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Photocatalytic Hydrolysis─A Sustainable Option for the Chemical Upcycling of Polylactic Acid (2023)
Journal Article
Garratt, A., Nguyen, K., Brooke, A., Taylor, M. J., & Francesconi, M. G. (2023). Photocatalytic Hydrolysis─A Sustainable Option for the Chemical Upcycling of Polylactic Acid. ACS Environmental Au, 3(6), 342–347. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenvironau.3c00040

Plastic waste is a critical global issue, yet current strategies to avoid committing plastic waste to landfills include incineration, gasification, or pyrolysis high carbon emitting and energy consuming approaches. However, plastic waste can become a... Read More about Photocatalytic Hydrolysis─A Sustainable Option for the Chemical Upcycling of Polylactic Acid.

Utilisation of CO2 as “Structure Modifier” of Inorganic Solids (2021)
Journal Article
Francesconi, M. G., Bennett, M. J., Benoit, D., & Dobson, I. (2022). Utilisation of CO2 as “Structure Modifier” of Inorganic Solids. Chemistry: a European journal, 28(6), Article e202103608. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202103608

Utilisation of CO2 as a chemical reagent is challenging, due to the molecule’s inherent chemical stability. However, CO2 reacts promptly at high temperature (~1000 C) with alkaline-earth oxides to form carbonates and such reactions are used towards... Read More about Utilisation of CO2 as “Structure Modifier” of Inorganic Solids.

Ultra-small FeS2nanoparticles for highly efficient chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes (2021)
Journal Article
Southouse, J. P., Lazzarini, L., Ibhadon, A. O., & Francesconi, M. G. (2021). Ultra-small FeS2nanoparticles for highly efficient chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes. New journal of chemistry = Nouveau journal de chimie, 45(38), 17808-17815. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1nj03297f

Ultra-small FeS2nanoparticles were prepared and used as catalysts in a hydrogen transfer reaction for the synthesis of substituted anilines. The catalytic performance is superior to current systems across all reactions, within the timeframe of two ho... Read More about Ultra-small FeS2nanoparticles for highly efficient chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

Utilisation of CO 2 as "Structure Modifier" of Inorganic Solids (2021)
Journal Article
Francesconi, M. G., Bennett, M. J., Dobson, I., & Benoit, D. M. (2021). Utilisation of CO 2 as "Structure Modifier" of Inorganic Solids. Chemistry: a European journal, https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202103608

Utilisation of CO2 as a chemical reagent is challenging, due to the molecule's inherent chemical stability. However, CO2 reacts promptly at high temperature (∼1000 °C) with alkaline-earth oxides to form carbonates and such reactions are used towards... Read More about Utilisation of CO 2 as "Structure Modifier" of Inorganic Solids.

Effect of calcination time on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic performance of carbon and nitrogen co-doped tio2 nanoparticles (2020)
Journal Article
Mouele, E. S. M., Dinu, M., Cummings, F., Fatoba, O. O., Myint, M. T. Z., Kyaw, H. H., …Petrik, L. F. (2020). Effect of calcination time on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic performance of carbon and nitrogen co-doped tio2 nanoparticles. Catalysts, 10(8), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10080847

The application of highly active nano catalysts in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) improves the production of non-selective hydroxyl radicals and co-oxidants for complete remediation of polluted water. This study focused on the synthesis and char... Read More about Effect of calcination time on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic performance of carbon and nitrogen co-doped tio2 nanoparticles.

Bi2WO6/C-dots/TiO2: A novel z-scheme photocatalyst for the degradation of fluoroquinolone levofloxacin from aqueous medium (2020)
Journal Article
Elumalai, S., Sharma, S., Ibhadon, A. O., Grazia Francesconi, M., Mehta, S. K., Kansal, S. K., …Baskoutas, S. (2020). Bi2WO6/C-dots/TiO2: A novel z-scheme photocatalyst for the degradation of fluoroquinolone levofloxacin from aqueous medium. Nanomaterials, 10(5), Article 910. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10050910

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Photocatalytic materials and semiconductors of appropriate structural and morphological architectures as well as energy band gaps are materials needed for mitigating current environmental prob... Read More about Bi2WO6/C-dots/TiO2: A novel z-scheme photocatalyst for the degradation of fluoroquinolone levofloxacin from aqueous medium.

Stabilization of Pd3−xIn1+x polymorphs with Pd-like crystal structure and their superior performance as catalysts for semi-hydrogenation of alkynes (2019)
Journal Article
Johnston, S. K., Bryant, T. A., Strong, J., Lazzarini, L., Ibhadon, A. O., & Francesconi, M. G. (2019). Stabilization of Pd3−xIn1+x polymorphs with Pd-like crystal structure and their superior performance as catalysts for semi-hydrogenation of alkynes. ChemCatChem, 11(12), 2909-2918. https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201900391

Selective hydrogenation (semi-hydrogenation) reactions of alkynes rely on Pd-based catalysts to provide the correct pathway to favour formation of double bonds and avoid full hydrogenation to single bonds. Here, we present the preparation and charact... Read More about Stabilization of Pd3−xIn1+x polymorphs with Pd-like crystal structure and their superior performance as catalysts for semi-hydrogenation of alkynes.

