Synthesis and assembly of monodisperse spherical Cu2S nanocrystals

High-quality monodisperse Cu₂S nanocrystals (sizes from 2 nm to 20 nm) have been successfully synthesized by the reaction of copper stearate (CuSt₂) and dodecanethiol (DDT) in 1-octadecene (ODE). The nanocrystals were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These as-prepared Cu₂S nanocrystals with certain sizes have been found with good self-assembly behaviors, and they were easily to assemble into two-dimensional and three-dimensional superlattice structures. DDT served as both sulfur source and capping ligand, and was found a key factor to affect the growth and the self-assembly behaviors of the Cu₂S nanocrystals.     

介观结构SiO2/CdO纳米复合物为前驱体原位水热合成半导体CdSe和CdS纳米晶

以高度有序的介观结构SiO₂/CdO纳米复合物为前驱体,在硒源或硫源存在的还原性条件下,利用原位水热反应,合成了介观结构SiO₂/CdSe及SiO₂/CdS纳米复合物,除去SiO₂后,得到半导体CdSe及CdS纳米晶.通过X射线衍射(XRD),高分辨率透射电镜(HRTEM),X射线能散射谱(EDX)及选区电子衍射(SAED)等手段对产物进行了组成和结构表征.结果表明,介观结构SiO₂主体材料在合成过程中起到了一定的形貌和尺寸限制作用,得到的CdSe和CdS均为直径在8 nm左右的类球形六方相纳米晶.     

Room-temperature strategy for networked nonspherical gold nanostructures from Au(III)[G-2]CO2H dendrimer complex

The present work describes a convenient approach to fabricate networked nonspherical gold nanostructures by using [G-2]CO2H dendrimer and toluene as capping and bridging agents in a CH2Cl2 and H2O biphasic system. A controlled linear assembly is achieved without the use of any catalyst at room temperature. UV-vis spectrum, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis show that the product is well networked nanostructures with diameter of 4-10 nm and consists of coalesced face-centered cubic gold nanocrystals. Extended experiments reveal that both benzene and dimethylbenzene can also inhabit the gold ions to make them crosslinked, prolong the nucleation points and eventually facilitate the formation of the networks.     

溶剂热法制备球状Cu2ZnSnS4纳米晶及其表征

通过简单的溶剂热法合成了锌黄锡矿结构的Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS)纳米晶,使用L-半胱氨酸作硫源和络合剂,以金属氯化物作前驱体,在180°C下反应16h成功获得了CZTS微球.使用X射线衍射(XRD)仪,场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)、能量色散谱(EDS)、高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)、多功能X射线光电子能谱仪(XPS)、紫外-可见(UV-Vis)分光光度计对产物的物相、结构、形貌及光学性能进行表征.结果表明:所得的产物为纯相锌黄锡矿结构的CZTS纳米颗粒,CZTS微球直径为400-800nm,并可观察到微球是由大量厚度约20nm的纳米片构成;将CZTS颗粒均匀分散在异丙醇中,测试后估算其禁带宽度约1.58eV,与薄膜太阳能电池所需的最佳禁带宽度相近.并对其形成机理进行了初步探讨.     

Cu2ZnSnS4纳米晶的制备及其三阶非线性光学性能的研究

以乙酰丙酮铜、醋酸锌、二氯亚锡、油胺和硫粉为前驱体,采用one-pot法合成出了单分散的Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS)纳米晶.所得样品采用X射线粉末衍射仪(XRD),能量色散谱仪(EDS),透射电子显微镜(TEM),高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM),光电子能谱仪(XPS),紫外-可见光谱仪(UV-vis)和Z-扫描(Z-scan)技术对其结构组成、形貌、性能等进行了表征.结果表明:所获得的产物为四方相结构的六边形CZTS纳米颗粒,直径约为10 nm.计算出尺寸大小为10 nm,13 nm的纳米晶的三阶非线性光学折射率γ(-1.08×10-15,-9.08×10-17 m2·W-1),三阶非线性光学吸收系数β(6.5×10-9,3.69×10-11 m·W-1)以及三阶非线性光学极化率χ(3)(1.49×10-9,4.35×10-10 esu).并探讨了CZTS纳米晶可能的形成机理,及引起三阶光学非线性发生变化的原因。     

