudo-second-order and Temkin models, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of Fe3O4-sep-vacuum for CIP was 18.4 mg/g at initial pH 6.0. The solution pH, temperature, coexisting divalent cations, and HA concentration were demonstrated to play substantial roles in the adsorption processes of ciprofloxacin on Fe3O4-sep-vacuum surface. The Fe3O4-sep-vacuum maintained excellent stability and reusability during CIP adsorption process. Electrostatic interactions play a decisive role in the adsorption process of ciprofloxacin by Fe3O4-sep-vacuum. Hydrogen bonds and hydroxyl groups on the Fe3O4-sep-vacuum surface also play important roles in the adsorption process of ciprofloxacin. Fe3O4-sep-vacuum also exhibited excellent adsorption capacity to ofloxacin. These results indicate that the vacuum-filtration assisted coprecipitation strategy could be used to fabricate monodispersed nanoparticles modified sepiolite composites, which could be acted as promising materials for highly efficient remediating antibiotics contaminated wastewater.

Preparation of laser-induced graphene modified electrode for the detection of bisphenol A in plastics

In this paper, laser-induced graphene (LIG) with high porosity and large specific surface area was prepared by laser induction technology. Then a selective electrochemical sensor based on LIG was proposed for determination of bisphenol A (BPA). Under optimal conditions, the developed sensor emerged an efficient electrocatalytic activity towards the redox of BPA. The results show that it presents a wide detection range of 100 nM ∼ 1.0 mM and a low detection limit of 50.68 nM with good anti-interference and stability. Furthermore, the sensor can be applied to detect BPA in real plastic samples with the recovery rate of 98.6∼105.8 %, which indicated that the sensor has potential for future applications in trace detection of BPA.

Rational design of nitrogen and carbon co-decorated mesoporous TiO2 composites for photocatalytic selective oxidation of alcohols

Photocatalytic organic synthesis has attracted much attention in recent years. Herein, a N and C co-decorated mesoporous TiO2 (mp-NCT) photocatalyst was synthesized for selective oxidation of alcohols. Notably, the as-prepared mp-NCT composites possess large specific surface areas and mesoporous structures, which could provide sufficient active sites and improve mass transfer. Furthermore, the co-doping of N and C species could not only extend the light absorption, but also tune the valence band of TiO2. Meanwhile, numerous oxygen vacancies and intra-band could be introduced, which helps to reduce the combination of the photogenerated carriers. As a result, the mp-NCT composites show excellent photocatalytic performance towards selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol and its derivatives to corresponding aldehydes under simulated sunlight irradiation. Mechanism studies revealed that the photogenerated electrons, holes and high dynamic equilibrium concentration of O2•- radicals were responsible for the efficient conversion of alcohols to aldehydes.

Batch Preparation and Performance Study of Boehmite-Based Electrospun Nanofiber Separators for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The design and preparation of high-performance separators for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have far-reaching practical significance in enhancing the overall performance of LIBs. Electrospun nanofiber separators (ENSs) have the characteristics of large specific surface area, high porosity, small pore size and good affinity with the electrolyte, making them become ideal candidates for LIB separators. In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/polyurethane (PU) (PAU) ENSs loaded with boehmite (BM) particles (BM/PAU ENSs) were mass-produced using spherical section free surface electrospinning (SSFSE), and used as LIB separators. Their morphology, structures and performances were tested and characterized. The results showed that all BM/PAU ENSs maintained excellent thermal dimensional stability in the range of 140-180 °C, and had good electrolyte wettability and high porosity. The composite BM/PAU-2 ENS with the best performance had a porosity of 52.5%, an electrolyte uptake rate of 822.1%, and an ionic conductivity of 1.97 mS/cm. Additionally, the battery assembled with BM/PAU-2 separator also demonstrated best electrochemical performance, cycling performance, and rate capability, with a capacity retention rate of 94.4% after 80 cycles at 0.5 C, making it a promising high-performance separator for LIBs.

Efficient adsorption of fluorescein dye from aqueous solutions by Al/Th-MOF bimetal-organic frameworks: Adsorption isotherm, kinetics, DFT computation, and optimization via Box-Behnken design

Bimetal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, have sparked a lot of interest in the wastewater treatment industry. This study investigated the possibility of removing fluorescein dye (FS) employing bimetal-organic frameworks based on aluminum and thorium (Al/Th-MOF) from aqueous solutions. To investigate the properties of the material further, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, surface charge analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used. Using these methods, we were able to identify the Al/Th-MOF's point of zero charge. Following adsorption, the adsorbent's large surface area of 2273.8 m2/g and pore volume of 1.4 cm3/g drop to 1678.9 m2/g and 0.96 cm3/g, individually. As this suggests, it is ideal that a portion of the FS was absorbed within the pores of the adsorbent. Through batch testing, it looked into the connection between adsorption equilibrium and pH levels, and found that changes in solution pH significantly affected adsorption behavior. Further studies with kinetic models led to the discovery of the pseudo-second-order model for FS adsorption on Al/Th-MOF. Furthermore, the Langmuir isotherm model accurately describes the adsorption process, suggesting that chemisorption played a major role in the process as a whole. To optimize factors such adsorbent dosage, time, solution pH, the response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design (BBD) were used. As a consequence (ΔH°), (ΔS°), and (ΔG°) data the adsorption of FS employing Al/Th-MOF as an adsorbent is endothermic and spontaneous. Our study's studies have demonstrated that the Al/Th-MOF adsorbent combines a number of mechanisms, such as π-π interaction, H-bonding, pore filling, and electrostatic contact, to effectively remove FS dye from water-based solutions. The adsorption capacity of FS onto Al/Th-MOF reaches a maximum of 668.6 mg.g−1 at a pH value of 4, demonstrating that the adsorbent is particularly successful in removing FS from wastewater samples. Furthermore, the synthesized Al/Th-MOF adsorbent possesses outstanding render ability and cyclability for a maximum of eight adsorption-desorption cycles, suggesting that it could find application as an adsorbent in industrial environments. Overall, our research suggests that the adsorbent is a potential and novel approach for managing industrial effluent and water filtering.