Highly efficient WO3-ZnO mixed oxides for photocatalysis

Monoclinic nanocuboid WO3 enhanced the photocatalyst efficiency of quasi nanobelt zinc oxide for dye degradation in the presence of visible light radiation. Combustion synthesized ZnO resulted in a belt-like morphology through in situ cluster formation of near spherical particles but homogenously disperses and strongly adheres to nanocuboid WO3 during physical mixing. Cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic orange G (OG) undergo degradation through a charge transfer mechanism in the presence of WO3-ZnO (1 : 9 weight percentage ratio) mixture. The photocatalytic reaction was enhanced due to the reduction in the recombination of photogenerated electron-holes. The high degree of 90% degradation of both dyes is due to the activity of the mixed oxides, which is much higher than that obtained either with WO3 or ZnO individually.

Facile green fabrication of iron-doped cubic ZrO2 nanoparticles by Phyllanthus acidus: Structural, photocatalytic and photoluminescent properties

Cubic ZrO2: Fe3+ (0.5-4 mol%) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via bin-inspired, inexpensive and simple route using Phyllanthus acidus as fuel. PXRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV absorption and PL studies were performed to ascertain the formation of NPs. Rietveld analysis confirmed the formation of cubic structure. The influence of Fe3+ on the structure, morphology, UV absorption, PL emission and photocatalytic activity of NPs were investigated. The CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.36, 0.41) show that NPs could be a promising candidate for white LEDs. The influence of Fe3+ on ZrO2 matrix for photocatalytic degradation of AO7 was evaluated under UVA and Sunlight irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of spherical shaped ZrO2: Fe3+ (2 mol%) under UVA light was attributed to dopant concentration, crystallite size, narrow band gap, textural properties and capability for reducing the electron-hole pair recombination. The trend of inhibitory effect in the presence of different radical scavengers were followed the order SO42- > Cl- > C2H5OH > HCO3- > CO32-. The recycling catalytic ability of the ZrO2: Fe3+ (2 mol%) was also evaluated with a negligible decrease in the degradation efficiency even after the sixth successive run. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Significant photocytotoxic effect of an iron(III) complex of a Schiff base ligand derived from vitamin B-6 and thiosemicarbazide in visible light

Iron(III)-Schiff base complexes, namely, Fe(tsc-py)(2)](NO3) (1), Fe(tsc-acpy)(2)](NO3) (2) and Fe(tsc-VB6)(2)](NO3) (3), where tsc-py, tsc-acpy and tsc-VB6 are the respective Schiff bases derived from thiosemicarbazide (tsc) and pyridine-2-aldehyde (tsc-py), 2-acetyl pyridine (tsc-acpy) and vitamin B-6 (pyridoxal, tsc-VB6), have been prepared, structurally characterized and their photocytotoxicity studied in cancer HeLa cells. The single crystal X-ray structures of the complexes 1 and 2 show a distorted octahedral geometry formed by the FeN4S2 core. The low-spin and 1 : 1 electrolytic complexes display a broad absorption band in the visible region. Complexes 1 and 2, without any VB6 moiety are not cytotoxic under light or dark conditions. Complex 3 is significantly photocytotoxic under visible light of 400-700 nm giving an IC50 value of 22.5 mu M in HeLa cells with no dark toxicity (IC50 > 100 mu M). The photo-induced cell death is attributable to apoptotic pathways involving photo-assisted generation of intracellular ROS. The observed photocytotoxicity of complex 3 could be the result of its better photosensitizing property combined with its enhanced uptake into cancer cells via a VB6 transporting membrane carrier (VTC) mediated diffusion pathway due to the presence of the VB6 moiety compared to the two non-vitamin B-6 analogues, complexes 1 and 2.

Iron(III) Complexes of a Pyridoxal Schiff Base for Enhanced Cellular Uptake with Selectivity and Remarkable Photocytotoxicity

Iron(III) complexes of pyridoxal (vitamin B6, VB6) or salicylaldehyde Schiff bases and modified dipicolylamines, namely, Fe(B)(L)](NO3) (15), where B is phenyl-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)methanamine (phbpa in 1), (anthracen-9-yl)-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)methanamine (anbpa in 2, 4) and (pyren-1-yl)-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)methanamine (pybpa in 3, 5) (H2L1 is 3-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(((2-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)-2-methylp yridine (13) and H2L2 is 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl-imino)methyl]phenol), were prepared and their uptake in cancer cells and photocytotoxicity were studied. Complexes 4 and 5, having a non-pyridoxal Schiff base, were prepared to probe the role of the pyridoxal group in tumor targeting and cellular uptake. The PF6 salt (1a) of complex 1 is structurally characterized. The complexes have a distorted six-coordinate FeN4O2 core where the metal is in the +3 oxidation state with five unpaired electrons. The complexes display a ligand to metal charge transfer band near 520 and 420 nm from phenolate to the iron(III) center. The photophysical properties of the complexes are explained from the time dependent density functional theory calculations. The redox active complexes show a quasi-reversible Fe(III)/Fe(II) response near -0.3 V vs saturated calomel electrode. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit remarkable photocytotoxicity in various cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 0.4 to 5 mu M with 10-fold lower dark toxicity. The cell death proceeded by the apoptotic pathway due to generation of reactive oxygen species upon light exposure. The nonvitamin complexes 4 and 5 display 3-fold lower photocytotoxicity compared to their VB6 analogues, possibly due to preferential and faster uptake of the vitamin complexes in the cancer cells. Complexes 2 and 3 show significant uptake in the endoplasmic reticulum, while complexes 4 and 5 are distributed throughout the cells without any specific localization pattern.

