Fabrication and Characteristics of a Nano-TiO2 Concentrated Dispersion

A high-concentration dispersion with nanometer TiO₂ particles has been fabricated by a hyperdispersant. The particle distribution, composition, viscosity, thermal stability were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, and laser size analyzer, x-ray diffraction, rheometer, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetry, respectively. The mean particle size of the nano-TiO₂ concentrated dispersion was 72 nm with an especially narrow distribution, and near to monodispersion. The viscosity of 55 wt% nano-TiO₂ dispersion is 30 mPa·s at 344 s^?1. The dried dispersion composition made from the nano-TiO₂ and the hyperdispersant has good thermal stability.     

Ozone reduction at Nafion modified Au electrode and the measurement of ozone concentration in highly resistive solutions

The mass transport and charge transfer kinetics of ozone reduction at Nafion coated Au electrodes were studied in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 and highly resistive solutions such as distilled water and tap water. The diffusion coefficient and partition coefficient of ozone in Nafion coating are 1.78×10-6 cm2·s-1 and 2.75 at 25℃ (based on dry state thickness), respectively. The heterogeneous rate constants and Tafel slopes for ozone reduction at bare Au are 4.1×10-6 cm·s-1, 1.0×10-6 cm·s-1 and 181 mV, 207 mV in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 and distilled water respectively and the corresponding values for Nafion coated Au are 5.5×10-6 cm·s-1, 1.1×10-6 cm·s-1 and 182 mV, 168 mV respectively. The Au microelectrode with 3 μm Nafion coating shows good linearity over the range 0-10 mmol/L ozone in distilled water with sensitivity 61 μA·ppm-1 ·cm-2, detection limit 10 ppb and 95% response time below 5 s at 25℃. The temperature coefficient in range of 11-30℃ is 1.3%.     

硅酸及其盐的研究——ⅩⅤⅢ.硅溶胶胶粒的生长速度

为弄清各种影响因素对硅溶胶胶粒生长的作用,实验测定了胶粒自发生长速度与温度、pH和胶粒粒径等之间的关系,得到了复杂的胶粒生长过程的一些信息。并根据本实验室提出的硅酸聚合理论推导了胶粒生长速度公式,用该式推出的结果与实验所得结果基本符合,说明该式能较正确地反映胶粒生长规律,因而在哇溶胶实际生产中有一定的参考价值。     

The Electrochemical Oxidation of Sulphite on Gold Electrodes

The electro‐oxidation of sulphite is studied in acid media on gold macroelectrodes and Au particle array modified boron doped diamond electrodes. The sulphite oxidation proceeds through a one‐electron transfer process followed by a chemical step of second order (EC₂ mechanism), as evidenced by experimental voltammetry and digital simulation for both gold macroelectrodes and gold particle modified substrates. The diffusion coefficient of sulphite is calculated consistently for both cases at about 4×10^?9 m² s^?1, with the reverse peak behaviour concentration dependent. The arrays are made by electrodeposition and show a morphological transition from a quasi‐spherical to a star shape as the growth time of the particles increases. Kinetic parameters inferred from the electro‐oxidation at the macroelectrode can be successfully applied to model the gold particle modified electrode data to confirm the EC₂ mechanism, whilst recognising the overlapping diffusion layers of adjacent gold particles.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Glucose Oxidase Immobilized on Titanium Carbide‐Au Nanoparticles‐Fullerene C60 Composite Film and Its Biosensing for Glucose

The direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase (GOD) immobilized on the designed titanium carbide‐Au nanoparticles‐fullerene C₆₀ composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (TiC‐AuNPs‐C₆₀/GCE) and its biosensing for glucose were investigated. UV‐visible and Fourier‐transform infrared spectra of the resulting GOD/TiC‐AuNPs‐C₆₀ composite film suggested that the immobilized GOD retained its original structure. The direct electron transfer behaviors of immobilized GOD at the GOD/TiC‐AuNPs‐C₆₀/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in which a pair of well‐defined, quasi‐reversible redox peaks with the formal potential (E^0′) of ‐0.484 V (vs. SCE) in phosphate buffer solution (0.05 M, pH 7.0) at the scan rate of 100 mV·s^?1 were obtained. The proposed GOD modified electrode exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of glucose, and the currents of glucose reduction peak were linearly related to glucose concentration in a wider linearity range from 5.0 × 10^?6 to 1.6 × 10^?4 M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9965 and a detection limit of 2.0 × 10^?6 M (S/N = 3). The sensitivity and the apparent Michaelis‐Menten constant (K_M^app) were determined to be 149.3 μA·mM^?1·cm^?2 and 6.2 × 10^?5 M, respectively. Thus, the protocol will have potential application in studying the electron transfer of enzyme and the design of novel electrochemical biosensors.     

