Development of a Fluorescence Probe for Detecting Nitroreductase Activity Based on Steric Repulsion-Induced Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer (sr-TICT).

Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) is a phenomenon involving intramolecular charge transfer together with intramolecular rotation upon photoexcitation, and in general this excited state of fluorescent dyes undergoes non-radiative decay (producing no fluorescence). We recently discovered that the magnitude of TICT in rhodamine derivatives could be regulated by altering the size of the substituents on the xanthene moiety, generating differing degrees of intramolecular steric repulsion. To further illustrate the usefulness and generality of this strategy, we describe here an application of quinone methide chemistry, which is widely used as a fluorescence off/on switching reaction for fluorescence probes detecting enzymatic activity, to construct a steric repulsion-induced (sr)-TICT-based fluorescence probe targeting nitroreductase (NTR) activity. The developed probe was almost non-fluorescent in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) due to strong induction of the TICT state. On the other hand, when the probe was incubated with NTR and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), a large fluorescence increase was observed over time. We confirmed that the enzymatic reaction proceeded as expected, i.e., the nitro group of the probe was reduced to the corresponding amino group, followed by spontaneous elimination of iminoquinone methide. These results suggest that our simple design strategy based on the sr-TICT mechanism, i.e., controlling intramolecular steric repulsion, would be applicable to the development of fluorescence probes for a variety of enzymes.

Effect of Thiophene-Hydrazinyl-Thiazole derivative as an efficient dye sensitizer and performance enhancer of TiO2 toward rhodamine B photodegradation.

Visible-light-driven photocatalysis is an eco-friendly technology for wastewater treatment, where TiO2-based photocatalysts displayed outstanding performance in this regard. Dye sensitization is a promising approach for overcoming the common drawbacks of TiO2via improving its photocatalytic performance and extending its activity to visible light. Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of the Thiophene-Hydrazinyl-Thiazole (THT) derivative as a novel organic dye sensitizer to be employed as a visible-light antenna for TiO2 nanoparticles. The physicochemical characteristics of the as-synthesized TiO2-based nanoparticles are examined by different techniques, which revealed the successful fabrication of the proposed THT-TiO2 heterojunction. The incorporation of THT molecules on the TiO2 surface led to slight disorders and deformation in the crystal lattice of TiO2, a remarkable improvement of its absorption in the visible light as a perfect visible-light antenna in the whole visible region, and significant enhancement in the charge transfer. Rhodamine B (RhB) is used as an organic dye model to assess the photocatalytic efficiency of the as-fabricated THT-TiO2 photocatalyst which achieved almost complete degradation (>95% in 150 min) with an observed rate constant (kobs) of 0.0164 min-1; total organic carbon (TOC) measurements suggested ∼75% mineralization. THT-TiO2 achieved 2.1-fold enhancement in photodegradation% and 4.1-fold enhancement in kobs compared to the bare TiO2. THT showed good activity under visible-light irradiation (RhB degradation% was >66% in 150 min and kobs = 0.0085 min-1). The influence of the initial pH of the solution was investigated and pH 4 was the optimum pH value for suitable interaction between RhB and the surface of THT-TiO2. Radical quenching experiments were conducted to assess the crucial reactive species where the ∙OH and O2.- were the most reactive species. THT-TiO2 showed promising stability over three successive cycles. Finally, the improvement mechanism of the photocatalytic activity of THT-TiO2 was attributed to the electron injection from the excited THT (the dye sensitizer) to TiO2 and enhanced charge separation.

Investigation of the efficacy of graphite-sulfur iron tailing composite catalysts for activation of peroxydisulfate for rhodamine B degradation.