Size-controlled chalcopyrite CuInS2 nanocrystals: One-pot synthesis and optical characterization

Chalcopyrite ternary CuInS2 semiconductor nanocrystals have been synthesized via a facile one-pot chemical approach by using oleylamine and oleic acid as solvents.The as-prepared CuInS2 nanocrystals have been characterized by instrumental analyses such as X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)/high-resolution TEM(HRTEM),energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),UV-vis absorption spectroscopy(UV-vis) and photoluminescence(PL) spectroscopy.The particle sizes of the CuInS2 nanocrystals could be tuned from 2 to 10 nm by simply varying reaction conditions.Oleylamine,which acted as both a reductant and an effective capping agent,plays an important role in the size-controlled synthesis of CuInS2 nanocrystals.Based on a series of comparative experiments under different reaction conditions,the probable formation mechanism of CuInS2 nanocrystals has been proposed.Furthermore,the UV-vis absorption and PL emission spectra of the chalcopyrite CuInS2 nanocrystals have been found to be adjustable in the range of 527-815 nm and 625-800 nm,respectively,indicating their potential application in photovoltaic devices.     

Surfactant-assistant and facile synthesis of hollow ZnS nanospheres

Small and monodisperse ZnS hollow nanospheres with outer diameter ranging from 60 to 70 nm and wall thickness of 15-20 nm were fabricated in a large scale by a simple surfactant polyethylene glycol (PEG) assisted method. The diameter and the wall thickness of the hollow nanospheres could be controlled by manipulating the amount of PEG and the aging time, respectively. Moreover, the wall of these hollow nanospheres is very compact. The product was characterized by X-ray power diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis spectrum and fluorescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared ZnS hollow nanospheres was also evaluated by using methyl orange (MO) as a model organic compound and the result revealed that their photocatalytic activity is a little lower than that of Degussa P25 TiO(2) but better than that of ZnS nanocrystals prepared by literature method. Furthermore, a rational mechanism to the formation and evolution of the products is proposed.     

Solvothermal synthesis of zincblende and wurtzite CuInS2 nanocrystals and their photovoltaic application

We report a simple solvothermal synthesis approach to the growth of CuInS(2) nanocrystals with zincblende- and wurtzite-phase structures. Zincblende nanocrystals with particle sizes of 10-20 nm were produced using oleylamine as the solvent. When ethylenediamine was used as the solvent, similarly sized wurtzite nanocrystals with some degree of particle aggregation were formed. Use of a mixture of these solvents gave products with mixed phases including some polyhedral nanostructures. The crystal phases of these nanocrystals were carefully determined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis. All the samples exhibit strong absorption from the entire visible light region to the near-infrared region beyond 1300 nm. Pure-phase zincblende and wurtzite CuInS(2) nanocrystals were employed as ink in the fabrication of solar cells. The spray-coated nanocrystal layer was subjected to a selenization process. A power conversion efficiency of ~0.74% and a good external quantum efficiency profile over broad wavelengths have been measured. The results demonstrate that wurtzite and zincblende CuInS(2) nanocrystals may be attractive precursors to light-absorbing materials for making efficient photovoltaic devices.     