Electrochemical application of titanium dioxide nanoparticle/gold nanoparticle/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites for nonenzymatic detection of ascorbic acid

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle/gold nanoparticle/carbon nanotube (TiO₂/Au/CNT) nanocomposites were synthesized, and then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). A TiO₂/Au/CNT nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was prepared using the drop coating method and was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and amperometric current–time response (I-T). The modified material is redox-active. The nonenzymatically detected amount of ascorbic acid (AA) on the TiO₂/Au/CNT electrode showed a linear relationship with the AA concentration, for concentrations from 0.01 to 0.08 μM; the sensitivity was 117,776.36 μA?·?cm^?2?·?(mM)^?1, and the detection limit was 0.01 μM (S/N?=?3). The results indicated that the TiO₂/Au/CNT nanocomposite-modified GC electrode exhibited high electrocatalytic activity toward AA. This paper describes materials consisting of a network of TiO₂, Au, and MWCNTs, and the investigation of their synergistic effects in the detection of AA.     

Geometrical Structure of the Gold–Iron(III) Oxide Interfacial Perimeter for CO Oxidation

The geometrical structure of the Au‐Fe₂O₃ interfacial perimeter, which is generally considered as the active sites for low‐temperature oxidation of CO, was examined. It was found that the activity of the Au/Fe₂O₃ catalysts not only depends on the number of the gold atoms at the interfacial perimeter but also strongly depends on the geometrical structure of these gold atoms, which is determined by the size of the gold particle. Aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy images unambiguously suggested that the gold particles, transformed from a two‐dimensional flat shape to a well‐faceted truncated octahedron when the size slightly enlarged from 2.2 to 3.5 nm. Such a size‐induced shape evolution altered the chemical bonding environments of the gold atoms at the interfacial perimeters and consequently their catalytic activity. For Au particles with a mean size of 2.2 nm, the interfacial perimeter gold atoms possessed a higher degree of unsaturated coordination environment while for Au particles with a mean size of 3.5 nm the perimeter gold atoms mainly followed the atomic arrangements of Au {111} and {100} facets. Kinetic study, with respect to the reaction rate and the turnover frequency on the interfacial perimeter gold atom, found that the low‐coordinated perimeter gold atoms were intrinsically more active for CO oxidation. ¹⁸O isotopic titration and Infrared spectroscopy experiments verified that CO oxidation at room temperature occurred at the Au‐Fe₂O₃ interfacial perimeter, involving the participation of the lattice oxygen of Fe₂O₃ for activating O₂ and the gold atoms for CO adsorption and activation.     

Controllable synthesis of high loading LiFePO4/C nanocomposites using bimodal mesoporous carbon as support for high power Li-ion battery cathodes

Mesoporous LiFePO₄/C composites containing 80 wt% of highly dispersed LiFePO₄ nanoparticles (4–6 nm) were fabricated using bimodal mesoporous carbon (BMC) as continuous conductive networks. The unique pore structure of BMC not only promises good particle connectivity for LiFePO₄, but also acts as a rigid nano-confinement support that controls the particle size. Furthermore, the capacities were investigated respectively based on the weight of LiFePO₄ and the whole composite. When calculated based on the weight of the whole composite, it is 120 mAh·g^?1 at 0.1 C of the high loading electrode and 42 mAh·g^?1 at 10 C of the low loading electrode. The electrochemical performance shows that high LiFePO₄ loading benefits large tap density and contributes to the energy storage at low rates, while the electrode with low content of LiFePO₄ displays superior high rate performance, which can mainly be due to the small particle size, good dispersion and high utilization of the active material, thus leading to a fast ion and electron diffusion.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin on a gold ion implantation-modified indium tin oxide electrode