Herein, a novel graphite/sulfur iron tailing composite was applied as a peroxydisulfate (PDS) activator for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation in the water. The superior catalytic efficiency of graphite/sulfur iron tailing was achieved through radical (SO4•- and •OH) and non-radical (1O2) processes according to the radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis. The carbonyl group and Fe species were the main active sites on the surface of graphite/sulfur iron tailing, which was demonstrated by combining Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and reaction kinetic experiments, and a possible degradation mechanism was also proposed. Overall, activated with 0.30 g/L of C-1, PDS achieved a 94.8% removal rate for RhB and maintained a removal rate of over 85% even after five consecutive operation cycles, and this study will benefit the application of iron/carbon composite materials in practical water treatment.

A lysosome-targeting rhodamine fluorescent probe for Cu2+ detection and its applications in test kits and zebrafish imaging.

Tracing copper ions levels in the environment and subcellular microenvironment is crucial due to the key role copper ions play in physiological and pathological processes. Herein, a novel naphthalimide-fused rhodamine probe Rh-Naph-Cu was prepared through modification with phenylhydrazine to produce a closed and non-fluorescent spirolactam. Based on the copper-induced spirolactam ring-opening and hydrolysis process, Rh-Naph-Cu can be employed as a fluorescence off-on probe for copper ions with high selectivity, high sensitivity (limit of detection: 33.0 nM), broad pH-response range (pH: 5.0-10.0), and color change visible with the naked eye. Rh-Nap-Cu could be made into test strips for the in-situ chromogenic detection of Cu2+. Significantly, Rh-Naph-Cu can be utilized for the detection of copper ions in living HeLa cells and zebrafish, and exhibits excellent lysosomal-targeting ability with high Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.96.

Magnetic-responsive sensors based on polydopamine macromolecules for highly sensitive detection of trace food colorant residues.

As a kind of unique biomimetic macromolecule, polydopamine (PDA) have prominent in-situ reduction ability and interfacial adhesion. In this work, combined with in-situ reduction ability of PDA and excellent magnetic response performance of nickel foam (NF), a strategy was designed to fabricate a series of NF@PDA@AgNPs as magnetic-responsive surface enhancement Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for highly sensitive Rhodamine B (RhB) detection in chili powder. With crystal violet (CV) as probe molecule, the detection limit of SERS substrate could achieve 10-10 M, and the enhancement factor was as high as to 2.22 × 107. In addition, the NF@PDA@AgNPs SERS substrates showed excellent magnetic separation efficiency, good SERS uniformity and storage stability. More importantly, these substrates could achieve highly efficient collection and sensitive detection of RhB residues in chili powder by magnetic adsorption method, and the detection of limit was as low as to be 10-6 g/g. These NF@PDA@AgNPs substrates would be a great prospect for rapid and efficient pernicious contaminant detection in the chemical and biological fields.

Colorimetric and Fluorimetric Detection of Fe(III) Using a Rhodamine-Imidazole Hydrazone Based Chemosensor: Photophysical Properties, DFT, TGA, and DSC Studies.

Rhodamine-imidazole hydrazones (RIH-1 & RIH-2) based chemosensors have been synthesized. These are characterised and evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, LCMS, absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. These chemosensors exhibit enhanced sensitivity and selectivity in detecting the biologically significant Fe3+ metal ion through both colorimetric and fluorescence changes. The optical properties have been investigated using binary acetonitrile-water (7:3 v/v) semi-aqueous solution. The probe RIH-1 can be deployed as a fluorescent and colorimetric probe for the detection of Fe3+ ion. It shows an absorption band at 559 nm and an intensity band at 579 nm increasing up to 50-fold with the increase in the concentration of Fe3+ with the detection limit as low as 11nM. In the visible light, RIH-1 helps in the detection of Fe3+ ion through the naked eye, while the addition of Fe3+ to the probe RIH-1 results in a colour change from colourless to pink. This is primarily due to the opening of the lactone ring in RIH-1. Notably, RIH-1 probe displays a high quantum yield of 0.51, after binding with Fe3+ ions. Indeed, it has been found that sensor RIH-1 is very effective in sensing Fe3+ ions through both fluorescence based and visual detection methods. Additionally, DFT studies of these chemosensors have been evaluated, TGA and DSC analysis showed good thermal stability.