Fluoride doped γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with increased MRI relaxivity (2018)
Journal Article
Jones, N. E., Burnett, C. A., Salamon, S., Landers, J., Wende, H., Lazzarini, L., …Francesconi, M. G. (2018). Fluoride doped γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with increased MRI relaxivity. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 6(22), 3665-3673. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8tb00360b

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) are being actively researched and experimented with as contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), as well as image-directed delivery of therapeutics. The efficiency of an MRI contrast agent can be described... Read More about Fluoride doped γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with increased MRI relaxivity.

Nanoparticulate Pd-Sn Compounds Supported on Metal Oxides: Synthesis, Material and Catalytic Properties (2017)
Journal Article
Ibhadon, A. O., Francesconi, M. G., & Johnston, S. K. (2017). Nanoparticulate Pd-Sn Compounds Supported on Metal Oxides: Synthesis, Material and Catalytic Properties. Chemical Engineering & Process Techniques, 3(3), Article 1044

The manufacture of chemicals requires innovation at the catalyst frontier so that processes can be developed with higher energy efficiency and increased facility of separation and recovery of products. Catalysts with high selectivity and activity con... Read More about Nanoparticulate Pd-Sn Compounds Supported on Metal Oxides: Synthesis, Material and Catalytic Properties.

Pd₃Sn nanoparticles on TiO₂ and ZnO supports as catalysts for semi-hydrogenation : synthesis and catalytic performance (2017)
Journal Article
Johnston, S. K., Cherkasov, N., Perez-Barrado, E., Aho, A., Murzin, D. Y., Ibhadon, A. O., & Francesconi, M. G. (2017). Pd₃Sn nanoparticles on TiO₂ and ZnO supports as catalysts for semi-hydrogenation : synthesis and catalytic performance. Applied catalysis. A, General, 544, 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2017.07.005

The two catalysts Pd₃Sn/TiO₂and Pd3Sn/ZnO were prepared via a one-pot procedure based on the “polyol method” with the addition of a capping agent (polyvinylpyrrolidone) to control the particle size distribution. The same procedure was used to prepare... Read More about Pd₃Sn nanoparticles on TiO₂ and ZnO supports as catalysts for semi-hydrogenation : synthesis and catalytic performance.

Synthesis and antibacterial effects of cobalt–cellulose magnetic nanocomposites (2017)
Journal Article
Kelly, S., Kornherr, A., Alahmadi, N. S., Betts, J. W., Francesconi, M. G., Prior, T. J., …Kornherr, A. (2017). Synthesis and antibacterial effects of cobalt–cellulose magnetic nanocomposites. RSC advances, 7(32), 20020-20026. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ra00920h

© The Royal Society of Chemistry. Green synthesis is employed to prepare cobalt/cellulose nanocomposites with cubic (α-cobalt) cobalt as a main component with antibacterial and magnetic properties. An in situ reduction of aqueous solutions of cobalt... Read More about Synthesis and antibacterial effects of cobalt–cellulose magnetic nanocomposites.

Structure and electronic properties of the quasi-one-dimensional Ba₂Co₁₋ₓZnₓS₃ series (2016)
Journal Article
Harrison, M. R., Maignan, A., Hardy, V., Lebedev, O. L., Young, N. A., & Francesconi, M. G. (2017). Structure and electronic properties of the quasi-one-dimensional Ba₂Co₁₋ₓZnₓS₃ series. Inorganic chemistry, 56(1), 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b02014

This work focuses on the structure and physical properties of the solid solution Ba₂Co₁₋ₓZnₓS₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), a family of quasi-one-dimensional sulfides with end members Ba₂CoS₃ and Ba₂ZnS₃. The structure of selected compounds with increasing Zn²⁺ cont... Read More about Structure and electronic properties of the quasi-one-dimensional Ba₂Co₁₋ₓZnₓS₃ series.

Structural classification of quasi-one-dimensional ternary nitrides (2016)
Journal Article
Headspith, D., Headspith, D. A., & Francesconi, M. G. (2016). Structural classification of quasi-one-dimensional ternary nitrides. Inorganics, 4(4), Article 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics4040037

This review focuses on the crystal structural features of ternary (mixed-metal) quasi-one-dimensional nitrides i.e., nitrides containing (cation-³⁻) coordination polyhedra sharing either corners, edges, or faces, arranged in linear chains, and interc... Read More about Structural classification of quasi-one-dimensional ternary nitrides.

