Superparamagnetic imposed diatom frustules for the effective removal of phosphates

Diatom frustules coated with magnetite nanoparticles 21 nm in size were synthesised without the requirement of stabilisers, or prior functionalisation of the frustule surface, with the resulting material exhibiting superparamagnetic behaviour, and with a high capacity for phosphate ion adsorption. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Diatom frustules as light traps enhance DSSC efficiency

Diatoms are one of the most successful photosynthetic organisms and given the important role that their shells (frustules) play in light trapping we explored their use in multilayered materials for application as photoanodes in dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). We find a substantial improvement in energy conversion efficiency of 30%, increasing from 3.5% to 4.6% with diatom incorporation. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Unravelling the structure and function of human hair

Human hair is transformed into functional nano-dimensional material using a benign choline chloride-urea ionic liquid composite as a deep eutectic melt. The hair and isolated central fibres after treatment with the ionic liquid composite have the ability to immobilise microalgal cells for wastewater treatment and the cuticle cells are effective as templates in coating a sparingly soluble drug molecule which is slowly released at physiological pH. Thus, instead of human hair being a waste, it can be converted to end products with potentially high-end value, with reduced negative impact on the environmental. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry

P -Phosphonic acid calix[8]arene mediated synthesis of ultra-large, ultra-thin, single-crystal gold nanoplatelets

Single-crystal Au nanoplatelets, as large as 28 μm in cross section and as thin as 6 nm, are generated by bubbling hydrogen gas into an aqueous solution of HAuCl4 in the presence of p-phosphonic acid calix[8]arene, which acts as both a catalyst and stabiliser. The use of the ultrathin Au nanoplatelets in oxygen gas sensing has also been established