Non-metal Oxides Research Articles

First-principles DFT study on the interaction of non-metal oxides with water cluster

First-principles DFT study on the interaction of non-metal oxides with water cluster

Current Challenges and Emerging Therapies in the Treatment of Gout.

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by the deposition of MSU in the joints and surrounding tissues, which results in inflammation and recurrent painful attacks. Currently, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, i.e., Allopurinol and Febuxostat, are used in the therapy. Recently, nanoparticles (NPs) containing metal oxides and non-metal oxides have also been developed to better manage gout. This comprehensive review summarizes the pathophysiology of gout, currently used drugs in the treatment, followed by emerging therapies for gout.

Nano-delivery platforms for bacterial gene transformation: suitability and challenges.

Nano-scale particles (NPs) have gained increased interest as non-viral vectors for nucleic acid delivery due to their ability to penetrate through unabraded cell membranes. The previous studies performed have evaluated the nanomaterials for their microbial transformation proficiency but have not compared the relative efficacy. The present study aims to identify the most proficient nano-delivery vehicle among the chemically synthesized/functionalized non-metal oxide, metal/metal oxide, and carbon-based (carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene oxide (GO)) nanomaterial(s) (NMs) for the transformation of two gram-negative bacteria, i.e., Escherichia coli and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The microscopy and spectroscopy studies helped to identify the interaction, adhesion patterns, transformation efficiencies, better delivery, and expression of the target gfp gene by use of NMs. Loading of pgfp on all NMs imparted protection to DNAse I attack except ZnO NPs with maximum by chitosan, layered double hydroxide (LDH), and GO NM-plasmid DNA conjugates. The CNTs and GO significantly enhanced the extra- and intra-cellular protein content, respectively, in both bacteria. However, GO and CNT significantly decreased the cell viability in a time-dependent manner while AuNPs exhibited negligible cell toxicity. Therefore, this study identified the comparative efficiency of metal/metal oxide, non-metal oxide, and carbon nanomaterials with AuNPs as the most biosafe while LDH and chitosan NPs being the most proficient alternative tools for the genetic transformation of gram-negative bacteria by simple incubation method.

FINISHING TEXTILE MATERIALS WITH MICROCAPSULES AND NANOPARTICLES OF FUNCTIONAL SUBSTANCES

The results of studies aimed at the creation of new functional textile materials through the use of microencapsulated TE (textile excipients) and metal nanoparticles, metal and non-metal oxides, as well as clays of natural origin were summarized. The developed methods for the synthesis of capsule shells of various architectures, including natural and synthetic polyelectrolytes, were presented. The technologies for encapsulation of functional preparations for aromatic, repellent and antibacterial finishing of textile materials were described. A description of the formation of microcapsules based on a highly active repellent drug - alpha-cypermethrin is given. An antimicrobial preparation containing silver nanoparticles has been developed, and recommendations for its use have been given. The production of silver nanoparticles were based on the reduction of metallic silver from silver nitrate using reducing agents such as glucose, glyoxal, and sodium dithionite in various concentrations. The sizes of synthesized particles vary from 145 to 2 nm. Modifying compositions based on synthetic polyelectrolytes and new complex compounds with predictable prolonged stability, functional substances and macrocycles (cyclodextrins (CD) and crown ethers) have been obtained. A technique was presented for the synthesis and strong fixation on cellulose fiber by introducing silver ions into the cavity of β-cyclodextrin of bioactive Ag-containing preparations with nanometer-sized particles. Methods for obtaining nanosized particles of zinc oxide were presented. Zinc acetate and zinc chloride were used as precursors. The sizes of the obtained nanoparticles are 70-90 nm. The technological bases for obtaining polyfunctional coatings on textile materials by impregnation and printing methods using polymers were described. The resulting coatings exhibit enhanced antibacterial and self-cleaning properties. The polyfunctionality of the action of fluorinated aluminosilicate in the processes of textile chemistry was shown. For citation: Odintsova O.I., Vladimirtseva E.L., Kozlova O.V., Smirnova S.V., Lipina A.A., Petrova L.S., Erzunov K.A., Konstantinova Z.A., Zimnurov A.R., Bykov F.A., Melnikov A.G. Finishing textile materials with microcapsules and nanoparticles of functional substances. ChemChemTech [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.]. 2023. V. 66. N 7. P. 173-184. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20236607. 6844j.

Halloysite-TiO2 Nanocomposites for Water Treatment: A Review.

