Hendrik Oktendy Lintang

A urea precursor to synthesize carbon nitride with mesoporosity for enhanced activity in the photocatalytic removal of phenol.

A urea precursor was used for the first time to prepare mesoporous carbon nitride (MCN) by a thermal polymerization process with silica nanospheres as a hard template. Although the prepared MCN samples have similar structures and optical properties, it was revealed that the specific surface area, pore-size distribution, and morphology of the MCN samples depend on the initial mass ratio of urea to silica. Compared to the bulk carbon nitride (BCN) that only gave 20% phenol removal (6 h of irradiation), the activities can be enhanced up to 74% on MCN samples for photocatalytic removal of phenol under visible-light irradiation. The highest conversion was obtained on MCN with an initial mass ratio of urea to silica of 5, which has high surface area of 191 m(2) g(-1) and a nanoporous structure with uniform pore-size distribution of 7 nm. In addition to the high activity, the MCN sample also showed high photocatalytic stability.

Self‐Repair of a One‐Dimensional Molecular Assembly in Mesoporous Silica by a Nanoscopic Template Effect

On the other hand, for exploiting moleculardevices that can self-repair elaborate functions, differentproblems may be encountered that originate from muchsmaller size regimes. For example, design of self-repairableoptoelectronic devices, which are potentially important forsensor and display applications,

Structural and luminescence studies of europium ions in lithium aluminium borophosphate glasses

Abstract Eu3+ doped borophosphate glasses with the chemical composition 20Li2O-30Al2O3-10B2O3-40P2O5-xEu2O3 (where x=0.05 mol.%, 0.1 mol.%, 1.0 mol.%, 1.5 mol.% and 2.0 mol.%) were prepared by conventional melt quenching technique. The structural and luminescence properties of the prepared Eu3+ doped borophosphate glasses were studied and compared with reported results. The XRD pattern showed the amorphous nature of the prepared glasses. Whereas, the FTIR spectra revealed the vibrational modes in the prepared glasses. The bonding parameters ( β ¯ and δ) were calculated through the excitation spectra. Judd–Ofelt (J–O) intensity parameters were calculated from the emission spectra and were used to determine transition probability (A), stimulated emission cross-section (σEP), radiative lifetime (τR) and branching ratios (βexp) for the transition 5D0→7Fj (j=1, 2, 3 and 4) of Eu3+ ions. Furthermore, the luminescence intensity ratio (R) of 5D0→7F2 to 5D0→7F1 transition was also calculated. Transition 5D0→7F2 had the highest value of stimulated emission cross-section and branching ratios and the results were comparable with the reported values. This indicated that the present glass is promising host material for Eu3+ doped fiber amplifiers.

Continuous microwave flow synthesis of mesoporous hydroxyapatite

We have successfully used continuous microwave flow synthesis (CMFS) technique for the template free synthesis of mesoporous hydroxyapatite. The continuous microwave flow reactor consisted of a modified 2.45GHz household microwave, peristaltic pumps and a Teflon coil. This cost effective and efficient system was exploited to produce semi-crystalline phase pure nano-sized hydroxyapatite. Effect of microwave power, retention time and the concentration of reactants on the phase purity, degree of crystallinity and surface area of the final product was studied in detail. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study the phase purity and composition of the product, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the effect of process parameters on the morphology of hydroxyapatite. The TEM analysis confirmed the formation of spherical particles at low microwave power; however the morphology of the particles changed to mesoporous needle and rod-like structure upon exposing the reaction mixture to higher microwave power and longer retention time inside the microwave. The in-vitro ion dissolution behavior of the as synthesized hydroxyapatite was studied by determining the amount of Ca(2+) ion released in SBF solution.

Oxidative Dimerization of o-Aminophenol by Heterogeneous Mesoporous Material Modified with Biomimetic Salen-Type Copper(II) Complex

Copper(II) N,N′-bis[4-(N,N-diethylamino)salicylidene]ethylenediamine (CAS) complex, which has the metal–ligand coordination “CuN2O2” that mimics the galactose enzyme active site, was synthesised and incorporated onto the organo-modified MCM-48. The supported CAS catalyst successfully catalysed the conversion of o-aminophenol to 2-amino-3H-phenoxazon-3-one in the presence of aqueous peroxide as oxidant. The catalytic performance of the CAS supported on organo-modified MCM-48 was found highly affected by the temperature, the type of aqueous peroxide and reaction solvent used.Graphical AbstractA salen-type copper complex of N2O2 donor ligand was synthesised and incorporated onto the modified MCM-48. The corresponding supported catalysts are active in the oxidation of o-aminophenol to 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one in the presence of peroxide as an oxidant.

Metal‐Ion Permeation in Congested Nanochannels: The Exposure Effect of Ag+ Ions on the Phosphorescent Properties of a Gold(I)–Pyrazolate Complex that is Confined in the Nanoscopic Channels of Mesoporous Silica

An organometallic/silica nanocomposite of a 1D cylindrical assembly of a trinuclear gold(I)-pyrazolate complex ([Au(3)Pz(3)]) that was confined inside the nanoscopic channels of hexagonal mesoporous silica ([Au(3)Pz(3)]/silica(hex)), emitted red light with a luminescence center at 693 nm upon photoexcitation at 276 nm owing to a Au(I)-Au(I) metallophilic interaction. When a film of [Au(3)Pz(3)]/silica(hex) was dipped into a solution of Ag(+) in tetrahydrofuran (THF), the resulting nanocomposite material (Ag@[Au(3)Pz(3)]/silica(hex)) emitted green light with a new luminescence center at 486 nm, which was characteristic of a Au(I)-Ag(I) heterometallic interaction. Changes in the emission/excitation and XPS spectra of Ag@[Au(3)Pz(3)]/silica(hex) revealed that Ag(+) ions permeated into the congested nanochannels of [Au(3)Pz(3)]/silica(hex), which were filled with the cylindrical assembly of [Au(3)Pz(3)].

