Supramolecular self-assembly of an octaphosphonate tetraphenyl porphyrin with three different nucleobases (adenine, cytosine, and thymine) was studied. Porphyrin 1 with 8 and 10 equiv of cytosine produces light-harvesting ring-like structures, that is, architectures similar to those observed in natural light-harvesting antenna. However, porphyrin assembled with adenine or thymine resulted in prisms and microrods, respectively. UV-vis absorption, fluorescence, and dynamic light scattering were used to determine the mode of aggregation in solution. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy used to visualize the self-assembled nanostructures and their behavior in the solid state, respectively. Thus, we believe that this study may demonstrate a deeper understanding on how one needs to manipulate donor/acceptor subunits in supramolecular assemblies to construct artificial antenna architectures.
The possibility of synthesizing compounds capable of selective binding to metal ions has been extensively investigated. Such investigations mainly aim at making compounds available for metal ion testing. This work has been motivated by the fact that synthesizing proper receptors that can selectively and specifically interact with metal ions of interest is important for the development of supramolecular chemistry.
This thesis begins by providing a brief introduction to the main concept of supramolecular chemistry, often referred to as “Host-Guest Chemistry”. Chapter 1 also describes the forces that control supramolecular interactions between host and guest molecules. A thorough discussion about calixarenes, whose synthesis and complexation properties were one of the main objectives of this work, and the techniques used for the complexation studies are also presented in Chapter 1.
In Chapter 2, the syntheses of two new molecular receptors namely bis(naphthyl)methane-bridged macrocycles are described. These two receptors were subsequently characterized by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Chapter 2 also presents a study of the complexation properties of these receptors with different metal ions of interest which have been investigated using ¹H-NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. Our results have shown that these two compounds are selective towards Fe³⁺, Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in a mixed 4:1 acetonitrile: chloroform solvent. Chapter 3 presents the synthesis procedures that have been followed to develop fluorescent chemosensors based on acenaphthene-modified calix[4]arene-triazoles. The selectivity of these chemosensors towards metal ions has been studied using fluorescence and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained from these techniques which show their complexation properties are explained in detail in this chapter.
In Chapter 4, attempts made towards the modification of homooxacaxalix[4]-acenaphthene are presented. This modification has been performed with the hope that such a compound could selectively bind C⁷⁰ fullerene, since the prototype compound was found to be selective towards C⁶⁰ fullerene. Synthetic work towards the modification of homooxacaxalix[4]acenaphthene is on-going.
The drug-delivery tool that transport medically active molecules to diseased cells, in a precise manner, have grew much consideration in past decades.Supramolecular selfassembled systems plays an important role in nanotechnology, biotechnology, and regenerative medicine. 1Based on self-assembly approach various drug-delivery systems have been developed for example polymers, 2 micelles, 3 vesicles, 4 nanoparticles 5 and vesicular-supported particles. 6Among these developed systems, silica particles based delivery tool have become popular as biocompatible alternatives. 7Most sophisticated mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSNs) have widely used 8 due to their applicability to release drug molecule in controlled in particular cells using internal stimuli, such as pH 9 and enzymes 10 or external stimuli such as light, 11 redox properties 12 and temperature. 13The most discovered approaches to controlled drug-release were based on MSN carriers through surface functionalisation, with biomolecule responsive gates, pH-or photo-triggered release from hollow MSN. 14 However, these methods are challenging, and suffer from limitations due to the low tissue-penetration-depth of light.