Synthesis of omega-3 mediated copper (ω-3-Cu) and copper oxide (ω-3-CuO) nanocatalyst dual application of dye decolourization and aerobic oxidation of eco-friendly sustainable approach.

In this study, ω-3-Cu and ω-3-CuO nanocatalysts were investigated for industrial environmental issues. Nowadays, green methodology is very important for addressing industrial environmental issues. In this regard, the current study focuses on ω-3-Cu and ω-3-CuO used for aerobic oxidation and dye decolourization via an eco-friendly approach. The synthesised ω-3-Cu and ω-3-CuO nanocatalysts were characterised using FT-IR, UV, XRD, TEM, GC-MS, 1H and 13C NMR. The results showed that the prepared ω-3-Cu catalyst was almost spherical with forms and sizes typically less than 20 nm and the ω-3-CuO nanocatalyst 10 nm. The ω-3 Cu and ω-3-CuO nanocatalysts were investigated for the conversion of pentan-2-ol into pentan-2-one, which was observed by GC-MS analysis. The ω-3-CuO nanocatalyst decolourised the Brilliant Blue dye more quickly (100% in 30 min) than ω-3-Cu (85% in 60 min) and ω-3 (no colour in 60 min), and Rhodamine B was not decolourised because our ω-3-Cu and ω-3-CuO nanocatalysts inactivated the rhodamine B dye. The aerobic oxidation process using the ω-3-CuO nanocatalyst as the end product of pentan-2-one resulted in a retention time of 30.33. To the best of our knowledge, ω-3-Cu and ω-3-CuO nanocatalysts have not been documented for their application in decolourisation and aerobic oxidation. By highlighting the potential use for the continued advancement and innovation of ω-3-CuO nanocatalysts in the long-term future, cost-effective and eco-friendly methods for producing reusable ω-3-CuO nanocatalysts have the potential to be applied in advanced technical fields, particularly in the areas of dye decolourisation and aerobic oxidation. Finally, we successfully accomplished these processes using the ω-3-CuO nanocatalyst. The ω-3-CuO nanocatalyst evaporated more quickly than the ω-3-Cu and ω-3-CuO nanocatalyst, without any additional energy. ω-3-CuO is the most effective nanocatalyst for dye decolourization and aerobic oxidation (Dual application). ω-3-CuO is used in textile and pharmaceutical industries.

Recent trends and future perspectives of photoresponsive-based mercury (II) sensors and their biomaterial applications.

Recent advancements in the field of photoresponsive-based mercury (II) sensors have witnessed a surge in research focused on enhancing detection capabilities. Leveraging innovations in materials science, particularly with quantum dots, nanomaterials, and organic semiconductors, these sensors exhibit improved selectivity and sensitivity. Beyond traditional applications, such as environmental monitoring, the integration of photoresponsive principles with emerging technologies like the internet of things (IoT) and wearable promises real-time and remote mercury (II) ion detection. The on-going efforts also explore multifunctional sensors and miniaturization for on-site applications, addressing current challenges and paving the way for broader commercialization. This dynamic landscape underscores the potential for these sensors to play a crucial role in ensuring the effective monitoring and management of mercury (II) levels in diverse settings.

Rhodamine 6G-PAH probes for heavy metal: Fluorescence detection, bioimaging, and solid-phase sensing application.