Remarkable changes in the optical properties of CeO(2) nanocrystals induced by lanthanide ions doping

Highly uniform and well-dispersed CeO(2) and CeO(2):Eu(3+) (Sm(3+), Tb(3+)) nanocrystals were prepared by a nonhydrolytic solution route and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), UV/vis absorption, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, respectively. The result of XRD indicates that the CeO(2) nanocrystals are well crystallized with a cubic structure. The TEM images illustrate that the average size of CeO(2) nanocrystals is about 3.5 nm in diameter. The absorption spectrum of CeO(2):Eu(3+) nanocrystals exhibits red-shifting with respect to that of the undoped CeO(2) nanocrystals. Under the excitation of 440 nm (or 426 nm) light, the colloidal solution of the undoped CeO(2) nanocrystals shows a very weak emission band with a maximum at 501 nm, which is remarkably enhanced by doping additional lanthanide ions (Eu(3+), Tb(3+), Sm(3+)) in the CeO(2) nanocrystals. The emission band is not due to the characteristic emission of the lanthanide ions but might arise from the oxygen vacancy which is introduced in the fluorite lattice of the CeO(2)nanocrystals to compensate the effective negative charge associated with the trivalent ions.     

Sol-Gel Co-Electrospun LiNiO2 Hollow Nanofibers

Using a coaxial capillary spinneret electrospinning technique combined with the sol-gel method, the nickelic xerogel hollow nanofibers first were prepared and the polycrystalline LiNiO₂ hollow nanofibers were obtained after sintering. The obtained hollow nanofibers were about 500 nm to 4 µm in outer diameter, and were made up of 20 ～ 30 nm nanocrystals. The xerogel hollow nanofibers and those calcined at different temperatures were characterized by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, x-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnS：Ag Nanocrystals Surface-capped with Thiourea

Ag^＋ -doped ZnS nanocrystals surface-capped with thiourea （expressed as ZnS： Ag/thiourea） were synthesized through sol-gel method with thiourea as a surface modifier and characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）, transmission electron microscope（TEM）, X-ray fluorescence spectrum（XRF）, infrared spectrum （IR）, UV-Vis absorption spectrum（ UV-Vis）, and photoluminescence spectrum（PL）. The results show that Ag^＋ ions are doped in ZnS nanocrystals, and the sulfur atoms in thiourea molecules coordinate with metal ions on the surface of the nanocrystals. The spherical ZnS： Ag/thiourea nanocrystals with an average diameter of 5 nm have good fluorescent characteristics, and therefore have great potential for use in molecular assembly and novel luminescence materials.     

Fe3O4 nanocrystals with novel fractal

Fe3O4 novel fractal nanocrystals have been synthesized by a surfactant-assisted solvothermal process for the first time. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), M?ssbauer spectroscopy (MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to investigate the novel fractal nanocrystals. The lengths of the fractals are about 2-3 microm, and the trunks and branches of Fe3O4 fractals have almost the same diameters of ca. 30-50 nm. The roles of surfactant PEG-20000 and N2H4 have been discussed in detail. One key fact has been found that the ferrocene concentration has a vital effect on the morphologies of the products. The side-branching process and the oscillation of the concentration have been proposed to illustrate the formation mechanisms of the fractal nanocrystals. In addition, magnetic properties of Fe3O4 fractal nanocrystals have also been detected by a vibrating sample magnetometer, showing relatively high saturation magnetization (Ms) of ca. 78.75 emu/g.     

Fabrication of symmetric hierarchical hollow PbS microcrystals via a facile solvothermal process

Symmetric hierarchical hollow PbS structures consisting of nanowalls were successfully fabricated by a facile solvothermal process in ethylenediamine at 120 degrees C for 12 h, employing lead acetate trihydrate and dithizone as precursors; the thickness of the nanowalls is about 80 nm. No surfactants or other templates were used in the process. The synthesized product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (ED), ultraviolet-visible spectrometer (UV-vis), near-infrared absorption spectroscopy (near-IR), and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The effect of the reaction conditions on the size and morphologies of PbS structures was investigated. The results show that the temperatures, solvent, and sulfur sources are crucial factors on the morphologies and sizes of the symmetric hierarchical hollow PbS microcrystals. A possible growth mechanism of hierarchical hollow PbS structures is presented. UV-vis absorption spectrum holds a weak peak at 253 nm; the near-infrared absorption spectrum of PbS microcrystals has the two absorption peaks centered at 9613 cm(-1) (1040 nm) and 6771 cm(-1) (1477 nm), showing a blue shift compared with the bulk PbS (approximately 3020 nm). And the fluorescence spectrum of PbS microcrystals consists of an emission peak with a maximum at 305 nm. These PbS microcrystals may have potential applications in the fundamental study of nanostructures as well as fabricating nanodevices.     

