Flutelike porous hematite nanorods and branched nanostructures: synthesis, characterisation and application for gas-sensing

Flute-like porous alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods and branched nanostructures such as pentapods and hexapods were prepared through dehydration and recrystallisation of hydrothermally synthesised beta-FeOOH precursor. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM and selected area electron diffraction analyses reveal that the nanorods, which grow along the [110] direction, have nearly hollow cavities and porous walls with a pore size of 20-50 nm. The hexapods have six symmetric arms with a diameter of 60-80 nm and length of 400-900 nm. The growth direction of the arms in the hexapod-like nanostructure is also along the [110] direction, and there is a dihedral angle of 69.5 degrees between adjacent arms. These unique iron oxide nanostructures offer the first opportunity to investigate their magnetic and gas sensing properties. The nanostructures exhibited unusual magnetic behaviour, with two different Morin temperatures under field-cooled and zero-field-cooled conditions, owing to their shape anisotropy and magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Furthermore, the alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures show much better sensing performance towards ethanol than that of the previously reported polycrystalline nanotubes. In addition, the alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructure based sensor can selectively detect formaldehyde and acetic acid among other toxic, corrosive and irritant vapours at a low working temperature with rapid response, high sensitivity and good stability.     

Facile route to alpha-FeOOH and alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods and magnetic property of alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods

alpha-FeOOH nanorods with diameters of 15-25 nm and lengths up to 170-300 nm were synthesized in high yield via a facile and template-free hydrothermal method at low temperature. After calcining the as-synthesized alpha-FeOOH at 250 degrees C for 2 h, we could obtain alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods. Interestingly, the as-obtained alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods exhibited weakly ferromagnetic characteristics at low temperature and superparamagnetic property at room temperature, which is different from the behavior of the corresponding bulk material.     

Systematic control of size,shape, structure,and magnetic properties of uniform magnetite and maghemite particles

As an application of the gel-sol method especially developed for the synthesis of general monodisperse particles in large quantities, uniform hematite (alpha-Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), and maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) particles, precisely controlled in size, aspect ratio, and internal structure, have been prepared. For the synthesis of uniform ellipsoidal single-crystal particles of alpha-Fe2O3, a highly condensed suspension of fine beta-FeOOH particles doped with a prescribed amount of PO4(3-) ion in their interiors was aged at 140 degrees C for 24 h with seed particles of alpha-Fe2O3 in an acidic medium containing optimum concentrations of HCl and NaNO3. Systematic control of the aspect ratio and mean size was achieved by regulating the concentration of PO4(3-) ion incorporated into the beta-FeOOH particles and the number of seeds added. The resulting hematite particles were converted into magnetite by reduction in a H2 stream at 330 degrees C for 6 h; the magnetite was then oxidized to maghemite in an air stream at 240 degrees C for 2 h. Magnetite and maghemite thus prepared retained the original shape of the hematite. On the other hand, polycrystalline hematite particles of different sizes and aspect ratios were also prepared by aging a condensed Fe(OH)3 gel in the presence of different concentrations of SO4(2-) ion and seeds. The polycrystalline hematite particles were similarly converted into magnetite and then maghemite. The magnetic properties of these magnetite and maghemite particles were analyzed as a function of their mean particle volume, aspect ratio, and internal structure.     

Growth and magnetic properties of oriented alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods

alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanorods have been deposited on Si substrates using the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition method. Structural analyses indicated that alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanorods are preferentially oriented in the [104] direction on Si(100) substrates, and the nanorod possesses the single-crystalline structure. MFM image suggests that a spin domain is formed in the alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanorod. Anisotropic magnetic property of the alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanorods, i.e., the discrepancy of the saturation magnetization, is observed from SQUID measurements when the magnetic field are applied parallel and perpendicular to the substrate. A lower Morin temperature than that of the macroscopically crystalline hematite is observed when the magnetic field is applied parallel to the substrate.     

Understanding of the finite size effects on lattice vibrations and electronic transitions of nano alpha-Fe2O3

Alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals with controlled diameters ranging from 10 to 63 nm were successfully prepared. The finite size effects in alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals were probed by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, UV-visible spectrum, and magnetization measurements. With a size reduction, alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals showed a lattice expansion and an enlarged axial ratio of c/a that is in apparent contradiction to the previous conjecture of high lattice symmetry for alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals at small sizes. The surface terminations of alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals were found to be highly hydrated with a size dependence that surprisingly follows the surface hydration chemistry of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals reported recently by us. The lattice vibrations, electronic transitions, and magnetic properties of alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals were significantly modified by surface hydration and lattice expansion. The finite size effects that occurred in alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals at small sizes were first found to give a red shift in frequencies of perpendicular mode at 540 cm(-1), a blue shift in the electronic transition of double exciton process in visible region, and a significant decrease in the coercive force.     