Effects of Eu3+ and Dy3+ doping or co-doping on optical and structural properties of BaB2Si2O8 phosphor for white LED applications

Abstract A series of Eu3+ and Dy3+ doped/co-doped as well as un-doped BaB2Si2O8 phosphors were synthesized via solid state reaction method. The PL result showed typical blue and green emission from Dy3+ and red emission from Eu3+. The f-f transitions involving the lanthanide ions along with dopant site occupancy were discussed thoroughly. Phonon assisted energy transfer process was observed from Eu3+ to Dy3+, which enhanced the emissions of Dy3+. Combinations of the emissions from Eu3+ and Dy3+ showed a possible white to red tuneable emission on the CIE diagram. The white warmth emissions of the phosphor were revealed to be adjustable through designing the dopant concentration and excitation wavelengths. An unusual energy transfer that originated from Eu3+ to Dy3+ was also discovered and the energy transfer mechanism was discussed. Proposed energy transfer mechanism was investigated using luminescence decay lifetime. All the phosphor exhibited efficient excitation in the UV range which matched well with the emissions from GaN-based LED chips. This presented the BaB2Si2O8 phosphor as a promising candidate for white LED applications. The effects of doping on the structural properties and the optical band gap of BaB2Si2O8 phosphor were also discussed in this study.

Mesoporous carbon nitride for adsorption and fluorescence sensor of N-nitrosopyrrolidine

A metal-free mesoporous carbon nitride (MCN) was investigated for the first time as an adsorbent for N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), which is one of the nitrosamine pollutants. Under the same condition, the adsorption capability of the MCN was found to be higher than that of the MCM-41. Since the adsorption isotherm was consistent with Langmuir and Freundlich model equations, it was suggested that the adsorption of NPYR molecules on the MCN occurred in the form of mono-molecular layer on the heterogeneous surface sites. It was proposed that MCN with suitable adsorption sites was beneficial for the adsorption of NPYR. The evidence on the interaction between the NPYR molecules and the MCN was supported by fluorescence spectroscopy. Two excitation wavelengths owing to the terminal N-C and N=C groups were used to monitor the interactions between the emission sites of the MCN and the NPYR molecules. It was confirmed that the intensity of the emission sites was quenched almost linearly with the concentration of NPYR. This result obviously suggested that the MCN would be applicable as a fluorescence sensor for detection of the NPYR molecules. From the Stern-Volmer plot, the quenching rate constant of terminal N-C groups was determined to be ca. two times higher than that of the N=C groups on MCN, suggesting that the terminal N-C groups on MCN would be the favoured sites interacted with the NPYR. Since initial concentration can be easily recovered, the interactions of NPYR on MCN were weak and might only involve electrostatic interactions.

High photocatalytic activity of Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites prepared by photodeposition for degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

Two series of Fe2O3/TiO2 samples were prepared via impregnation and photodeposition methods. The effect of preparation method on the properties and performance of Fe2O3/TiO2 for photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under UV light irradiation was examined. The Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites prepared by impregnation showed lower activity than the unmodified TiO2, mainly due to lower specific surface area caused by heat treatment. On the other hand, the Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites prepared by photodeposition showed higher photocatalytic activity than the unmodified TiO2. Three times higher photocatalytic activity was obtained on the best photocatalyst, Fe2O3(0.5)/TiO2. The improved activity of TiO2 after photodeposition of Fe2O3 was contributed to the formation of a heterojunction between the Fe2O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles that improved charge transfer and suppressed electron–hole recombination. A further investigation on the role of the active species on Fe2O3/TiO2 confirmed that the crucial active species were both holes and superoxide radicals. The Fe2O3(0.5)/TiO2 sample also showed good stability and reusability, suggesting its potential for water purification applications.

Masking effect of copper oxides photodeposited on titanium dioxide: exploring UV, visible, and solar light activity

A series of copper oxide loaded TiO2 was prepared by a photodeposition method. It was clarified through XANES that the added copper species solely existed as highly dispersed Cu(II) and it remained as Cu(II) after the photocatalytic reaction. The prepared CuO/TiO2 with various contents (0.1–5 mol%) were used as photocatalysts for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) degradation under UV, visible, and solar simulator irradiation. Under UV light irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of 2,4-D decomposition increased by a maximum factor of 4.3 compared with unmodified TiO2 when TiO2 was loaded with 0.75 mol% CuO. In contrast, under visible light and solar simulator irradiation, the optimum loading of CuO was much lower (0.1 mol%) and enhancements of 22.5 and 2.4 times higher activities were observed, respectively. These results showed that the different masking effects due to the different light sources led to different optimum amounts of CuO, and the added CuO mostly contributed to the visible light activity of TiO2. Therefore, in addition to the increased charge separation and improved visible light absorption, the masking effect shall also be considered in designing highly active photocatalysts under visible and solar light irradiation.