Fabrication of a Greener TiO2@Gum Arabic-Carbon Paste Electrode for the Electrochemical Detection of Pb2+ Ions in Plastic Toys

In Situ ATR Spectroscopy Study of the Interaction of Acacia senegal Gum with Gold Nanoparticles Films at the Solid-Liquid Interface

The adsorption process of Acacia gum (A. senegal), a complex heteropolysaccharide, was followed by using a spectroscopic method to unravel the relative contribution of the protein moieties and the carbohydrate blocks on the adsorption process. In situ ATR-FTIR was used to investigate the kinetics and conformational changes associated with the adsorption of A. senegal gum on gold nanoparticle films (Au-NPs) at different pHs. The results of this thorough study highlighted the adsorption of A. senegal gum through its protein moieties, in particular, AGPs of low molecular weight and high protein content, close to the Au-NPs surface. Isotherm experiments, by gradually increasing the concentration, showed that the gum adsorption was heterogeneous and followed the Freundlich model for the amide part, while the polysaccharide part followed the Langmuir model. In addition, the hydration and structural organization of the gum layer depended on the gum concentration. A. senegal gum adsorbed irreversibly on Au-NPs whatever the pHs, but the adsorbed layer presented a different behavior depending on pH. A more aggregated and less hydrated structure was observed at acidic pH, while a very hydrated and continuous layer was detected at higher pH. The secondary structure analysis through amide III band revealed a change in the gum secondary structure at high pH with the increase in β-turn while random coil decreased.

Glycol 400 assisted preparation of high contact surface TiO2/GO nanocomposites for photocatalytic degradation rhodamine B

TiO2/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites with high contact interface were prepared with glycol 400 (PEG400) served as dispersant. This nanocomposite exhibits improved photocatalytic efficiency in contrast with the nanocomposite prepared without PEG400. In this work, the photocatalytic performance was investigated by observing the degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB). And it is found that the mass ratios of GO in nanocomposites plays an important role. When the mass ratio of GO reached 45%, the photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposites reached the highest, which is ∼72%. Moreover, the photocatalytic mechanism was studied through theoretical calculations, which can be summarized as follows: (1) the presence of GO decreases the band gap of TiO2nanoparticles. (2) GO inhibits the the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pair. (3) GO improves the adsorption capacity of TiO2nanoparticles for RhB. This work promoted the application of TiO2/GO nanocomposites in wastewater treatment.

Impact of Hydrophobic and Electrostatic Forces on the Adsorption of Acacia Gum on Oxide Surfaces Revealed by QCM-D

The adsorption of Acacia gum from two plant exudates, A. senegal and A. seyal, at the solid-liquid interface on oxide surfaces was studied using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The impact of the hydrophobic and electrostatic forces on the adsorption capacity was investigated by different surface, hydrophobicity, and charge properties, and by varying the ionic strength or the pH. The results highlight that hydrophobic forces have higher impacts than electrostatic forces on the Acacia gum adsorption on the oxide surface. The Acacia gum adsorption capacity is higher on hydrophobic surfaces compared to hydrophilic ones and presents a higher stability with negatively charged surfaces. The structural configuration and charge of Acacia gum in the first part of the adsorption process are important parameters. Acacia gum displays an extraordinary ability to adapt to surface properties through rearrangements, conformational changes, and/or dehydration processes in order to reach the steadiest state on the solid surface. Rheological analysis from QCM-D data shows that the A. senegal layers present a viscous behavior on the hydrophilic surface and a viscoelastic behavior on more hydrophobic ones. On the contrary, A. seyal layers show elastic behavior on all surfaces according to the Voigt model or a viscous behavior on the hydrophobic surface when considering the power-law model.

Homogeneous voltammetric sensing strategy for lead ions based on aptamer gated methylthionine chloride@UiO-66-NH2 framework as smart target-stimulated responsive nanomaterial

Herein an innovative electrochemical method is proposed for the determination of lead ions (Pb²⁺) based on a homogeneous voltammetric (HVC) sensing strategy using an aptamer gated methylthionine chloride@UiO-66-NH₂ framework as a smart target-stimulated responsive material. The proposed HVC sensor exhibits excellent sensing performance: ultralow detection limit (0.166 pM) and wide linearity (5.0 pM-500.0 nM), simultaneously, it avoids electrodeposition processes and it is simple to modify the electrode compared to previous electrochemical methods for Pb²⁺ detection. Thus our method shows great potential in the highly efficient detection of Pb²⁺ and other heavy metal ions by simply altering the related specific aptamer.

Photocatalytic Deposition of Nanostructured CsPbBr3 Perovskite Quantum Dot Films on Mesoporous TiO2 and Their Enhanced Visible-Light Photodegradation Properties

Herein, we report the in situ photocatalytic deposition of cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃) perovskite quantum dots on mesoporous TiO₂-coated fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO/TiO₂) electrodes. The mesoporous TiO₂ layer is used as a photocatalyst to promote the following: (1) the Pb deposition from a Pb²⁺ aqueous solution and (2) the in situ Pb conversion into CsPbBr₃ perovskite in the presence of a CsBr methanolic solution without any organic capping agent. Both steps are carried out under ultraviolet light irradiation under ambient conditions without any post-treatment. The obtained FTO/TiO₂/CsPbBr₃ film was characterized by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The FTO/TiO₂/CsPbBr₃ heterojunction exhibited enhanced visible-light photodegradation activity demonstrated for the oxidation of curcumin organic dye as a model system. The novel and simple approach to fabricating a supported photocatalyst represents a scalable general method to use semiconductors as a platform to incorporate different perovskites, either all-inorganic or hybrid, for optoelectronic applications. The perovskite deposition method mediated by the UV light at room temperature could be further applied to flexible and wearable solar power electronics.

Synthesis, Characterization and Physicochemical Properties of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Chitosan Bionanocomposites

Green bionanocomposites have garnered considerable attention and applications in the pharmaceutical and packaging industries because of their intrinsic features, such as biocompatibility and biodegradability. The work presents a novel approach towards the combined effect of glycerol, tween 80 and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the physicochemical properties of lyophilized chitosan (CH) scaffolds produced via a green synthesis method.The produced bionanocomposites were characterized with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The swelling behavior, water vapor transmission rate, moisture retention capability, degradation in Hanks solution, biodegradability in soil, mechanical strength and electrochemical performance of the composites were evaluated. The addition of additives to the CH matrix alters the physicochemical and biological functioning of the matrix. Plasticized scaffolds showed an increase in swelling degree, water vapor transmission rate and degradability in Hank’s balanced solution compared to the blank chitosan scaffolds. The addition of tween 80 made the scaffolds more porous, and changes in physicochemical properties were observed. Green-synthesized AgNPs showed intensified antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Incorporating biogenic nanoparticles into the CH matrix enhances the polymer composites’ biochemical properties and increases the demand in the medical and biological sectors. These freeze-dried chitosan-AgNPs composite scaffolds had tremendous applications, especially in biomedical fields like wound dressing, tissue engineering, bone regeneration, etc.