Sharif Digital Repository

Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs), coupling photocatalysts and membranes in a single system, have shown a considerable potential to reduce membrane fouling, which is one of the major drawbacks of using membranes to treat water and wastewater. In this study, the visible light-activated photocatalysts were incorporated into the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) casting solution to synthesize the photocatalytic composite membranes. The physicochemical properties and the morphology of the membranes and photocatalysts were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance... 

Designing efficient and inexpensive catalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is vital for achieving sustainable and green hydrogen fuel production through water electrolysis. Herein, we have synthesized several bi- and trimetallic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of Co, Ni, and Mn metals and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid linker. The MOFs were prepared via a simple hydrothermal method, and their electrocatalytic performances in alkaline OER were investigated. A battery of analytical techniques was employed to characterize the as-synthesized materials, including field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM),... 

In this study, the effects of unmodified calcium zinc phosphate (UCZP) and modified calcium zinc phosphate (MCZP) nanopigments (NPs) on the rheological, mechanical, and corrosion protection performance (CPP) of the epoxy (EP) coatings were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study morphology and overall chemical structure of synthesized calcium zinc phosphate (CZP) NPs, respectively. The grafting of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) molecules on the surface of CZP was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and... 

Chiral recognition has long been a challenging issue to deal with in biological systems, drug design and food authentication. Implementing nanoparticle-based probes with intrinsic or induced chirality in this field has addressed several issues concerning sensitivity, reliability, rapidness and the cost of chiral sensing platforms. Yet, research into chiral nanoprobes that can be used for visual monitoring of chiral substances is still in its infancy. As part of this study, a visual chiral recognition platform has been developed in which a combination of blue-emitting carbon dots (BCDs) and mercaptopropionic acid-capped CdTe quantum dots (MPA-QDs) with inherent chiroptical activity were... 

We introduce highly antifouling Polymer-Nanoparticle-Nanoparticle/Polymer (PNNP) hybrid membranes as multi-functional materials for versatile purification of wastewater. Nitrogen-rich polyethylenimine (PEI)-functionalized halloysite nanotube (HNT-SiO2-PEI) nanoparticles were developed and embedded in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes for protein and dye filtration. Bulk and surface characteristics of the resulting HNT-SiO2-PEI nanocomposites were determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, microstructure and... 

The type of passivating ligands and the ligand exchange method influence the quality of lead sulfide quantum dot films. This imparts on the efficiency of optoelectronic devices. To get a compact arrangement of the nanocrystals in a thin film (⁓100 nm) via self-assembling, we used organic-inorganic perovskites with mixed halides for the solid-state exchange of oleic acid ligands on PbS QDs (⁓ 4 nm). Formamidinium lead halides FAPbIxBr3-x (x= 3,2,1,0) were used. X-ray spectroscopy shows that successful replacement of oleic acid with FA happens by short immersion of the films (2 min) in the solution. Transmission electron microscopy shows that nano-scale cracks, short-range ordering, and fusion... 

Abstract: In the present paper, an efficient Cu-catalyzed regioselective acylation of indoles with phenylglyoxals was developed which is the first example of indolyl diketones synthesis by a heterogeneous catalyst. The magnetic polyacrylonitrile was synthesized through anchoring acrylonitrile monomers on Fe3O4 nanoparticles surface and then modified with 2-aminopyridine. At the final step, copper nanoparticles were immobilized onto the polymeric support containing stable ligands from functionalized nitrile groups of polyacrylonitrile. The different techniques such as Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Transmission... 

This work suggests a green method for synthesizing Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the aqueous extract of Salix aegyptiaca extract. The mechanism of green synthesized AuNPs was examined by molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) calculations. AuNPs were characterized with different techniques such as Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical investigation of modified glassy carbon electrode using AuNPs (AuNPs/GCE) shows that the electronic transmission rate between the modified electrode and [Fe (CN)6]3−/4− increased. Process of oxidation, energy... 

Two electrochemical sensors based on modified glassy carbon electrodes with carbon nanostructures as graphene (GCE–EG) and carbon nanotubes (GCE–CNT) were evaluated for morpholine analysis. The carbon nanostructures were obtained and characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. All spectroscopic and microscopic techniques confirmed the procurement of graphene and CNT. The electrochemical studies proved the efficient behaviour of both electrodes GCE–EG and GCE–CNT in sensing and detection of morpholine via differential pulse voltammetry.... 

Iron oxyhydroxide (α-FeOOH, Goethite) is one of the most thermodynamically stable iron oxides and a widespread soil mineral. In this study, a mixture of two phenolic extracts of rosemary and Echinacea was utilized as stabilizing and reducing agents for the synthesis of Goethite (FeOOH) nanoparticles without utilizing harmful toxic solvents. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and Brunauer–Emmett-Teller (BET). MTT assay was... 

