Role Of Sulfur Research Articles

Role of Sulfur in Enhancing UV‐Light Absorption and Photoelectrochemical Performance of ZnO/N,S‐doped CQDs Nanocomposite

AbstractThe modification of ZnO, such as transforming it from 1‐D to 3‐D nanostructures or compositing it with carbon‐based materials, has been extensively explored to enhance light energy harvesting and reduce electron‐hole recombination‐key limitations of ZnO. Herein, the effect of different composite materials, specifically nitrogen‐doped carbon quantum dots (N‐CQDs) and nitrogen, sulfur‐doped carbon quantum dots (N,S‐CQDs), on ZnO's morphology and photocurrent response was studied. Various morphologies were synthesized on conductive glass substrate using a one‐pot hydrothermal method, including flower‐like structure for ZnO/N‐CQDs (∼d = 0.9 µm) and multilayered microspheres for ZnO/N,S‐CQDs (∼d = 1.1 µm). The inclusion of sulfur atoms in the composite resulted in a reduced bandgap value from 3.22 to 3.11 eV, along with enhanced light absorption efficiency and improved separation of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs. Furthermore, the crystallinity of ZnO/N,S‐CQDs was significantly enhanced compared to ZnO without sulfur doping. These improvements were reflected in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) measurements, where ZnO/N,S‐CQDs showed a current density of 21.8 µA/cm2 at 0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), which is 5.5 times higher than that of ZnO/N‐CQDs (4.0 µA/cm2). These findings demonstrate that sulfur doping improves photocatalytic efficiency, making 3D ZnO/N,S‐CQDs a promising candidate for various UV‐driven PEC applications.

Role of sulphur in resistive switching behavior of natural rubber-based memory

The rising environmental awareness has spurred the extensive use of green materials in electronic applications, with bio-organic materials emerging as attractive alternatives to inorganic and organic materials due to their natural biocompatibility, biodegradability, and eco-friendliness. This study showcases the natural rubber based resistive switching memory devices and how varying sulphur concentrations (0 - 0.8 wt.%) in natural rubber thin films impact the resistive switching characteristics. The natural rubber was formulated and processed into a thin film deposited on an ITO substrate as the bottom electrode and with an Ag film as the top electrode. The addition of sulphur modifies the degree of crosslinking in the natural rubber thin film, from which the concentration of -C=C- group and density of defect site (S+) are affected, and hence the resistive switching behavior of the memory device. The devices exhibit bipolar resistance with symmetric switching characteristics which are attributed to the formation of conductive paths facilitate by electron transport along -C=C- and S+ defect sites between the two electrodes. Notably, a sample with 0.2 wt.% sulphur exhibits a high ON/OFF ratio (104), a large memory window (5.5 V), prolonged data retention (10 years), and reliable endurance (120 cycles). These findings highlight the potential of natural rubber as a promising material for eco-friendly resistive-switching random access memory applications.&#xD.

Optimizing mustard crop productivity and profitability: The role of sulphur, magnesium, and pesticides

Optimizing mustard crop productivity and profitability: The role of sulphur, magnesium, and pesticides

Millennial-aged organic matter preservation in anoxic and sulfidic mangrove soils: Insights from isotopic and molecular analyses

Mangrove forests are known as coastal carbon sinks, but the long-term (millennium-scale) preservation processes of organic matter (OM) in their soils and the role of sulphur in these processes are still not fully understood. These processes are crucial for better estimating the impact of sea-level variations on the carbon dynamics in mangrove forests, which are particularly sensitive to sea-level changes due to their direct hydrological interactions with coastal waters. This study focuses on a soil layer enriched in mangrove-derived OM that accumulated during a stable sea-level period of the Holocene in New Caledonia (South Pacific). Radiocarbon dating situates this enriched layer at approximately 4000 cal BP. The aim of this study is to characterize the enriched OM layer using bulk (Rock-Eval), isotopic (δ13C and δ15N), and molecular (lignin and neutral carbohydrates) analyses. This OM has undergone diagenetic processes such as dehydrogenation, and the loss of components such as the main neutral carbohydrates: glucose, xylose, and galactose. However, some Rock-Eval parameters, the total lignin content, and carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios are characteristic of well-preserved OM, suggesting differential decomposition/preservation processes. In addition, SEM observations highlighted the presence of pyrite associated to preserved root material. Along with high Sorg/TOC ratio, these results suggest potential processes of OM sulfurization preserving it from decomposition. Prolonged sea-level stability in addition to anoxic and sulfidic soil conditions enhanced OM accumulation and long-term sequestration in mangrove soils.