Doping of inorganic materials in microreactors – preparation of Zn doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (2015)
Journal Article
Simmons, M. D., Jones, N., Evans, D. J., Wiles, C., Watts, P., Salamon, S., …Francesconi, M. G. (2015). Doping of inorganic materials in microreactors – preparation of Zn doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Lab on a chip, 15(15), 3154-3162. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5lc00287g

Microreactor systems are now used more and more for the continuous production of metal nanoparticles and metal oxide nanoparticles owing to the controllability of the particle size, an important property in many applications. Here, for the first time... Read More about Doping of inorganic materials in microreactors – preparation of Zn doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles.

Direct amine-functionalisation of γ-Fe2O3nanoparticles (2014)
Journal Article
Rocher, V., Manerova, J., Kinnear, M., Evans, D. J., & Francesconi, M. G. (2014). Direct amine-functionalisation of γ-Fe2O3nanoparticles. Dalton Transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry, 43(7), 2948-2952. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3dt52386a

A novel and simple preparation of amine-modified γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles is described. The presence of amine groups on the surface, instead of hydroxyl groups, will allow conjugation of biologically active molecules to the iron oxide nanoparticles with... Read More about Direct amine-functionalisation of γ-Fe2O3nanoparticles.

The preparation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in microreactors (2013)
Journal Article
Simmons, M., Wiles, C., Rocher, V., Francesconi, M. G., & Watts, P. (2013). The preparation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in microreactors. Journal of flow chemistry, 3(1), 7-10. https://doi.org/10.1556/JFC-D-12-00024

The preparation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles within microreactors is reported. The proportion of γ-Fe2O3 and Fe 3O4 in the sample was determined, an important parameter for reproducibility in applications. © 2013 Akadémiai Kiadó.

Modification of the anion sublattice in metal nitrides (2013)
Journal Article
Prior, T., Headspith, D. A., & Francesconi, M. G. (2013). Modification of the anion sublattice in metal nitrides. Coordination chemistry reviews, 257(13-14), 1970-1977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2013.01.033

The main goal of solid-state chemistry is the synthesis and characterisation of new compounds with technologically exploitable properties. To this aim, one established chemical route is the modification of known inorganic materials, in most cases oxi... Read More about Modification of the anion sublattice in metal nitrides.

Using high pressure to prepare polymorphs of the Ba2Co1-xZnxS3(0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) compounds (2011)
Journal Article
Mezzadri, F., Gilioli, E., Calestani, G., Migliori, A., Harrison, M. R., Headspith, D. A., & Francesconi, M. G. (2012). Using high pressure to prepare polymorphs of the Ba2Co1-xZnxS3(0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) compounds. Inorganic chemistry, 51(1), 397-404. https://doi.org/10.1021/ic201773e

In this work, high pressure was used as a tool to induce structural transition and prepare metastable polymorphs of ternary sulfides. Structural transformations under high pressure of compounds belonging to the Ba 2 Co 1-x Zn x S 3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) seri... Read More about Using high pressure to prepare polymorphs of the Ba2Co1-xZnxS3(0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) compounds.

Preparation, structural characterization, and thermal ammonolysis of two novel dimeric transition silylamide complexes (2011)
Journal Article
Cheng, F., Hope, C. N., Archibald, S. J., Bradley, J. S., Clark, S., Francesconi, M. G., …Lefebvre, F. (2011). Preparation, structural characterization, and thermal ammonolysis of two novel dimeric transition silylamide complexes. International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 8(2), 467-481. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7402.2009.02452.x

The preparation and molecular structures of two novel dimeric transition metal silylamide complexes {Li0.5Zr[NHSi(NMe2)3]1.5[NSi(NMe2)3]0.5[μ -NSi(NMe2)3]}2 and {Li0.5Hf[NHSi(NMe2)3]1.5[NSi(NMe2)3]0.5[μ-NSi(NMe2)3]}2 with a tetrahedral coordination e... Read More about Preparation, structural characterization, and thermal ammonolysis of two novel dimeric transition silylamide complexes.

Mixed-metal one-dimensional sulfides-A class of materials with differences and similarities to oxides (2010)
Journal Article
Harrison, M. R., & Francesconi, M. G. (2011). Mixed-metal one-dimensional sulfides-A class of materials with differences and similarities to oxides. Coordination chemistry reviews, 255(3-4), 451-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2010.10.008

The higher degree of covalency in the metal-sulfide bond in sulfides compared to the metal-oxide bond in oxides often leads to the breakdown of the ionic model for the description of sulfides, making the two classes of materials rather dissimilar. Th... Read More about Mixed-metal one-dimensional sulfides-A class of materials with differences and similarities to oxides.