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Macrocyclic Molecular-Based Materials for Biomedical, Environmental and Energy Conversion Applications
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Macrocyclic Molecular-Based Materials for Biomedical, Environmental and Energy Conversion Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Photochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 3879

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Long Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: charge/energy transfer mechanisms in photo-electrochemical devices; structural design of rational control intra-/inter-molecular electron transport processes; metalloporphyrin chemistry; chemosensors for environmental and bio-applications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Macrocyclic molecules, such as porphyrins, phthalocyanines and peptides, possess versatile photophysical and electronic properties, making them promising candidates for application in the analysis of biosystems, the environment and energy-related fields. Science still lacks a deep understanding of numerous topics related to these compounds. For instance, the structure–performance relationships, the interfacial charge transfer mechanisms, the intra-/inter-molecular energy/electron transfer pathways, structure-dependent chemical bond formation and cleavage energy barriers, etc., remain poorly understood. This Special Issue is devoted to tackling the challenges related to the molecular engineering of the macrocyclic molecules or the design of novel composite materials derived from these compounds. Submissions are welcomed on topics that include, but are not limited to:

  1. Macrocylic chemosensors for the detection of ions, pH, viscosity, etc.;
  2. Structural modification for homogeneous catalysis, photodynamic therapy, optoelectronics, photovoltaics, etc.;
  3. Construction of macrocyclic molecular-doped composites, or metal-organic framework and covalent–organic framework materials derived from macrocylic molecules, for photocatalysis, photodegradation, photoelectrochemical cells and electrocatalysis;
  4. Design of functional structures for interesting charge transfer mechanisms.

Prof. Dr. Long Zhao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • macrocyclic molecules
  • chemosensors
  • catalysis
  • photovoltaics
  • composite catalysts

