@article { ISI:000363152800005, title = {Core-shell nanoparticles: synthesis and applications in catalysis and electrocatalysis}, journal = {Chemical Society Reviews}, volume = {44}, number = {21}, year = {2015}, month = {AUG}, pages = {7540-7590}, publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY}, address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND}, abstract = {

Core-shell nanoparticles (CSNs) are a class of nanostructured materials that have recently received increased attention owing to their interesting properties and broad range of applications in catalysis, biology, materials chemistry and sensors. By rationally tuning the cores as well as the shells of such materials, a range of core-shell nanoparticles can be produced with tailorable properties that can play important roles in various catalytic processes and offer sustainable solutions to current energy problems. Various synthetic methods for preparing different classes of CSNs, including the Stober method, solvothermal method, one-pot synthetic method involving surfactants, etc., are briefly mentioned here. The roles of various classes of CSNs are exemplified for both catalytic and electrocatalytic applications, including oxidation, reduction, coupling reactions, etc.

}, issn = {0306-0012}, doi = {10.1039/c5cs00343a}, author = {Gawande, Manoj B. and Goswami, Anandarup and Asefa, Tewodros and Guo, Huizhang and Biradar, Ankush V. and Peng, Dong-Liang and Zboril, Radek and Varma, Rajender S.} } @article { ISI:000354043200025, title = {Trifunctional mesoporous silica-based, highly active catalyst for one-pot, three-step cascade reactions}, journal = {Chemical Communications}, volume = {51}, number = {40}, year = {2015}, month = {APR}, pages = {8496-8499}, publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY}, address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND}, abstract = {

We report the synthesis of a trifunctional catalyst containing amine, sulphonic acid and Pd nanoparticle catalytic groups anchored on the pore walls of SBA-15. The catalyst efficiently catalyzes one-pot three-step cascade reactions comprising deacetylation, Henry reaction and hydrogenation, giving up to similar to 100\% conversion and 92\% selectivity to the final product.

}, issn = {1359-7345}, doi = {10.1039/c5cc01694k}, author = {Biradar, Ankush V. and Patil, Vijayshinha S. and Chandra, Prakash and Doke, Dhananjay S. and Asefa, Tewodros} } @article { ISI:000363815800016, title = {Bicinchoninic acid-based colorimetric chemosensor for detection of low concentrations of cyanide}, journal = {Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical}, volume = {222}, year = {2016}, month = {JAN}, pages = {112-119}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA}, address = {PO BOX 564, 1001 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND}, abstract = {

Bicinchoninic acid (BCA) is reagent that is widely used to determine the concentration of proteins in solutions through the colored complex it forms with Cu(I) and the proteins. In this report, we present a new use for BCA, where a highly sensitive method for detection of cyanide ions in solutions by using Cu2+-BCA complex as the chemosensing agent is demonstrated. The detection of cyanide ions is achieved by taking advantage of the nucleophilic attack of the Cu2+-BCA complex by cyanide ions. Upon the addition of cyanide ions, the Cu2+-BCA complex undergoes transformations to free BCA via a series of equilibriums and, as a result, forms different Cu(II)-(BCA)(x)(CN)(y) species depending on the concentrations of cyanide ions in the solution. These different Cu(II)-(BCA)(x)(CN)(y) species, in turn, give different metal-to-ligand charge transfer electronic spectra and colors that are easily detectable both with naked eyes and UV-vis spectroscopy. As the cyanide ion concentration increases, the color of the solution containing the complexes changes from green to purple, red, yellow, and finally colorless, giving a corresponding blue shift in the absorption maxima on their UV-vis spectra. Through this process, the complexes enable detection of cyanide ions with a detection level of up to 0.06 ppm in solutions. Thus, this colorimetric technique based on Cu2+-BCA can make low concentrations of cyanide detectable, well before the concentrations possibly reach lethal amounts. Furthermore, the method is shown to give fast detection response with no interference from other anionic and cationic species and has the potential to be adopted for accurate and convenient analysis of cyanide ions in drinking water sources as well as industrial effluents. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {BCA, Bicinchoninic acid, Chemosensor, Colorimetric sensor, Copper, Cyanide}, issn = {0925-4005}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2015.08.043}, author = {Biradar, Archana A. and Biradar, Ankush V. and Sun, Tiffany and Chan, Yung and Huang, Xiaoxi and Asefa, Tewodros} }