Cu2O立方体的快速制备及模板法制备CuxS纳米笼子

首先以NaBH₄作为强还原剂在CuSO₄溶液中快速形成Cu₂O晶核, 然后以葡萄糖为温和的还原剂和保护剂, 由晶核生长成Cu₂O立方体, 并以其为模板制备中空的球状Cu_xS纳米笼子. 利用透射电子显微镜(TEM), 扫描电子显微镜(SEM), X射线衍射仪(XRD)和紫外-可见(UV-Vis)分光光度计对产物进行表征. 葡萄糖和铜盐的物质的量的比、加热状况、pH等反应条件影响Cu₂O的形貌. Cu_xS纳米笼子的外壳厚度由参与反应的Cu₂O和Na₂S的物质的量的比决定.     

In situ adsorption method for synthesis of binary semiconductor CdS nanocrystals inside mesoporous SBA-15

Binary semiconductor CdS nanocrystals have been prepared inside the channels of mesoporous SBA-15 using an in situ adsorption method combining a surface modification scheme and a wet impregnation technique by functionalizing the SBA-15 surface with thiol groups, adsorbing cadmium cations, and calcining in N₂ atmosphere at 300 °C. The combined results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) firstly reveal that CdS nanocrystals with uniform size of about 6 nm are formed and mono-dispersed inside the channels of mesoporous SBA-15. And a blue shift is observed in UV–Vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, indicating the quantum size effect of nanocrystalline CdS.     

Synthesis and characterization of Mn2P2S6 single-crystal nanorods and nanotubes

Mn2P2S6 single-crystal nanorods with diameters 20-40 nm and lengths up to 1 microm and nanotubes with diameters 40-50 nm and lengths ranging between 110 and 170 nm have been prepared through a low-temperature solvothermal method. They have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution (HR) TEM, electron diffraction, energy-dispersive spectrometry analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.     

Using a precursor in lamellar structure for the synthesis of uniform ZnS nanocrystals

Uniform ZnS nanocrystals of about 15?nm were prepared through a low temperature hydrothermal approach by treating Zn-PhPO nanosheets with Na₂S aqueous solution. Both the precursor and the final product were studied by the means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The photo-luminescent spectrum of the synthesized ZnS nanocrystals showed their good crystalline nature. Based on this study, the precursor structure-controlling effect was discussed, and in addition, the relevant factors possibly affecting the particle formation and the growth possessed were applied in the discussion to interpret the transformation mechanism. Further research showed that both the structure characters of the precursors and the mass transportation which occurred during the synthesis greatly affected the morphology and organization state of the final products. This research may provide some facts on the structure-controlling approaches along with a general method for the preparation of uniform sulfide nanocrystals.     

High-yield Synthesis of Branched Gold Nanocrystals by a Sodium Diphenylamine-4-Sulfonate Reduction Process in Polyethylene Glycol Aqueous Solution

For developing new excellent electrocatalysts toward methanol and oxygen, branched Au nanocrystals have been prepared in high yield by the reaction of HAuCl₄ and sodium diphenylamine‐4‐sulfonate in the presence of PEG (polyethylene glycol) at room temperature. When the amount of PEG was in the range of 1–3 mL, branched Au nanocrystals were all obtained, and the amounts of sodium diphenylamine‐4‐sulfonate and HAuCl₄ had no obvious effect on the morphology of gold nanocrystals. PEG molecules play an important role in the formation of branched gold nanocrystals. The nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV‐Vis absorption spectrum. HRTEM research suggests that the tips of gold nanocrystals grow selectively in the [111] directions. The UV‐Vis absorption spectrum displays two‐separated surface plasmon resonance peaks.     