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are clay minerals with a tubular structure that can be used for many different applications in place of carbon nanotubes. Indeed, HNTs display low/non-toxicity, are biocompatible, and can be easily prepared. Moreover, the aluminum and silica groups present on HNTs' inner and outer surfaces facilitate the interaction with various functional agents, such as alkalis, organosilanes, polymers, surfactants, and nanomaterials. This allows the deposition of different materials, for instance, metal and non-metal oxides, on different substrate types. This review article first briefly presents HNTs' general structure and the various applications described in the last 20 years (e.g., drug delivery, medical implants, and energy storage). Then, it discusses in detail HNT applications for water purification (inorganic and organic pollutants). It focuses particularly on HNT-TiO2 composites that are considered very promising photocatalysts due to their high specific surface area and adsorption capacity, large pore volume, good stability, and mechanical features.

A Review on Optoelectronical Properties of Non-Metal Oxide/Diamond-Based p-n Heterojunction.

Diamond holds promise for optoelectronic devices working in high-frequency, high-power and high-temperature environments, for example in some aspect of nuclear energetics industry processing and aerospace due to its wide bandgap (5.5 eV), ultimate thermal conductivity, high-pressure resistance, high radio frequency and high chemical stability. In the last several years, p-type B-doped diamond (BDD) has been fabricated to heterojunctions with all kinds of non-metal oxide (AlN, GaN, Si and carbon-based semiconductors) to form heterojunctions, which may be widely utilized in various optoelectronic device technology. This article discusses the application of diamond-based heterostructures and mainly writes about optoelectronic device fabrication, optoelectronic performance research, LEDs, photodetectors, and high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device applications based on diamond non-metal oxide (AlN, GaN, Si and carbon-based semiconductor) heterojunction. The discussion in this paper will provide a new scheme for the improvement of high-temperature diamond-based optoelectronics.

Improved catalytic activity and stability of Cu/ZnO catalyst by boron oxide modification for low-temperature methanol synthesis

Surface modification is an efficient way for enhanced activity and stability in methanol synthesis over traditional Cu/ZnO catalyst. However, previous investigations mainly focused on different metal oxides or pure metals as additives to modify Cu-based catalysts. The influence of non-metal oxide incorporation on the catalytic activity and stability of Cu/ZnO catalyst lacks a deep study. In this work, we prepared a series of boron oxide (B2O3) modified Cu/ZnO catalysts (CZB-R-x) with tunable boron content to disclose the role of B2O3. With the increase of B/Cu molar ratio (x) from 0 to 0.10, there exists a volcano-shaped correlation between catalytic activity and B/Cu molar ratio, revealing a balance between the promotional effect of B2O3 and the negative influence caused by excessive B2O3. CZB-R-0.05 catalyst can increase methanol space time yield (STY) by 7.5 times and total carbon turnover frequency (TOF) by 5.8 times at 170 °C, when compared to unmodified Cu/ZnO, and also stabilizes for 700 h at 200 °C without obvious deactivation. Kinetic studies indicate that the apparent activation energy required for low-temperature methanol synthesis is remarkably decreased from 217.2 kJ/mol over Cu/ZnO to 121.4 kJ/mol over CZB-R-0.05. Importantly, STY of methanol correlates linearly with Cu0 surface area and the number of strongly acidic sites, suggesting that higher Cu0 surface area and stronger surface acidity are key prerequisites for achieving outstanding performance for low-temperature methanol synthesis.

Time to Conquer Fungal Infectious Diseases: Employing Nanoparticles as Powerful and Versatile Antifungal Nanosystems against a Wide Variety of Fungal Species

The development of novel antifungal agents and, in particular, the widespread use of these medications over the course of the past two decades, has had a significant impact on the treatment of fungal infectious diseases. This has resulted in a complete transformation of the treatment of fungal infectious diseases. However, the widespread development of antibiotic resistance has masked the significance of such breakthroughs. Antifungal infection treatment with nanoparticles has been shown to be effective. As a result of their unique characteristics, these substances, in contrast to antibiotics in their purest form, are able to exhibit an increased anti-proliferative capacity while requiring a lower concentration than traditional drugs do in order to achieve the same effect. Decreased drug effectiveness, minimal tissue penetration throughout tissue, restricted tissue penetration, decreased bioavailability, poor drug pharmacokinetics, and low water solubility are some of the major factors contributing to the employment of antifungal medicines in delivery systems. Because of this, one of the primary goals of incorporating antifungal medications into varying sorts of nanoparticles is to reduce the negative effects of the drugs’ inherent qualities. This article provides an overview of the many types of nanoparticles, such as metal, metal oxide, and non-metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanofibers, antifungal peptides, composites, and ZnO quantum dots, that can be used as antifungal drug delivery systems, as well as the benefits that these nanomaterials have over purified medications.