Four rhodamine 6G-PAH probes with pyrene (R6G-Pyr), anthracene (R6G-Ant), acenaphthene (R6G-Acp) or phenanthrene (R6G-PA) as fluorophore were designed and synthesized for Hg(II) detection. Probe R6G-PA, which had the lowest detection limit of 0.84 nmol/L, displayed the best fluorescence performance as compared to the other three probes. This type of probe had good anti-interference properties against most common metal ions except Cu(II). Metal Cu(II) had a certain quenching effect on the fluorescence generated by Hg(II), with a minimum detection limit of 0.31 nmol/L (for R6G-Acp), indicating its potential practicability for Cu(II) detection. The structure-fluorescence relationship was discussed based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and R6G-PA + Hg(II), which had the minimum dihedral angle between polycyclic aromatic rings and rhodamine spiro ring, produced the strongest π-π accumulation and provided the brightest fluorescence. Probe R6G-PA was successfully employed for fluorescence detection of Hg(II) in biological samples. Its solid-phase sensor PS@R6G-PA was developed by immobilizing R6G-PA on PS microspheres for the determination of Hg(II) in water and food samples, with excellent reproducibility and fluorescence "on/off" response. The relative error of the spiked recovery rate was less than 10 %.

Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B Dyes' Efficient Removal Using Biocarbons Developed from Waste.

The preparation of biocarbons from cellulose fibres utilised in the production of baby nappy mats (sourced from Feniks Recycling company, Poland) for the removal of methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes has been documented. A Brunauer, Emmett and Teller analysis revealed a surface area within the range of 384 to 450 m2/g. The objective of this study was to investigate the removal efficiency of dyes from aqueous solutions by biocarbons, with a particular focus on the influence of various parameters, including pH, dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, shaking speed, contact time, and temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity of the dyes onto the biocarbons was found to be 85 mg/g for methylene blue and 48 mg/g for rhodamine B, respectively. The Langmuir equation proved to be the most suitable for interpreting the sorption of organic dyes. The adsorption process was found to exhibit a chemisorption mechanism, effectively mirroring the pseudo-second-order kinetics. Furthermore, the adsorption of dyes was observed to be endothermic (the enthalpy change was positive, 9.1-62.6 kJ/mol) and spontaneous under the tested operating conditions. The findings of this study indicate that biocarbons represent a cost-effective option for the removal of methylene blue and rhodamine B. The adsorption method was observed to be an effective and straightforward approach for the removal of these dyes. The results of the Boehm titration analysis and zero charge point value indicated that the synthesised biomaterials exhibited a slightly basic surface character.

The ATTO 565 Dye and Its Applications in Microscopy.

ATTO 565, a Rhodamine-type dye, has garnered significant attention due to its remarkable optical properties, such as a high fluorescence quantum yield, and the fact that it is a relatively stable structure and has low biotoxicity. ATTO 565 has found extensive applications in combination with microscopy technology. In this review, the chemical and optical properties of ATTO 565 are introduced, along with the principles behind them. The functionality of ATTO 565 in confocal microscopy, stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, single-molecule tracking (SMT) techniques, two-photon excitation-stimulated emission depletion microscopy (TPE-STED) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is discussed. These studies demonstrate that ATTO 565 plays a crucial role in areas such as biological imaging and single-molecule localization, thus warranting further in-depth investigations. Finally, we present some prospects and concepts for the future applications of ATTO 565 in the fields of biocompatibility and metal ion detection. This review does not include theoretical calculations for the ATTO 565 molecule.

Coconut Shell Carbon Preparation for Rhodamine B Adsorption and Mechanism Study.

Phosphoric acid is used as a chemical activator to prepare coconut shell carbon (PCSC), and for investigating rhodamine B (RhB) adsorption performance. The optimal conditions for the preparation of PCSC (calcined temperature, phosphoric acid concentration), and the influence of adsorption conditions (concentration, pH, etc.) on RhB and the recovery performance of optimal carbon are investigated. Experimental results show that when the amount of PCSC (600 °C, 2 h) is 0.2 g, the initial RhB concentration is 10 mg/L, pH = 6, and the adsorption time is 30 min, it can have 95.84% RhB adsorption efficiency. Liquid ultraviolet spectroscopy also supports this adsorption performance. Characterization data showed that hydroxyl and ester groups, aromatic structures, and PO43- existed on the surface of PCSC, and the amount decreased with increasing calcined temperature. PCSC has a BET (N2) surface area of 408.59 m2/g and has a micropore distribution, EDS-detected P content is 3.91%. SEM showed that the PCSC formed micropores which could better adsorb RhB. The kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of the adsorption of RhB by PCSC showed that the adsorption process was in accord with quasi-secondary kinetic equations and ΔGθ was between -1.65 and -18.75 kJ/mol. The adsorption was a physical adsorption and a spontaneous endothermic reaction, and the obtained PCSC sorption isotherms were classified as Langmuir-type. The RhB adsorption mechanism on PCSC includes pore diffusion, hydrogen bonding, and π-π conjugation. The PCSC prepared by H3PO4 modification has superior adsorption and recycling performance for RhB, providing a reference for the preparation of other biomass carbon materials for the treatment of dye wastewater.

