Improved photoelectrochemical performance and stability have been achieved via forming heterostructured CdS@g-C₃N₄ core–shell nanorod arrays.

A magnesium-based metal-organic framework (Mg-MOF-74) exhibits excellent CO₂ adsorption under ambient conditions. However, the photostability of Mg-MOF-74 for CO₂ adsorption is poor. In this study, Mg _x Cu_1-x -MOF-74 was synthesized by using a facile "one-pot" method. Furthermore, the effects of synthesis conditions on the CO₂ adsorption capacity were investigated comprehensively. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy, and CO₂ static adsorption-desorption techniques were used to characterize the structures, morphology, and physicochemical properties of Mg _x Cu_1-x -MOF-74. CO₂ uptake of Mg _x Cu_1-x -MOF-74 under visible light illumination was measured by the CO₂ static adsorption test combined with the Xe lamp. The results revealed that Mg _x Cu_1-x -MOF-74 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the CO₂ adsorption capacity of Mg _x Cu_1-x -MOF-74 was excellent at a synthesis temperature and time of 398 K and 24 h in dimethylformamide (DMF)-EtOH-MeOH mixing solvents, respectively. Mg _x Cu_1-x -MOF-74 retained a crystal structure similar to that of the corresponding monometallic MOF-74, and its CO₂ uptake under visible light was superior to that of the corresponding monometallic MOF-74. Particularly, the CO₂ uptake of Mg_0.4Cu_0.6-MOF-74 under Xe lamp illumination for 24 h was the highest, up to 3.52 mmol·g^-1, which was 1.18 and 2.09 times higher than that of Mg- and Cu-MOF-74, respectively. The yield of the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to CO was 49.44 μmol·g_cat ^-1 over Mg_0.4Cu_0.6-MOF-74 under visible light for 8 h. Mg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ functioned as open alkali metal that could adsorb and activate CO₂. The synergistic effect between Mg and Cu metal strengthened Mg _x Cu_1-x -MOF-74 photostability for CO₂ adsorption and broadened the scope of its photocatalytic application. The "bimetallic" strategy exhibits considerable potential for use in MOF-based semiconductor composites and provides a feasible method for catalyst design with remarkable CO₂ adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity.

Efficient and green strategy for the chemical conversion and fixation of CO₂ is an attractive topic.

This study examined the incompatibility of high-intensity conditioning (HIC) conditions required for fine and coarse coal particles. The effects of speed and time of stirring on the recovery of coarse and fine particles were investigated by using three different flotation processes. The results showed that the coarse particle recovery of surface cleaning (SC) flotation reached the maximum value of 69.71% at the stirring condition combination of ‘1400 rpm +2 min.’ However, the coarse particle recovery reached the maximum value of ~69.37% at a stirring condition combination of ‘1600 rpm +3 min’ or ‘2000 rpm +2 min’ in HIC flotation. Achieving the same coarse particle recovery, SC flotation consumes less energy than HIC flotation. The maximum recovery of fine particle 65.37% was achieved at a stirring condition combination of ‘1600 rpm +2 min’ in HIC flotation. SC failed to promote the recovery of fine particles and even produced some negative effects in some cases. Fine particles consume less energy than coarse particles with respect to their maximum recovery. In addition, the optimum stirring speed and time for SC were 1400 rpm and 2 min, respectively, while 2000 rpm and 3 min for HIC, respectively. The optimum energy requirements involving stirring speed and time for SC do not match that for reagent dispersion and particle-reagent collision. The best flotation result achieved by HIC is a compromise of the above three aspects. It is suggested that SC, reagent dispersion, and particle-reagent collision should be carried out separately.