In this paper, a gold nanoparticle-modified indium tin oxide electrode (Au/ITO) was prepared without the use of any cross-linker or stabilizer reagent. The prepared Au/ITO was used as a new platform to achieve the direct electron transfer between Hb and the modified electrode. The proposed electrode exhibited a pair of well-defined redox peaks with a formal potential of ?0.073 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The immobilized Hb showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward H₂O₂ and the electrocatalytic current values were linear with the increasing concentration of H₂O₂ ranging from 1.0?×?10^?6?M to 7.0?×?10^?4?M. The detection limit was 2.0?×?10^?7?M (S/N?=?3) and the Michaelis–Menten constant was calculated to be 0.2 mM. The proposed electrode also showed high selectivity, long-term stability, and good reproducibility.     

Electrochemical Responses and Sensitivities of Films Based on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solutions

Novel films consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by means of chemical vapor deposition with decomposition of either acetonitrile (ACN) or benzene (BZ) using ferrocene as catalyst. The electrochemical responses of MWCNT-based films towards the ferrocyanide/ferricyanide, [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? redox couple were probed by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at 25.0?±?0.5?°C. Both MWCNT-based films exhibit Nernstian response towards [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? with some slight kinetic differences. Namely, heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants lying in ranges of 2.69?×?10^?2?C1.7?×?10^?3 and 9.0?×?10^?3?C2.6?×?10^?3?cm·s^?1 were obtained at v?=?0.05?V·s^?1 for MWCNT_ACN and MWCNT_BZ, respectively. The detection limit of MWCNT_ACN, estimated to be about 4.70?×?10^?7?mol·L^?1 at v?=?0.05?V·s^?1, tends to become slightly poorer with the increase of the scan rate, namely at v?=?0.10?V·s^?1 the detection limit of 1.70?×?10^?6?mol·L^?1 was determined. Slightly poorer response ability was exhibited by MWCNT_BZ; specifically the detection limits of 1.57?×?10^?6 and 4.35?×?10^?6?mol·L^?1 were determined at v?=?0.05 and v?=?0.10?V·s^?1, respectively. The sensitivities of MWCNT_ACN and MWCNT_BZ towards [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? were determined as 1.60?×?10^?7 and 1.51?×?10^?7?A·L·mol^?1·cm^?2, respectively. The excellent electrochemical performance of MWCNT_ACN is attributed to the presence of incorporated nitrogen in the nanotube??s structure.     

Effects of Ni particle size on amination of monoethanolamine over Ni-Re/SiO2 catalysts

Ni-Re/SiO₂ catalysts with controllable Ni particle sizes (4.5–18.0 nm) were synthesized to investigate the effects of the particle size on the amination of monoethanolamine (MEA). The catalysts were characterized by various techniques and evaluated for the amination reaction in a trickle bed reactor at 170°C, 8.0 MPa, and 0.5 h^?1 liquid hourly space velocity of MEA (LHSV_MEA) in NH₃/H₂ atmosphere. The Ni-Re/SiO₂ catalyst with the lowest Ni particle size (4.5 nm) exhibited the highest yield (66.4%) of the desired amines (ethylenediamine (EDA) and piperazine (PIP)). The results of the analysis show that the turnover frequency of MEA increased slightly (from 193 to 253 h^?1) as the Ni particle sizes of the Ni-Re/SiO₂ catalysts increased from 4.5 to 18.0 nm. Moreover, the product distribution could be adjusted by varying the Ni particle size. The ratio of primary to secondary amines increased from 1.0 to 2.0 upon increasing the Ni particle size from 4.5 to 18.0 nm. Further analyses reveal that the Ni particle size influenced the electronic properties of surface Ni, which in turn affected the adsorption of MEA and the reaction pathway of MEA amination. Compared to those of small Ni particles, large particles possessed a higher proportion of high-coordinated terrace Ni sites and a higher surface electron density, which favored the amination of MEA and NH₃ to form EDA.     

