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19 pages, 5723 KiB

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Synthesis of TiO₂/SBA-15 Nanocomposites by Hydrolysis of Organometallic Ti Precursors for Photocatalytic NO Abatement

by Ons El Atti, Julie Hot, Katia Fajerwerg, Christian Lorber, Bénédicte Lebeau, Andrey Ryzhikov, Myrtil Kahn, Vincent Collière, Yannick Coppel, Nicolas Ratel-Ramond, Philippe Ménini and Pierre Fau

Inorganics 2024, 12(7), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12070183 - 29 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1714

Abstract

The development of advanced photocatalysts for air pollution removal is essential to improve indoor air quality. TiO₂/mesoporous silica SBA-15 nanocomposites were synthesized using an organometallic decoration method, which leverages the high reactivity of Ti precursors to be hydrolyzed on the surface water groups of silica supports. Both lab-made Ti(III) amidinate and commercial Ti(IV) amino precursors were utilized to react with water-rich SBA-15, obtained through a hydration process. The hydrated SBA-15 and the TiO₂/SBA-15 nanocomposites were characterized using TGA, FTIR, ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR, TEM, SEM, N₂ physisorption, XRD, and WAXS. This one-step TiO₂ decoration method achieved a loading of up to 51.5 wt.% of approximately 9 nm anatase particles on the SBA-15 surface. This structuring provided excellent accessibility of TiO₂ particles for photocatalytic applications under pollutant gas and UV-A light exposure. The combination with the high specific surface area of SBA-15 resulted in the efficient degradation of 400 ppb of NO pollutant gas. Due to synergistic effects, the best nanocomposite in this study demonstrated a NO abatement performance of 4.0% per used mg of TiO₂, which is 40% more efficient than the reference photocatalytic material TiO₂ P-25. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)

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14 pages, 2350 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Acute Aquatic Toxicity to Zebrafish and Bioaccumulation in Marine Mussels of Antimony Tin Oxide Nanoparticles

by Ivone Pinheiro, Monica Quarato, Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro, Ana Vieira, Virginie Serin, David Neumeyer, Nicolas Ratel-Ramond, Sébastien Joulié, Alain Claverie, Miguel Spuch-Calvar, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Alexandre Campos, José Carlos Martins, Pilar Bermejo-Barrera, Marisa P. Sarriá, Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo and Begoña Espiña

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(14), 2112; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142112 - 20 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2552

Abstract

Antimony tin oxide (Sb₂O₅/SnO₂) is effective in the absorption of infrared radiation for applications, such as skylights. As a nanoparticle (NP), it can be incorporated into films or sheets providing infrared radiation attenuation while allowing for a transparent final product. The acute toxicity exerted by commercial Sb₂O₅/SnO₂ (ATO) NPs was studied in adults and embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results suggest that these NPs do not induce an acute toxicity in zebrafish, either adults or embryos. However, some sub-lethal parameters were altered: heart rate and spontaneous movements. Finally, the possible bioaccumulation of these NPs in the aquacultured marine mussel Mytilus sp. was studied. A quantitative analysis was performed using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS). The results indicated that, despite being scarce (2.31 × 10⁶ ± 9.05 × 10⁵ NPs/g), there is some accumulation of the ATO NPs in the mussel. In conclusion, commercial ATO NPs seem to be quite innocuous to aquatic organisms; however, the fact that some of the developmental parameters in zebrafish embryos are altered should be considered for further investigation. More in-depth analysis of these NPs transformations in the digestive tract of humans is needed to assess whether their accumulation in mussels presents an actual risk to humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials)

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20 pages, 3077 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Analyzing the Raman Spectra of Graphenic Carbon Materials from Kerogens to Nanotubes: What Type of Information Can Be Extracted from Defect Bands?

by Pascal Puech, Mariem Kandara, Germercy Paredes, Ludovic Moulin, Elsa Weiss-Hortala, Anirban Kundu, Nicolas Ratel-Ramond, Jérémie-Marie Plewa, Roland Pellenq and Marc Monthioux

C 2019, 5(4), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/c5040069 - 1 Nov 2019

Cited by 142 | Viewed by 12256

Abstract

Considering typical spectra of a broad range of carbonaceous materials from gas-shale to nanotubes, various ways by which defects show up in Raman spectra are exampled and discussed. The position, resonance behavior, and linewidth of both the D and G bands are compared, even if in some cases obtaining accurate information on the materials from the fitting parameters is a difficult task. As a matter of fact, even if a full picture is unreachable, defining parameter trends is one acceptable option. Two ways to determine the linewidth, either graphically and or by fitting are proposed in order to be able to compare literature data. The relationship between the crystallite size obtained from the linewidth and from X-ray diffraction, which is complementary to the Tuinstra and Koenig law, is examined. We show that a single approach is not possible unless modeling is performed and therefore that analysis of Raman spectra should be adapted to the specificities of each sample series, i.e., a minimum of knowledge about the materials is always required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization of Disorder in Carbons)

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