Polypyridyl iron(II) complexes showing remarkable photocytotoxicity in visible light

Iron(II) complexes of polypyridyl ligands (B), viz. Fe(B)(2)]Cl-2 (1 and 2) of N, N, N-donor 2-(2-pyridyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (pyphen in 1) and 3-(pyridin-2-yl)dipyrido3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (pydppz in 2), are prepared and characterized. They are 1:2 electrolytes in aqueous DMF. The diamagnetic complexes exhibit metal to ligand charge transfer band near 570 nm in DMF. The complexes are avid binders to calf thymus DNA giving binding constant (K (b)) values of similar to 10(6) M-1 suggesting significant intercalative DNA binding of the complexes due to presence of planar phenanthroline bases. Complex 2 exhibits significant photocytotoxicity in immortalized human keratinocyte cells HaCaT and breast cancer cell line MCF-7 giving IC50 values of 0.08 and 13 mu M in visible light (400-700 nm). Complex 2 shows only minor dark toxicity in HaCaT cells but is non-toxic in dark in MCF-7 cancer cells. The light-induced cellular damage follows apoptotic pathway on generation of reactive oxygen species as evidenced from the dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay.

Single-step synthesis of carbon nanotubes/iron/iron oxide composite films through inert-ambient CVD using ferric acetylacetonate as a precursor

We have developed a unique single-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) route for the synthesis of composite thin films containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CVD was carried out in an inert ambient using only iron(III) acetylacetonate as the precursor. Depositions were conducted at 700 degrees C on stainless steel substrates in argon ambient in the absence of any reactive gases (such as oxygen, hydrogen). By changing the deposition parameters, especially the pressure in the CVD reactor, the form of carbon deposited could be changed from amorphous to carbon nanotubes, the latter resulting in Fe-Fe3O4-CNT films. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy together confirm the formation of the three-component composite and illustrate the nanoscale mixing of the components. Elemental iron formed in this process was protected from oxidation by the co-deposited carbon surrounding it. Irrespective of the substrate used, a composite coating with CNTs was formed under optimum conditions, as verified by analyses of the film formed on polycrystalline alumina and silicon substrates.

In Situ Crystallographic Probing on Ameliorating Effect of Sulfide Additives and Carbon Grafting in Iron Electrodes

Beneficial effects of carbon grafting into the iron active material for rechargeable alkaline-iron-electrodes with and without Bi2S3 additive is probed by in situ X-ray diffraction in conjunction with Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and electrochemistry. EXAFS data unravel that the composition of pristine active material (PAM) for iron electrodes comprises 87% of magnetite and 13% of alpha-iron while carbon-grafted active material comprises 60% of magnetite and 40% of alpha-iron. In situ XRD patterns are recorded using a specially designed electrochemical cell. XRD data reflect that magnetite present in PAM iron electrode, without bismuth sulfide additive, is not reduced during charging while PAM iron electrode with bismuth sulfide additive is partially reduced to alpha-Fe/Fe(OH)(2). Interestingly, carbon-grafted-iron electrodes with bismuth sulfide exhibit complete conversion of active material to alpha-Fe/Fe(OH)2. The ameliorating effect of carbon grafting is substantiated by kinetic parameters obtained from steady-state potentiostatic polarization and Tafel plots. The mechanism for iron-electrode charge - discharge reactions are discussed in the light of the potential - pH diagrams for Fe - H2O, S - H2O and FeSads - H2O systems and it is surmised that carbon grafting into iron active material promotes its electrochemical utilization. (C) The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. All rights reserved.

The electronic, chemical and electrocatalytic processes and intermediates on iron oxide surfaces during photoelectrochemical water splitting

We re-assess experimental soft X-ray absorption spectra of the oxygen K-shell which we recorded operando from iron oxide during photoelectrochemical water splitting in KOH electrolyte. In particular, we refer to recently reported transitional electron hole states which originate within the charge carrier depletion layer of the iron oxide and on the iron oxide surface. For the latter we find that an intermediate oxy-peroxo species is formed on the iron oxide with increasing bias potential, which disappears upon further polarization of the electrode, concomitantly with the evolution and disappearance of the aforementioned surface state. The oxygen spectra contain also the spectroscopic signatures of the electrolyte water, the position of which changes with increasing bias potential towards lower X-ray energies, revealing the breaking and formation of hydrogen bonds in the water during the experiment. Combined with potential dependent impedance spectroscopy data we are able to sketch the molecular structure of chemical intermediates and their charge carrier dynamics. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Visible light-induced cytotoxicity of a dinuclear iron(III) complex of curcumin with low-micromolar IC50 value in cancer cells