The Role of Sulfur, Tryptophan Acid, and Methyl Jasmonate in Vegetative Growth, Quality Indicators, and Total Yield of Lettuce Plants

The Role of Sulfur, Tryptophan Acid, and Methyl Jasmonate in Vegetative Growth, Quality Indicators, and Total Yield of Lettuce Plants

Role of sulfur and phosphorous doping on the electrochemical performance of graphene oxide-based electrodes

Heteroatom doping of graphene oxide (GO) with phosphorous (P), and sulfur (S) was studied. In-situ grown binder-free electrodes of these doped and un-doped GO systems were developed via hydrothermal process. S-GO, P-GO, PS-GO, and un-doped hydrothermally treated GO (H-GO) electrodes were thoroughly investigated through physical and electrochemical characterization. The PS-GO electrode, comprising P (10.90 at%), S (0.3 at%), C (45.54 at%), O (36.36 at%), and Ni (2.38 at%) atoms, exhibited a mixed morphology of a few hundred nanometers doped GO flakes and dissolved Ni foam nanorods. Electrochemical analysis showed, this mixed morphology stimulates the charge storage ability of the PS-GO electrode and achieved a high specific capacity of 1218 C/g, compared to 647 C/g for H-GO at 1 mV/s. Electrochemical analysis revealed, charge was primarily stored through the capacitive charge storage mechanism, where only surface atoms are solely responsible for developing a double layer or facilitating redox reactions between electrode atoms and electrolyte ions. Additionally, the PS-GO electrode demonstrated an energy density of 76.94 Wh/kg at 1 A/g, which is much closer to that of batteries. We anticipate that PS-GO has the potential to be utilized as electrode material in modern energy storage devices.

Anti-inflammatory peptide therapeutics and the role of sulphur containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine) in inflammation suppression: A review.

Inflammation serves as our body's immune response to combat infections, pathogens, viruses, and external stimuli. Inflammation can be classified into two types: acute inflammation and chronic inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are used to treat both acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. However, these treatments have various side effects such as reduced healing efficiency, peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal toxicities, etc. METHOD: This review assesses the potential of anti-inflammatory peptides (AIPs) derived from various natural sources, such as algae, fungi, plants, animals, and marine organisms. Focusing on peptides rich in cysteines and methionine, sulphur-containing amino acids known for their role in suppression of inflammation. Due to their varied biological activity, ability to penetrate cells, and low cytotoxicity, bioactive peptides have garnered interest as possible therapeutic agents. The utilisation of AIPs has shown great potential in the treatment of disorders associated with inflammation. AIPs can be obtained from diverse natural sources such as algae, fungi, plants, and animals. Cysteine and methionine are sulphur-containing amino acids that aid in the elimination of free radicals, hence assisting in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. This review specifically examines several sources of AIPs including peptides that contain numerous cysteines and methionine. In addition, the biological characteristics of these amino acids and advancements in peptide delivery are also discussed.

Boosting Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis via NOx Reduction over Sulfur‐Doped Copper Oxide Nanoneedle Arrays

AbstractThe electrochemical NOx reduction reactions, involving nitrate and nitrite reduction reactions (NO3−RR and NO2−RR), have emerged as promising approaches for both NO3− and NO2− removal, and ammonium (NH3) synthesis under ambient conditions. However, the incorporation and stabilization of sulfur dopants in the catalysts for efficient NOx reduction are rarely explored, leading to an unclear effect of sulfur on the NOx reduction mechanism. Herein, sulfur‐doped Cu2O (S‐Cu2O) nanoneedle arrays via in situ electrochemical treatment are synthesized. The S‐Cu2O catalyst possesses excellent durability and selectivity for NH3 over a wide range of potentials in NO3−RR, attaining a maximum NH3 Faradaic efficiency of 94% at −0.6 VRHE and a maximum NH3 yield as high as 1.06 mmol h−1 cm−2. In NO3−RR, the sulfur dopant can accelerate the step from NO2− to NH3, contributing superior performance in NO2−RR and assembled Zn−NO2− battery device. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the presence of sulfur can enhance the initial step of *NO3 adsorption, lower the reaction barriers for the formation of *NHO intermediate, and activate the H2O dissociation process. The work sheds light on the role of sulfur in enhancing electrocatalytic performance and provides a unique perspective for understanding the NOx reduction mechanism.