两步水热法合成Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶及其高效可见光分解水制氢性能（英文）

铌基半导体光催化材料因其具有独特的晶体结构和能带结构在光催化分解水制氢领域受到科研工作者的高度关注.然而,大多数铌基半导体光催化剂仅能够在紫外光驱动下实现光催化分解水制氢,具有可见光响应的铌基半导体光催化剂不仅数量少而且活性较低,因此发展新型纳米铌基半导体光催化剂并实现其高效可见光催化分解水产氢具有重要的学术和实用意义.具有烧绿石构型的Sn_2Nb_2O_7材料由于具有较窄的禁带宽度(2.4 e V)和合适的导带和价带电势在可见光催化分解水制氢方面引起了科研人员广泛的兴趣.然而,目前报道的利用高温固相法制备的块体Sn_2Nb_2O_7材料由于颗粒尺寸较大和比表面积较小而导致光催化活性较差.因此,发展一种简便高效的制备方法实现纳米Sn_2Nb_2O_7材料的可控制备进而提高其可见光催化活性仍具有一定的挑战性.我们发展了一种简便的两步水热合成方法实现了Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶的可控制备.扫描电镜和透射电镜测试结果表明,通过两步水热法得到的Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米颗粒具有较好分散度,其平均颗粒尺寸为20 nm.X射线衍射测试结果也进一步证明,通过两步水热法可以实现Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶的可控制备.比表面积测试结果表明,Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶的比表面积约为52.2 m~2/g,远远大于固相法制备的块体Sn_2Nb_2O_7材料(2.3 m~2/g).大量研究表明,大的比表面积有利于半导体催化材料催化活性的提升.通过考查所制备的Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶的可见光分解水制氢能力,对其催化性能进行了评价.研究结果表明,以乳酸为空穴消耗剂,负载0.3wt.%Pt纳米颗粒作为助催化剂的Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶表现出优异的可见光催化分解水产氢性能,其产氢速率是块体Sn_2Nb_2O_7材料的5.5倍.Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶可见光催化分解水产氢性能提高的主要原因是其具有高分散度的纳米颗粒、较大的比表面积和更正的价带电势.首先,颗粒尺寸的纳米化能够显著减小光生电子和空穴的迁移距离,实现光生载流子快速迁移到催化剂表面进而参与催化反应;其次,大的比表面积能够提供更多的催化活性位点,进而有利于催化活性的提高;最后,X射线光电子能谱测试表明,Sn_2Nb_2O_7纳米晶具有更正的价带电势,研究表明,价带电势越正,其光生空穴氧化能力越强.在光催化分解水制氢过程中,具有较强氧化能力的光生空穴通过与空穴牺牲剂乳酸快速反应而被消耗掉,抑制了光生电子与空穴的复合,进而导致其具有较高的光催化产氢活性.     

Remarkable magneto-optical properties of europium selenide nanoparticles with wide energy gaps

The enhanced magneto-optical properties of nanoscaled lanthanide chalogenide semiconductors which have a wide energy gap were observed at around 500 nm for the first time. The nanoscaled semiconductors, Eu(1-x)Se nanoparticles 1 (cubic shapes) and 2 (spherical shapes), were synthesized by the thermal reduction of Eu(III) ion with organic ligands containing Se atoms. The resulting Eu(1-x)Se nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, superconducting quantum interference devices magnetometer, and microwave induced plasma atomic emission spectroscopy measurements. The particle grain sizes of 1 and 2 were estimated to be 11 and 20 nm, respectively. The concentration-normalized Veldet constants (the magnitude of the Faraday effect) of Eu(1-x)Se nanoparticles were much larger than those of corresponding bulk EuSe and EuS nanoparticles.