Removal of Cesium and Strontium From Radioactive Wastewater by Prussian Blue Nanorods

In this work, novel Prussian blue tetragonal nanorods were prepared by template-free solvothermal methods for removal of radionuclide Cs and Sr. It was worth that Prussian blue nanorods exhibited the better adsorption performance than co-precipitation PB or Prussian blue analogue composites. Thermodynamic analysis implied that adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic which was described well with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order equation, the maximum adsorption capacity of PB nanorod was estimated to be 194.26 mg g-1 and 256.62 mg g-1 for Cs+ and Sr2+. The adsorption mechanism of Cs+ and Sr2+ was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and 57Fe Mössbaure spectroscopy, the results revealed that Cs+ entered in PB crystal to generate a new phase, the most of Sr2+ was trapped in internal crystal and the other exchanged Fe2+. Furthermore, the effect of co-existing ions and pH for PB adsorption process were also investigated. The results suggest that PB nanorods were outstanding candidate for removal of Cs+ and Sr2+ from radioactive wastewater.

Synthesis and Enhanced Light Photocatalytic Activity of Modulating Band BiOBrXI1−X Nanosheets

The photocatalysis technique has been proven to be a promising method to solve environmental pollution in situations of energy shortage, and has been intensively investigated in the field of pollutant degradation. In this work, a band structure-controlled solid solution of BiOBrXI1−X (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 1.00) with highly efficient light-driven photocatalytic activities was successfully synthesized via simple solvothermal methods. The phase composition, crystal structure, morphology, internal molecular vibration, optical properties, and energy band structure were characterized and analyzed by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, Raman, and UV Vis DRS. To evaluate the photocatalytic activity of BiOBrXI1−X, rhodamine B was selected as an organic pollutant. In particular, BiOBr0.15I0.85 displayed significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity by virtue of modulating the energy band position, optimizing redox potentials, and accelerating carrier separation. Moreover, the enhancement mechanism was elucidated on the basis of band structure engineering, which provides ideas for the design of highly active photocatalysts for practical application in the fields of environmental issues and energy conservation.

Red Emission Carbon Dots Prepared by 1,4-Diaminonaphthalene for Light-Emitting Diode Application and Metal Ion Detection

Carbon dots (CDs), as the most important type of carbon materials, have been widely used in many fields because of their unique fluorescence characteristics and excellent properties of biocompatibility. In previous studies, the fluorescence of CDs was mainly concentrated in the blue and green, whereas the red fluorescence was relatively less. Herein, we prepared efficient red-emitting CDs from 1,4-diaminonaphthalene using solvothermal methods. We discussed the effects of different solvothermal solvents on CDs. The results show that CDs prepared with octane and acetone as reaction media have the best fluorescence properties. The CDs dispersed in different organic solvents exhibited tunable emission across a wide spectrum from 427 nm to 679 nm. We further demonstrated the application of red light-emitting diode (LED) optoelectronics and fluorescence detection of Fe3+ in aqueous solution.

Using Sound to Synthesize Covalent Organic Frameworks in Water

Most covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are synthesized using solvothermal conditions (>120 °C, >72 h) in harmful organic solvents. We report a strategy for rapidly synthesizing imine-linked COFs (< 60 min) in aqueous acetic acid using sonochemistry, avoiding most of the downsides of solvothermal methods. We first synthesized seven known COFs using this method and obtained crystallinity and porosity comparable to or better than materials from previously reported solvothermal routes. This sonochemical method even works in highly sustainable solvents, such as food-grade vinegar. The generality of the method was demonstrated by preparing two unreported COFs. Finally, we showed that one sonochemical COF is an excellent photocatalyst for sacrificial hydrogen evolution from water with a more sustained catalytic performance than its solvothermal analog. The speed, ease and generality of this sonochemical method with no sacrifice in material quality makes it an enabling methodology for rapid discovery of new functional COF materials.

Using Sound to Synthesize Covalent Organic Frameworks in Water

Most covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are synthesized using solvothermal conditions (>120 °C, >72 h) in harmful organic solvents. We report a strategy for rapidly synthesizing imine-linked COFs (< 60 min) in aqueous acetic acid using sonochemistry, avoiding most of the downsides of solvothermal methods. We first synthesized seven known COFs using this method and obtained crystallinity and porosity comparable to or better than materials from previously reported solvothermal routes. This sonochemical method even works in highly sustainable solvents, such as food-grade vinegar. The generality of the method was demonstrated by preparing two unreported COFs. Finally, we showed that one sonochemical COF is an excellent photocatalyst for sacrificial hydrogen evolution from water with a more sustained catalytic performance than its solvothermal analog. The speed, ease and generality of this sonochemical method with no sacrifice in material quality makes it an enabling methodology for rapid discovery of new functional COF materials.

Elucidating the role of precursors in synthesizing single crystalline lithium niobate nanomaterials: a study of effects of lithium precursors on nanoparticle quality

The selection of lithium precursors correlates with the quality of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) nanoparticles prepared by solvothermal methods.

Removal of tetracycline hydrochloride from wastewater by Zr/Fe-MOFs/GO composites

Zr/Fe-MOFs and Zr/Fe-MOFs/GO composites were prepared by solvothermal methods. They were characterized by SEM, FTIR, TGA and used for efficient removal of organic contaminants from aqueous solutions.

Facile synthesis of magnetic molybdenum disulfide@graphene nanocomposite with amphiphilic properties and its application in solid-phase extraction for a wide polarity of insecticides in wolfberry samples

A novel magnetic molybdenum disulfide@graphene (Fe3O4/MoS2@G) nanocomposite with amphiphilic properties was prepared by co-mixing solvothermal methods. To testify the feasibility of Fe3O4/MoS2@G as the sorbent in sample preparation, it was...

Nontoxic photoluminescent tin oxide nanoparticle for cell imaging: Deep eutectic solvent mediated synthesis, tuning and mechanism

Non-toxic and photoluminescent (PL) tin oxide nanoparticle synthesis in Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) is being reported herein. Both radiation (electron beam and γ radiation) as well as solvothermal methods were...

Syntheses and structural characterization of manganese and cadmium coordination polymers constructed with bis(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)methanone and dicarboxylate ligands

Two coordination polymers (CPs), [Mn(bipmo)(pbtda)(H2O)]n (1), {[Cd(bipmo)(btda)]·2(H2O)]}n (2), (bipmo = bis(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)methanone, H2pbtda = 2-phenylbutanedioic acid, H2btda = butanedioic acid), were synthesized by solvothermal methods. The products have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The topological structure of 1 is based on 2-nodal nets with the Schläfli symbol {63}{69·8}, while that of 2 features a system with a sixfold penetration with the Schläfli symbol {66}.