Triton X-100 induced cuboid-like BiVO4 microsphere with high photocatalytic performance.

A highly active visible light-induced BiVO4 photocatalyst was prepared by a simple co-precipitation method using ammonia solution as a pH adjustor and Triton X-100 (TX100) as a structure directing agent. The physical properties of the prepared BiVO4 photocatalyst were investigated by several techniques such as X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis (EDS), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL), and UV-Vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). XRD results revealed the existence of a monoclinic scheelite structure in both the unmodified and the modified samples. The TX100 played a crucial role to control the cuboid-like shape morphology of BiVO4. The DRS results showed that the as-prepared cuboid BiVO4 possessed enhanced visible light absorption range compared with that of the unmodified BiVO4. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated via indigo carmine (IC) degradation under visible light irradiation. The modified BiVO4 showed higher photocatalytic efficiency than the unmodified BiVO4 and the commercial P25-TiO2 which could be ascribed to the better charge separation efficiency.

Crystal structure of bis-[µ-1,2-bis-(di-phenyl-phosphan-yl)ethane-κ(2) P:P']bis[(N,N'-di-ethyl-thio-urea-κS)iodidocopper(I)].

The binuclear title complex, [Cu2I2(C26H24P2)2(C5H12N2S)2], lies about an inversion centre. The Cu(I) atom displays a distorted tetra-hedral coordination geometry defined by one S atom of an N,N'-di-ethyl-thio-urea ligand, two P atoms derived from two bridging 1,2-bis-(di-phenyl-phosphan-yl)ethane (dppe) ligands and one iodide ion. The dppe ligand bridges two symmetry-related Cu(I) ions, forming a 10-membered Cu2P4C4 ring. An intra-molecular N-H⋯I hydrogen bond is noted. In the crystal, N-H⋯I hydrogen bonds link complex mol-ecules into layers parallel to (-101).

Di-aqua-bis-(cinnamato-κ(2) O,O')cadmium.

The title complex, [Cd(C9H7O2)2(H2O)2], was obtained as an unintended product of the reaction of cadmium nitrate with hexa-methyl-ene-tetra-mine and cinnamic acid. The Cd(II) ion lies on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated in a slightly distorted trigonal-prismatic environment. In the crystal, the V-shaped mol-ecules are arranged in an inter-locking fashion along [010] and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to (001).

Rubber sheet strewn with TiO2 particles: photocatalytic activity and recyclability.

A new method for the preparation of rubber sheet strewn with titanium dioxide particles (TiO2-strewn sheet) is presented. This simple and low cost method is based on the use of TiO2 powder (Degussa P25) being strewn onto the sheet made from rubber latex (60% HA) through a steel sieve. The characteristic of the TiO2-strewn sheet was studied by using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) techniques. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2-strewn rubber sheet was evaluated using Indigo Carmine (IC) dye as a model for organic dye pollutant in water. The results showed that the TiO2-strewn sheet could degrade IC dye solution under UV light irradiation. The effects of pH, initial concentration, and the intensity of UV light on the photodegradation were also investigated. Kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation was of the first-order reaction. The used TiO2-strewn sheet can be recovered and reused. The recycling uses did not require any cleaning between successive uses and no decline in the photodegradation efficiency was observed compared with freshly prepared TiO2-strewn sheet.

Synthesis and characterisation of new titanium amino-alkoxides: precursors for the formation of TiO2 materials.

Reaction of the amino-alkoxides HOCH(CH(2)NMe(2))(2) (Hbdmap) and HOC(CH(2)NMe(2))(3) (Htdmap) with [Ti(OR)(4)] yields a series of heteroleptic titanium alkoxides [Ti(OR)(4-n)(L)(n)] (L = bdmap, tdmap). Substitution of the monodentate alkoxide with the chelating alkoxides becomes progressively more difficult, with homogeneous products being obtained only for n = 1, 2. The structure of [Ti(OEt)(3)(bdmap)](2), a mu-OEt bridged dimer, has been determined. Hydrolysis of [Ti(OR)(2)(L)(2)], by adventitious moisture affords the dimeric oxo-alkoxides [Ti(O)(L)(2)](2), both of which have been characterised crystallographically. These two compounds have also been prepared by reaction of [Ti(NMe(2))(2)(L)(2)] with the hydrated metal salts [Zn(acac)(2).2H(2)O] and [Zn(OAc)(2).2H(2)O] using the intrinsic water molecules in these salts to react with the labile amido groups, though the former also produces Me(Me(2)N)C=C(H)C(O)Me from reaction of liberated HNMe(2) with the coordinated acac ligand, while the latter also affords the ligand exchange product [Zn(OAc)(bdmap)]. In neither case does the free dimethylamino group of [Ti(O)(L)(2)](2) coordinate a second metal. The dimeric structure of [Zn(OAc)(bdmap)](2) has been established, and the structure of the tetrameric oxo-alkoxide [Ti(O)(OPr(i))(OCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))](4) is reported for comparison with others in this study. [Ti(OEt)(3)(bdmap)](2) has been used as a precursor in AACVD (Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition) to generate amorphous TiO(2) films on glass at 440 degrees C, and TiO(2)@C nanoparticles of approximate diameter 350 nm with a carbon coating of width ca. 75 nm on heating in a sealed container at 700 degrees C.