Photoactive metal complexes have emerged as potential candidates in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. We present here the synthesis, characterization and visible light-triggered anticancer activity of two novel mixed-ligand oxo-bridged iron(III) complexes, viz., {Fe(L)(acac)}(2)(mu-O)](ClO4)(2) (1) and {Fe (L)(cur)}(2)(mu-O)](ClO4)(2) (2) where L is bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)-benzylamine, acac is acetylacetonate and cur is the monoanion of curcumin (bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-diene-3,5-dione). The crystal structure of complex 1 (as PF6 salt, 1a) shows distorted octahedral geometry of each iron(III) centre formed by the FeN3O3 core. The 1: 2 electrolytic complexes are stable in solution and retain their oxo-bridged identity in aqueous medium. Complex 2 has a strong absorption band in the visible region and shows promising photocytotoxicity in HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells in visible light giving respective IC50 values of 3.1 +/- 0.4 lM and 4.9 +/- 0.5 lM while remains non-toxic in the dark (IC50 > 50 lM). The control complex 1 is inactive both in the light and dark. Complex 2 accumulates in cytoplasm of HeLa and MCF-7 cells as evidenced from fluorescence microscopy and triggers apoptotic cell death via light-assisted generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Taken together, complex 2 with its promising photocytotoxicity but negligible dark toxicity in cancer cells has significant photochemotherapeutic potential for applications in PDT. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Amperometric acetylcholinesterase biosensor for pesticides monitoring utilising iron oxide nanoparticles and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid)

A new electrochemical sensing device was constructed for determination of pesticides. In this report, acetylcholinesterase was bioconjugated onto hybrid nanocomposite, i.e. iron oxide nanoparticles and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) (Fe(3)O(4)NPs/Pin5COOH) was deposited electrochemically on glassy carbon electrode. Fe(3)O(4)NPs was showed as an amplified sensing interface at lower voltage which makes the sensor more sensitive and specific. The enzyme inhibition by pesticides was detected within concentrations ranges between 0.1-60 and 1.5-70 nM for malathion and chlorpyrifos, respectively, under optimal experimental conditions (sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C). Biosensor determined the pesticides level in water samples (spiked) with satisfactory accuracy (96%-100%). Sensor showed good storage stability and retained 50% of its initial activity within 70 days at 4 degrees C.

Air Stable Iron/Iron Carbide Magnetic Nanoparticles Embedded in Amorphous Carbon Globules

We have synthesized Fe/Fe3C magnetic nanoparticles embedded in an amorphous carbon globule by pyrolysing of benzene, ferrocene and hydroboric acid. The diameter of the globules is similar to 1 mu m and that of Fe/Fe3C magnetic nanoparticles is similar to 40 nm. The globules exhibit ferromagnetic like behavior and the magnetization as well as the coercivity is found to increases with decreasing temperature.

Evolution of Texture and Microstructure in Deformed and Annealed Copper-Iron Multilayer

The effect of multiple phases on the evolution of texture during cold rolling and annealing of a copper-iron multilayer, fabricated by accumulative roll bonding, has been studied. The presence of an iron layer affects the deformation texture of the copper layer only at very large strains. On the other hand, a strong effect of copper on iron is observed at both small and large strains. At smaller strains, the larger deformation carried by the copper suppresses the texture development in the iron, whereas, at higher strains, selection of specific orientation relationship at the interface influences the texture of the iron layer. Shear banding and continuous dynamic recrystallization were found to influence the evolution of texture in the copper layer. The influence of large plastic deformation on the recrystallization behavior of copper is demonstrated with the suppression of typical fcc annealing texture components, described as constrained recrystallization. Evolution of typical annealing texture component is suppressed because of the multilayer microstructure. The plane of the interface formed during deformation is determined by a combination of the rolling texture of individual phases, constrained annealing, and the tendency to form a low-energy interface between the two phases during annealing.

Weak-coupling superconductivity in a strongly correlated iron pnictide

Iron-based superconductors have been found to exhibit an intimate interplay of orbital, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom, dramatically affecting their low-energy electronic properties, including superconductivity. Albeit the precise pairing mechanism remains unidentified, several candidate interactions have been suggested to mediate the superconducting pairing, both in the orbital and in the spin channel. Here, we employ optical spectroscopy (OS), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), ab initio band-structure, and Eliashberg calculations to show that nearly optimally doped NaFe0.978Co0.022As exhibits some of the strongest orbitally selective electronic correlations in the family of iron pnictides. Unexpectedly, we find that the mass enhancement of itinerant charge carriers in the strongly correlated band is dramatically reduced near the Gamma point and attribute this effect to orbital mixing induced by pronounced spin-orbit coupling. Embracing the true band structure allows us to describe all low-energy electronic properties obtained in our experiments with remarkable consistency and demonstrate that superconductivity in this material is rather weak and mediated by spin fluctuations.