Synthesis and optical properties of colloidal tungsten oxide nanorods

Thermal decomposition of W(CO)6 in oleylamine in the presence of mild oxidant Me3NO.2H2O produces tungsten oxide nanorods with diameters ranging from 3 to 6 nm. The size of nanorods can be easily varied by the employed surfactant ratio or reaction temperature. The prepared tungsten oxide nanorods exhibit strong photoluminescence (PL) peaks in 300-500 nm, which show a weak size dependency.     

Ultrafast studies of gold, nickel, and palladium nanorods

Steady state and ultrafast transient absorption studies have been carried out for gold, nickel, and palladium high aspect ratio nanorods. For each metal, nanorods were fabricated by electrochemical deposition into approximately 6 microm thick polycarbonate templates. Two nominal pore diameters(10 and 30 nm, resulting in nanorod diameters of about 40 and 60 nm, respectively) were used, yielding nanorods with high aspect ratios (>25). Static spectra of nanorods of all three metals reveal both a longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR(L)) band in the mid-infrared as well as a transverse band in the visible for the gold and larger diameter nickel and palladium nanorods. The appearance of SPR(L) bands in the infrared for high aspect ratio metal nanorods and the trends in their maxima for the different aspect ratios and metals are consistent with calculations based on the Gans theory. For the gold and nickel samples, time resolved studies were performed with a subpicosecond resolution using 400 nm excitation and a wide range of probe wavelengths from the visible to the mid-IR as well as for infrared excitation (near 2000 cm(-1)) probed at 800 nm. The dynamics observed for nanorods of both metals and both diameters include transients due to electron-phonon coupling and impulsively excited coherent acoustic breathing mode oscillations, which are similar to those previously reported for spherical and smaller rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. The dynamics we observe are the same within the experimental uncertainty for 400 nm and infrared (5 microm) excitation probed at 800 nm. The transient absorption using 400 nm excitation and 800 nm probe pulses of the palladium nanorods also reveal coherent acoustic oscillations. The results demonstrate that the dynamics for high aspect ratio metal nanorods are similar to those for smaller nanoparticles.     

Synthesis of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanorods: diameter-size and shape effects on their applications in magnetism, lithium ion battery, and gas sensors

We demonstrated in this paper the shape-controlled synthesis of hematite (alpha-Fe(2)O(3)) nanostructures with a gradient in the diameters (from less than 20 nm to larger than 300 nm) and surface areas (from 5.9 to 52.3 m(2)/g) through an improved synthetic strategy by adopting a high concentration of inorganic salts and high temperature in the synthesis systems to influence the final products of hematite nanostructures. The benefits of the present work also stem from the first report on the <20-nm-diameter and porous hematite nanorods, as well as a new facile strategy to the less-than-20-nm nanorods, because the less-than-20-nm diameter size meets the vital size domain for magnetization properties in hematite. Note that the porous and nonporous hematite one-dimensional nanostructures with diameter gradients give us the first opportunity to investigate the Morin temperature evolution of nanorod diameter and porosity. Evidently, the magnetic properties for nanorods exhibit differences compared with those for the spherical particle counterparts. Hematite nanorods are strongly dependent on their diameter size and porosity, where the magnetization is not sensitive to the size evolution from submicron particles to the 60-90 nm nanorods, while the magnetic properties change significantly in the case of <20 nm. In other words, for the magnetic properties of nanorods, in a comparable size range, the porous existence could also influence the magnetic behavior. Moreover, applications in formaldehyde (HCHO) gas sensors and lithium batteries for the hematite nanostructures with the diameter/surface area gradient reveal that the performance of electrochemical and gas-sensor properties strongly depends on the diameter size and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas, which is consistent with the crystalline point of view. Thus, this work not only provides the first example of the fabrication of hematite nanostructure sensors for detecting HCHO gas, but also reveals that the surface area or diameter size of hematite nanorods can also influence the lithium intercalation performances. These results give us a guideline for the study of the size-dependent properties for functional materials as well as further applications for magnetic materials, lithium-ion batteries, and gas sensors.     

Photoelectrochemical properties of Fe2O3-Nb2O5 films prepared by sol-gel method

Fe2O3-Nb2O5 coating films of various Nb/(Fe + Nb) mole ratios were prepared on nesa silica glass substrates from Fe(NO3)3.9H2O - NbCl5 - CH3(CH2)2CH2OH - CH3COOH solutions by the sol-gel method. The photoanodic properties were studied in a three-electrode cell with an aqueous buffer solution of pH = 7 as the supporting electrolyte. The crystalline phases identified were alpha-Fe2O3 (Nb/(Fe + Nb) = 0), alpha-Fe2O3 + FeNbO4 (Nb/(Fe + Nb) = 0.25), FeNbO4 (Nb/(Fe + Nb) = 0.5), FeNbO4 + Nb2O5 (Nb/(Fe + Nb) = 0.75), and Nb2O5 (Nb/(Fe + Nb) = 1). When the Nb/(Fe + Nb) mole ratio increased from 0 to 0.25, the crystalline phases changed from alpha-Fe2O3 to alpha-Fe2O3 + FeNbO4, the photoanodic current under white light illumination increased, and the photoanodic current under monochromatized light illumination increased in both visible and ultraviolet regions. When the Nb/(Fe + Nb) ratio increased over 0.25, the crystalline phases changed to FeNbO4, FeNbO4 + Nb2O5, or Nb2O5, and the photoanodic current decreased. The sample consisting of alpha-Fe2O3 and FeNbO4 (Nb/(Fe + Nb) = 0.25) exhibited photoresponse extending to 600 nm and an IPCE of 18% at a wavelength of 325 nm.     

Synthesis and optical properties of small Au nanorods using a seedless growth technique

Gold nanoparticles have shown potential in photothermal cancer therapy and optoelectronic technology. In both applications, a call for small size nanorods is warranted. In the present work, a one-pot seedless synthetic technique has been developed to prepare relatively small monodisperse gold nanorods with average dimensions (length × width) of 18 × 4.5 nm, 25 × 5 nm, 15 × 4.5 nm, and 10 × 2.5 nm. In this method, the pH was found to play a crucial role in the monodispersity of the nanorods when the NaBH(4) concentration of the growth solution was adjusted to control the reduction rate of the gold ions. At the optimized pH and NaBH(4) concentrations, smaller gold nanorods were produced by adjusting the CTAB concentration in the growth solution. In addition, the concentration of silver ions in the growth solution was found to be pivotal in controlling the aspect ratio of the nanorods. The extinction coefficient values for the small gold nanorods synthesized with three different aspect ratios were estimated using the absorption spectra, size distributions, and the atomic spectroscopic analysis data. The previously accepted relationships between the extinction coefficient or the longitudinal band wavelength values and the nanorods' aspect ratios found for the large nanorods do not extend to the small size domain reported in the present work. The failure of extending these relationships over larger sizes is a result of the interaction of light with the large rods giving an extinction band which results mostly from scattering processes while the extinction of the small nanorods results from absorption processes.     

Synthesis of sodium tantalate nanorods by alkalide reduction

NaTaO3 nanorods were synthesized with high (>90%) yield by reduction of TaCl5 with THF solutions of the alkalide K+(15C5)2Na-, followed by product annealing under dynamic vacuum at 250 and 600 degrees C. In addition to the nanorods, the product is comprised of 5-10% approximately 10-nm diameter spheroidal NaTaO3 nanocrystals. The nanorods are generally longer than 500 nm, with some exceeding 1 mum, and 10-100 nm wide, with aspect ratios that vary between 10 and 20:1. Select area electron diffraction patterns of individual nanorods indicate that each nanorod is a single crystal with its axis oriented in the [010] direction.     

One-step synthesis of large-aspect-ratio single-crystalline gold nanorods by using CTPAB and CTBAB surfactants

Gold nanorods were prepared in high yields by using a one-step seed-mediated process in aqueous cetyltripropylammonium bromide (CTPAB) and cetyltributylammonium bromide (CTBAB) solutions in the presence of silver nitrate. The diameters of the nanorods range from 3 to 11 nm, their lengths are in the range of 15 to 350 nm, and their aspect ratios are in the range of 2 to 70. The diameters of the Au nanorods obtained from one growth batch in CTPAB solutions decrease as their lengths increase, and their volumes decrease as the aspect ratios increase. The diameters of the Au nanorods obtained from one growth batch in CTBAB solutions first decrease and then slightly increase as their lengths increase, and their volumes increase as the aspect ratios increase. These Au nanorods are single-crystalline and are seen to be oriented in either the [100] or [110] direction under transmission electron microscopy imaging, irrespective of their sizes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the preparation by using wet-chemistry methods of single-crystalline Au nanorods with aspect ratios larger than 15.     

Co掺杂ZnO纳米棒的水热法制备及其光致发光性能

以Zn(NO3)2·6H2O 和Co(NO3)2·6H2O为原料, 通过水热法在较低温度下制备了纯ZnO和Co掺杂的ZnO(ZnO:Co)纳米棒. 利用XRD、EDS、TEM和HRTEM对样品进行了表征, 结合光致发光(PL)谱研究了样品的PL性能. 结果表明, 水热法制备纯ZnO和ZnO:Co纳米棒均具有较好的结晶度. Co2+是以替代的形式进入ZnO晶格, 掺入量为2%(原子分数)左右. 纯的ZnO纳米棒平均直径约为20 nm, 平均长度约为180 nm; 掺杂样品的平均直径值约为15 nm, 平均长度约为200 nm左右; Co掺杂轻微地影响ZnO纳米棒的生长. 另外, Co掺杂能够调整ZnO纳米棒的能带结构、提高表面态含量, 进而使得ZnO:Co纳米棒的紫外发光峰位红移, 可见光发光能力增强.     

Ordered mesoporous Fe2O3 with crystalline walls

Alpha-Fe(2)O(3) has been synthesized with an ordered mesoporous structure and crystalline walls that exhibit a near-single crystal-like order. The unique magnetic behavior of the material, distinct from bulk nanoparticles of alpha-Fe(2)O(3) or mesoporous Fe(2)O(3) with disordered walls, has been established. Magnetic susceptibility, M?ssbauer, and neutron diffraction data show that the material possesses the same long-range magnetic order as bulk alpha-Fe(2)O(3), despite the wall thickness being less than the 8 nm limit below which magnetic ordering breaks down in nanoparticulate alpha-Fe(2)O(3), yet the Morin transition of bulk alpha-Fe(2)O(3) is absent. It is also shown by TEM, PXRD, and EXAFS that alpha-Fe(2)O(3) with the same ordered mesoporous structure but disordered walls contains small crystalline domains. M?ssbauer and magnetic susceptibility data demonstrate that this material exhibits no long-range magnetic order but superparamagnetic behavior.     

Gd2O3∶Eu3+纳米棒的制备与发光性能

在表面活性剂辅助的水热条件下合成出尺寸均一的Gd2O3∶Eu3+纳米棒, 对其结构和荧光性质进行了表征, 并对其生长机理进行了初步讨论. XRD结果表明, 水热前驱体样品为六方晶相的Gd(OH)3, 经过灼烧之后样品为立方相的Gd2O3. TEM照片表明, 所得样品为直径60 nm、长度约600 nm的纳米棒. 荧光光谱表明, 在波长为254 nm 的紫外光激发下, Gd2O3∶Eu3+纳米棒产生了不同于前驱体的特征红光发射, 对应于Eu3+ 的5D0-7F2跃迁, 表明Gd2O3是红色发光材料的良好基质.     

Er3+和Ce3+/Ce4+掺杂β-BaB2O4纳米棒的制备、结构与发光性质

以Ba(NO3)2、NaBH4、Er2O3和CeO2为原料, 在十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)表面活性剂辅助下, 采用水热法制备了β-BaB2O4 (β-BBO)纳米棒, 稀土离子Er3+单掺杂的β-BBO(β-BBO:Er3+)及Er3+和Ce3+/Ce4+共掺杂的β-BBO(β-BBO:Er3+/Ce3+/Ce4+)纳米棒. 通过X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、拉曼光谱、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和光致发光(PL)光谱分别对样品的物相、结构、形貌、成分及光致发光性质进行了表征. 研究结果表明: 微量稀土离子掺杂并不改变β-BBO的结构, 制得的纳米棒尺寸均匀, 长度在200-500 nm 之间, 直径在10-20 nm 之间; β-BBO:Er3+和β-BBO:Er3+/Ce3+/Ce4+纳米棒在400nm光激发下, 在可见光范围内都观察到中心波长为515和542 nm的绿光. 对发光机理的初步研究表明: 发光分别对应于Er3+的2H11/2→4I15/2, 4S3/2→4I15/2跃迁, 铈离子以Ce3+和Ce4+两种形式存在于体系中, Ce3+对Er3+起敏化作用, 可以显著增强β-BBO:Er3+/Ce3+/Ce4+纳米棒的发光强度, 存在Ce3+→Er3+的能量传递过程.     

