Mesoporous Composite Materials Research Articles

Polyoxometalate based ionic liquids reinforced on magnetic nanoparticles: A sustainable solution for microplastics and heavy metal ions elimination from water

To purify water from contaminents is essential for life on universe. Here, in this manuscript we introduces an innovative approach to overcome the intricate challenge of eliminating heavy metal ions and microplastics from water. We designed a mesoporous composite materials by synergistically integrating polyoxometalates (POMs) based ionic liquids with silica coated magnetic nanoparticles. The synthesis process initiates with the utilization of highly reduced molybdenum aggregates in polyoxometalate-ionic liquids, reinforced onto magnetic nanoparticles (POM–IL–MNPs). Crafted composites, including Q8[Mo64Ni8La6]@SiO2@Fe3O4, Q10[Mo64Ni8La6]@SiO2@Fe3O4, Q8[Mo176/Mo248]@SiO2@Fe3O4, and Q10[Mo176/Mo248]@SiO2@Fe3O4, are meticulously designed by substituting POM counter cations with long-chain alkyl-based quaternary ammonium salts. The ionic liquids and composites exhibit remarkable hydrophobicity and thermal stability due to large anions and long-chain organic counter cations. Comprehensive characterization, including FT–IR, UV–vis spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, CV, rheological study, elemental analysis, and ICP-AES, ensures a thorough investigation. Additional analyses, such as Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), SEM, EDX, DLS, N2 adsorption, and VSM, reveal amorphous crystallinity, distinctive surface morphology, and substantial specific surface area. Core shell structure of POM-IL-MNPs was determined by Transmision electron microscope (TEM), ICP-AES analysis demonstrates metal ion removal efficiencies from 87.35% to 99.98%, with DLS confirming 100% efficiency in PVC beads elimination. This research not only advances water decontamination but also provides valuable insights into designing and characterizing novel materials with promising environmental applications.

Fabrication of Monodisperse Magnetic Polystyrene Mesoporous Composite Microspheres for High-Efficiency Selective Adsorption and Rapid Separation of Cationic Dyes in Textile Industry Wastewater.

Sustainable development has become an inevitable trend in the world's green chemical industry for a generation or more. In this study, a monodisperse magnetic polystyrene mesoporous composite microsphere (MPPS) composed of Fe3O4 nanoparticles loaded on polystyrene mesoporous microspheres is introduced. These microspheres serve as effective adsorbents for the swift removal of cationic dyes. The fabrication of the wastewater adsorbent, with its simple operation and economic practicality, involved a combination of dispersion polymerization, a sulfonation reaction, two-step swelling polymerization, and in situ alkaline oxidation technology. Notably, the adsorption capacity within 3 min reaches 184.0 mg/g, with an impressive adsorption efficiency of 92%. This is primarily attributed to the high specific surface area (Smax) of the MPPS providing more reaction sites for π-π interaction. Simultaneously, the attractive force between negatively charged sulfonic acid groups and cationic dyes is enhanced through surface modification of the MPPS. Furthermore, the MPPS, boasting a maximum saturation magnetization of 38.19 emu/g, ensures rapid separation from the solution for recycling within 3 s. Even after 5 cycles, the adsorption efficiency remains over 90%. The rapid separation of dyes is facilitated by the magnetic attraction of Fe3O4 nanoparticles from the MPPS under the application of a magnetic field. These composite mesoporous materials exhibit outstanding performance in both efficient selective adsorption and recyclability, presenting a novel green adsorbent with promising prospects for sustainable development. This innovation is poised to excel in fields such as sewage treatment, separation, and purification.

