Heterostructured Photocatalytic Fabric Composed of Ag₃PO₄ Nanoparticle-Decorated NH₂‑MIL-88B (Co/Fe) Crystalline Wires for Rhodamine B Adsorption and Degradation

As an effective and robust wastewater treatment method, a photocatalytic fabric featuring the Z-scheme heterojunction was developed by combining a Co/Fe bimetallic metal–organic framework (NH2-MIL-88B) and Ag3PO4 catalysts. This study reveals that by controlling the Co/Fe molar ratio of NH2-MIL-88B (Co/Fe) (noted as MILx), the nanocrystal structures of the bimetallic MILx and the associated heterojunction with Ag3PO4 (noted as Ag/MILx) were manipulated to perform higher adsorption and accelerated photocatalytic reaction for removing Rhodamine B (RhB) pollutant in water. Photoelectrochemical investigation and scavenging experiments revealed that heterojunction catalysts with bimetallic MILx (Ag/MILx) followed the charge transfer pathways of the Z-scheme, facilitating the generation of •O2– by increasing the conduction band energy position. As a result, at the optimal Co/Fe molar ratio of 0.2 in the heterojunction cocatalyst, RhB adsorption performance was improved by 28% and the RhB degradation was accelerated by 1.5 times compared to the heterojunction formed with Ag3PO4 and single-metal NH2-MIL-88B (Fe). The material developed in this study offers a unique advantage compared to other catalytic materials by strategically utilizing both crystal defects and heterojunction design to enhance the photocatalytic performance. This study is significant in providing crucial empirical evidence that is insightful for designing an effective photocatalytic self-cleaning material composed of complex cocatalytic nanocrystals for enhanced wastewater remediation

The tender purple (TPL) and mature green leaves (MGL) of Wuyiqizhong18 tea plant.

<p>The tender purple (TPL) and mature green leaves (MGL) of Wuyiqizhong18 tea plant.</p

Relative expression levels of genes encoding (A) flavonol synthase (S412), (B) caffeine synthase (S2405), (C) ATP synthase CF1 alpha subunit (S2603), (D) chalcone isomerase (S4106), (E) malate dehydrogenase (S8306), (F) chalcone synthase (S8406), (G) ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (S9502), (H) fructokinase, (I) cytosolic malate dehydrogenase, (J)glutamine synthetase, (K) alpha-tubulin, (L) glutathione <i>S</i>-transferase, (M) copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, (N) alanine aminotransferase, (O) oxygen evolving enhancer protein from <i>Camellia sinensis</i> leaves revealed by qPCR.

<p>Bars represent means ± SE (n = 9). Different letters above standard error bars indicate significant differences at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

Proteomic analysis of tea plants (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) with purple young shoots during leaf development

<div><p>Tea products made from purple leaves are highly preferred by consumers due to the health benefits. This study developed a proteome reference map related to color changes during leaf growth in tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) plant with purple young shoots using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Forty-six differentially expressed proteins were detected in the gel and successfully identified by using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. The pronounced changes in the proteomic profile between tender purple leaves (TPL) and mature green leaves (MGL) included: 1) the lower activity of proteins associated with CO₂ assimilation, energy metabolism and photo flux efficiency and higher content of anthocyanins in TPL than those in MGL may protect tender leaves against photo-damage; 2) the higher abundance of chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI) and flavonol synthase (FLS) likely contributes to the synthesis of anthocyanins, catechins and flavonols in TPL tissues; 3) higher abundance of stress response proteins, such as glutathione S-transferases (GST) and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), could enhance the tolerance of TPL tissues to adverse condition in; and 4) the increased abundance of proteins related to protein synthesis, nucleic acids and cell wall proteins should be beneficial for the proliferation and expansion of leaf cell in TPL tissues. qPCR analysis showed that the expression of differentially abundant proteins was regulated at the transcriptional level. Therefore, the results indicated that higher abundance of CHI and CHS may account for the production of the purple-shoot phenotype in Wuyiqizhong 18 and thereby, enhancing the anthocyanin biosynthesis. The higher abundance of glutamine synthetase (GS) proteins related to the theanine biosynthesis may improve the flavor of tea products from TPL materials. Thus, this work should help to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the changes in leaf color alteration.</p></div

List of differentially expressed proteins identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS in tender purple leaf (TPL) and mature green leaf (MGL) tissues of <i>Camellia sinensis</i>.

<p>List of differentially expressed proteins identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS in tender purple leaf (TPL) and mature green leaf (MGL) tissues of <i>Camellia sinensis</i>.</p

Changes in the contents of total anthocyanins (TA), total polyphenols (TP), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (+)-catechin (C), (−)-epicatechin (EC), (−)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG), (−)-epicatechin 3-O-gallate (ECG), total catechins (TC) and caffeine (CAF) in mature green leaf (MGL) and tender purple leaf (TPL) tissues.

<p>Bars represent means ± SE (n = 4). Different letters above the bars indicate a significant difference at <i>p</i><0.05.</p

The differentially abundant proteins in the light reactions and Calvin cycle in tender leaves of <i>Camellia sinensis</i>.

<p>Note: Rubisco: Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase; FBA: Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase; SBPase: Sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase; PRK: Phosphoribulokinase; Arrows represent meansLow abundance.</p

Representative 2-DE gels from <i>Camellia sinensis</i> of the development of young shoot purple-related tea plant.

<p><b>A, mature green leaf (MGL) tissues; B, tender purple leaf (TPL) tissues</b>. Note: Differentially regulated proteins are numbered and indicated by arrows.</p

Functional classification of differentially expressed transcript derived fragments.

<p>Functional classification of differentially expressed transcript derived fragments.</p

Principal component analysis (PCA) of scores (A) and loading (B) plots of proteomic responses from mature green leaf (MGL) and tender purple leaf (TPL) tissues of tea plants.

<p>Principal component analysis (PCA) of scores (A) and loading (B) plots of proteomic responses from mature green leaf (MGL) and tender purple leaf (TPL) tissues of tea plants.</p