A stable photoactive metal-organic framework UiO-66(Zr) sensitized by adsorbed or directly added rhodamine B dye exhibited photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution under visible-light illumination (λ≥ 420 nm). Using Pt as a co-catalyst, the adsorbed and directly added dye extremely enhanced the photocatalytic activity to 30 and 26 times the value afforded by bare Pt@UiO-66(Zr), respectively.

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We demonstrated that embedding of CdS on MOFs could significantly increase the photocatalytic efficiency of CdS for visible light-driven hydrogen production.

As the [2Fe] H subsite models of [FeFe]-hydrogenases, a series of PNP-chelated and -bridged diiron dithiolate complexes 1a−f and 2a−f together with the three related monophosphine complexes 3a−c were prepared by the selective substitutions of the all-carbonyl complex Fe 2 (μpdt)(CO) 6 (A, pdt = SCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 S) with aminodiphosphines (Ph 2 P) 2 NR (denoted as PNP) under different reaction conditions. The first UV irradiation of the toluene solutions of A with different PNP ligands (PNP = (Ph 2 P) 2 NR; R = (CH 2 ) 3 Me, (CH 2 ) 3 NMe 2 , (CH 2 ) 3 Si(OEt) 3 , C 6 H 5 , C 6 H 4 OMe-p, C 6 H 4 CO 2 Me-p) readily afforded the target PNP-chelated complexes Fe 2 (μ-pdt)(CO) 4 {(κ 2 -Ph 2 P) 2 NR} (1a−f), while the reflux of xylene solutions of A with the aforementioned PNP ligands produced the PNP-bridged complexes Fe 2 (μ-pdt)(CO) 4 {(μ-Ph 2 P) 2 NR} (2a−f). Comparatively, treatments of A and one type of PNP ligand with N-aryl substituents R (R = C 6 H 5 , C 6 H 4 OMe-p, C 6 H 4 CO 2 Me-p) in MeCN at room temperature in the presence of the decarbonylating agent Me 3 NO•2H 2 O formed the unexpected monophosphine complexes Fe 2 (μ-pdt)(CO) 5 {κ 1 -Ph 2 P(NHR)} (3a−c) and the minor chelated complexes 1d−f. All of the complexes 1a−f, 2a−f, and 3a−c have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR spectroscopy, and particularly for 1a,b,d−f, 2b,d−f, and 3b by X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of complexes 1a and 2a as a pair of representative isomers have been evaluated and compared by cyclic voltammetry in MeCN as solvent in the absence and presence of HOAc as a proton source.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] stalk-based biochar was prepared using oxygen-limited pyrolysis. We evaluated phenanthrene (PHE) and Hg(II) sorption, from single and binary component solutions, onto prepared biochar. We found that the prepared biochar efficiently removed PHE and Hg(II) from aqueous solutions. The isotherms for PHE and Hg(II) sorption could be described using linear and Tóth models, respectively, both with high regression coefficients (R(2) > 0.995). When PHE and Hg(II) coexisted in an aqueous solution, we observed direct competitive sorption, each one suppressing another. Our results provide insight into the recycling of agricultural residues, and also a new application for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals from contaminated water utilizing biochar from agricultural residue.