Chemical vapor infiltration method for deposition of gold nanoparticles on porous alumina supports

Knudsen’s effusion method with mass spectral analysis of the composition of the gas phase was used to measure the temperature dependence of the saturated vapor of several (CH₃)₂AuL chelate complexes and to determine the thermodynamic parameters of their sublimation. Based on the results of this study, conditions for chemical vapor deposition of gold using dimethylgold(III) chelates were chosen. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (infiltration) of (CH₃)₂Au(acac) on porous granules of γ-Al₂O₃ with subsequent calcination in air at 325°C. Particle size and the chemical state of gold in Au/γ-Al₂O₃ systems were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A vapor infiltration procedure is suggested to prepare metallic gold particles ≤5 nm in diameter from Au/γ-Al₂O₃. It is shown that Au/γ-Al₂O₃ systems obtained by chemical vapor infiltration and containing small gold crystallites possess high catalytic activity in CO oxidation reactions at 40°C.     

Spectroscopic characterization of superparamagnetic particles of thermolytic products of ferric sulphate hydrates

Superparamagnetic particles of chemically pure samples, in the system Fe(OH)SO₄/Fe(OH)SO₄·(H₂O), are produced by thermal decomposition of ferric sulphate hydrates. The control of particle size distribution is achieved by successive hydration and dehydration processes monitored by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, Mössbauer and IR spectroscopy. The particle size modification is related for the particle growth and two mechanisms are suggested thereon.     

MFI纳米片沉积层气相转化制备超薄b轴取向沸石膜

利用乙二胺-水蒸汽进行气相转化（VPT）制备超薄、取向MFI沸石膜,通过将MFI纳米片沉积层转化为致密的沸石膜,实现了膜厚度的有效控制。扫描电子显微镜和X射线衍射表明,制备的沸石膜膜厚度约为280 nm,具有高度b轴取向的致密结构。丁烷异构体双组分分离测试结果表明,在333 K下,等物质的量的正丁烷/异丁烷混合物的正丁烷渗透速率和分离因子分别为1.5×10^-7 mol·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1和14.8。Na₂SiO₃作为低聚硅源在MFI沸石纳米片二次生长过程中能够提供硅源和碱度,通过在胺类蒸汽中实现MFI沸石纳米片间的融合生长,进一步提高了膜的取向度和致密性。     

以橡子为碳源制备的空心磁性碳纳米球及其吸附性能

以橡子为碳源,通过高温煅烧法制备了粒径均匀的磁性空心碳纳米球(MHCNS)。经过HCl浸泡处理可得MHCNS-1,再经HNO_3和NH_3·H_2O处理得MHCNS-2。MHCNS-2粒径均匀,直径为20～40 nm,球壁厚度为3～5 nm。MHCNS-2的尺寸可通过改变镍离子与氢氧化钾的添加量和比例进行调控。通过X射线粉末衍射、扫描电镜、透射电镜、振动样品磁强计等方法对制备的产物进行了表征,进而分析了其生长机制。MHCNS-2对于有机染料亚甲基蓝(MB)的吸附性能的实验结果表明,MHCNS-2具有强吸附性能,当MB溶液浓度为100 mg·L~(-1)时,吸附量可以达到185 mg·g~(-1)。MHCNS对布洛芬的载药释药实验结果表明,MHCNS-2载药率可达44%,释药率达70%,有着良好的载药与释药能力。     

MFI纳米片沉积层气相转化制备超薄b轴取向沸石膜

利用乙二胺-水蒸汽进行气相转化(VPT)制备超薄、取向MFI沸石膜,通过将MFI纳米片沉积层转化为致密的沸石膜,实现了膜厚度的有效控制。扫描电子显微镜和X射线衍射表明,制备的沸石膜膜厚度约为280 nm,具有高度b轴取向的致密结构。丁烷异构体双组分分离测试结果表明,在333 K下,等物质的量的正丁烷/异丁烷混合物的正丁烷渗透速率和分离因子分别为1.5×10^-7 mol·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1和14.8。Na₂SiO₃作为低聚硅源在MFI沸石纳米片二次生长过程中能够提供硅源和碱度,通过在胺类蒸汽中实现MFI沸石纳米片间的融合生长,进一步提高了膜的取向度和致密性。     

Preparation and characterization of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>composite particles