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3790 KiB  
Article
In Situ Formation of FeNi Nanoparticles on Polypyrrole Hydrogel for Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia
by Lixia Li, Paihao Yan, Qinkai Guo, Dongxu Zhang, Chunliang Mao, Quan Yuan, Hongtao Sun, Mingze Liu, Yanhong Liu and Baodong Mao
Molecules 2025, 30(6), 1271; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30061271 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 497
Abstract
The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NH3) under mild environmental conditions is attracting increasing attention, in which efficient and inexpensive transition metal catalysts, with the advantages of abundancy and low cost, play a key role. However, synergistic activity and selectivity [...] Read more.
The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NH3) under mild environmental conditions is attracting increasing attention, in which efficient and inexpensive transition metal catalysts, with the advantages of abundancy and low cost, play a key role. However, synergistic activity and selectivity promotion are still highly challenging. Herein, we developed a hydrogel-assisted strategy to prepare FeNi nanoparticles via the in situ adsorption and reduction of Fe/Ni precursors on a polypyrrole hydrogel. After optimization, the maximum NH3 yield reached 0.166 mmol h−1 cm−2, with a Faradaic efficiency of 88.9% and a selectivity of 86.6%. This excellent electrochemical performance was attributed to the mesoporous hydrophilic structure of the polypyrrole hydrogel, which facilitates the homogeneous loading of FeNi nanoparticles and provides a channel for both charge and mass transfer during nitrate reduction, which is important for the conversion of NO3− to NH3. Electrochemical active surface area determination and impedance spectroscopy showed that the introduction of hydrogel increased the active sites and improved the charge transfer. This study provides an effective strategy for improving the selectivity and yield of NH3 in transition metal electrocatalysts by utilizing the three-dimensional hydrogel network and electrical conductivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macrocyclic Molecular-Based Materials for Biomedical, Environmental and Energy Conversion Applications)
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15 pages, 3412 KiB  
Article
New Cyclam-Based Fe(III) Complexes Coatings Targeting Cobetia marina Biofilms
by Fábio M. Carvalho, Luciana C. Gomes, Rita Teixeira-Santos, Ana P. Carapeto, Filipe J. Mergulhão, Stephanie Almada, Elisabete R. Silva and Luis G. Alves
Molecules 2025, 30(4), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040917 - 16 Feb 2025
Viewed by 594
Abstract
Recent research efforts to mitigate the burden of biofouling in marine environments have focused on the development of environmentally friendly coatings that can provide long-lasting protective effects. In this study, the antifouling performance of novel polyurethane (PU)-based coatings containing cyclam-based Fe(III) complexes against [...] Read more.
Recent research efforts to mitigate the burden of biofouling in marine environments have focused on the development of environmentally friendly coatings that can provide long-lasting protective effects. In this study, the antifouling performance of novel polyurethane (PU)-based coatings containing cyclam-based Fe(III) complexes against Cobetia marina biofilm formation was investigated. Biofilm assays were performed over 42 days under controlled hydrodynamic conditions that mimicked marine environments. Colony-forming units (CFU) determination and flow cytometric (FC) analysis showed that PU-coated surfaces incorporating 1 wt.% of complexes with formula [{R2(4-CF3PhCH2)2Cyclam}FeCl2]Cl (R = H, HOCH2CH2CH2) significantly reduced both culturable and total cells of C. marina biofilms up to 50% (R = H) and 38% (R = HOCH2CH2CH2) compared to PU-coated surface without complexes (control surface). The biofilm architecture was further analyzed using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which showed that biofilms formed on the PU-coated surfaces containing cyclam-based Fe(III) complexes exhibited a significantly reduced thickness (58–61% reduction), biovolume (50–60% reduction), porosity (95–97% reduction), and contour coefficient (77% reduction) compared to the control surface, demonstrating a more uniform and compact structure. These findings were also supported by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) images, which showed a decrease in biofilm surface coverage on PU-coated surfaces containing cyclam-based Fe(III) complexes. Moreover, FC analysis revealed that exposure to PU-coated surfaces increases bacterial metabolic activity and induces ROS production. These results underscore the potential of these complexes to incorporate PU-coated surfaces as bioactive additives in coatings to effectively deter long-term bacterial colonization in marine environments, thereby addressing biofouling-related challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macrocyclic Molecular-Based Materials for Biomedical, Environmental and Energy Conversion Applications)
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16 pages, 8336 KiB  
Article
Functionalized Cyclodextrin/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite Hydrogel with Double Network Structure for Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions in Wastewater
by Hong Zhang, Xiaodong Yang, Xin Zhang, Wenbin Liu, Meiqing Fan and Lei Wang
Molecules 2024, 29(22), 5414; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225414 - 16 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1306
Abstract
Heavy metal ions in industrial wastewater pose significant environmental and ecological threats. In this work, a hydrogel featuring a double network structure was synthesized via radical polymerization and cross-linking of β-cyclodextrin (CD) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with acrylic acid (AA). The hydrogel’s functional groups [...] Read more.
Heavy metal ions in industrial wastewater pose significant environmental and ecological threats. In this work, a hydrogel featuring a double network structure was synthesized via radical polymerization and cross-linking of β-cyclodextrin (CD) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with acrylic acid (AA). The hydrogel’s functional groups and microstructure were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical properties were evaluated through rheological and compression tests. The study examined the impact of initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent-ion contact time, and solution pH on adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption capacities of the functionalized CD/CMC-PAA-MBA hydrogel for Cu2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ ions were 158.12, 393.56, and 290.12 mg/g, respectively. Notably, the hydrogel exhibited the highest selectivity for Pb2+ in mixed solutions. The adsorption kinetics of the metal ions were modeled using the pseudo-second-order rate equation and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macrocyclic Molecular-Based Materials for Biomedical, Environmental and Energy Conversion Applications)
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Graphical abstract

10 pages, 4453 KiB  
Article
Bi2Te3/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Nanomaterials as Catalysts for Thermoelectric Hydrogen Peroxide Generation
by Chunlei Li, Shun Li, Long Zhao and Jianming Zhang
Molecules 2024, 29(22), 5242; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225242 - 6 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1059
Abstract
Harnessing waste heat from environmental or industrial sources presents a promising approach to eco-friendly and sustainable chemical synthesis. In this study, we introduce a thermoelectrocatalytic (TECatal) system capable of utilizing even small amounts of heat for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) [...] Read more.
Harnessing waste heat from environmental or industrial sources presents a promising approach to eco-friendly and sustainable chemical synthesis. In this study, we introduce a thermoelectrocatalytic (TECatal) system capable of utilizing even small amounts of heat for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. We developed a nanohybrid structure, combining carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Bi2Te3 nanoflakes (Bi2Te3/CNTs), through a one-pot synthesis method. Bi2Te3, as a thermoelectric (TE) material, generates charge carriers under a temperature gradient via the Seebeck effect, enabling them to participate in surface redox reactions. However, the rapid recombination of these charge carriers greatly limits the TECatal activity. In the Bi2Te3/CNTs nanohybrid system, the introduction of CNTs substantially enhances the efficiency of H2O2 production, as the strong bonding between CNTs and Bi2Te3, along with the excellent conductivity of CNTs, facilitates charge carrier separation and transport, as confirmed by TE electrochemical tests. This study underscores the significant potential of thermoelectric nanomaterials for converting waste heat into green chemical synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macrocyclic Molecular-Based Materials for Biomedical, Environmental and Energy Conversion Applications)
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