Facile synthesis, structure and visible light photocatalytic activity of recyclable ZnFe2O4/TiO2

A kind of sponge-like ZnFe2O4/TiO2 composite was facilely synthesized by a solution combustion method. The physicochemical properties, including the crystalline phase, surface morphology, spectral response, photogenerated charge carriers' separation and transfer efficiency, were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy techniques and analyzed to interpret the relationship between the structure and photocatalytic activity. The sponge-like morphology promotes the adsorption of reaction species as well as functions as a good light harvesting structure for the enhancement of spectral utilization. The hetero-junction effectively inhibited the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. With these synergistic effects, the degradation rate of methylene blue on ZnFe2O4/TiO2 was up to 93.2% under visible light irradiation and remained stable even after five consecutive reaction runs. Moreover, owing to the magnetic property, ZnFe2O4/TiO2 can be recycled easily. Additionally, a photocatalytic mechanism of ZnFe2O4/TiO2 was proposed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved

Mechanism Study of Photocatalytic Degradation of Gaseous Toluene on TiO2 with Weak-Bond Adsorption Analysis Using In Situ Far Infrared Spectroscopy

The development of far infrared spectroscopy offers a powerful method for comprehensive study in adsorption structure and photocatalytic degradation mechanism of photocatalysis. This study presented an improved in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy technique in far infrared region for investigation of weak-bond adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene on the surface of TiO2. It was found that toluene tends to be adsorbed on the hydroxyl group via three possible sites, the ortho-, meta-, and para-adsorption site, instead of ipso-structure. The methyl group of toluene is consumed first during the process of toluene photocatalytic degradation. Based on these, a reaction route for the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene on TiO2 surface was proposed

DRIFTS Evidence for Facet-Dependent Adsorption of Gaseous Toluene on TiO2 with Relative Photocatalytic Properties

Effective adsorption is of great importance to the photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds. Herein, we succeeded in the preparation of anatase TiO2 with clean dominant {001} and {101} facets. By using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) equipped with a homemade reaction system and a coupling gas-dosing system, we found that TiO2 with dominant {001} facets exhibits higher toluene adsorption capacity than TiO2 with dominant {101} facets, which may be attributed to the different number of unsaturated 5c-Ti capable of forming the main active adsorption sites (terminal Ti-OH species). TiO2 with dominant {001} facets shows a significantly high photocatalytic degradation performance, with its degradation rate being 6 times higher than that of dominant {101} facets. Combined with simulation results, it is suggested that the synergetic effects of the formation of specific active adsorption sites, the low adsorption energy for toluene, and preservation of the free molecularly adsorbed water on the surface promote the degradation of gaseous toluene on the dominant {001} facets. This study exemplifies that the facet-dependent adsorption of volatile organic compounds is one of the most important factors to effectively engineer photocatalysts for air purification

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Qingre-Qushi Recipe (QRQS) against Atopic Dermatitis: Potential Mechanism of Inhibition of IL-33/ST2 Signal Transduction

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of QRQS against AD and the inhibitory molecular mechanisms of IL-33/ST2 signal transduction, BALB/c mice were divided into six groups (normal control, OVA control, low-dose of QRQS, middle-dose of QRQS, high-dose of QRQS, and cetirizine) and epicutaneously exposed to ovalbumin or PBS for 3 weeks and treated with QRQS for 2 weeks. Skin biopsies and blood samples were obtained for histological study, antibody analysis, and RNA isolation. HaCaT cells, stimulated by TNF-α and IFN-γ, were treated with QRQS to evaluate mRNA and protein expression by RT-PCR and ELISA. QRQS decreased both epidermal and dermal thickness, alleviated dermatitis, and reduced IL-33 and ST2 positive cell numbers. The concentration of specific IgE, IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies in serum and the expression of IL-33, ST2, IL-1RAcP, IL-4, and IL-13 mRNA in the skin were suppressed. No significant difference exists in TNF-α or IFN-γ. QRQS decreased IL-33 mRNA and protein secretion in HaCaT cells exposed to TNF-α and IFN-γ in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. QRQS regulates related molecule expression of ovalbumin-induced dermatitis involved in the IL-33/ST2 signaling axis in the treatment of acute AD

Sintering Temperature Induced Evolution of Microstructures and Enhanced Electrochemical Performances: Sol-Gel Derived LiFe(MoO4)2 Microcrystals as a Promising Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

A facile sol-gel process was used for synthesis of LiFe(MoO4)2 microcrystals. The effects of sintering temperature on the microstructures and electrochemical performances of the as-synthesized samples were systematically investigated through XRD, SEM and electrochemical performance characterization. When sintered at 650°C, the obtained LiFe(MoO4)2 microcrystals show regular shape and uniform size distribution with mean size of 1–2 μm. At the lower temperature (600°C), the obtained LiFe(MoO4)2 microcrystals possess relative inferior crystallinity, irregular morphology and vague grain boundary. At the higher temperatures (680 and 700°C), the obtained LiFe(MoO4)2 microcrystals are larger and thicker particles. The electrochemical results demonstrate that the optimized LiFe(MoO4)2 microcrystals (650°C) can deliver a high discharge specific capacity of 925 mAh g−1 even at a current rate of 1 C (1,050 mA g−1) after 500 cycles. Our work can provide a good guidance for the controllable synthesis of other transition metal NASICON-type electrode materials

Compounding self-excited and hidden attractors via a non-autonomous approach

Compounding attractors, as an effective way to enhance the complexity of existing chaotic attractors, has attracted high attention. Various autonomous approaches have been devised to compound some self-excited attractors, but few involve non-autonomous approaches. Meanwhile, a universal and uncomplicated approach is still lacking. Focusing on non-autonomous domains, we propose a pulse control approach in this paper, which is directly applied to the constant terms of some known chaotic system equations to generate different types of compound self-excited and hidden attractors. Then, by setting the proper pulse signal functions we designed in this transformation, the number, shape, and size of these novel compound attractors are all controllable. The dynamical behaviors are theoretically analyzed, such as Lyapunov exponent spectra, bifurcation diagrams and so on. Furthermore, the corresponding hardware implementation by Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is given. The hardware experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulations

Role of syntrophic acetate oxidation and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis in co-digestion of blackwater with food waste

Blackwater collected from toilets represents a type of sustainable bioenergy resource in the modern sanitation system, while its biomethane recovery efficiencies through anaerobic digestion were limited by slow hydrolysis and inhibited methanogenesis due to a large fraction of solid organics and high free ammonia concentrations. In the current study, food waste and blackwater co-digestion was performed in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor (35 °C). Co-substrates with increasing food waste proportions were stepwise applied to demonstrate the threshold organic loading rate (OLR). Co-digestion effectively enhanced substrate hydrolysis efficiency by up to 86.1% and methanisation rate by up to 39.7% compared to blackwater mono-digestion. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens showed predominance in both feeding conditions. The dominant bacterial groups shifted from genus Bacteroides to T78, and methanogenic groups shifted from genus Methanogenium to Methanoculleus and Methanospirillum when the operation system shifted from blackwater mono-digestion to food waste co-digestion. The microbial community structures and the isotopic carbon analysis for CH4 and CO2 in the produced biogas indicated that a combined syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO) and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis (HM) pathway was established throughout the operation. The enhanced substrates’ properties including higher carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios and more readily biodegradable organics in food waste and blackwater co-digestion system contributed to the enhancements in biomethane recovery and microbial development compared to blackwater mono-digestion. The OLR stress under the overloaded condition negatively affected the microbial community structure and resulted in process deterioration