Using Fe₃O₄ nano-particles as seeds, a new type of Fe₃O₄/Au composite particles with core/shell structure and diameter of about 170 nm was prepared by reduction of Au³⁺ with hydroxylamine in an aqueous solution. Particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscope were used to analyze the size distribution and microstructure of the particles in different conditions. The result showed that the magnetically responsive property and suspension stability of Fe₃O₄ seeds as well as reduction conditions of Au³⁺to Au⁰are the main factors which are crucial for obtaining a colloid of the Fe₃O₄/Au composite particles with uniform particle dispersion, excellent stability, homogeneity in particle sizes, and effective response to an external magnet in aqueous suspension solutions. UV-Vis analysis revealed that there is a characteristic peak of Fe₃O₄/Au fluid. For particles with d(0.5)=168 nm, the λmax is 625 nm.     

Mechanism of emulsion polymerization of styrene in soap-free systems

The formation and growth of monodisperse polystyrene latex particles in the absence of added surfactant has been studied by sampling polymerization reactions at different times and determining the surface and bulk properties of the latex. A large number of nuclei in excess of 5 × 10¹²/ml were generated during the first minute of reaction, but this fell due to coagulation until a constant number (10¹¹?10¹²/ml) was reached. The rate of polymerization per particle was then found to be proportional to the particle radius. Gel-permeation chromatography has shown that the initial particles consist mainly of material of MW 1000 with a small amount of polymer up to MW 10⁶, and the presence of this low molecular weight polymer, which in many cases can still be detected after 100% conversion, is taken as being indicative of particle formation via a micellization-type mechanism involving short-chain (MW 500) free-radical oligomers. M?_n values determined for the latex particles throughout the course of reactions show that the molecular weight increases to a maximum of about 10⁵ as the particles grow. The presence of anomalous regions within the particles has been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gas adsorption studies. It has also been found possible to re-expose these regions within apparently homogeneous particles by stirring with styrene monomer; this is indicative of a molecular weight heterogeneity within the latex particles. The presence of sulfate, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups upon the latex particle surfaces has been determined by conductometric titration.     

Amino‐Containing Ultrafine Organosilica‐Nanoparticle‐Modified Au Electrode for the Determination of Cu(II) Ions

Using 3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTES) as a single silica source, an amino‐rich ultrafine organosilica‐nanoparticle‐modified Au electrode was fabricated, following the formation of (3‐mercaptopropyl)‐trimethoxysilane (MPTS) monolayer on Au surface (MPTS/Au). With cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as an additive, APTES‐based gel particles on the electrode have a narrow particle size distribution of 4–7 nm and “crystal‐like” structure. AFM and electrochemical characterization confirmed the successful grafting of APTES nanoparticles on MPTS/Au. The APTES/MPTS/Au electrode is highly sensitive for the detection of copper(II) ions with a detection limit as low as 1.6×10^?12 mol L^?1 (S/N>3) by square wave voltammetry. The current is linear to copper(II) concentration between 1.6×10^?12 and 6.25×10^?10 mol L^?1.     

Flash photolysis study for reactions of NO3· with sulfur compounds in acetonitrile solution

The rate constants for the reaction of NO₃· with sulfur compounds in acetonitrile have been determined by the flash photolysis method. The rate constant for dimethyl sulfone (2.7 × 10⁴ M^?1s^?1 at ?10°C) is larger than that of the deuterium derivative, indicating that NO₃· abstracts the hydrogen atom from dimethyl sulfone. In the case of dimethyl sulfide, the rate constant was evaluated to be 1.5 × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1 at ?10°C; the transient absorption band attributable to the cation radical was observed after the decay of NO₃·, suggesting the electron transfer reaction from the sulfide to NO₃·. For diphenyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide, the electron transfer reactions were also confirmed. For dimethyl sulfoxide, the reaction rate constant of 1.2 × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1 (at ?10°C) was not practically affected by the deuterium substitution, suggesting that NO₃· adds to sulfur atom forming (CH₃)₂?(O)-ONO₂. On the other hand, for diphenyl sulfoxide, the electron transfer reaction occurs. By the comparison of these rate constants in acetonitrile solution with the reported rate constants in the gas phase, the change of the reaction paths was revealed.