The α-FAPbI3 perovskite nanocrystals exhibit interesting optical properties, which make them attractive for versatile optoelectronic applications; however, the spontaneous phase transformation to the non-perovskite phase (δ-FAPbI3) in humid conditions requires a new strategy to improve the phase stability of the material. We employed 3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES)-assisted reprecipitation and sol-gel methods at ambient temperature to prepare stable α-FAPbI3 nanocrystals embedded in a silica matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis determined that ultrafine perovskite nanocrystals (11.5 ± 3 nm) were uniformly distributed in a silica matrix.... 

Polyamide 6 (PA6)/carbon nanotube (CNT)/conductive carbon black (CCB) nanocomposites with the incorporation of physical and chemical dispersants were prepared via melt blending method to examine the synergistic enhancement of electrical conductivity. Investigation of modified CNT with octadecyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride (OTPC-CNT) as physical dispersant was performed by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Morphological, electrical, rheological, and mechanical properties of PA6/CNT/CCB nanocomposites were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, digital insulation... 

The controlled and stable crystal structure, reduction in Curie temperature and semiconducting nature of oxide materials are the key factors for magnetoelectrical applications. Therefore, Co0.6Mn0.4GdxFe2-xO4 where x = 0, 0.033, 0.066 and 0.10 were synthesized to analyse the structural, morphological, magnetic, and electrical properties using a sol-gel autocombustion approach. The X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the cubic crystallite size decreases with increasing smaller content of Gd3+ oxides without any secondary phase. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) study explain the complete morphology,... 

Abstract: The applicability of the synthesized carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin-Fe3O4 nanocomposite (CM‑β-CD-Fe3O4NPs) as a novel adsorbent for eliminating Methylene blue dye (MB) from aqueous media was investigated. Various techniques including Brunauer Emmett Teller analysis (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to characterize this novel adsorbent. The effect of initial concentration (C0), pH, adsorbent dosage (dose), contact time (tc), and temperature (T, K) on the removal percentage (Ad%) of MB dye onto CM-β-CD-Fe3O4NPs was studied, and the optimum value... 

Manganese dioxide/reduced graphene oxide (MnO2/RGO) nanocomposite material was synthesized by the in-situ anodic pulse electrodeposition method to fabricate symmetric supercapacitors. The effects of the pH value of the electrodeposition bath were considered on the properties of fabricated electrodes. Three pH values of 4, 7, and 10 were evaluated, and physicochemical properties were studied using field-emission scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen gas sorption isotherm, and thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical evaluation was performed by galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), cyclic voltammetry (CV),... 

Polyamide 6 (PA6)/carbon nanotube (CNT)/conductive carbon black (CCB) nanocomposites with the incorporation of physical and chemical dispersants were prepared via melt blending method to examine the synergistic enhancement of electrical conductivity. Investigation of modified CNT with octadecyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride (OTPC-CNT) as physical dispersant was performed by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Morphological, electrical, rheological, and mechanical properties of PA6/CNT/CCB nanocomposites were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, digital insulation... 

This research reports the preparation and examination of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Quantum Dots and doping CdTe QDs with Europium (Eu), Gadolinium (Gd), and Manganese (Mn) prepared in aqueous solution using TGA as a capping agent. Magnetic QDs (MQDs) are important agents for fluorescence (FL) /magnetic resonance (MR) dual-modal imaging due to their excellent optical and magnetic properties. Herein, the chemical bonds, structural, fluorescence, and magnetized properties of CdTe QDs and effect of Mn, Eu, and Gd ions doping on their properties were examined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX),... 

A pseudocapacitive electrode based on mesoporous manganese dioxide (MnO2) was fabricated via the anodic pulse electrodeposition method. Pulse current (PC) has many parameters that affect the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the material. PC parameters are generally divided into independent and dependent types. Independent pulse parameters consist of the time of applying current (ton), interval time with zero current (toff), and peak current density (Ip). Dependent pulse parameters include duty cycle (θ), frequency (f), and average current density (Ia). In this work, the changes of two independent parameters (ton and toff) at the constant Ip = 2 mA cm-2 on the anodic pulse... 

Abstract: In the present paper, an efficient Cu-catalyzed regioselective acylation of indoles with phenylglyoxals was developed which is the first example of indolyl diketones synthesis by a heterogeneous catalyst. The magnetic polyacrylonitrile was synthesized through anchoring acrylonitrile monomers on Fe3O4 nanoparticles surface and then modified with 2-aminopyridine. At the final step, copper nanoparticles were immobilized onto the polymeric support containing stable ligands from functionalized nitrile groups of polyacrylonitrile. The different techniques such as Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Transmission... 

Herein, a novel Pt-APA composite (APA = pyridinium bromide salt) based on magnetic graphene oxide was synthesized and used as an effective catalyst. In this way, Fe3O4 nanoparticles are grown on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets by a simple and practical method which creates a unique nanostructure (Fe3O4/GO) through dispersing uniformly among graphene nanosheets. The resulted Pt-APA composite was obtained via adding PtCl2 to an ethanol solution of Fe3O4/GO and α-keto stabilized pyridinium ylide in related conditions. The synthesized nanocomposite structure was identified using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive...