Perforated organometallic nanotubes prepared from a Rh N-heterocyclic carbene using a porous alumina membrane

Fabrication of perforated organometallic nanotubes using a di-rhodium bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) complex by a simple nanoporous template wetting technique is described along with characterization data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), proton NMR and Mass spectroscopy.     

Superhard coatings — Production and analysis

In the development of diamond and c-BN products the analytical methods for characterizing the surface, bulk and interface of the diamond coatings are very important. SEM, Raman, XRD and IR are the methods used for characterization and SIMS, TEM, AES, NRA, RBS, XPS, STM, etc. are used for the investigation of special problems. The techniques for diamond and c-BN production are briefly summarized to give an idea of the complex interactions between production, application and analytical characterization. The analytical methods for diamond characterization and many relevant results are summarized in this paper; some physical properties (e.g. thermal conductivity, transparency, etc.) and their interaction with applications are also discussed.Abbreviations AES Auger electron spectroscopy - AFM atomic force microscopy - c-BN cubic boron nitride - CL cathodoluminescence - CVD chemical vapour deposition - EELS electron energy loss spectroscopy - EPMA electron probe microanalysis - ERDA elastic recoil detection analysis - h-BN hexagonal boron nitride - HP-HT high-pressure high-temperature - HF hot-filament - IR infra-red - LEED low energy electron diffraction - MW microwave - NAA neutron activation analysis - NRA nuclear reaction analysis - PL photoluminescence - PVD physical vapour deposition - RBS Rutherford backscattering spectrometry - RHEED reeflected high energy electron diffraction - SAD selected area diffraction - SEM scanning electron microscopy - SIMS secondary ion mass spectrometry - STM secondary ion mass spectrometry - TEM transmission electron microscopy - TMB trimethylborate - XPS X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy - XRD X-ray diffraction Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Polyethylene-based nanocomposite: Structure and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/organofunctionalized Mg-doped fluorapatite hybrid

We report here the production and characterization of polymer nanocomposites (NC)s containing nanoceramics of organofunctionalized Mg-doped fluorapatite (MDFA) in a poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix. First, the MDFA materials were functionalized with N-trimellitylimido-L-leucine modifier through ultrasonic irradiation. The numerous experimental techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to characterize the prepared materials. Thermal analysis of the obtained NCs showed an increase in thermal stability of the NCs when compared to the neat macromolecule.     

Purification of boron nitride nanotubes through polymer wrapping

An effective method was proposed to remove obstinate boron nitride phase impurities in boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). The method is based on strong interactions between BNNTs and a conjugated polymer wrapping them and significant weight and size difference between BNNTs and impurities. The as-grown samples and purified samples were compared through detailed characterization, using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. The results reveal that impurities are effectively removed and resultant BNNTs possess perfect crystallization.     

The Construction of Au/Carbon Nanocomposite Material,Characterization and Their Application in Catalytic Reaction of Styrene Epoxidation

The composite nanofibers from Au nanoparticles/carbon nanofibers (Au/CNFs) were fabricated through electrospinning, chemical reduction and high-temperature calcination methods. The polyacrylonitrile acted as the carbon precursor polymer. A series of characterization methods, which include UV–Vis diffuses reflectance spectra, UV–Vis spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction respectively, were used to investigate the morphology and properties of catalysts. The result showed that the gold nanoparticles were well-distributed in/on the CNFs. In the end, the composite material was applied to epoxidation of styrene to investigate its catalytic activity.     

Radiation Polymerization of 4-(Acryloylamido)benzonitrile: Zinc and Copper Complexes

Summary. The new polymer containing cyano groups was synthesized by γ-irradiation. The oximated polymer was prepared using hydroxylamine hydrochloride in basic medium. The characterization of monomer, polymer, and oximated ones was confirmed by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The complex formation of the amidoxime salt towards Zn^II, Cu^II, and Zn^II/Cu^II mixture in aqueous solution was studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance spectrometry. The significant binding capacity of these metal ions revealed its selectivity to Zinc(II) ion. The thermal stability of polymers and complexed ones was investigated using thermogravimetry analysis. The change in their morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Radiation Polymerization of 4-(Acryloylamido)benzonitrile: Zinc and Copper Complexes

The new polymer containing cyano groups was synthesized by γ-irradiation. The oximated polymer was prepared using hydroxylamine hydrochloride in basic medium. The characterization of monomer, polymer, and oximated ones was confirmed by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The complex formation of the amidoxime salt towards Zn^II, Cu^II, and Zn^II/Cu^II mixture in aqueous solution was studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance spectrometry. The significant binding capacity of these metal ions revealed its selectivity to Zinc(II) ion. The thermal stability of polymers and complexed ones was investigated using thermogravimetry analysis. The change in their morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

用于甲烷水蒸气重整的镍基催化剂的失活和再生

The deactivation of nickel catalysts used in Arak and Razi petrochemical complexes followed by catalyst regeneration was evalu-ated. The characterization of the different structures was made by powder X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and carbon & sulfur analyzer. The Ni particle size was estimated from XRD patterns and TEM graphs. The agglomeration of nickel particle and the poison by sulfur components were recognized as the main reasons in deactivation of Arak and Razi catalysts,respectively. The activity of the used catalysts before and after regeneration was measured on methane steam reforming at a CH4:H2O ratio of 1:3 at 850 oC. The regeneration processes for Arak and Razi samples were performed with CO2 as an oxidative atmosphere and steam as a regenerating agent,respectively. The results show that,(1) no residual sulfur components were on the regenerated Razi catalyst surface without changing the structure of the catalyst and the regenerated catalyst has gained 80% of its catalytic activity,and that(2) the nickel particle size of regenerated Arak specimen decreased remarkably as measured by Debye-Scherrer equation from XRD patterns. TEM images were in agreement with the XRD results and indicated a decrease in nickel particle size of regenerated catalyst. Additionally,in both regenerated catalysts all the coke on the surface of the support was eliminated after regeneration.     

Structural and Chemical Analysis of Materials with High Spatial Resolution

 An understanding of the correlation between microstructures and properties of materials require the characterization of the material on many different length scales. Often the properties depend primarily on the atomistics of defects, such as dislocations and interfaces. The different techniques of transmission electron microscopy allow the characterization of the structure and of the chemical composition of materials with high spatial resolution to the atomic level: high resolution transmission electron microscopy allows the determination of the position of the columns of atoms (ions) with high accuracy. The accuracy which can be achieved in these measurements depends not only on the instrumentation but also on the quality of the transmitted specimen and on the scattering power of the atoms (ions) present in the analyzed column. The chemical composition can be revealed from investigations by analytical microscopy which includes energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, mainly quantitatively applied for heavy elements, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Furthermore, the energy-loss near-edge structure of EELS data results in information on the local band structure of unoccupied states of the excited atoms and, therefore, on bonding. A quantitative evaluation of convergent beam electron diffraction results in information on the electron charge density distribution of the bulk (defect-free) material. The different techniques are described and applied to different problems in materials science. It will be shown that nearly atomic resolution can be achieved in high resolution electron microscopy and in analytical electron microscopy. Recent developments in electron microscopy instrumentation will result in atomic resolution in the foreseeable future.     

Opportunities and Challenges in the Use of TiO2 Nanoparticles Modified with Citric Acid to Synthesize Advanced Nanocomposites Based on Poly(amide-imide) Containing N,N′-(Pyromellitoyl)-bis-L-leucine Segments

In this study, the goal was the preparation, characterization, and surface morphology of poly(amide-imide)/TiO₂-citric acid nanocomposites (PAI/TiO₂-CA NCs). Owing to the high surface energy and tendency for agglomeration, the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles was modified with citric acid. Then poly(amide-imide) was synthesized by direct polycondensation reaction of N,N′-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-L-leucine diacid with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane by triphenyl phosphite and tetra-n-butylammonium bromide as a green medium. The attained polymer and modified TiO₂ nanoparticles were used to prepare PAI/TiO₂-CA NCs through ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting PAI/TiO₂-CA NC was characterized with FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis.     

