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Crystals
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Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications (Volume II)
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Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications (Volume II)

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Hybrid and Composite Crystalline Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 7402

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mohammed Rafi Shaik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Interests: catalysis; nanomaterials; material chemistry; graphene based nanocatalysts; mixed metal oxide; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Syed Farooq Adil

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Interests: natural products; plant-extracts-based green synthesis of nanomaterials; metallic NPs and graphene-based materials and their diverse applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mujeeb Khan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Interests: natural products; plant-extracts-based green synthesis of nanomaterials; metallic NPs and graphene-based materials and their diverse applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the remarkable success of the first volume of the Special Issue entitled “Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/crystals/special_issues/nanomaterials_applications_2022), we are pleased to announce the second volume of this Special Issue.

Nanotechnology has emerged as the most promising field of multidisciplinary science, due to the small size, large surface area and excellent physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, which are completely different from their bulk counterparts. These properties have been extensively exploited in several technological fields, including material science, engineering and biological applications. In particular, the shape- and size-dependent catalytic and biological properties of nanomaterials have vastly contributed to the advancement of nanotechnology. Thus, nanomaterials have been extensively exploited in the field of catalysis, and especially due to their high surface area, these materials have been used as active catalysts and applied as support materials for several industrially important organic transformations. Besides, due to their extraordinary physicochemical properties, nanomaterials have demonstrated excellent biological properties. Particularly, the size, morphology, surface charge, and other novel properties play a critical role in determining their biological activities. Moreover, the enhanced stability and solubility of advanced nanomaterials in growth medium facilitate the interaction between biological entities and nanomaterials, which further establishes their role in biological applications. Therefore, great efforts have been made to fabricate nanoparticle-based novel materials and devices with improved functional properties and explore their application in various fields including catalysis and biology. Several types of nanomaterials and their composites have been applied as nanocatalysts, support materials in catalysis, and in biological applications such as antimicrobials, anticancer agents, biosensors, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic kits, imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), drug delivery and many more. Therefore, designing novel, benign and eco-friendly protocols for the synthesis of high-quality nanomaterials with custom-made structural properties is highly desirable.

Although several synthetic routes have been effectively applied, it is still challenging to prepare these materials at low cost and large scale with novel catalytic and biological properties. Particularly, the biocompatibility of nanomaterials is a major concern for biological applications, which require natural resources and other eco-friendly substances for their preparation. Therefore, research studies addressing the mechanisms by which the shape and size of nanomaterials can be controlled, enhancing their surface properties, broadening their therapeutic applications and reducing their level of toxicity are the most pressing needs at present. We strongly believe that ‘the future still belongs to nanomaterials’, therefore, this Special Issue of Crystals is devoted to original research and review articles covering the latest innovations in nanotechnology, particularly toward the development of sustainable approaches for the preparation and characterization of nanomaterials and their composites. Apart from this, original research and review articles related to the diverse application of nanomaterials in various fields including catalysis and biological applications are also welcome.

Dr. Mohammed Rafi Shaik
Dr. Syed Farooq Adil
Dr. Mujeeb Khan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanotechnology
  • nanomaterials
  • nanocomposites
  • metal–organic frameworks
  • covalent organic frameworks
  • catalytic applications
  • biological applications