Polysaccharides‐Based Nano‐Hybrid Biomaterial Platforms for Tissue Engineering, Drug Delivery, and Food Packaging Applications

AbstractPolysaccharides have received immense interest in recent years for outstanding properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewable origin, and ease of modification. Owing to their considerable bioactivities, natural abundance, immunoactivity, and chemical modifiability in a variety of applications, they are considered potential biomaterials for the biomedical, biotechnological, and industrial sectors of the modern world. Polysaccharide‐based novel nanocomposites from starch, chitin and chitosan, alginates, cellulose, dextran, and hyaluronic acid with unique functional and structural attributes have been the subject of extensive study to promote their usage in a variety of fields, including biomedicine, food industry, and nonbiological sectors. Furthermore, polysaccharide‐based metal and nonmetal oxides, graphene, and carbon nanotubes have been used with various combinations in diverse fields of research. This review spotlights the application prospects of polysaccharides‐based hybrid nano‐biomaterials in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and food packaging concerning the biological and chemical properties, cross‐linking membranes, and focuses on the relationship between their composition and properties.

Potential Impact of Smog on Human Health

Smog is a term used to describe pollution suspended in humid air. It's made up of different- sized dust particles, as well as non-metal oxides, organic compounds, and heavy metals. Apart from smoking cigarettes, one of the changeable variables leading to the development of respiratory diseases is exposure to toxic compounds dispersed in the air. . Smog is a visible form of air pollution that arises due to the over-emissions of some primary pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrocarbons, SO, NO, and NO2 which further react in the atmosphere and give rise to toxic and carcinogenic secondary smog components. There are six categories of airborne chemicals that have a negative impact on public health and cause disease. Ozone, particulate matter (PM) of various dimensions - PM2.5, PM2.5–10, PM10, nitrogen – all has important implications. Lead, carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide Small dust particles (PM10 and PM2.5) are given special attention since they can enter the lower respiratory tract. The page examines the impact of atmospheric pollutants on both the development and exacerbation of the disease, in addition to detailing the composition of smog and sources of air pollution. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections, and other respiratory tract illnesses can all cause symptoms. Lung cancer is a type of cancer that affects. Some of the legislative methods used in various nations to reduce exposure to harmful air pollution are presented.

Diffusion transport characteristic of carbon monoxide within calcium sulfate slit in chemical looping hydrogen production: Molecular dynamics simulation

Chemical looping hydrogen production is a kind of technology for high-carbon energy cleaning and low-carbon utilization with great development potential, which can realize H2 production and CO2 separation at low cost. CaSO4 oxygen carrier, as the non-metal oxide oxygen carrier, is not only cheap in price and friendly to the environment, but also high in amount of oxygen carried and excellent in the thermodynamic reaction property. For the key problem of its popularization and application – low reaction rate, this paper investigated the diffusion transport characteristics of the fuel gas molecule, which was one of key microprocesses affecting the reaction rate, in the channel of CaSO4 oxygen carrier. Based on the channel of CaSO4 oxygen carrier and the slit model, the influence of the slit width, reaction temperature and coverage rate of doped element Na or Fe of oxygen carrier on the internal diffusion behavior of CaSO4 oxygen carrier was investigated by the molecular dynamics simulation. The results show: CO molecules physical adsorb on CaSO4 slit surface; Increase of the slit width will reduce the binding of CaSO4 surface on single CO molecule, but CO molecular diffusion capacity will increase first and then decrease; The temperature rises will result in the growth of CO molecular diffusion capacity, because CO molecule to be easy to diffuse to the unoccupied reaction site; After Na and Fe is loaded on CaSO4 slit surface, CO molecular diffusion capacity is greatly improved, and the diffusion coefficients of CO molecule are 27 and 28 times of pure CaSO4 slit surface, respectively. The calculation results can provide theoretical basis for the structural design and channel optimization of calcium-based oxygen carrier for chemical looping hydrogen production.

Collaboration of Ultrasonic Irradiation and Silica Nanoparticles in the Diastereoselective Synthesis of Trans-2,3-Dihydrofuran Derivatives: An Exceptional Catalytic Activity of Sound Cavities and SiO2 Nanoparticles

Coupling ultrasonic irradiation with nanoparticles has the potential to result in the synergistic mild and multi-component synthesis of valuable organic compounds. In this work, a fast and one-step strategy was developed for the diastereoselective synthesis of trans-2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives. The combination of ultrasonic waves and silica nanoparticles was promoted the eco-friendly condensation of aromatic aldehydes, 4-hydroxycoumarin, and phenacyl pyridinium bromide with each other in aqueous media smoothly. The method is fast, has high yields compared to the conventional method, low catalyst loading. The catalyst is inexpensive and very mild also is recyclable in six runs without appreciable loss of activity. This sonochemical assisted methodology is the first report of a green and unique one-pot process for the synthesis of trans-2,3-dihydrofurans over silica nanoparticles as a nonmetal oxide catalyst.