以纳米微晶纤维素为模板的酸催化水解法制备球形介孔TiO_2

以纳米微晶纤维素(NCC)为模板剂,采用酸催化水解法制备了球形介孔TiO2(SP-TiO2).并采用扫描电镜、透射电镜、X射线衍射、紫外-可见漫反射光谱和低温N2吸附-脱附等手段对其进行了表征.结果表明,所制SP-TiO2为直径100～200nm的规整球形颗粒,单个球形颗粒由粒径为10～20nm的TiO2小晶粒组成.其介孔孔径为8.2～13.5nm,且随焙烧温度的升高而增大.NCC长链结构之间羟基键合所形成的狭小空间构成的微反应器,可有效限制TiO2前驱体的生长和团聚,诱导其晶粒自组装成球形结构,并抑制由锐钛矿相向金红石相转变.600oC焙烧的SP-TiO2表现出最高的光催化活性,对苯酚降解率达89%.     

Fabrication of dendritic gold nanoparticles by use of an ionic polymer template

A facile method for the fabrication of dendritic gold nanoparticles (NPs) by use of an ionic polymer template has been developed. In situ generation of an imidazolium-based (cationic) polymer, poly[1-methyl-3-(4-vinylbenzyl)imidazolium], with AuCl4- counteranions is achieved by addition of HAuCl4 into a solution containing poly[1-methyl-3-(4-vinylbenzyl)imidazolium chloride]. Subsequent reduction with NaBH4 in water or in a mixture of ethanol and water affords various NPs depending on the conditions, including large dendritic gold NPs that have been analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The structures of the dendritic gold NPs were found to depend on the ethanol concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the ionic polymer reveal that the solvent used to deposit the polymer strongly influences its structure and may be correlated to the structure of the resulting NPs.     

Solution route to inorganic nanobelt‐conducting organic polymer core‐shell nanocomposites

A facile and versatile solution‐based approach was developed to prepare semiconductor metal oxide nanobelt‐conducting organic polymer core‐shell nanocomposites. Well‐defined nanobelts of several types of oxide nanobelts were combined with conducting polymer [polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PANi)] via in situ polymerization in aqueous solution to obtain a new type of inorganic–organic composite nanostructure. Samples were characterized by using X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, electron energy loss spectra, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible techniques. Electron energy loss spectra revealed the existence of C?C and C? N bonds in coating layers to prove the encapsulation of PPy or PANi. The red‐shift of absorption band at high‐energy was observed for PPy‐encapsulated composites via ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and significant absorption band shifts were also encountered to PANi‐encapsulated composites, which suggest possibilities of band‐gap tuning of such metal oxide‐conducting polymer composites to be applied especially in solar cell devices. However, the sacrifice of nanobelts‐core led to hollow structures of PPy and PANi, which expands the synthetic strategies to prepare conducting polymer nanotubes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2892–2900, 2005     

Chemical synthesis of oriented ferromagnetic LaSr-2 × 4 manganese oxide molecular sieve nanowires

We report a chemical solution based method using nanoporous track-etched polymer templates for producing long and oriented LaSr-2 × 4 manganese oxide molecular sieve nanowires. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy analyses show that the nanowires are ferromagnetic at room temperature, single crystalline, epitaxially grown and self-aligned.     

Nanostructured biosensors built by layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly of enzyme-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes and redox polymers

In this study, we describe the construction of glucose biosensors based on an electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) technique. Gold electrodes were initially functionalized with negatively charged 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid followed by alternate immersion in solutions of a positively charged redox polymer, poly[(vinylpyridine)Os(bipyridyl)2Cl(2+/3+)], and a negatively charged enzyme, glucose oxidase (GOX), or a GOX solution containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The LBL assembly of the multilayer films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and cyclic voltammetry, while characterization of the single-walled nanotubes was performed with transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. When the GOX solution contained single-walled carbon nanotubes (GOX-SWNTs), the oxidation peak currents during cyclic voltammetry increased 1.4-4.0 times, as compared to films without SWNTs. Similarly the glucose electro-oxidation current also increased (6-17 times) when SWNTs were present. By varying the number of multilayers, the sensitivity of the sensors could be controlled.     