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 3101 KiB  
Article
Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Framework TM Catalysts for Electrocatalytic N2 and CO2 Reduction: A Density Functional Theory Investigation
by Anqi She, Ming Wang, Shuang Li, Yanhua Dong and Dandan Wang
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1426; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101426 - 26 Sep 2023
Viewed by 948
Abstract
In this study, we screened novel two-dimensional metal–organic framework (MOF) materials, which can be used as efficient electrocatalysts in the N2 reduction reaction (NRR) and CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By systematically investigating the [...] Read more.
In this study, we screened novel two-dimensional metal–organic framework (MOF) materials, which can be used as efficient electrocatalysts in the N2 reduction reaction (NRR) and CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By systematically investigating the adsorption behaviors of N2 and CO2 in different MOF-TMs (TM = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) and their electrocatalytic hydrogenation processes, we found that 2D MOF-Fe, MOF-Co, and MOF-Ni can be used as catalysts for electrocatalytic NRR. The free energy increase in the corresponding potential-limiting step is calculated to be 0.84 eV on MOF-Fe, 1.00 eV on MOF-Co, and 1.17 eV on MOF-Ni, all of which are less than or at least comparable to those reported values for the NRR. Moreover, only 2D MOF-Fe was identified as a suitable electrocatalyst for CO2RR. Instead of other hydrocarbons, the product CH3OH is selectively obtained in an electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction on a 2D MOF-Fe with a free energy increase of 0.84 eV in the potential-limiting step. Overall, the results of this study not only facilitate the potential application of 2D MOF-TMs as electrocatalysts but also provide new guidelines for rationally designing novel electrocatalysts for the NRR and CO2RR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications (Volume II))
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15 pages, 11376 KiB  
Article
Disulfide-Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
by Melissa Venedicto, Jake Carrier, Ha Na, Chen-Yu Chang, Daniela R. Radu and Cheng-Yu Lai
Crystals 2023, 13(7), 1067; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13071067 - 06 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are highly porous carriers used in drug and gene delivery research for biomedical applications due to their high surface area, narrow particle size distribution, and low toxicity. Incorporating disulfide (SS) bonds into the walls of MSNs (MSN-SSs) offers a [...] Read more.
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are highly porous carriers used in drug and gene delivery research for biomedical applications due to their high surface area, narrow particle size distribution, and low toxicity. Incorporating disulfide (SS) bonds into the walls of MSNs (MSN-SSs) offers a dual pathway for drug release due to the pore delivery and collapsing porous structure after cellular engulfment. This study explores the effect of embedding disulfide bonds into MSNs through various structural and biological characterization methods. Raman spectroscopy is employed to detect the SS bonds, SEM and TEM for morphology analyses, and a BET analysis to determine the required amount of SSs for achieving the largest surface area. The MSN-SSs are further loaded with doxorubicin, an anticancer drug, to assess drug release behavior under various pH conditions. The MSN-SS system demonstrated an efficient pH-responsive drug release, with over 65% of doxorubicin released under acidic conditions and over 15% released under neutral conditions. Cleaving the SS bonds using dithiothreitol increased the release to 94% in acidic conditions and 46% in neutral conditions. Biocompatibility studies were conducted using cancer cells to validate the engulfment of the nanoparticle. These results demonstrate that MSN-SS is a feasible nanocarrier for controlled-release drug delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications (Volume II))
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11 pages, 3321 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Thiadiazole Modified UiO-68-CdS Composites for RhB Degradation under Visible Light Irradiation
by Lian-Qiang Wei, Jiu-Bin Wei, Fei Yang, Zhi-Wei Li and Hong-Fang Lai
Crystals 2023, 13(5), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13050785 - 08 May 2023
Viewed by 1180
Abstract
In this paper, the photosensitive Zr-MOF material Thiadiazole-modified UiO-68 (UiO-68N2S) was used to prepare CdS@UiO-68N2S composites by MOF post-reaction. The chemical composition is characterized using PXRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, and TGA. Rhodamine B was used as the model dye [...] Read more.