Sialic acid detection and theranostic activity of phenylboronic acid-based fluorescent probe in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells.

A new probe, 4-(((3',6'-bis(diethylamino)-3-oxospiro[isoindoline-1,9'-xanthen]-2-yl)imino)methyl)phenyl)boronic acid (R4B) was prepared by facile condensation of 4-formylphenylboronic acid and rhodamine B hydrazide. R4B was characterized by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The sensor R4B solution turned pink and emitted orange fluorescence only in the presence of sialic acid but remained colorless and non-fluorescent otherwise. The sugar recognition performance was investigated via UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic studies. Our results revealed that R4B has good affinity and selectivity for sialic acid over common monosaccharides, with a detection limit as low as 10-7 M. Furthermore, R4B selectively inhibited growth of human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 (IC50 <20 µM) without significant cytotoxicity to normal human colon fibroblasts CCD-18Co. Treatment with R4B suppressed HT-29 colony formation via mitochondrial apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Cellular imaging studies also revealed the ability of R4B as a fluorescence dye to detect intracellular sialic acid and showed mitochondria-tracking ability in HT-29 cells. In summary, R4B is a potential theranostic for the detection of intracellular sialic acid during the early incubation period, followed by induction of cancer apoptotic cell death at a later treatment point.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cr doped CeO2 nanoparticles for Rhodamine B dye degradation.

The main aim of this work is to synthesis and study Cr doped CeO2 nanoparticles for Rhodamine B dye degradation. In this regard, 2 wt% and 4 wt% Cr doped CeO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a simple chemical precipitation method. The structural characteristics and elemental composition of the synthesized samples were analyzed using XRD and XPS techniques. The cubic fluorite structure with space group Fm 3m was confirmed through XRD and the presence of Ce, O and Cr atoms in the samples were identified through XPS. Spindle shaped structures were observed from FESEM analysis for 2 % Cr doped sample. Confocal Raman Spectroscopy was used to confirm the CeO2 stretching vibrational mode at 469 cm-1. The metal oxygen band was obtained at 447.49 cm-1 from FTIR spectroscopy. The band gap values were calculated from the Tauc plot and the values were found to be 2.0 eV, 2.85 eV and 2.88 eV for CeO2, 2 % Cr and 4 % Cr doped samples. The prepared nanoparticles were subjected to photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye at 5 ppm concentration and highest efficiency of 98.3 % was observed by the 4 % Cr doped CeO2 sample.

One-Step Self-Assembled WO3/rGO Microspheres Photoanode Assembled Efficient Photocatalytic Fuel Cells for Simultaneous Organic Pollutant Degradation and Electricity Generation.

