Graphene Hybridized Photoactive Iron Terephthalate with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity for the Degradation of Rhodamine B under Visible Light

In this study, we report the design and fabrication of a series of visible-light-responsive photocatalysts based on one-dimensional iron terephthalate (MIL-53­(Fe)) microrods hybridized with graphene (GR) and experimentally demonstrate their remarkably improved visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity. During the solvothermal process, the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) is accompanied by the MIL-53­(Fe) crystallization, which endows them with effective interfacial contact, thus facilitating the transfer of photogenerated charge to lower the recombination rate of excited carriers. The GR/MIL-53­(Fe)-H₂O₂ systems exhibit significantly higher photocatalytic activity toward degrading Rhodamine B (RhB) than that of bare MIL-53­(Fe)-H₂O₂ under visible light irradiation. The introduced H₂O₂ induces photosynergistic generation of more amounts of hydroxyl radicals to contribute to the improved photocatalytic activity. This work could open a new way for the exploration and utilization of metal–organic framework (MOF)-based crystalline materials for light harvesting

Composite Films with Ordered Carbon Nanotubes and Cellulose Nanocrystals

Composite films with oxidized carbon nanotubes (o-CNTs) incorporated in the chiral nematic liquid crystals (CNLCs) formed by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were fabricated for the first time. Induced by solvent evaporation, the isotropic aqueous dispersion containing o-CNTs and CNCs gradually forms lyotropic CNLCs, and the framework of the CNLCs can be retained in the final solid films, confirmed by polarized optical microscopy observations and scanning electron microscopy observations. During this evaporation-induced self-assembly process, the predispersed o-CNTs were spontaneously integrated in the liquid crystal matrix. It is found that the incorporation of a trace amount of o-CNTs (∼1.5 wt %) can induce obvious structural changes of the films. The reflection spectrum shifts to higher wavelengths with increasing content of o-CNTs, resulting in a continuous increase of the helical pitch of the CNLC phase. Confined in the liquid crystal matrix, the randomly oriented o-CNTs in the aqueous dispersion are forced to adopt a higher degree of order. This ordered arrangement of o-CNTs combined with the intrinsic anisotropy of the CNLCs impart the composite film anisotropic conductivity as proved by the electrical resistance measurements. This new type of CNTs/CNCs composites could find applications in various fields such as sensors and photoelectronics

Trapping Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) with Diselenides: The Application in the Design of Fluorescent Probes

Here we report a unique reaction between phenyl diselenide-ester substrates and H₂S to form 1,2-benzothiaselenol-3-one. This reaction proceeded rapidly under mild conditions. Thiols could also react with the diselenide substrates. However, the resulted S–Se intermediate retained high reactivity toward H₂S and eventually led to the same cyclized product 1,2-benzothiaselenol-3-one. Based on this reaction two fluorescent probes were developed and showed high selectivity and sensitivity for H₂S. The presence of thiols was found not to interfere with the detection process