In this paper, the photosensitive Zr-MOF material Thiadiazole-modified UiO-68 (UiO-68N2S) was used to prepare CdS@UiO-68N2S composites by MOF post-reaction. The chemical composition is characterized using PXRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, and TGA. Rhodamine B was used as the model dye for photocatalytic degradation to evaluate the performance of CdS@UiO-68N2S under visible light irradiation. Experimental results show that the degradation rate of a 25 mg/L RhB solution (10 mL) reached 94% with 10 mg CdS@UiO-68N2S as a photocatalyst under blue light irradiation in 13 h at room temperature. The mechanism study revealed that O2•− is the reactive oxygen species for the degradation of Rhodamine B. Recycle experiments showed that CdS@UiO-68N2S can be reused for three rounds without a significant reduction of its catalytic function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications (Volume II))
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13 pages, 4209 KiB  
Article
FeCo2S4/Ni foam: A Bimetallic Sulfide Electrocatalyst with Efficient and Robust Behavior
by Jiayou Tao, Shuhua Liu, Yanmo Liao, Hui Qiao, Yu Liu, Hui Chen, Min Teng, Yong Wei, Sanjie Liu, Zongyi Qiu, Chang Li and Xiang Qi
Crystals 2023, 13(5), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13050717 - 24 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1132
Abstract
The development of effective, feasible, stable, and inexpensive electrocatalysts has been a great challenge in the field of overall water splitting (WS). Herein, a bifunctional electrocatalyst (BF ECS), FeCo2S4 nanowire (FCS NWs/Ni)/nickel (Ni) foam, with superior HER/OER activity and stability [...] Read more.
The development of effective, feasible, stable, and inexpensive electrocatalysts has been a great challenge in the field of overall water splitting (WS). Herein, a bifunctional electrocatalyst (BF ECS), FeCo2S4 nanowire (FCS NWs/Ni)/nickel (Ni) foam, with superior HER/OER activity and stability was designed and fabricated using a hydrothermal method. In addition, this efficient method can be used for the synthesis of other bimetallic MCo2S4 sulfides (M = Cu, Zn, Mn, etc.). Electrochemical experiments showed the as-synthesized FCS NWs/Ni exhibited overpotentials of 350.5, 203.7, 115.97, and 62.6 mV (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 1 M KOH) at the current density of −10 mA cm−2 for HER, including small overpotentials of 1.51, 1.36, 1.24, and 1.11 V (10 mA cm−2) in a 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 1 M KOH solution for OER. The FCS NWs/Ni has a splendid electrocatalytic performance which is related to the synergistic effect of cobalt, iron, and sulfur. Specifically, it has excellent electrical conductivity, a higher specific capacity, and a rich redox state of iron, cobalt, and sulfur elements. The results demonstrate a promising method for the design and fabrication of metal BF ECS for overall water splitting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications (Volume II))
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15 pages, 4338 KiB  
Article
Nano Nickel-Zirconia: An Effective Catalyst for the Production of Biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil
by Mohammed Rafi Shaik, Mujeeb Khan, J. V. Shanmukha Kumar, Muhammad Ashraf, Majad Khan, Mufsir Kuniyil, Mohamed E. Assal, Abdulrahman Al-Warthan, Mohammed Rafiq H. Siddiqui, Aslam Khan, Muhammad Nawaz Tahir and Syed Farooq Adil
Crystals 2023, 13(4), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13040592 - 31 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1559
Abstract
The utilization of heterogeneous catalysts during the production of biodiesel potentially minimize the cost of processing due to the exclusion of the separation step. The (X wt%)Ni–ZrO2 (where X = 10, 25 and 50) catalysts prepared through a hydrothermal process were tested [...] Read more.
The utilization of heterogeneous catalysts during the production of biodiesel potentially minimize the cost of processing due to the exclusion of the separation step. The (X wt%)Ni–ZrO2 (where X = 10, 25 and 50) catalysts prepared through a hydrothermal process were tested for the production of biodiesel by the transesterification of waste cooking oil (WCO) with methanol. The influences of various reaction parameters were systematically optimized. While the physicochemical characteristics of the as-synthesized catalysts were examined using numerous techniques such as FTIR, XRD, TGA BET, EDX, SEM, and HRTEM. Among all the catalysts, (10 wt%)Ni–ZrO2 exhibited high surface area when compared to the pristine ZrO2, (25 wt%)Ni–ZrO2 and (50 wt%)Ni–ZrO2 nanocatalysts. It may have influenced the catalytic properties of (10 wt%)Ni–ZrO2, which exhibited maximum catalytic activity with a biodiesel production yield of 90.5% under optimal conditions. Such as 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 10 wt% catalysts to oil ratio, 8 h reaction time and 180 °C reaction temperature. Furthermore, the recovered catalyst was efficiently reused in several repeated experiments, demonstrating marginal loss in its activity after multiple cycles (five times). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanomaterials for Catalytic and Biological Applications (Volume II))
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