Photocatalytic fuel cells (PFCs) present a promising and environmentally friendly approach to simultaneously treat organic pollutants in wastewater and electricity generation. The development of photoanodes with high light absorption and carrier mobility is essential for enhancing the performance of PFCs but remains challenging. Herein, a one-step self-assembly strategy was adopted to develop flower-like WO3/rGO microspheres for PFC devices. Attributed to the abundant surface-active sites, enhanced light harvesting, and efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers, the WO3/rGO photoanode demonstrated superior rhodamine B (RhB) degradation rate (90% in 2 h), maximum power density (4.74 µW/cm2), and maximum photocurrent density (0.096 mA/cm2), 1.4, 2.4, and 4.0 times higher than the corresponding pure WO3 photoanode, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the built-in electric field formed between the interface of WO3 and rGO promotes the transfer of photogenerated electrons from WO3 to rGO, thus exerting a significant impact on improving the migration and separation of photoinduced charge carriers. Moreover, by combining experimental and theoretical results, a complete PFC operation mechanism for the PFC system was proposed. This study focuses on the strategy of constructing rGO-doped photocatalysts to enhance the interfacial charge transfer mechanism, providing a promising approach for the development of high-performance photoanodes in PFC systems.

Removal of Rhodamine-B dye from Aqueous Solutions Using Alkaline-Modified Activated Carbon from Cocoa Pod Husk.

Rhodamine-B (RhB) dye in wastewater poses health and environmental risks due to respiratory and eye infections, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity, necessitating proper disposal for risk mitigation. This study investigates RhB removal from water using NaOH-modified activated carbon derived from cocoa pod husk (CPHAC). Employing a face-centered central composite design, operational variables were optimized to achieve maximum RhB dye removal efficiency. The study reveals a removal efficiency of 98.87 ± 0.84% under optimized conditions: adsorbent dose of 1.34 g, contact time of 71.59 min, and an initial RhB concentration of 6.61 ppm. The Freundlich isotherm model demonstrated a good fit, suggesting that RhB removal is governed by heterogeneity and multilayer adsorption. Kinetic experiments revealed that adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order model, indicating likely irreversible adsorption with dye molecules forming chemical bonds on CPHAC's surface. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of CPHAC as an efficient adsorbent for RhB removal from water.

Comparison of surface adsorption efficacies of eco-sustainable agro/animal biomass-derived activated carbon for the removal of rhodamine B and hexavalent chromium.

Effective management and remediation strategies are crucial to minimize the impacts of both organic and inorganic contaminants on environmental quality and human health. This study investigates a novel approach utilizing cotton shell activated carbon (CSAC), rice husk activated carbon (RHAC), and wasp hive activated carbon (WHAC), produced through alkali treatment and carbonization under N2 atmosphere at 600 °C. The adsorption capacities of biomass-derived mesoporous activated carbons (CSAC, RHAC, WHAC) alongside macroporous commercial activated carbons (CAC) were evaluated for removing rhodamine B (Rh B) and hexavalent chromium (Cr6+). The CSAC exhibits remarkable adsorption efficiency (255.4 mg.g-1) for Cr(VI) removal, while RHAC demonstrates superior efficacy (174.2 mg.g-1) for Rh B adsorption. Investigating various optimal parameters including initial pH (pH 3 for Cr and pH 7 for Rh B), catalyst dosage (200 mg.L-1), and initial concentration (20 mg.L-1), the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model is applied to reveal a hybrid adsorption mechanism encompassing monolayer (chemisorption) and multilayer (van der Waals adsorption) processes. Kinetic analysis highlights the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models as the most suitable, suggesting physiochemisorption mechanisms. Thermodynamic analysis indicates the endothermic nature of the adsorption process, with increased randomness at the solid-solution interface. Isosteric heat investigations using Clausius-Clapeyron, Arrhenius, and Eyring equations reveal a heterogeneous surface nature across all activated carbons. Further confirmation of Rh B and Cr(VI) adsorption onto activated carbons is provided through FTIR, FESEM, and EDAX analysis. This study highlights the innovation and promise of utilizing biomass-derived activated carbons for effective pollutant removal.