Color Conversion Characteristics of Micro-LED Based on Quantum Dot@Ordered Mesoporous Composite Materials

Color Conversion Characteristics of Micro-LED Based on Quantum Dot@Ordered Mesoporous Composite Materials

Insights into electro-assisted and selective adsorption of U(VI) using hierarchical porous and activated biocarbon from lotus pods/2D-MoS2/polypyrrole composites through capacitive deionization

The current research work involves the fabrication of orderly mesoporous composite materials based on layered molybdenum disulfide, a hierarchical porous biocarbon from Lotus pods electrodeposited with polypyrrole (2D-MoS2/BCL/PPy). The polypyrrole, as a conducting polymer, was electrodeposited in different mole ratios onto Ni foam supported by 2D-MoS2/BCL. The composite materials were analytically characterized by means of FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET, and XRD techniques. The Lotus pod-driven biocarbon exhibited a high surface area. Among different composites, BCL/PPy-3 (electrodeposited with 0.3 M PPy) was found highly efficient in electro-assisted hexavalent uranium recovery via capacitive deionization because of its impressive specific capacitance (Csp) (100.40 F/g) with improved active surface area and admirable total pore volume. These characteristics made BCL/PPy-3 competitive for enhanced hexavalent uranium ion electrosorption. These features were highly conducive to fast electron transfer and better diffusion of hexavalent uranium ions during the CDI process. The exposed S atoms in BCL/PPy-3 showed good coordination and complexing power for hexavalent uranium ions. The BCL/PPy-3 exhibited an inspiring sorption capacity of 417.90 mg/g at pH = 4.5 and applied voltage (−0.9 V), which is better than many other materials used in CDI applications having similar geometry and morphology. During the electrosorption, the composite electrode BCL/PPy-3 offered a small solution resistance (Rs) (0.69 cm2), a minute charge transfer resistance of Rct (1.19 Ω cm2), and a substantial double layer constant phase element (qdl) of (0.0372 S sn/cm2). These features make this composite electrode highly effective for hexavalent uranium ions removal.

Evaluation of the activity and selectivity of mesoporous composites of MCM-41 and CuO in the CO2 photoreduction process

The conversion of CO2 into valuable chemical feedstock through photocatalysis is considered an effective strategy to mitigate global warming and energy supply problems. Among the challenges for CO2 photoreduction are the design and synthesis of active photocatalysts with high affinity for the CO2 molecule and suitable reduction potentials of valence and conduction bands to promote the reduction of the CO2 molecule. Molecular sieves (MCM-41) with semiconductors, such as copper oxide, are alternatives to the traditional semiconductors (TiO2 and ZnO) with high CO2 adsorption capacity, high specific surface area, and good stability, making them perfect candidates for photocatalysis. Therefore, in this work, mesoporous composite materials based on MCM-41 and CuO were synthesized via the impregnation method. The synthesized materials were chemically, structurally, and morphologically characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, XPS, DRS, N2 adsorption and desorption, and atomic absorption spectroscopy techniques, and the photocatalytic activity in the reduction of CO2 was evaluated under visible radiation. We show that MCM-41 and the composite MCM-41/CuO have significant potential for use in the CO2 photoreduction process, where the composition and different active sites in the photocatalysts play an important role in the activity and selectivity of the products formed. The results showed that the MCM-41 and the composite with 1 % (w/w%) CuO presented high selectivity and production of methanol, with 585.88 and 267.05 μmol.gcatalyst-1, respectively. Thus, the findings demonstrated the versatility of the MCM-41 to form composites with semiconductors, as well as the need to comprehend the main aspects that influence CO2 photoreduction activities and the selectivity of the composites, including their surface, structural, and electrical features.

Facile and scalable synthesis of mesoporous composite materials from coal gasification fine slag for enhanced adsorption of malachite green

