Aqueous synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO/Fe2O3 heterostructures

We report a facile synthesis of ZnO/Fe₂O₃ heterostructures based on the hydrolysis of FeCl₃ in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles. The material structure, composition, and its optical properties have been examined by means of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance UV–visible spectroscopy. Results obtained show that 2.9 nm-sized Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles produced assemble with ZnO to form ZnO/Fe₂O₃ heterostructures. We have evaluated the photodegradation performances of ZnO/Fe₂O₃ materials using salicylic acid under UV-light. ZnO/Fe₂O₃ heterostructures exhibited enhanced photocatalytic capabilities than commercial ZnO due to the effective electron/hole separation at the interfaces of ZnO/Fe₂O₃ allowing the enhanced hydroxyl and superoxide radicals production from the heterostructure.     

Growth of Bi2O3 rods using a trimethylbismuth and oxygen mixture

We have successfully grown the rod-like structures of bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) on silicon substrate by a reaction of a trimethylbismuth (TMBi) and oxygen (O₂) mixture without using any catalyst. We have characterized the samples by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The products consisted of bundles of rod-like structures. The Bi₂O₃ rods were of monoclinic structure. PACS 81.07.-b; 81.15.Gh     

Synthesis and performance of core-shell structured ZnO/In2O3 composites in situ growth

Core-shell structured ZnO/In₂O₃ composites were successfully synthesized via situ growth method. Phase structure, morphology, microstructure and property of the products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), TG-DTA, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL). Results show that the core-shell structures consist of spindle-like ZnO with about 800 nm in length and 200 nm in diameter, and In₂O₃ particles with a diameter of 50 nm coated on the surface of ZnO uniformly. HMTA plays an important role in the formation of core-shell structures and the addition of In₂O₃ has a great effect on PL spectrum. Possible mechanism for the formation of core-shell structures is also proposed in this paper.     

Co3O4-ZnO hierarchical nanostructures by electrospinning and hydrothermal methods

A new hierarchical nanostructure that consists of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) and zinc oxide (ZnO) was produced by the electrospinning process followed by a hydrothermal technique. First, electrospinning of a colloidal solution that consisted of zinc nanoparticles, cobalt acetate tetrahydrate and poly(vinyl alcohol) was performed to produce polymeric nanofibers embedding solid nanoparticles. Calcination of the obtained electrospun nanofiber mats in air at 600 °C for 1 h, produced Co₃O₄ nanofibers with rough surfaces containing ZnO nanoparticles (i.e., ZnO-doped Co₃O₄ nanofibers). The rough surfaced nanofibers, containing ZnO nanoparticles (ZnNPs), were then exploited as seeds to produce ZnO nanobranches using a specific hydrothermal technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the as-spun nanofibers and the calcined product. X-ray powder diffractometery (XRD) analysis was used to study the chemical composition and the crystallographic structure.     

Fabrication of three-dimensional ZnO with hierarchical structure via an electrodeposition process

A novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structured ZnO was prepared on TiO₂ nanoparticles film by electrodeposition process from aqueous ZnCl₂ solution. The hierarchical structured ZnO was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the deposition time had an obvious effect on the morphology of the ZnO structures. Accordingly, a possible growth mechanism was proposed. Furthermore, the room-temperature optical properties of hierarchical structured ZnO were investigated by photoluminescence spectrum, indicating that a strong green emission peak centered at 542 nm.     

Fabrication of flower-shaped Bi2O3 superstructure by a facile template-free process

A novel flower-shaped Bi₂O₃ superstructure has been successfully synthesized by calcination of the precursor, which was prepared via a citric acid assisted hydrothermal process. The precursor and Bi₂O₃ were characterized with respect to morphology, crystal structure and elemental chemical state by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was shown that both the precursor and Bi₂O₃ flower-shaped superstructure were constructed of numerous nanosheets while the nanosheets consisted of a great deal of nanoparticles. Furthermore, key factors for the formation of the superstructures have been proposed; a mechanism for the growth of the superstructure has been presented based on the FESEM investigation of different growth stages.     

Effect of thermal treatment on the electrotransport properties of thin-film In<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, ZnO materials and the multilayer (In<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/ZnO)<Subscript>83</Subscript> heterostructure

The effect heat treatment has on the electrotransport mechanisms in films of ZnO and In₂O₃, and in a multilayer (In₂O₃/ZnO)₈₃ structure obtained via ion-beam sputtering, is studied. It is shown that there is a mechanism of weak electron localization in the In₂O₃ and (In₂O₃/ZnO)₈₃ samples. The relaxation processes that occur during the heat treatment of In₂O₃ films are found to increase the length of elastic electron scattering, but to reduce this parameter in multilayer heterostructures.     

One-dimensional structures of Bi2O3 synthesized via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition process

We have demonstrated the synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) structures of bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) by a reaction of a trimethylbismuth (TMBi) and oxygen (O₂) mixture at 450 °C. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the product consisted of 1D materials with width or diameters less than 1 μm and lengths up to several tens of micrometers. The X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed that the materials contained elements of Bi and O. The results of X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction pattern indicated that the obtained Bi₂O₃ were crystalline with monoclinic structure.     

非晶钛酸铋的晶化过程

利用差热分析、X射线衍射和透射电子显微镜等技术对溶胶-凝胶法合成的凝胶的晶化过程进行了分析，实验结果表明，Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂非晶凝胶晶化过程经历了四个过程：首先在433℃先形成了Bi₂O₃和TiO₂亚稳相，然后在488℃时TiO₂亚稳相与Bi₂O₃反应形成Bi，Ti复合氧化物亚稳相Bi₂T 关键词： 钛酸铋 铁电材料 溶胶凝胶 非晶 晶化过程