Facile synthesis of Ag NPs@MgO nanosheets for quantitative SERS-based detection and removal of hazardous organic pollutants.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly precise and non-invasive analytical method known for its ability to detect vibrational signatures of minute analytes with exceptional sensitivity. However, the efficacy of SERS is subject to substrate properties, and current methodologies face challenges in attaining consistent, replicable, and stable substrates to regulate plasma hot spots across a wide spectral range. This study introduces a straightforward and economical approach that incorporates monodispersed silver nanoparticles onto 2-D porous magnesium oxide nanosheets (Ag@MgO-NSs) through an in-situ process. The resulting nanocomposite, Ag@MgO-NSs, demonstrates substantial SERS enhancement owing to its distinctive plasmonic resonance. The effectiveness of this nanocomposite is exemplified by depositing diverse environmental pollutants as analytes, such as antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP), organic dyes like rhodamine 6G (R6G) and methylene blue (MB), and nitrogen-rich pollutant like melamine (MLN), onto the proposed substrate. The proposed nanocomposite features a 2-D porous structure, resulting in a larger surface area and consequently providing numerous adsorption sites for analytes. Moreover, engineering the active sites of the nanocomposite results in a higher number of hotspots, leading to an enhanced performance. The nanocomposite outperforms, exhibiting superior detection capabilities for R6G, MB, and MLN at concentrations of 10-6 M and CIP at concentration of 10-5 M, with impressive uniformity, reproducibility, stability, and analytical enhancement factors (EF) of 6.3 x 104, 2 x 104, 2.73 x 104 and 1.8 x 104 respectively. This approach provides a direct and cost-effective method for the detection of a broad spectrum of environmental pollutants and food additives, presenting potential applications across diverse domains. The detected environmental pollutants and food additives are removed through both catalytic degradation (R6G and MB) and adsorption (CIP and MLN).

A Dual Emission Fluorescence Probe Based on Silicon Nanoparticles and Rhodamine B for Ratiometric Detection of Kaempferol.

In this paper, blue fluorescent silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) with outstanding optical properties and robust stability were synthesized by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. By introducing red emissive rhodamine B (RhB) into SiNPs solution, a dual emission nanoprobe (SiNPs@RhB) was constructed, which showed excellent pH stability, salt resistance and photobleaching resistance. The SiNPs@RhB probe could emit two peaks at 444 nm and 583 nm under 365 nm excitation. It was found that the fluorescence intensity of the two emission peaks decreased in different degrees with the addition of different concentrations of kaempferol (Kae). According to this phenomenon, a novel ratiometric fluorescence method was established for the detection of Kae via utilizing SiNPs@RhB as nanoprobe. The detection range and limit of detection (LOD) were 0.5 ~ 150 µM and 0.24 µM, respectively. The ratiometric fluorescence method exhibited the superiority of rapid detection, excellent stability, wide linear range and high sensitivity. The detection mechanism was studied by ultraviolet visible absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime. Furthermore, the method was applied to the detection of Kae in real samples (kaempferia powder, sea buckthorn granules and sea buckthorn dry emulsion).

Freezing Conformers for Gas-Phase Förster Resonance Energy Transfer.

Various techniques are available to illuminate geometric structures of molecular ions in gas phase, such as Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) informing on distances between two dyes covalently attached to a molecule. Typically, cationic rhodamines, which absorb and emit visible light, are used for labeling. Extensive work has revealed that the transition energy of a rhodamine is intricately linked to its nearby microenvironment, with nearby charges causing Stark-shifted emission. This occurs because the inter-dye Coulomb interaction is weaker in the excited state (S1) than in the ground state (S0) due to the increase in polarizability upon excitation. Therefore, absorption and emission spectra, along with FRET efficiencies, provide insights into structural motifs. At room temperature, multiple conformers often co-exist, leading to overlapping absorption bands among different conformers and broad spectra. To study specific conformers, it is necessary to isolate them, for example, using ion-mobility spectrometry. Another approach is to reduce temperature, which results in spectral narrowing and distinct absorption bands, allowing for the selection of specific conformers through selective excitation. Here, we describe the instrumentation used for cryogenically cold FRET experiments and discuss recent results for small model systems, as well as future directions for a technique still in its infancy.