Low-temperature, solvent-free solid-state synthesis of single-crystalline titanium nitride nanorods with different aspect ratios

Titanium nitride nanorods have been successfully synthesized by low temperature solid-state metathesis of titanium (III) chloride and sodium azide without using any organic solvent. The conditions required for the synthesis of these nanorods have been optimized. It was found that the temperature and time of reaction had a significant effect on the product morphology. Thermal treatment at 360 °C, for 3 days gave the nanorods of the aspect ratio ∼10 (i.e. diameter ∼50 nm and length ∼ 500 nm), whereas the thermal treatment at 400 °C for 3 days gave the nanorods of the aspect ratio ∼50 (i.e. diameter ∼50 nm and length ∼2-3 μm). Scanning and transmission electron microscopies clearly showed the rod-type morphology. Further evidence for the phase purity and crystallinity of titanium nitride nanorods was given by X-ray diffraction, field emission high-resolution electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(divinylbenzene)-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as precursor for the formation of air-stable carbon-coated iron crystalline nanoparticles

Maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) nanoparticles of 15 +/- 3 nm diameter were prepared by nucleation of gelatin/iron oxide followed by growth of gamma-Fe2O3 films onto these nuclei. The gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were coated with polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) by emulsion polymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) in an aqueous continuous phase containing the gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The PDVB-coated gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, dispersed in water, were separated from homo-PDVB nanoparticles using the high gradient magnetic field (HGMF) technique. The influence of DVB concentration on the amount of PDVB coating, on the size and size distribution of the coated gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and on their magnetic properties, has been investigated. Air-stable carbon-coated iron (alpha-Fe/C) crystalline nanoparticles of 41 +/- 12 nm diameter have been prepared by annealing the PDVB-coated gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles at 1050 degrees C in an inert atmosphere. These nanoparticles exhibit high saturation magnetization value (83 emu g(-1)) and excellent resistance to oxidation. Characterization of the PDVB-coated gamma-Fe2O3 and of the alpha-Fe/C nanoparticles has been accomplished by TEM, HRTEM, DLS, FTIR, XRD, thermal analysis, zeta-potential, and magnetic measurements.     

Photoinduced transformation of gamma-HCH in the presence of dissolved organic matter and enhanced photoreactive activity of humate-coated alpha-Fe2O3

This study examined phototransformation of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH) in different solutions. The presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) inhibited the phototransformation of gamma-HCH. This phenomenon could be correlated to the binding interaction between gamma-HCH and DOM. Alpha-Fe2O3 promoted the transformation of gamma-HCH. The humate-coated alpha-Fe2O3 revealed a slight, however significant, favorable effect compared to the bare one. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) offered the direct evidence that humate-coated alpha-Fe2O3 could form surface Fe(III)-carboxylate complexes by ligand exchange. Additional experiments demonstrated that the photocorrosion of alpha-Fe2O3 coated by DOM was much more acute than that of the bare one. These combined results suggested that the transformation of gamma-HCH on humate-coated alpha-Fe2O3 is more related to a surface complex and not to a semiconductor-assisted photoreaction. In the humate-coated alpha-Fe2O3, absorption of a photon results in an excited ligand-to-metal charge-transfer state of the complexes, and a rich variety of free radical reactions ensue, which is concurrently accompanied by the dissolution of the iron oxide. Such reactions may generate reactive transients such as superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, which may be expected to transform gamma-HCH.     

Doping gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles with Mn(III) suppresses the transition to the alpha-Fe(2)O(3) structure

Here we report on a mixed oxide system, gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles doped with Mn(III), where the transition from the cubic to the more stable hexagonal alpha-Fe2O3 structure is suppressed. When amorphous Fe2O3 is heated at 300 degrees C for 3 h, ferrimagnetic gamma-Fe2O3 is observed as the sole product. On the other hand, when the temperature is raised to 500 degrees C, one observes only antiferromagnetic alpha-Fe2O3 as the product. However, upon doping with 8.5 wt % Mn(III), the amorphous nanoparticles crystallized to mainly the gamma-Fe2O3 matrix after heating at 500 degrees C for 3 h, and need to be heated to >650 degrees C for the complete transition to the alpha-Fe2O3 structure to take place.