Potential Development of Porous Carbon Composites Generated from the Biomass for Energy Storage Applications.

Creating an innovative and environmentally friendly energy storage system is of vital importance due to the growing number of environmental problems and the fast exhaustion of fossil fuels. Energy storage using porous carbon composites generated from biomass has attracted a lot of attention in the research community. This is primarily due to the environmentally friendly nature, abundant availability in nature, accessibility, affordability, and long-term viability of macro/meso/microporous carbon sourced from a variety of biological materials. The energy density of symmetric supercapacitors is also considered, with values between 5.1 and 138.4 Wh/kg. In this review, we look at the basic structures of biomass and how they affect porous carbon synthesis. It also discusses the effects of different structured porous carbon materials on electrochemical performance and analyzes them. In recent developments, significant steps have been made across various fields including fuel cells, carbon capture, and the utilization of biomass-derived carbonaceous nanoparticles. Notably, our study delves into the innovative energy conversion and storage potentials inherent in these materials. This comprehensive investigation seeks to lay the foundation for forthcoming energy storage research endeavors by delineating the current advancements and anticipating potential challenges in fabricating porous carbon composites sourced from biomass.

Transition metal doped CeO2 for photocatalytic removal of 2-chlorophenol in the exposure of indoor white light and antifungal activity.

Besides natural sunlight and expensive artificial lights, economical indoor white light can play a significant role in activating a catalyst for photocatalytic removal of organic toxins from contaminated water. In the current effort, CeO2 has been modified with Ni, Cu, and Fe through doping methodology to study the removal of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) in the illumination of 70 W indoor LED white light. The absence of additional diffractions due to the dopants and few changes such as reduction in peaks' height, minor peak shift at 2θ (28.525°) and peaks' broadening in XRD patterns of modified CeO2 verifies the successful doping of CeO2. The solid-state absorption spectra revealed higher absorbance of Cu-doped CeO2 whereas a lower absorption response was observed for Ni-doped CeO2. An interesting observation regarding the lowering of indirect bandgap energy of Fe-doped CeO2 (∼2.7 eV) and an increase in Ni-doped CeO2 (∼3.0 eV) in comparison to pristine CeO2 (∼2.9 eV) was noticed. The process of e -- h + recombination in the synthesized photocatalysts was also investigated through photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic studies revealed the greater photocatalytic activity of Fe-doped CeO2 with a higher rate (∼3.9 × 10-3 min-1) among all other materials. Moreover, kinetic studies also revealed the validation of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model (R2 = 0.9839) while removing 2-CP in the exposure of indoor light with a Fe-doped CeO2 photocatalyst. The XPS analysis revealed the existence of Fe3+, Cu2+ and Ni2+ core levels in doped CeO2. Using the agar well-diffusion method, the antifungal activity was assessed against the fungus M. fructicola and F. oxysporum. Compared to CeO2, Ni-doped CeO2, and Cu-doped CeO2 nanoparticles, the Fe-doped CeO2 nanoparticles have outstanding antifungal properties.

Synthesis and Micromechanistic Studies of Sensitized Bentonite for Methyl Orange and Rhodamine-B Adsorption from Wastewater: Experimental and DFT-Based Analysis.

This work reports the formation of a novel adsorbent, prepared by activating bentonite with cinnamic acid, which is highly efficient to remove dyes from wastewater. The adsorption efficiency of the cinnamic acid activated bentonite was compared with unmodified bentonite by removing methyl orange and rhodamine-B from polluted water. The characterization was performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that acidic pH and low temperature were more suitable for the selected dyes adsorption. The analysis of the data was done by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms; the Freundlich isotherm showed more suitability for the equilibrium data. The data were further analyzed by pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order models to study adsorption kinetics. The results showed that methyl orange and rhodamine-B adsorption obeyed pseudo-order kinetics. The results obtained from this research suggested that acid activation of bentonite with cinnamic acid increased the surface area of the clay and hence enhanced its adsorption efficiency. The maximum adsorption efficiency for the removal of methyl orange and rhodamine-B was up to 99.3 mg g-1 and 44.7 mg g-1, respectively, at 25 °C. This research provides an economical modification technique of bentonite, which makes it cost-effective and a good adsorbent for wastewater treatment.