Improving conversion of methyl palmitate to diesel-like fuel through catalytic deoxygenation with B2O3-modified ZrO2

There is growing interest about the conversion of lipids to renewable fuels as the alternatives of traditional petroleum. However, the development of efficient catalysts from readily available materials is still challenging. In this study, we demonstrated that the generation of diesel-like fuel from methyl palmitate (MP) through catalytic deoxygenation could be significantly promoted by modifying the ZrO2 support with B2O3, a cheap and readily available non-metal oxide. Characterization results showed that the attaching boron atom to the framework of ZrO2 support to form the B-O-Zr interconnection significantly increased the acidic site concentration. The enhanced acidity of B2O3/ZrO2 catalysts afforded the improved efficiency for MP deoxygenation, and the maximum activity was obtained at a B/Zr molar ratio of 1/5 with the MP conversion of 86.6% and liquid yield of 69.3%. The effect of reaction temperature and H2 pressure on the MP deoxygenation performance of B2O3/ZrO2 catalysts were also evaluated systematically. Combining the catalytic and spectroscopic data, it revealed that the MP was firstly adsorbed at the oxygen vacancies of m-ZrO2 and then converted to < C15, C15 alkane and alkenes through decarbonylation, hydrocracking and dehydrogenation reactions.

A comprehensive review of impacts of diverse nanoparticles on growth, development and physiological adjustments in plants under changing environment

The application of nanotechnology in agriculture includes the use of nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, and nanoherbicides that enhance plant nutrition without disturbing the soil texture and protect it against microbial infections. Thus, nanotechnology maintains the plant's health by maintaining its soil health. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture reduces the chemical spread and nutrient loss and boosts crop yield and productivity. Effect of NPs varies with their applied concentrations, physiochemical properties, and plant species. Various NPs have an impact on the plant to increase biomass productivity, germination rate and their physiology. Also, NPs change the plant molecular mechanisms by altering gene expression. Metal and non-metal oxides of NPs (Au, Ag, ZnO, Fe2O3, TiO2, SiO2, Al2O3, Se, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots) exert an important role in plant growth and development and perform an essential role in stress amelioration.On the other hand, other effects of NPs have also been well investigated by observing their role in growth suppression and inhibition of chlorophyll and photosynthetic efficiency. In this review, we addressed a description of studies that have been made to understand the effects of various kind of NPs, their translocation and interaction with the plants. Also, the phytoremediation approaches of contaminated soil with combined use of NPs for sustainable agriculture is covered.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering of Hydrogen Plasma-Treated Few-Layer MoTe2 Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 91963130, 11704068, 61927808, and 61705106), the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2019YFA0308000), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant Nos. 2242021k10009, 2242021R20037, and 2242021R20035), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2018M632197).

Two-dimensional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates have drawn intense attention due to their excellent spectral reproducibility, high uniformity and perfect anti-interference ability. However, the inferior detection sensitivity and low enhancement have limited the practical application of two-dimensional SERS substrates. To address this issue, we propose that the interaction between the MoTe2 substrate and the analyte rhodamine 6G molecules could be remarkably enhanced by the introduced p-doping effect and lattice distortion of MoTe2 via hydrogen plasma treatment. After the treatment, the SERS is greatly improved, the enhancement factor of probe molecules reaches 1.83 × 106 as well as the limit of detection concentration reaches 10−13 M. This method is anticipated to afford new enhancement probability for other 2D materials, even non-metal oxide semiconductor SERS substrates.

Ash Waste Utilization via Direct Current Arc Plasma with Production of SiC and AlN

Ash accumulation is a relevant problem due to the widespread use of coal-fired power plants and a very limited number of ash utilization technologies. Plasma processing of ash is a promising method of ash valorization for production of various useful products, which is limited by high energy consumption. In the current study, a mixture of waste ash from power plant and black carbon was processed using an original direct current plasma arc experimental setup in ambient air which allows lower energy consumption due to the absence of the vacuuming system. Four types of samples at different plasma exposure times were produced and together with the initial ash were studied by thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction analysis identified the resulting phases of graphite, silicon carbide, and aluminum nitride in the synthesis products; at the same time, at the arc discharge energy increased from 26 to 105 kJ, the intensities of the maxima that correspond to metal and nonmetal oxides in the composition of the initial ash decreased to nearly zero. To remove graphite, the processed samples were annealed at 750 °C in air and studied. It was found that the applied approach made it possible to obtain a mixture of silicon carbide and aluminum nitride powders in direct current arc plasma initiated in ambient air, which reduced the energy consumption for ash processing by electric arc.

