Electron transfer and energy exchange between a covalent organic framework and CuFeS2 nanoparticles.

CuFeS2 is a prominent chalcogenide that possesses similar optical properties and a significantly lower cost, compared to gold. Additionally, covalent organic frameworks are a class of materials at the forefront of current research, mainly used as photoactive components and porous absorbers. Hence, in this work, hydrophilic CuFeS2 particles are coupled with multi-functional covalent organic frameworks through ionic bonding to produce a hybrid material with unique and optimized properties. To render the CuFeS2 particles negatively charged and dispersible in water, we coated them with sodium dodecyl sulfonate, shifting the surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles from 472 to 492 nm. When they are electrostatically assembled with the positively charged COFs, an S-scheme is formed and the fluorescence of the hybrid materials is highly quenched, with the electron transfer happening from the networks to the nanoparticles and a simultaneous energy exchange which is dependent on the emission wavelength. Through detailed fluorescence spectroscopy, time-resolved measurements and Stern-Volmer analysis, we identified an efficient emission quenching that differs from the bulk to the exfoliated hybrid system, while detailed electron microscopy studies demonstrated the strong interaction between the two components. The quenching mechanisms and the on or off surface resonance dependent lifetime could be applied to photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications.

Characterization of stabilized/solidified refinery oily sludge and incinerated refinery sludge with cement using XRD, SEM and EXAFS.

Solidification/stabilization (S/S) of refinery oily sludge and incinerated oily sludge (ash) with cement type I42.5 and II42.5 was investigated using, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS). The results showed that delayed ettringite formation (DEF) and major cement hydration reactions occurred. XRD analysis of S/S oily sludge samples revealed cement-bearing solid phases, such as portlandite, calcite, C(3)S, C(2)S and C(4)AF. SEM analysis, confirmed ettringite at solidified oily sludge samples. Solidified ash samples contained ettringite substituted by chromates. However, solid phases found in solidified ash samples with I42.5 cement showed minor variation in type and structure compared to those observed in solidified ash samples with II42.5 cement. Fe K edge EXAFS analysis revealed the presence of iron oxides in both S/S wastes. The comparison between spectra of the S/S resulting materials and the ones of their original components, showed that the first sphere Fe-O distances were longer than in the pure iron oxide thereby providing evidence that the resulting materials were not simple mixtures, but products of a reaction that modified the local environment of iron.