Fabrication of an ultra-sensitive para-nitrophenol sensor based on facile Zn-doped Er2O3 nanocomposites via an electrochemical approach.

In this study, a semiconductor-doped nanocomposite material (Zn-doped Er2O3 nano-composites) was prepared via a single-step wet-chemical technique at alkaline pH. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV/Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XEDS), and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) were applied to determine the structural and morphological properties of the Zn-doped Er2O3 nanocomposite. A thin layer of aggregated Zn-doped Er2O3 nanocomposite was fabricated on the flat surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with 5% ethanolic Nafion as conducting coating binder for the development of a selective and sensitive p-nitrophenol (para-NP) capturing electrochemical probe for environmental remediation. After the fabrication of the sensor, a novel current-potential (I-V) electrochemical approach was applied to determine its selectivity and sensitivity together with all the necessary analytical parameters against para-NP. Moreover, the calibration plot was found to be linear with the linear dynamic range (LDR) of para-NP concentration. The limit of detection (LOD) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N ∼ 3) and sensitivity were also calculated to be 0.033 ± 0.002 pM and 28.481 × 10-2 µA µM-1 cm-2, respectively, based on the gradient of the calibration plot, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was determined to be 0.11 ± 0.02 pM. This work demonstrates a well-known approach for the first time that can be used for the development of efficient electrochemical sensors. These sensors based on semiconductor doped nanomaterials embedded onto the GCE for the detection of toxic chemicals in an aqueous system as an environmental remediation. It can be further applied for the analysis of real environmental samples and in the healthcare field.

Fabrication of Sb3+ sensor based on 1,1'-(-(naphthalene-2,3-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(naphthalen-2-ol)/nafion/glassy carbon electrode assembly by electrochemical approach.

A new Schiff base named 1,1'-(-(naphthalene-2,3-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis (methanylylidene))bis(naphthalen-2-ol) (NDNA) derived from 2,3-naphthalenediamine and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde was synthesized by condensation reaction and then characterized by spectroscopic techniques for structure elucidation. In addition to spectroscopic techniques, the molecular structure of NDNA was clearly confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. A thin film of NDNA was fabricated onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using 5.0% ethanolic nafion solution as a conducting binder in order to develop the cationic electrochemical sensor (NDNA/nafion/GCE) for the sensing of heavy-metal cations in aqueous systems by electrochemical technique. This newly designed sensor exhibited higher sensitivity and selectivity towards antimony (Sb3+) in the presence of other interfering heavy metal cations, as well as long-term stability. Fascinating analytical parameters such as limit of detection (LOD = 0.075 nM, SNR of 3), limit of quantification (LOQ = 0.25 nM) and sensitivity (12.658 × 10-4 µA µM-1 cm-2) were calculated from the calibration curve plot, which shows a linear dynamic range (LDR) of Sb3+ ion concentration from 0.1-10.0 mM. This work presents a new approach towards the development of sensitive, efficient as well as selective toxic cationic electrochemical sensors in the environmental and healthcare fields. Hence, this newly designed NDNA/nafion/GCE presents cost-effective and efficient outcomes and can be used as a practical substitute for the efficient detection and removal of Sb3+ ions from water samples.

2,2',5,5'-Tetra-chloro-N,N'-diethyl-N,N'-[benzene-1,3-diylbis(methyl-ene)]dibenzene-sulfonamide.

In the title compound, C(24)H(24)Cl(4)N(2)O(4)S(2), the dihedral angles between the central benzene ring and the pendant rings are 58.09 (10) and 62.59 (10)°. The dihedral angle between the pendant rings is 81.64 (9)°. Both sulfonamide groups lie to the same side of the central ring but the C-S-N-C torsion angles [73.09 (16) and -117.35 (14)] and S-N-C-C torsion angles [-143.80 (14) and -111.45 (16)°] differ significantly for the two pendant chains. The N atoms are close to planar (bond angle sums = 356.4 and 359.5°). In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯Cl inter-actions link the mol-ecules.

N,N'-Diallyl-2,2',5,5'-tetra-chloro-N,N'-[1,3-phenyl-enebis(methyl-ene)]dibenzene-sulfonamide.