General, room-temperature method for the synthesis of isolated as well as arrays of single-crystalline ABO4-type nanorods

Single-crystalline BaWO(4) and BaCrO(4) nanorods of reproducible shape and of varying sizes have been controllably prepared using a simple, room-temperature approach, based on the use of porous alumina template membranes. Aligned BaWO(4) and BaCrO(4) nanorod arrays can be obtained by dissolving the template. Our facile technique, which is analogous to biomineralization, offers a promising and generalized methodology to prepare other types of free-standing ABO(4) nanorods and their corresponding nanorod arrays. Extensive characterization of these samples has been performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Raman spectroscopy, FT-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).     

Chemical-bond analysis of nanostructured materials using near-edge fine structures (ELNES)

The paper is concerned with the application of combined electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to the characterization of the chemical-bond state of elements at nanometer resolution. Respective information is contained in the energy loss near-edge fine structure (ELNES) usually appearing in the energy range up to about 30 eV above the edge onset. The practical way of chemical-bond analysis was chosen, viz. to compare the ELNES of the feature under investigation with those of known stoichiometry. The efficiency of this special technique is demonstrated for different material systems, particularly fiber-reinforced composites and functional ceramics, having structural details of some ten nanometres, or smaller.     

Synthesis and Characterization of CdS Nanoparticles via Cyclic Microwave from Cadmium Oxalate

The present study reports synthesis and characterization of CdS nanoparticles prepared by cyclic microwave route with the use of [Cd(C₂O₄)·3H₂O] powder as a precursor. The products, with an average size ~15 nm, were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Optical property of obtained product was investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The prepared nanostructures displayed a very strong luminescence at 528 nm (2.34 eV) at room temperature.     

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical application of Ca(OH)2-, Co(OH)2-, and Y(OH)3-Coated Ni(OH)2 tubes

We report on the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical application of Ca(OH)2-, Co(OH)2-, and Y(OH)3-coated Ni(OH)2 tubes with mesoscale dimensions. These composite tubes were prepared via a two-step chemical precipitation within an anodic alumina membrane under ambient conditions. The morphology and structure of the as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the size of the tubes was of mesoscale dimension and the proportion of the tube morphology was about 95%. The as-prepared composite tubes were further investigated as the positive-electrode materials of rechargeable alkaline batteries. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the Ni(OH)2 tubes coated with Ca(OH)2, Co(OH)2, and Y(OH)3 exhibited superior electrode properties including high discharge capacity, excellent high-temperature and high-rate discharge ability, and good cycling reversibility. The mechanism analysis suggests that both the coated layers and the unique hollow-tube structures play an indispensable role in optimizing the electrochemical performance of nickel hydroxide electrodes.     

A High-Performance Catalytic and Recyclability of Phyto-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in Natural Polymer

The present work deals with phytogenic synthesis of Ag NPs in the natural polymer alginate as support material using Aglaia elaeagnoidea leaf extract as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent. Ag nanoparticles embedded in alginate were characterized using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy techniques and selected area electron diffraction techniques. The formation of AgNPs embedded in the polymer was in spherical shape with an average size of 12 nm range has been noticed. The prepared embedded nanoparticles in polymer were evaluated as a solid heterogeneous catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) and methylene blue to leuco methylene blue in the liquid phase using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) as reducing agent. The silver nanoparticles embedded polymer exhibited extraordinary catalytic efficacy in reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP and the rate constant is 0.5054 min^?1 at ambient conditions. The catalyst was recycled and reused up to 10 cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity. The preparation of Ag–CA composite was facile, stable, efficient, eco-friendly, easy to recycle, non-toxic, and cost effective for commercial application.