Surface decoration of amine-rich carbon nitride with iron nanoparticles for arsenite (As(III)) uptake: The evolution of the Fe-phases under ambient conditions.

A novel hybrid material (gC3N4-rFe) consisting of amine-rich graphitic carbon nitride (gC3N4), decorated with reduced iron nanoparticles (rFe) is presented. XRD and TEM show that gC3N4-rFe bears aggregation-free Fe-nanoparticles (10nm) uniformly dispersed over the gC3N4 surface. In contrast, non-supported iron nanoparticles are strongly aggregated, with non-uniform size distribution (20-100nm). (57)Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy, dual-mode electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetization measurements, allow a detailed mapping of the evolution of the Fe-phases after exposure to ambient O2. The as-prepared gC3N4-rFe bears Fe(2+) and Fe° phases, however only after long exposure to ambient O2, a Fe-oxide layer is formed around the Fe° core. In this [Fe°/Fe-oxide] core-shell configuration, the gC3N4-rFe hybrid shows enhanced As(III) uptake capacity of 76.5mgg(-1), i.e., ca 90% higher than the unmodified carbonaceous support, and 300% higher than the non-supported Fe-nanoparticles. gC3N4-rFe is a superior As(III) sorbent i.e., compared to its single counterparts or vs. graphite/graphite oxide or activated carbon analogues (11-36mgg(-1)). The present results demonstrate that the gC3N4 matrix is not simply a net that holds the particles, but rather an active component that determines particle formation dynamics and ultimately their redox profile, size and surface dispersion homogeneity.

Self-assembled plasmonic templates produced by microwave annealing: applications to surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

Perhaps the simplest method for creating metal nanoparticles on a substrate is by driving their self-assembly with the thermal annealing of a thin metal film. By properly tuning the annealing parameters one hopes to discover a recipe that allows the pre-determined design of the NP arrangement. However, thermal treatment is known for detrimental effects and is not really the manufacturer's route of choice when it comes to large-scale applications. An alternative method is the use of microwave annealing, a method that has never been applied for metal processing, due to the high reflectance of microwave radiation at the surface of a metal. However, in this work we challenge the widely used nanostructuring methods by proving the microwave's annealing ability to produce plasmonic templates, out of extremely thin metal films, by simply using a domestic microwave oven apparatus. We show that this process is generic and independent of the deposition method used for the metal and we further quantify the suitability of these plasmonic templates for use in surface-enhanced Raman scattering applications.

Tailor-made graphite oxide-DAB poly(propylene imine) dendrimer intercalated hybrids and their potential for efficient CO2 adsorption.

We report the rational design and synthesis of DAB poly(propylene imine) dendrimer (DAB) intercalated graphite oxide (GO) hybrids with tailorable interlayer distances. The amine groups originating from the intercalated dendrimer molecules cross-link adjacent GO sheets and strongly favour CO2 adsorption under wet flue gas conditions.

Synthesis, bioactivity and preliminary biocompatibility studies of glasses in the system CaO-MgO-SiO2-Na2O-P2O5-CaF2.

New compositions of bioactive glasses are proposed in the CaO-MgO-SiO(2)-Na(2)O-P(2)O(5)-CaF(2) system. Mineralization tests with immersion of the investigated glasses in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37°C showed that the glasses favour the surface formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) from the early stages of the experiments. In the case of daily renewable SBF, monetite (CaHPO(4)) formation competed with the formation of HA. The influence of structural features of the glasses on their mineralization (bioactivity) performance is discussed. Preliminary in vitro experiments with osteoblasts' cell-cultures showed that the glasses are biocompatible and there is no evidence of toxicity. Sintering and devitrification studies of glass powder compacts were also performed. Glass-ceramics with attractive properties were obtained after heat treatment of the glasses at relatively low temperatures (up to 850°C).

Synthesis and characterization of ZnS nanosized semiconductor particles within mesoporous solids.

ZnS semiconductor quantum dots have been synthesized using a method involving melt exchange reaction inside the pores of MCM-41 and subsequent reaction with H(2)S. The ZnS quantum dots-MCM-41 composite, which has been studied with XRD, EDS, and BET techniques, is shown to have retained within the pores the formed quantum dots, with a size distribution exhibiting a maximum nanoparticle diameter of ca. 1.8 nm. The structure and the sorption properties of the ZnS/MCM-41 composite have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and surface area measurements. All experimental data reveal that all the final composite products, containing up to 9.3 wt % ZnS as verified by EDS analysis, keep the basic structural characteristics of MCM-41 materials, without significant reduction of their active surface areas. The quantum dot optical properties have been studied with UV-vis, photoluminescence, and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopies providing evidence for the low-dimensional character of the ZnS semiconductor particles.

Formation of hydroxyapatite onto glasses of the CaO-MgO-SiO2 system with B2O3, Na2O, CaF2 and P2O5 additives.

New bioactive glasses with compositions based on the CaO-MgO-SiO(2) system and additives of B(2)O(3), P(2)O(5), Na(2)O, and CaF(2) were prepared. The in vitro mineralization behaviour was tested by immersion of powders or bulk glasses in simulated body fluid (SBF). Monitoring of ionic concentrations in SBF and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations at the surface of the glasses were conducted over immersion time. Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy shed light on the structural evolution occurring at the surface of the glasses that leads to formation of hydroxyapatite.