In the title compound, C(26)H(24)Cl(4)N(2)O(4)S(2), the dihedral angles between the central benzene ring and the pendant rings are 70.07 (12) and 59.07 (12)°. The equivalent angle between the pendant rings is 79.24 (12)°. Both sulfonamide groups lie to the same side of the central ring but the pendant chains have very different conformations, as indicated by their C-S-N-C torsion angles [104.66 (17) and -76.35 (19)°] and S-N-C-C torsion angles [129.61 (17) and 147.10 (17)°]. Both N atoms are close to planar (bond angle sums = 359.0 and 354.8°). In the crystal, inversion dimers are formed via a pair of weak C-H⋯O inter-actions which generate R(2) (2)(22) loops.

N,N'-Bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-N,N'-(1,4-phenylene)dibenzenesulfonamide.

The complete mol-ecule of the title compound, C(28)H(32)N(2)O(4)S(2), is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre. The dihedral angle between the central and pendant aromatic rings is 46.78 (7)°. The C(ar)-S-N-C(ar) (ar = aromatic) torsion angle is 73.64 (15)° and the bond-angle sum for the N atom is 350.4°. In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O inter-actions link the mol-ecules, forming a two-dimensional network lying parallel to the bc plane.

N,N'-Bis(3,3-dimethyl-all-yl)-N,N'-(prop-ane-1,3-diyl)dibenzene-sulfonamide.

In the title compound, C(25)H(34)N(2)O(4)S(2), the conformation of the linking N-C-C-C-N chain is gauche-anti [torsion angles = -68.49 (19) and 167.95 (14)°]. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 89.64 (6)°.

N,N'-(Propane-1,3-di-yl)bis-(p-toluene-sulfonamide).

The complete mol-ecule of the title compound, C(17)H(22)N(2)O(4)S(2), is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry, with one C atom lying on the rotation axis. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 44.04 (7)° and the conformation of the central N-C-C-C group is gauche. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating corrugated (010) sheets, and weak C-H⋯O inter-actions consolidate the packing.

N-[3-(Benzene-sulfonamido)-prop-yl]benzene-sulfonamide.

In the title compound, C(15)H(18)N(2)O(4)S(2), the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 71.8 (2)°. The conformation of the central N-C-C-C-N fragment is gauche-gauche [torsion angles = 72.5 (5) and 65.7 (5)°]. Both N atoms adopt pyramidal geometries. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating (001) sheets, and weak C-H⋯O inter-actions consolidate the packing.

N,N'-Diethyl-N,N'-[1,3-phenylene-bis(methyl-ene)]dibenzene-sulfonamide.

In the title compound, C(24)H(28)N(2)O(4)S(2), the dihedral angles between the central benzene ring and the pendant rings are 77.44 (11) and 79.23 (10)°, and the dihedral angle between the pendant rings is 23.31 (12)°. Both sulfonamide groups project to the same side of the central benzene ring and the mol-ecule has approximate non-crystallographic mirror symmetry. One of the ethyl side chains is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.526 (14):0.474 (14) ratio. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of weak C-H⋯O inter-actions occur, generating R(2) (2)(28) loops.

N-(2-Meth-oxy-phen-yl)-4-methyl-benzene-sulfonamide.

In the title compound, C(14)H(15)NO(3)S, the geometry around the S atom of the SO(2) group is distorted tetra-hedral. The meth-oxy- and methyl-substituted aromatic rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 71.39 (9)°. Inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form inversion dimers, which stabilize the crystal structure.

S-1,3-Benzothia-zol-2-yl (2Z)-2-(2-amino-1,3-thia-zol-4-yl)-2-(methoxy-imino)-ethane-thio-ate.

The title compound, C(13)H(10)N(4)O(2)S(3), is an acyl-ating agent which belongs to the thia-zole class of organic compounds. The dihedral angle between the benzene and thiazole rings, which are fused to each other, is 1.2 (2)° so the overall benzothiazole system is almost planar. Inter-molecular N-H⋯N inter-actions and weak C-H⋯O inter-actions between symmetry-related mol-ecules stabilize the crystal structure, forming three different ring motifs [R(2) (2)(8), R(2) (2)(10) and R(2) (2)(16)] in three dimensions.