The recycling of the solid wastes produced in the industrial process and converting them into functional materials with unique structures are of great significance for the sustainable development of human society. In this study, a facile and scalable synthesis method was designed for the preparation of mesoporous composite materials from waste coal gasification fine slag using K2CO3 as a mild chemical additive to chemically recombine SiO2 and Al2O3. At a fine slag to K2CO3 mass ratio of 1:1, a mesoporous composite material (OMB-KB) mainly composed of faujasite-Na and amicite was obtained, which possessed a uniformly porous and loose structure with a specific surface area of 40.26 m2/g and the pore size range of 2–50 nm. Metals inherited from the raw slag and various chemical groups existed on the surface of OMB-KB, making the materials have unique surface chemical properties. OMB-KB exhibited ultra-high adsorption performance on malachite green (MG), and the adsorption capacity reached 7218.31 mg/g when 0.01 g of OMB-KB and 300 ml of MG solution with a concentration of 300 mg/L were used for the adsorption at 298K. The increase of pH was beneficial to the adsorption of cationic MG, and the removal efficiency reached an excellent state at pH ≥ 6. The good fitting of the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model suggested that the adsorption process was dominated by chemisorption. The thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption of OMB-KB to MG was endothermic, entropy-increasing and entropy-controlled. The adsorption of MG by the material was realized through the exchange interactions between cations, as well as the electrostatic attraction and van der Waals forces between –OH groups and MG. Meanwhile, the oxygen-containing groups and π-electrons in the carbon layer could also adsorb MG molecules by electrostatic attraction.

Analysis of scale and frame interface effects on the solidification properties of solar salt in mesopores

The intermittency and instability of solar irradiation can be effectively overcome by using medium- and high-temperature composite phase change materials (PCMs) for latent heat storage. Studies using metals and organics as phase change materials show that the phase change behavior of mesoporous composite phase change materials is affected by the constraint effect, and its thermophysical parameters (such as phase change point and phase change latent heat) are significantly different from those of macro volume. However, at present, research on molten salt phase change materials, which are widely used in the field of medium- and high-temperature research, is insufficient. Molecular dynamics simulations combined with experimental methods were used to analyze the changes in the freezing point, supercooling degree and enthalpy of solidification of solar salt in mesoporous composite phase change materials, which were based on the self-diffusion coefficient and the potential energy-temperature curve. The results show that a larger mesoporous size leads to a higher freezing point of the solar salt. At the same scale, with the increase in Al2O3 content in the framework, the freezing point of the solar salt first decreases and then increases. The supercooling degree of solar salt decreases with increasing scale. When the mass content of Al2O3 in the framework is in the range of 25 wt%-40 wt%, the supercooling degree of solar salt increases gradually; in contrast, it decreases in the range of 40 wt%-50 wt%, and finally, it increases again in the range of 50 wt%-75 wt%. The latent heat of phase transition increases with increasing scale. With the increase in Al2O3 content in the framework, the latent heat of phase transformation first decreases, then increases, and finally stabilizes. Al2O3 and SiO2 in the interface of the frame can promote heterogeneous nucleation and provide a substrate for the nucleation of molten solar salt. They also reduce the degree of supercooling. It is found that the effect of Al2O3 on nucleation is more significant.

Direct production of biodiesel from crude Euphorbia lathyris L. Oil catalyzed by multifunctional mesoporous composite materials

Efficient transformation of cheap non edible oil into biodiesel via heterogeneous catalysis is attractive to boost commercialization of biodiesel in one pot. Herein, a novel composite material (ZP-P[SIH]-2) was developed by hybridizing the sulfonic acid functionalized poly(ionic liquid) (P[SIH]) and zirconium phosphonate (ZP) for directly transforming crude Euphorbia lathyris L. oil. into biodiesel. The ZP-P[SIH]-2 was systematically characterized and exhibited multi-purpose functionalities and excellent properties, including acid-base bifunction, uniform dispersion of acid and base sites, rich mesoporous with 167 m2/g, and excellent hydrophobicity and wettability for the reaction substrates. These merits of the ZP-P[SIH]-2 afforded its high catalytic activity with 93% biodiesel yield under condition of 8 wt% ZP-P[SIH]-2 amount, 40:1 M ratio of MeOH to oil at 150 °C for 8 h, outperforming those of single P[SIH] and ZP, commercial acid resins, and even homogeneous acids (H3PW12O40 and H2SO4) and base (CaO). The catalytic reaction exhibiting low activation energy (29.82 KJ mol−1) obeyed pseudo-first order model and was endothermic. The ZP-P[SIH]-2 is heterogeneous and had no obvious reduction in catalytic activity after four cycles owing to being constructed by strong chemical bonds. Additionally, the fuel properties of prepared biodiesel fulfilled the international standards.

Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Zr-Al Composite Oxides with Excellent Structural and Textural Properties and Extremely High Stability.

Ordered mesoporous Zr-Al composite oxide materials (denoted as OMZA-x) with different Zr contents have been synthesized by a solvent evaporation-inducing self-assembly procedure associated with a thermal treatment at 100 °C. A cooperative co-assembly process of amphiphilic triblock copolymer F127 molecules and inorganic hydroxyl species originated from the hydrolysis of Zr and Al precursors was proposed to explain the synthesis of OMZA-x. Compared to ordered mesoporous alumina prepared without introducing Zr species, the resultant OMZA-x exhibited a much more ordered mesostructure combined with a distinct increase in the pore volume and specific surface area. The highly homogenous doping of Zr into the mesopore walls together with the formation of Zr-O-Al bonds can effectively enhance the thermal and hydrothermal stability of OMZA-x. For instance, the ordered mesostructure and excellent textural properties of OMZA-6 prepared with the optimum atomic ratio of Al to Zr of 6 could be well maintained even after a high-temperature treatment at 1000 °C for 1 h or a hydrothermal treatment at 100 °C for 6 h.

Aluminium-induced component engineering of mesoporous composite materials for low-temperature NH3-SCR

Supported Mn2O3 is useful in achieving high dinitrogen selectivity at low temperature during ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (SCR). However, its controlled synthesis is challenging when the supporting material is the conventional pure silicon SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve. Here we show that silicon and aluminium in fly ash, the solid waste produced by coal-fired power plants, can be used to synthesize an Al-SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve support, which can guide the growth of Mn2O3 in the as-synthesized Fe-Mn/Al-SBA-15 NH3-SCR catalyst. Its superior catalytic performance is demonstrated by the high NOx conversion (≥90%) and selectivity (≥86%) at low temperatures (150–300 °C). The combined theoretical and experimental results reveal that the introduction of Al induces the growth of Mn2O3 catalysts. Our findings, therefore, provide a strategy for the rational design of low-temperature NH3-SCR catalysts through dopant-induced component engineering of composite materials.

Low-Cost Route for Preparing Carbon–Silica Composite Mesoporous Material from Coal Gasification Slag: Synthesis, Characterization and Application in Purifying Dye Wastewater

The promotion of China’s coal gasification industry has produced highly yielded coal gasification slag. This research utilized the coal gasification fine slag as raw material and successfully synthesized a carbon–silica composite mesoporous material with a specific surface area of 500 m2/g and pore volume of 0.54 cm3/g by simple acid leaching technology. The influence of reaction conditions on porosity was discussed in detail, and the optimal sample was characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption analyzer, SEM, TEM and others. Also, by the methylene blue adsorption experiment, we confirmed that the maximum adsorption capacity of synthesized mesoporous material is 182.48 mg/g, showing that it can be envisioned as a competitive candidate for purification of textile industrial wastewater.

Композитные мезопористые материалы на основе кислотно-активированных монтмориллонитов

Композитные мезопористые материалы на основе кислотно-активированных монтмориллонитов

A simplistic approach for the synthesis of CuS-CdS heterostructure: A novel photo catalyst for oxidative dye degradation

Direct synthesis of CuS-CdS based mesoporous composite materials and their photocatalytic activity are delineated. In this study, a series of CuS micro flowers (mf) decorated with varying amounts of CdS nanoparticles (NP) have been synthesized successfully in a controlled manner. Relatively easy synthesis of material along with its surfactant-free clean surfaced heterojunction accentuates the reliability of the protocol described here. Full characterization of these semiconducting materials was accomplished with a series of analytical techniques, which include powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tunnelling electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis, IR, BET and lifetime studies. Upon varying the concentration of precursor of Cd in the reactions, the resulting materials exhibited a well-demarcated change in morphologies ranging from undifferentiated mass to well-differentiated flower-like architectures. The thoroughly characterized composite was accessed finally for its potential photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes. The results showed 96.0% degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) over 10 min and 94.7% degradation of methylene blue (MB) over 9 min. This observed rate of degradation was much higher compared to that observed in the case of pure CuS (62.0% of RhB and 50.2% of MB).