Dependence on the distribution of valuable elements and chemical characterizations based on different particle sizes of high alumina fly ash

Understanding the influence of the particle size on the distribution of various elements of high alumina coal fly ash (HAFA) is of significance to the utilization of valuable elements in fly ash. The distribution of valuable elements and the chemical characterizations of various particle sizes of HAFA were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis etc. in this work. It indicated that the contents of most of the metal oxides, including Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, Ga2O3, TiO2, and Li2O, decreased as the particle sizes of HAFA increasing. The contents of the nonmetal oxides, including SiO2 and organics, however, increased with the sizes increasing. For the phases distribution, the spherical mullite crystalline phase and the corundum phase were more abundant in the smaller particle sizes, while the amorphous glass phase and quartz were more abundant in the larger particle sizes. In addition, the desilication efficiency increased from 38.08% to 39.30% though mechanical pretreatment method. Interestingly, it was observed that the glass phase Al2O3 reacted with the sodium silicate solution to form zeolites, which accounted for a 22.85% of the mass after desilication. Classification may be an important pretreatment step in the recovery of valuable elements from HAFA due to the differences between the different granularities.

Challenges and prospects about the graphene role in the design of photoelectrodes for sunlight-driven water splitting.

Graphene and its derivatives have emerged as potential materials for several technological applications including sunlight-driven water splitting reactions. This review critically addresses the latest achievements concerning the use of graphene as a player in the design of hybrid-photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical cells. Insights about the charge carrier dynamics of graphene-based photocatalysts which include metal oxides and non-metal oxide semiconductors are also discussed. The concepts underpinning the continued progress in the field of graphene/photoelectrodes, including different graphene structures, architecture as well as the possible mechanisms for hydrogen and oxygen reactions are also presented. Despite several reports having demonstrated the potential of graphene-based photocatalysts, the achieved performance remains far from the targeted benchmark efficiency for commercial application. This review also highlights the challenges and opportunities related to graphene application in photoelectrochemical cells for future directions in the field.

Nanofluids for flat plate solar collectors: Fundamentals and applications

Among different sources of renewable energy, solar energy is widely used almost exclusively because of its ease of availability and its lowest environmental effects. The most commonly used solar collectors are the flat plate solar collectors (FPSCs). However, they are less powerful (low capacity to convert solar energy to thermal energy). It is possible to classify the use of nanofluid on FPSCs as an efficient way to boost the solar collectors’ performance. In this paper, studies on metal oxides , non-metal oxides, solid metals, semiconductor nanomaterials , carbon nanostructured, and nanocomposite nanofluids used as heat transfer fluids (HTFs) within FPSCs are examined sequentially. Various parameters affecting the FPSC’s thermal efficiency , such as nanoparticle type, nanoparticle concentration, nanoparticle size/shape, solar radiance, and mass flow rate , are extensively analyzed. Studies have also compared various types of single nanofluids or mixture nanofluids with FPSCs under the same operating conditions. It is found that the use of carbon-based nanofluids compared to metal oxides of nanofluids under the same conditions has resulted in a major improvement in the energetic and exergetic performance of the FPSC. Furthermore, the reviewed research revealed that there is a tremendous opportunity to achieve the commercial application of carbon-based nanofluid FPSC. The obstacles and opportunities for further study are also highlighted.

Nonmetal oxygen vacancies confined under boron nitride for enhanced oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene

In heterogeneous catalysis, oxygen vacancies of metal oxides play a key role by modulating properties of coordination, electron states, electrical conductivity, and surface property. However, the investigation of oxygen vacancies in nonmetal oxides and their catalytic applications have rarely been reported. Here, we present oxygen vacancies-rich BPO4 hollow spheres covered by few-layer hexagonal boron nitride (BN) with a sandwich-like structure (BN@BPO4@BN) through an in-situ growth method. The as-prepared catalyst showed better catalytic activity and higher selectivity than that of commercial BN in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene because of the synergetic effect between oxygen vacancies-rich BPO4 and h-BN. Oxygen vacancies increase the adsorption amount of propane and the confined space at the interface of BN and BPO4 weakens the adsorption of propene, beneficial for the recycle of active sites. Moreover, the confined space and oxygen vacancies result in the transformation of reaction kinetic model.