Adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation are promising technologies for eliminating antibiotics (e.g. tetracycline) in aquatic environments. However, traditional powdery nanomaterials are limited by drawbacks of difficult separation and lack of synergistic function, which do not conform to the practical demand. Herein, we developed a simple one-step gelation-pyrolysis route to fabricate hydrophilic three-dimensional (3D) porous photocatalytic adsorbent, in which CuO nanoparticles are uniformly and firmly embedded in nitrogen-doped (N-doped) porous carbon frameworks. The obtained N-doped carbon/CuO bulky composites exhibited excellent ability to adsorb tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), which was subsequently photo-oxidized under visible light. Their hydrophilic nature favors the adsorption processes toward TC, with a maximum adsorption capacity reaching 25.03 mg∙g-1. In addition, >94.4% of TC molecules could be photo-degraded in 4 h with good cycling efficiency after three consecutive tests. find more Finally, a reaction scheme for removal process of TC was proposed. The obtained 3D porous N-doped carbon/CuO nanocomposites show great promise for efficient removal of antibiotics in aqueous solution by synergistically utilizing adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation processes.
Viscoelastic liquids could be used as potential substrates in the microfluidics paradigm. The theoretical and experimental investigation of an evaporating aqueous droplet, over a viscoelastic liquid substrate, could provide a fundamental perspective of the complex interplay amongst capillarity, viscosity, and elasticity, resulting in a wide array of intriguing dynamics, which could be important in several microscale processes.
The evaporation dynamics of a water droplet atop an un-crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane film (polymeric liquid substrate) are examined using an optical goniometer and a laser scanning confocal microscopy, to discern the interfaces. The recorded videos were analyzed to estimate the contact angles, velocities, and other parameters of relevance.
The viscoelasticity of the film, in conjunction with evaporation, triggered a self-propulsion in the droplet, leading to crumpling of the polymeric film, and finally culminating in the encapsulation of the water drop by the polymer. The evapoion, to name a few.A novel dual mode sensing platform is constructed for highly selective detection of H2S, attributing to the efficient electrochemical (EC) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) signal responses of the TiO2/Bi2WO6/Ag heterojunction. On the one hand, TiO2/Bi2WO6/Ag heterojunction with excellent catalytic performance for the reduction of H2O2 could be employed act as a probe, providing a remarkable EC response through an amperometric i-t method. On the other hand, this hybrid provides a photoelectric beacon with a favorable energy-band configuration. More interestingly, the EC and PEC responses of the functionalized electrodes are proportionately decreased in response to the generation of Bi2S3 and Ag2S nanoparticles upon exposure to sulfide ions. The decreased EC and PEC signals could be ascribed to the poor catalytic properties and the recombination of photoexcited electron - hole pairs of the Bi2S3 and Ag2S. Under the optimal conditions, the dual mode sensor exhibits a wide linear response in the range from 0.5 μM to 300 μM with a detection limit of 0.08 μM for the detection of H2S. Enabled by this unique sensitization mechanism, the proposed sensing platform displays an excellent analytical performance with good selectivity, reproducibility and stability, which providing an alternative pathway of H2S detecting in practical application.Three-dimensional polyaniline (PANI) hydrogel was used as the conductive medium to improve the methane (CH4) production from the anaerobic degradation of organics in wastewater. The porous structure and hydrophilic surface of the PANI hydrogel promoted the adhesion of the anaerobes. The PANI hydrogel existed as a conductive emeraldine base (EB) form with a conductivity of 0.42 S/cm, and had a good biocompatibility with the microorganisms in the anaerobic system. The conductive PANI hydrogel was added into the anaerobic sludge as the conductive medium of the direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) between bacteria and archaea, accelerating CH4 production during the biodegradation of organic pollutants. The results indicated that the CH4 production rate was increased by 10.50%, 14.21%, 28.77% and 19.30% from the anaerobic system with adding 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg/L of PANI hydrogel. The proportion of Methanosaeta in the anaerobic sludge with the ability of DIET was increased to 64.74% after adding the PANI hydrogel. The conductive PANI hydrogel served as an electronic channel to enrich the microorganism with the DIET ability, which was responsible for PANI hydrogel improved CH4 production.Porous CNT@TiO2 nanocables are prepared via an impregnation method combined with calcination, which not only display the illusive capacity of 233.5 mAh g-1 but also possess outstanding rate performance (144.9 mAh g-1 at 500 mA g-1). Compared with TiO2 nanoparticles and nanotubes, CNT@TiO2 exhibits the excellent electrochemical performance on account of the unique coaxial nanocable feature (short ion diffusion path, large contact surface area, supernal conductivity, and favorable structure stability), which simultaneously overcomes the aggregation of TiO2 particles and the collapse of TiO2 nanotubes. Importantly, there are no significant changes in the morphology and phase after long cycling, meaning that CNT@TiO2 has a highly structural stability and reversibility. Therefore, CNT@TiO2 can be applied as a promising cathode material for Mg2+/Li+ hybrid batteries.
The self-assembly of ionic surfactants in deep eutectic solvents has recently been demonstrated, opening up new possibilities in terms of the development of formulated products and templating of nanostructured materials. As it occurs in an aqueous environment, the solvophobic effect drives the formation of micelles in these solvents and specific-ion interactions alter the resulting structures. We hypothesized that the presence of hydrotropic salts would greatly affect the micellar structure in deep eutectic solvents, ultimately leading to the formation of worm-like aggregates.
A systematic investigation performed on hydrotrope-surfactant assemblies in neat and hydrated 12 choline chlorideglycerol is presented. The effect of choline salicylate on the micellization of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride at different hydrotrope-to-surfactant ratios was probed by contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering.
Here the first investigation on salt-induced micellar growth in deep eutectic solvents is presented.find more
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