Fluorphore embedded/incorporating/bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas as recognition photo-decontamination catalysts

• US 7,754,145 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navy The USA As Represented By The Secretary of The
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Zeinali, Mazyar, White, Brandy J
• Primary Examiner(s): SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
• Application Number:
  US11/465,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 422/555, 422/56, 422/57, 422/68.1, 422/82.05, 422/82.06, 422/82.07, 422/82.08, 422/83, 422/55
• US Class Current: 588/306
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2101/02 Chemical warfare substances, e.g. cholinesterase inhibitors
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2101/06 Explosives, propellants or pyrotechnics, e.g. rocket fuel or napalm
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 3/176 Ultraviolet radiations, i.e. radiation having a wavelength of about 3nm to 400nm
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/0244 with nitrogen contained as ring member in aromatic compounds or moieties, e.g. pyridine
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 487/22 in which the condensed system contains four or more hetero rings

Abstract

Provided photo-decontamination catalyst material comprising an optically active molecule embedded/incorporated/bridged in a periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO). The optically active molecule is a typically a fluorophore or chromophore, more specifically, a porphyrin or phthalocyanine. The periodic mesoporous organosilica can be a template directed molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica. The PMO material incorporating an optically active molecule is useful as a catalyst in photo-decontamination applications, as well as a detection element for stand-off point detection system.

Claims

1. A photo-decontamination catalyst comprising:

a periodic mesoporous organosilica; and

an optically active molecule;

said optically active molecule being incorporated into said periodic mesoporous organosilica, wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is configured to orient a target molecule with respect to said optically active molecule.

2. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein said optically active molecule is a fluorophore or chromophore.

3. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein said optically active molecule is selected from the group consisting of porphyrins and phthalocyanines.

4. The catalyst of claim 2 wherein said chromophore or fluorophore is selected from fluorescein and fluorescein derivatives and analogues, indocyanine green, rhodamine, triphenylmethines, polymethines, cyanines, phalocyanines, naphthocyanines, merocyanines, lanthanide complexes or cryptates, fullerenes, oxatellurazoles, LaJolla blue, porphyrins and porphyrin analogues and natural chromophores/fluorophores such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, bilins, phytochrome, phycobilins, phycoerythrin, phycocyanines, retinoic acid and analogues such as retinoins and retinates.

5. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is a molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

6. The catalyst of claim 5 wherein said molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica is a template directed molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

7. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the target molecule is TNT, TNT-derivatives, a chemical warfare agent, a pesticide, or volatile organic compound.

8. A method for photo-decontaminating a sample containing a target molecule comprising:

providing a periodic mesoporous organosilica incorporating an optically active molecule, wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is configured to orient a target molecule with respect to said optically active molecule;

providing a sample containing a target molecule;

exposing said periodic mesoporous organosilica to said sample containing a target molecule, wherein said target molecule is adsorbed into said periodic mesoporous organosilica;

providing a light source; and

exposing said periodic mesoporous organosilica to said light source, wherein said optically active molecule catalyzes the decontamination of said target molecule in the presence of said light source.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said optically active molecule is a fluorophore or chromophore.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said optically active molecule is selected from the group consisting of porphyrins and phthalocyanines.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said chromophore or fluorophore is selected from fluorescein and fluorescein derivatives and analogues, indocyanine green, rhodamine, triphenylmethines, polymethines, cyanines, phalocyanines, naphthocyanines, merocyanines, lanthanide complexes or cryptates, fullerenes, oxatellurazoles, LaJolla blue, porphyrins and porphyrin analogues and natural chromophores/fluorophores such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, bilins, phytochrome, phycobilins, phycoerythrin, phycocyanines, retinoic acid and analogues such as retinoins and retinates.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is a molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica is a template directed molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the target molecule is TNT, TNT-derivatives, chemical warfare agents, pesticides, or volatile organic compounds.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein said light source covers the blue to red regions of the visible spectrum.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said light source is sunlight.