Abstract Pure CuO and 2‐Dimentional CuO−ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) were effectively prepared by an ultrasound‐assisted probe sonication route for different ratios of CuO and ZnO, and the multifunctional properties were investigated by the application of the advanced methods. XRD (X‐ray diffraction) patterns revealed a crystallite size (D) range of 25 to 31 nm for pure CuO and CuO−ZnO NCs. According to calculations, the energy band gap value (Eg) for the NCs is between 2.15 and 2.48 eV. Under UV light irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation of pure CuO and CuO−ZnO NCs on Direct Green (DG) and Fast Blue (FB) dyes was assessed. 60 mg of the catalyst was added to 20 ppm solutions of DG and FB dye. The stock solution of the dyes was prepared 10, 15, 20 and 25 ppm of 250 ml dye solution. Electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammetry revealed improved redox potential output in the electrode crafted with graphite powder in 0.1 N HCl electrolyte solution. These NCs were used because of their capacity to detect an extremely dangerous chemical like arsenic. The constructed electrode‘s lowest limit of detection was determined to be 110–3 mol/L. In general, vertical linearity was seen in all of the prepared nano‐electrodes, especially above 150 ohms with real axis for pure CuO but beyond 100 ohms for doped electrodes. Based on our study, we conclude that the CuO and ZnO NCs, containing 10 % of ZnO, were the most effective photocatalyst for DG and FB dyes and electrochemical sensor for Arsenic.
Abstract The rapid growth of the population severely influences the supply of energy, accordingly ensuring clean energy has become a big challenge now and will be in the future. Fossil fuels have been satisfying the energy demand until now, but fossil fuels, being non‐renewable sources, will not be able to satisfy the energy demand in the future and will have a negative impact on the environment. Renewable energy sources have become the most demanding topic for researchers in this crisis. The solar cell, which is an abundant renewable energy resource, converts solar power into electrical energy without any environmental damage. Silicon solar cells have higher efficiency, but their high manufacturing cost, complicated procedures and environmental issues restrict their usage. Then dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been introduced as an alternative to silicon solar cells. In DSSC, both natural and synthetic dyes are used. Though synthetic dyes provide higher efficiency, they are environmentally harmful. Afterward, the concept of natural dye‐sensitized solar cells (NDSSC) have been materialized where only natural dyes are used. Researchers and environmentalists are looking for natural dyes as a replacement for synthetic dyes in recent times, as natural dyes are plentiful, can be collected naturally and have no environmental effects. Natural dyes in the form of anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, chlorophylls, tannins and betalains are extracted from various portions of plants that include leaves, roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, barks, etc. In this review, we investigate natural sources of dyes, natural sensitizers (dyes), shortcomings and remedies, improvements in efficiency and stability, developments, and commercialization. In addition, recent advances and the comparison of natural and synthetic dyes have been discussed in this review.
The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of oil has received immense importance nowadays because of the enormous benefits the process offers. However, the literature evaluating this process is scarce for sea buckthorn oil. Furthermore, to date, to the best of our knowledge, a study evaluating the combined use of enzymes and UAE for this oil is lacking. In this study, oil from freeze-dried sea buckthorn berries was extracted using ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) and the effect of variables (time, enzyme concentration, and solvent to sample ratio) was evaluated on oil yield and its physiochemical properties (acid value, peroxide value, iodine value, density, and color). The optimum conditions were determined using the response surface methodology. The optimum conditions established were 5.08 mL/g, 14.65 min, and 3.13 U/g for a solvent to sample ratio, ultra-sonication time, and enzyme units, respectively. The oil yield was 18.32%. Physicochemical parameters were found better in UAEE oil than in the Soxhlet-extracted oil. Gas chromatography detected relatively higher levels of fatty acids, including palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids in UAEE oil. The optimum conditions were also verified for adequacy by validation and results were matched with predicted values with 0.8 to 1.5 error %, which states that the model can be utilized to predict oil yield percentage.
The use of light as an external stimulus to control organic supramolecular structures can play an important role in molecular devices. Photoswitchable azobenzenes are well suited for such applications due to their photoresponsive properties and a thermally induced reversal from the cis to the thermodynamically stable trans state. In this work, we have demonstrated for the first time that an azobenzene-based tetraphenylethylene (TPE) system capable of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior can act as a molecular glue that can noncovalently functionalize multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The resulting photoresponsive, noncovalent hybrid material shows reversible conductivity switching upon irradiation with light by making use of the reversible cis–trans isomerization.