Energie budoucnosti a inovace

Browse

Now showing 1 - 5 of 82

Photocatalytic Microplastics "On-The-fly" Degradation via Motile Quantum Materials-Based Microrobots
(Wiley-VCH, 2023-05-16) Jančík Procházková, Anna; Jašek, Vojtěch; Figalla, Silvestr; Pumera, Martin
Nano/micro-plastics pollution is an emerging global concern. A variety of biodegradable polymers have been synthesized to enhance the degradation of plastic materials and thereby avoid their accumulation in the environment. However, even biodegradable polymers can accumulate in environments under specific conditions and present a potential hazard. Here, antimony sulfide-based microrobots decorated with magnetite nanoparticles are designed for microplastics degradation. The propulsion of microrobots is enabled by two independent orthogonal physical modes via magnetic field and via light irradiation. Due to phoretic interactions, the microrobots exhibit affinity toward poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) microplastics, which enables subsequent transport of the microplastics in a transversal rotating magnetic field. The photocatalytic activity of Sb2S3 quantum material provides microrobots with the ability to degrade the microplastics under UV light irradiation in the "on-the-fly" regime without the need for any fuel. This proof-of-concept work shows efficient capture, transport, and photocatalytic degradation of microplastics and paves the way toward their elimination, especially in water environments.
Organic photoelectrode engineering: accelerating photocurrent generation via donor-acceptor interactions and surface-assisted synthetic approach
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021-03-21) Kochergin, Yaroslav S.; Mohsen Beladi, Mousavi; Khezri, Bahareh; Lyu, Pengbo; Bojdys, Michael J.; Pumera, Martin
Conventional photoelectrocatalysts composed of precious metals and inorganic elements have limited synthetic design, hence, hampered modularity of their photophysical properties. Here, we demonstrate a scalable, one-pot synthetic approach to grow organic polymer films on the surface of the conventional copper plate under mild conditions. Molecular precursors, containing electron-rich thiophene and electron-deficient triazine-rings, were combined into a donor-acceptor pi-conjugated polymer with a broad visible light adsorption range due to a narrow bandgap of 1.42 eV. The strong charge push-pull effect enabled the fabricated donor-acceptor material to have a marked activity as an electrode in a photoelectrochemical cell, reaching anodic photocurrent density of 6.8 mu A cm(-2) (at 0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl, pH 7). This value is 3 times higher than that of the model donor-donor thiophene-only-based polymer and twice as high as that of the analogue synthesized in bulk using the heterogenous CuCl catalyst. In addition, the fabricated photoanode showed a 2-fold increase in the photoelectrocatalytic oxygen evolution from water upon simulated sunlight irradiation with the photocurrent density up to 4.8 mA cm(-2) (at 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, pH 14). The proposed engineering strategy opens new pathways toward the fabrication of efficient organic "green" materials for photoelectrocatalytic solar energy conversion.
Layered black phosphorus as a reducing agent - decoration with group 10 elements
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2020-10-05) Plutnar, Jan; Sofer, Zdeněk; Pumera, Martin
Black phosphorus is prone to surface oxidation under ambient conditions. This attribute is often seen as a negative property of this interesting material. However, its proneness to oxidation - thus the reductive properties - can also be employed in modification of its surface and in preparation of composite materials. Here we describe the process of decoration of BP particles with nickel, palladium and platinum in form of a phosphide or in metallic form, respectively. The deposits have forms of films or nanoparticles and the reported method represents a general way of modifying the surface of black phosphorus with metals or their respective compounds for desired applications.
MXene-functionalised 3D-printed electrodes for electrochemical capacitors
(Elsevier, 2021-03-01) Redondo Negrete, Edurne; Pumera, Martin
3D printing is a manufacturing technique that can be used to produce electrochemical capacitors with customised shapes and minimal material waste. However, the range of carbon-additive filaments currently commercially available is limited, resulting in 3D-printed electrodes with a poor capacitive performance due to their high thermoplastic content. Herein, a novel approach is presented for enhancing the electrochemical properties of 3D-printed electrodes, based on electrochemical activation of the electrodes followed by MXene functionalisation. Archetypal MXene, Ti3C2, has been used to modify the 3D-printed electrode surface; it has been demonstrated that it enhances the capacitance of the electrodes almost three-fold. These findings show a new route towards enhancing the performance of 3D-printed electrochemical capacitors and pave the way for further developments leading to other electrochemical applications.
3D-printed nanocarbon sensors for the detection of chlorophenols and nitrophenols: Towards environmental applications of additive manufacturing
(Elsevier, 2021-04-01) Jyoti, Jyoti; Redondo Negrete, Edurne; Alduhaish, Osamah; Pumera, Martin
3D printing is a manufacturing technique used to prototype devices with customized shapes composed of different materials, including carbon composites. Toxic phenolic compounds are a major environmental hazard. Herein, we demonstrate the use of carbon-based 3D-printed electrodes for the detection of chlorophenols and nitrophenols. The influence of pH on the voltammetric response was studied, and an alkaline pH was identified as the best environment for the detection of substituted phenols. Simultaneous detection of phenolic compounds was performed using differential pulse voltammetry. This approach appears promising for the fabrication of electrochemical sensors.

Browse

Recent Submissions