Pathways and contributions of sulfate reducing-bacteria to arsenic cycling in landfills

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are generally found in sanitary landfills and play a role in sulfur (S) and metal/metalloid geochemical cycling. In this study, we investigated the influence of SRB on arsenic (As) metabolic pathways in refuse-derived cultures. The results indicated that SRB promote As(III) methylation and are beneficial for controlling As levels. Heterotrophic and autotrophic SRB showed significant differences during As cycling. In heterotrophic SRB cultures, the As methylation rate increased with As(III) concentration in the medium and reached a peak (85.1%) in cultures containing 25 mg L−1 As(III). Moreover, 4.0–12.6% of SO42− was reduced to S2−, which then reacted with As(III) to form realgar (AsS). In contrast, autotrophic SRB oxidized As(III) to less toxic As(V) under anaerobic conditions. Heterotrophic arsM-harboring SRB, such as Desulfosporosinus, Desulfocurvibacter, and Desulfotomaculum, express As-related genes and are considered key genera for As methylation in landfills. Thiobacillus are the main autotrophic SRB in landfills and can derive energy by oxidizing sulfur compounds and metal(loid)s. These results suggest that different types of SRB drive As methylation, redox reaction, and mineral formation in landfills. These study findings have implications for the management of As pollutants in landfills and other contaminated environments.

The Role of Sulfur in Meeting 4R Nutrient Stewardship Goals

AbstractSulfur plays several roles in 4R plant nutrition. First, as an essential plant nutrient, it may need to be applied to optimize yields and quality of crops. Second, there may be a need to replenish the sulfur removed from the soil by crop harvests. Third, some forms of sulfur may have additional benefits through their effects on soil pH and on soil nitrogen processes. The three roles combine to support enhanced productivity with lower impacts on the environment. This article reviews basic sulfur nutrition, recent trends affecting the need for fertilizers, and the contribution of sulfur to improving productivity sustainably. Earn 1 CEU in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

Sulfidated nanoscale zero-valent iron derived from iron sludge for tetracycline removal: Role of sulfur and iron in reactivity and mechanisms

Iron sludge, produced during the drinking water treatment process, can be recycled as potential iron resource to create environmental functional material. In this study, sulfur-iron composites derived from iron sludge (S–Fe composites) was synthesized through sulfidation and carbonization, and used for the tetracycline (TC) removal under aerobic and anoxic conditions. The reactivities of these as-prepared products were strongly depended on pyrolysis temperatures. In particular, sulfidated nanoscale zero-valent iron loaded on carbon (S-nFe0@CIS) carbonized at 800 °C exhibited the highest TC removal efficiency with 86.6% within 30 min at circumneutral pH compared with other S–Fe composites. The crystalline structure of α-Fe0, FeSx and S0 as main active sites in S-nFe0@CIS promoted the degradation of TC. Moreover, the Fe/S molar ratios significantly affected the TC removal rates, which reached the best value as the optimal S/Fe of 0.27. The results illustrated that the optimized extent of sulfidation could facilitate electron transfer from nFe0 towards contaminants and accelerate Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle in reaction system compared to bared nFe0@CIS. We revealed that removal of TC by S-nFe0@CIS in the presence of dissolved oxygen (DO) is mainly attributed to oxidation, adsorption and reduction pathways. Their contribution to TC removal were 31.6%, 25.2% and 28.8%, respectively. Furthermore, this adsorption-oxygenation with the formation of S-nFe0@CIS-TC* complexes was a surface-mediated process, in which DO was transformed by the structural FeSx on complex surface to •OH with the generation of H2O2 intermediate. The intermediates of TC and toxicity analysis indicate that less toxicity products generated through degradation process. This study provides a new reclamation of iron sludge and offers a new insight into the TC removal by S-nFe0@CIS under aerobic conditions.

The role of sulfur in sulfur-doped copper(I) iodide p-type transparent conductors

The role of sulfur in sulfur-doped copper(I) iodide p-type transparent conductors

Chemical Range of Stability for Self-Dusting Ladle Furnace Slags and Destabilizing Effect of Sulfur

Ladle furnace slags are characterized by volumetric expansions associated with the transition of dicalcium silicate (C2S) from β to γ phase, which generates fine dust during cooling, causing handling and storage issues that further reduce their recycling opportunities. The present work focuses on the effect of slag basicity on dusting and the role of sulfur on slag stability. Seven synthetic ladle slag precursors were made by mixing lime, magnesia, quartz and alumina in different proportions to match effective industrial compositions, increasing the binary basicity and keeping the ternary and quaternary indexes unchanged. Samples were heated to 1500 °C for 15 min and monitored during air cooling (< 5 °C/s) through thermocouples and camera to characterize the behavior, temperature, and time interval of dusting. The cooled samples were characterized chemically, mineralogically and morphologically. Starting from the chemistry of a self-stabilized slag, five additional slag precursors, characterized by increasing amounts of S, were created and analyzed using the same procedures. Experimental evidence showed the presence of three different dusting behaviors (stable, partial and complete) and stabilization of the slag once an optical basicity of 0.748 or higher was reached. In addition, mayenite was identified as the main phase capable of suppressing the β to γ transition by exerting hydrostatic pressure on C2S. Finally, although S can stabilize the β phase when dissolved in it, after saturation it precipitates as CaS, which can react with mayenite, locally decreasing the optical basicity and allowing dusting.Graphical

Use of Sulfur Waste in the Production of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers

This preliminary study introduces the incorporation and chemical stabilization of sulfur waste into a geopolymer matrix and explores the concept of material production for further environmental and engineering solutions. In this study, a novel synthesis procedure for sulfur-based geopolymers was introduced, and the role of sulfur in geopolymers and its optimal content to obtain a stable structure were explored. Geopolymers were synthesized by dissolving sulfur in an alkaline activator in different proportions. The alkaline solution was then mixed with metakaolin to synthesize the geopolymer matrix. Adding sulfur in amounts from 0 wt.% to 5 wt.%, compared with metakaolin, led to an increase in the compressive strength of the geopolymers from 22.5 MPa to 29.9 MPa. When sulfur was between 5 wt.% and 15 wt.%, a decrease in the compressive strength was observed to 15.7 MPa, which can be explained by defects and voids in the geopolymer’s microstructure due to the solubility of excess sulfur. Because of the incorporation of sulfur into the geopolymers, a compact and dense microstructure was formed, as reported in the SEM analysis. An XRD analysis showed that, besides quartz and analcime, a new phase, Al2·H10·O17·S3, was also formed as a result of sulfur dissolution in the alkaline activator of the geopolymers.

Expansion of Armatimonadota through marine sediment sequencing describes two classes with unique ecological roles

Marine sediments comprise one of the largest environments on the planet, and their microbial inhabitants are significant players in global carbon and nutrient cycles. Recent studies using metagenomic techniques have shown the complexity of these communities and identified novel microorganisms from the ocean floor. Here, we obtained 77 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the bacterial phylum Armatimonadota in the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, and the Bohai Sea, China. These MAGs comprise two previously undescribed classes within Armatimonadota, which we propose naming Hebobacteria and Zipacnadia. They are globally distributed in hypoxic and anoxic environments and are dominant members of deep-sea sediments (up to 1.95% of metagenomic raw reads). The classes described here also have unique metabolic capabilities, possessing pathways to reduce carbon dioxide to acetate via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway (WLP) and generating energy through the oxidative branch of glycolysis using carbon dioxide as an electron sink, maintaining the redox balance using the WLP. Hebobacteria may also be autotrophic, not previously identified in Armatimonadota. Furthermore, these Armatimonadota may play a role in sulfur and nitrogen cycling, using the intermediate compounds hydroxylamine and sulfite. Description of these MAGs enhances our understanding of diversity and metabolic potential within anoxic habitats worldwide.

The Role of Sulfur in the S‐PtRe/Al2O3 Catalysts: The Endogenous Deposition Effect on the Metal/acid Micro‐environment

AbstractAlumina is widely used as support in the industrial catalytic process. As a common impurity, the sulfur species, which are often considered a harmful component, play a positive role in some petrochemical reactions. Herein, the S‐modified catalysts were fabricated using the exogenous/endogenous deposition method to study the effect of the sulfur induced by introduction approaches. Series characterizations reveal that the exogenous sulfur from the sulfidation treatment affects the active metals by poisoning the low‐coordinated sites, leading to the active metal sites decrease. As for the endogenous deposition method, besides the poison effect, the removal of the endogenous sulfur from the S‐contain alumina support can produce oxygen vacancies, which can not only act as acid sites but work as an electron acceptor that optimizes the catalyst electronic structure. Benefits from the effect of endogenous sulfur, the catalyst with a suitable catalytic metal/acid micro‐environment exhibit the best dehydrocyclization performance.

Role of sulphur and oxygen in phosphine ligands in the extraction process of Am3+ over Eu3+ ions in water medium – A theoretical study

Spent nuclear fuel management, particularly the separation of minor actinides, is critical to the continued growth of the nuclear industry and to address the global energy crisis. However, due to the identical chemical properties of trivalent An3+ and Ln3+, it is difficult to distinguish them. Therefore, theoretical research on the mechanism of selective extraction of An3+ is needed. Two phosphine oxide ligands and two phosphine sulphide ligands with similar structures but different bridging frameworks namely phenanthroline and biphenyl, were theoretically explored and compared using relativistic density functional theory in the solvent phase. Here, the M-O bonds are stronger than the M-S bonds. QTAIM shows that the M-O/N bonds of the phosphine oxide ligands have a small amount of covalent character. Gibbs free energy shows that the formation of the complexes is spontaneous while energy decomposition analysis deciphers the binding of M(NO3)3 to these ligands. All the ligands studied had greater affinity for Am3+ than for Eu3+, which contributes to the selectivity of Am3+ over Eu3+ in the water medium. This study provides some important information for the An/Ln separation of phosphine oxide and phosphine sulphide ligands, which may help in the development of more effective phosphine based ligands for the separation of An3+/Ln3+ ions.

The role of sulphur in the early production of copper red stained glass

Little is known about the production of ruby red copper stained glasses from the Medieval and Renaissance periods apart from the fact that the colour is due to the presence of small metallic copper nanoparticles and that tin, the most common reducing agent used in copper red glass production since the 19th century, is not present. In fact, very few workshops in Europe were able to make red glass in historical times, and they kept it secret, so very little is known about how it was obtained. These workshops exported the red glass throughout Europe. Recently, the presence of copper sulphide particles and the data obtained in the replication red glass following historical recipes suggested that sulphur might be the key ingredient in this process.Here, a collection of historical red glasses from these periods has been analysed using a combination of microanalytical techniques; Electron Microprobe (EM) and Field Emission and Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) to verify the chemical composition and nanostructure of the glasses, Synchrotron radiation micro-X-Ray Diffraction (micro-XRD) to establish the nature of the nanocrystalline precipitates, and S, Cu and Fe K-edge micro-X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (micro-XAS) to determine the speciation. The data obtained show that the oxidation of S2− into S6+ in the glass is responsible for the precipitation of copper nanoparticles. The development of a sulphide-silicate partition and the presence of Fe3+ in the melt give rise to the precipitation of the high-pressure tetragonal polymorph of chalcocite (Cu2S). Differences between the Medieval and Renaissance red glass are determined.

Insight into the role of sulfur in increasing intrinsic activity of Ni–Fe for efficient water splitting electrocatalysis

It is of great significance to explore and design low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts for the storage and conversion of intermittent renewable resources to clean hydrogen by water splitting. Herein, the amorphous Ni–Fe–S electrocatalysts are rapidly synthesized on Cu sheets and Ni foams using the simple electrodeposition method. After optimizing the S concentration, the Ni–Fe–S electrocatalysts exhibit the simultaneously boosted hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction performances compared to the as-synthesized Ni–Fe and Ni. In addition, the Ni–Fe–S electrocatalysts as the bifunctional electrodes only require a cell voltage of 1.584 V (on Ni foam) and 1.705 V (on Cu sheet) to reach 10 mA/cm2 with excellent stability in the electrocatalytic activity and surface properties. The results exhibit that the enhanced electrocatalytic activity can be attributed to the role of the doped S in formatting the amorphous structure, improving the hydrophilic and aerophobic properties, optimizing the electronic structure as well as enhancing the electrochemically active sites. This work might offer a new insight into the design of the cheap and highly efficient electrodes for generation of hydrogen by water splitting.

Role of Sulphur in cereals and oilseeds crops

One of the most essential elements found in earth crust both in inorganic and organic form to be utilized by every living organism with average concentration of 0.06 % and presiding 13th position is Sulphur. Sulphur is also adjudged as the 4th important macronutrient amongst N, P, K to be taken up by both cereals and oilseeds crops in particular and acts as constituent for protein production and pivotal unit in chlorophyll, oil and vitamin synthesis in general. Indian soils are majorly deficient of N and Zn, with 41% of S deficiency which reduces the quality and quantity productivity of oilseed and other crops as it affects the uptake of available forms of N, P, K. Application of Sulphur containing fertilizers during growing period of crop enhances growth, yield, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and economic for several cereals and oilseed crops. The basic purpose of this review is to render upgraded researches related to sulphur comprehension in both oilseeds and cereals.