A novel Ag(i)-calix[4]arene coordination polymer for the sensitive detection and efficient photodegradation of nitrobenzene in aqueous solution

Anion-Directed Self-Assembly of Calix[4]arene-Based Silver(I) Coordination Polymers and Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Coordination polymers (CPs) have recently emerged as promising candidates for heterogeneous photocatalysis due to their structural designability and tunable properties. Herein, we developed two novel Ag(I)-calix[4]arene coordination polymers with the formula {[Ag₂(μ-NO₃)L¹]}_n (CP 1) and {[AgL¹]·PF₆}_n (CP 2) (L¹ = 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole resorcinol calix[4]arene). Crystallography revealed that anion coordination and self-inclusion behavior induced the cavitand and silver ions to self-assemble into well-defined CPs 1 and 2 with different topological coordination frameworks, respectively. Furthermore, CPs 1 and 2 display high photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) in an aqueous solution under mild conditions (WLED and UV irradiation). The comparison results demonstrate that CP 1 exhibited better photocatalytic performance than CP 2, which correlated well with the differences in their molecular structure and HOMO-LUMO energy gaps. The photocatalysis products and possible intermediates were successfully monitored and determined using mass spectrum, gas chromatography, and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. The rational photocatalysis mechanism was further investigated and proposed.

Organo-macrocycle-containing hierarchical metal-organic frameworks and cages: design, structures, and applications

Developing hierarchical ordered systems is challenging. Using organo-macrocycles to construct metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous coordination cages (PCCs) provides an efficient way to obtain hierarchical assemblies. Macrocycles, such as crown ethers, cyclodextrins, calixarenes, cucurbiturils, and pillararenes, can be incorporated within MOFs/PCCs and they also endow the resultant composites with enhanced properties and functionalities. This review summarizes recent developments of organo-macrocycle-containing hierarchical MOFs/PCCs, emphasizing applications and structure-property relationships of these hierarchically porous materials. This review provides insights for future research on hierarchical self-assembly using macrocycles as building blocks and functional ligands to extend the applications of the composites.

Halogen-bonded architectures of multivalent calix[4]arenes

A 2D halogen bonded network of calixarene macrocycles was obtained by co-crystallization of a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene as a tetravalent XB donor with a bidentate XB acceptor.

Effect of pyridyl donors from organic ligands versus metalloligands on material design

This review illustrates designs and structures of various coordination frameworks constructed using assorted organic ligands and metalloligands offering pyridyl donors to evaluate the impact of flexibility versus rigidity on material design.

New Cd(ii) coordination polymers bearing Y-shaped tricarboxylate ligands as photocatalysts for dye degradation

Two Cd(ii) coordination polymers derived from a Y-shaped tricarboxylate ligand were synthesized and their photocatalytic properties against decomposition of methylene blue were investigated experimentally and computationally.

Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Peroxide Nanoparticles for the Photodegradation of Nitrobenzene Assisted by UV-Light

The contamination of both soil and water by nitrobenzene (NB) is a problem that has been studied, where several reactive agents have been developed for the degradation of this compound as well as different methods. Nanoparticles with semiconductive properties have been studied for organic compounds photodegradation due to their assistance in optimizing the degradation processes. Two of the most promising photocatalysts are ZnO and TiO2 because of their optimal results. In the present work the performance of the zinc peroxide (ZnO2) nanoparticles was evaluated. ZnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized from zinc acetate and hydrogen peroxide using the Sol-Gel method under ultrasound assistance. The characterization was carried out by UV–Vis spectroscopy, infrared Fourier transform total reflectance (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The experiments for the degradation of NB were carried out in a photoreactor with UV lamps of 254 nm at 25 °C, using a solution of nitrobenzene with the nanoparticles. The best conditions for NB photodegradation were 30 ppm (ZnO2) and 15 ppm (NB) at pH 2, reaching up to 90% degradation in 2 h. The intermediates formed during the photodegradation of NB were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

The Role of Calix[n]arenes and Pillar[n]arenes in the Design of Silver Nanoparticles: Self-Assembly and Application

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an attractive alternative to plasmonic gold nanoparticles. The relative cheapness and redox stability determine the growing interest of researchers in obtaining selective plasmonic and electrochemical (bio)sensors based on silver nanoparticles. The controlled synthesis of metal nanoparticles of a defined morphology is a nontrivial task, important for such fields as biochemistry, catalysis, biosensors and microelectronics. Cyclophanes are well known for their great receptor properties and are of particular interest in the creation of metal nanoparticles due to a variety of cyclophane 3D structures and unique redox abilities. Silver ion-based supramolecular assemblies are attractive due to the possibility of reduction by “soft” reducing agents as well as being accessible precursors for silver nanoparticles of predefined morphology, which are promising for implementation in plasmonic sensors. For this purpose, the chemistry of cyclophanes offers a whole arsenal of approaches: exocyclic ion coordination, association, stabilization of the growth centers of metal nanoparticles, as well as in reduction of silver ions. Thus, this review presents the recent advances in the synthesis and stabilization of Ag (0) nanoparticles based on self-assembly of associates with Ag (I) ions with the participation of bulk platforms of cyclophanes (resorcin[4]arenes, (thia)calix[n]arenes, pillar[n]arenes).

A review of the advanced developments of electrochemical sensors for the detection of toxic and bioactive molecules

The recent developments made regarding the novel, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly nanocatalysts for the electrochemical sensing of biomolecules, pesticides, nitro compounds and heavy metal ions are discussed in this review article.

A robust Zn(ii)/Na(i)-MOF decorated with [(OAc)2(H2O)2]n2n− anions for the luminescence sensing of copper ions based on the inner filter effect

A robust Zn(ii)/Na(i)-based MOF decorated with [(OAc)₂(H₂O)₂]_n²ⁿ⁻ anions was synthesized and employed as the probe for Cu²⁺ detection.