Photocatalytic performance of mesoporous composites of TiO2–ZrO2 and phosphotungstic acid

Herein, the mesoporous composite materials, mTiO2–ZrO2/PTAy-x (PTA = phosphotungstic acid, x represents the molar ratio of Ti to Zr, y represents the weight percent of PTA in mTiO2–ZrO2/PTA samples), have been prepared by the surfactant-assisted sol–gel method combined with a subsequent hydrothermal treatment. The as-prepared catalysts were fully characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, DRS, PLs and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. The results indicated that mTiO2–ZrO2 sample with the TiO2 and ZrO2 molar ratio of 3 exhibits good crystallinity, large internal surface areas and narrow-sized pores. The PTA clusters incorporated in mTiO2–ZrO2 frameworks preserve intact Keggin structure according to EDX, FT-IR and diffuse reflectance UV/vis/NIR spectroscopy. The band gap energy of as-prepared composites is reduced compared with single components. The PL experiments revealed that the obtained mTiO2–ZrO2 can strongly retard the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes compared with a single oxide, and the introduction of PTA species can further improve the light adsorption and the photochemical stability, therefore efficiently promoting photocatalytic activity of the ternary composite materials. Photocatalytic experiments confirmed that mTiO2–ZrO2/PTA10-3 displayed highly efficient and durable activity for the photodegradation of methyl orange under simulated sunlight and photoreduction of Cr(VI) under visible light. The study of the photocatalytic mechanism revealed that superoxide radicals (∙O2−) and holes (h+) are the main active species. These materials are very stable in the photocatalytic reactions, and therefore, they are promising and efficient catalysts for practical applications.

Non‐covalent Immobilization of Iron‐triazole (Fe(Htrz)3) Molecular Mediator in Mesoporous Silica Films for the Electrochemical Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide

AbstractMesoporous silica thin films encapsulating a molecular iron‐triazole complex, Fe(Htrz)3 (Htrz=1,2,4,‐1H‐triazole), have been generated by electrochemically assisted self‐assembly (EASA) on indium‐tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The obtained modified electrodes are characterized by well‐defined voltammetric signals corresponding to the FeII/III centers of the Fe(Htrz)3 species immobilized into the films, indicating fast electron transfer processes and stable operational stability. This is due to the presence of a high density of redox probes in the material (1.6×10−4 mol g−1 Fe(Htrz)3 in the mesoporous silica film) enabling efficient charge transport by electron hopping. The mesoporous films are uniformly deposited over the whole electrode surface and they are characterized by a thickness of 110 nm and a wormlike mesostructure directed by the template role played by Fe(Htrz)3 species in the EASA process. These species are durably immobilized in the material (they are not removed by solvent extraction). The composite mesoporous material (denoted Fe(Htrz)3@SiO2) is then used for the electrocatalytic detection of hydrogen peroxide, which can be performed by amperometry at an applied potential of −0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl and by flow injection analysis. The organic‐inorganic hybrid film electrode displays good sensitivity for H2O2 sensing over a dynamic range from 5 to 300 μM, with a detection limit estimated at 2 μM.

Coordination Polymers as Template for Mesoporous Silica Films: A Novel Composite Material Fe(Htrz)3@SiO2with Remarkable Electrochemical Properties

While attempting to confine Fe(Htrz)3 (Htrz = 1,2,4,-1H-triazole) into a mesoporous silica matrix during its formation by electrochemically assisted self-assembly (EASA), we have discovered that such spin crossover complex is likely to act as the template (in place of the surfactant species) to form in one step a composite mesoporous material (Fe(Htrz)3@SiO2). The EASA method usually leads to the vertical growth of mesoporous silica thin films owing to the electroinduced condensation of silica precursors (i.e., tetraethoxysilane, TEOS) around tubular micelles (i.e., made of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) oriented orthogonally to the underlying support. In the presence of Fe(Htrz)3 in the starting sol (in addition to TEOS and CTAB), two distinct situations can be reached. At low Fe(Htrz)3 concentration (≤3 mM), the vertically aligned mesostructure is formed and Fe(Htrz)3 complexes are incorporated along with the surfactant phase, but most of them are released upon surfactant removal. At high Fe(Htrz...

Preparation of carboxyethyltin group-functionalized highly ordered mesoporous organosilica composite material with double acid sites

A series of highly ordered mesoporous ethane-bridged organosilica composite materials functionalized by carboxyethyltin group, SnR–Si(Et)Si–X (SnR and Si(Et)Si denote [Sn(CH2)2COOH]3+ and ethane-bridged organosilica groups, respectively), were successfully designed through one-step co-condensation–hydrothermal method. The pore morphology and textural properties, Sn(IV) coordination environment, the type of acid site, Bronsted and Lewis acid strength were systematically characterized by LXRD, TEM observation, N2 porosimetry measurements, MAS NMR (29Si, 13C, 119Sn), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum, as well as 1H and 31P MAS NMR, FT-IR analysis of adsorbed pyridine, acid–base titration. Composite materials SnR–Si(Et)Si–X possess Bronsted and Lewis acid sites, which originates from –COOH in [Sn(CH2)2COOH]3+ group and bridging OH in [Si(OH)SnR] group as well as tetrahedral coordination framework Sn(IV) in the open configuration [SnR(SiO)3(OH)], respectively. The above 2D hexagonal mesoporous structure with unique textural properties, double acid sites (Bronsted and Lewis acid sites) and hydrophobic surface make SnR–Si(Et)Si–X exhibit excellent acid catalytic activity, reusability and water tolerance toward ketalization of cyclohexanone with glycol in absence of azeotrope agent at low temperature.

Morphology and Physical and Chemical Performance Control of Mesoporous Composite Materials

In this study, we provide a strategy to control morphology as well as physical and chemical property of mesoporous composites materials (MCM). SEM, TEM, XRD and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements were used to characterize the morphology and physical and chemical performance of MCM. Low surfactant concentration results in fabrication microspheres with 5 gm in average diameter and smooth surface. Long ultrasonic irradiation results displayed the same size microspheres that were made up of smaller particles. Longer ultrasonic irradiation brought about more diversified morphology. In the synthesis system, the introduction of a variety of inorganic salts leads to great changes in morphology and physical and chemical property of mesoporous composites materials. Such morphological, physical and chemical property mesoporous composites materials are promising for application in many fields.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.23.4.16235

Development of micro–mesoporous composite material of the ZSM-12/MCM-41 type for the CO2 adsorption

In the present work, ZSM-12/MCM-41 micro–mesoporous composite materials were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption–desorption at 77 K and transmission electron microscopy, were carried out for characterization. The diffractograms indicated that the synthesized materials present characteristic peaks of the microporous (ZSM-12) and mesoporous (MCM-41) structures. The micro–mesoporous composite materials presented a higher CO2 adsorption capacity than MCM-41 mesoporous materials, confirming the promising application in CO2 capture.

Mesoporous Ge/GeO2/Carbon Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes with High Capacity and High Reversibility.

We report mesoporous composite materials (m-GeO2, m-GeO2/C, and m-Ge-GeO2/C) with large pore size which are synthesized by a simple block copolymer directed self-assembly. m-Ge/GeO2/C shows greatly enhanced Coulombic efficiency, high reversible capacity (1631 mA h g(-1)), and stable cycle life compared with the other mesoporous and bulk GeO2 electrodes. m-Ge/GeO2/C exhibits one of the highest areal capacities (1.65 mA h cm(-2)) among previously reported Ge- and GeO2-based anodes. The superior electrochemical performance in m-Ge/GeO2/C arises from the highly improved kinetics of conversion reaction due to the synergistic effects of the mesoporous structures and the conductive carbon and metallic Ge.