Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Core–Shell Nanoparticles—Insights into the Growth of Different Geometries

Microwave irradiation is utilized for the rapid synthesis of gold–silver core–shell bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) in a two-step process. A strategy of establishing a bilayer organic barrier around the core using citrate and ascorbic acid as capping agents, providing a means to achieve a well-defined boundary layer between the core and the shell material, is reported. These boundary layers are essential for synthesizing different core–shell morphologies and the approach results in tunable bimetallic NPs with defined core–shell structures, both for spherical as well as for triangular seed cores. In addition, theoretical calculations of the plasmonic characteristics based on the boundary element method of different classes of NPs are conducted. These investigations enable conclusions to be drawn on the influence of the core morphology on the tunability of their localized surface plasmon resonances.     

Pd/Au纳米结构制备和粒子组分自旋的谱学性能研究

为研究Pd/Au纳米结构制备和电催化性能、控制粒子大小组分和自旋,用油浴热分解方法制备了核/壳纳米结构Pd/Au双金属合金纳米颗粒,采用PVP和多元醇作表面活性剂和稳定剂,依据溶液浓度、颗粒大小、吸附能控制晶相获得了均匀、一致的2层和3层Pd/Au纳米样品,并采用HAADF和HRTEM测试了纳米结构尺寸形貌,用EDS测试了成分分布,试验产物用TEM/XRD进行了表征,结果表明,Pd/Au具有面心立方八面体结构,与Au/Pd核壳不同,纳米Pd/Au具有活性、耐久性、电催化性和稳定性。     

Metal Nanoparticle Coating of Oxide Nanospheres for Core‐Shell Structures

A low‐temperature route for coating oxide nanospheres with metal nanoparticles to achieve core‐shell structures is introduced. First results indicating a dense coverage of silica nanospheres of about 300 nm size with regularly arranged Ag and Au nanoparticles deposited by a modified incipient wetness impregnation procedure are presented. This synthesis works completely without external reducing agents or media, adhesive aids or functionalizing agents. Metal particles of only a few nanometers in size may serve as seeds for continuous metal coating of the oxide spheres by complementary processes. Structural characterization of the materials by transmission electron microscopy reveals a nearly spherical shape of the metal particles, the structure of which ranges from single crystalline to single twinned and multiply twinned configurations.     

Dislocations in Fe-3% Si alloy single crystals deformed at a higher rate

The method of etching dislocations is used to study the distribution of dislocations and twins in Fe-3% Si alloy single crystals prepared from the melt after plastic deformation with higher speed. The crystals are deformed by twinning in the 〈111〉 directions along the {112} planes and by slip in the 〈111〉 directions along the {110} planes. The results prove that the dislocations causing plastic deformation move in the {110} planes during both fast and slow deformation. The difference in the slip surfaces during fast and slow deformation is explained by the different number of cross slips per unit dislocation path.     

PVP-capped twinned gold plates from nanometer to micrometer

PVP (poly(vinyl pyrrolidone))-capped micrometer-sized twinned gold (Au) plates with the shape of hexagon or triangle have been successfully synthesized in a large quantity by reducing hydrogen tetrachloroauric acid (HAuCl₄·3H₂O) using ethylene glycol in the presence of (PVP) molecules at 200°C under the extra condition of autogenous pressure. Clear twin boundaries in thus-obtained Au plates have been observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). To further elucidate the mechanism of formation of the twinned Au plates, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been employed to characterize smaller Au nanoplates obtained simultaneously with the Au microplates, the occurrence of 1/3{422} forbidden reflections in selected area electron diffraction (SAED) can be believed to result from the presence of twinning boundary within the Au (111) plane normal to TEM electron beam. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiment has confirmed that PVP molecules exist on the surface of the Au cores, which may play a very important role in the formation and evolution of the twinned Au plates. A possible growth mechanism has been suggested to explain the Au plate evolution from nanometer to micrometer.     

β—SiC外延层中晶体缺陷的观察

用腐蚀法研究了β-SiC外延层中的晶体缺陷。腐蚀剂为熔融氢氧化钾。三角形尖底蚀坑对应于位错。在β-SiC中的全位错为立方晶系的73°位错和60°位错。不同堆垛方式的β-siC生长层相遇时将形成{111}交界层错,其腐蚀图象为平行于<110>方向的直线。60°位错可分解为两个1/6<112>SchockLey不全位错,并夹着一片{111}层错构成扩展位错。三个1/6<110>压杆位错与三片{111}层错可构成层错锥体。正、反堆垛的β-SiC可形成尖晶石律双晶,双晶面为(111)。腐蚀法和X射线劳厄法证实了这种双晶的存在。 关键词：     

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles and Their SPR/SERS Properties

在水溶液中分别以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)和CTAB/柠檬酸钠混合剂为包覆剂合成钯纳米颗粒,并研究其形貌演变．钯纳米颗粒在成核阶段会形成具有不同孪晶结构的晶核,在生长阶段又会选择性的放大某一组晶面,这两个因素导致了钯纳米颗粒形貌的多样性．在合成中CTAB既会影响钯纳米颗粒的成核,也会影响颗粒晶面的选择性生长．通过改变CTAB和还原剂的量可以调控钯纳米颗粒的形貌．溶液中CTAB和还原剂浓度的改变,非常明显地影响合成产物中不同形貌钯纳米颗粒的产率．通过向溶液中引入柠檬酸离子调控纳米颗粒的成核与生长过程,首次合成出了星状钯二十面体和截面为五角星形的钯纳米棒．这些不同形貌的钯纳米颗粒有着不同的表面等离子体共振和表面增强拉曼散射性质．     

Silver,gold and the corresponding core shell nanoparticles: synthesis and characterization

Simple strategies for producing silver and gold nanoparticles (AgNP and AuNP) along with the corresponding core shell nanoparticles (Au–Ag and Ag–Au) by reduction of the metal salts AgBF₄ and HAuCl₄ by NaBH₄ in water will be presented. The morphologies of the obtained nanoparticles are determined by the order of addition of reactants. The obtained NPs, with sizes in the range 3–40 nm, are characterized by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, so as to evaluate their qualities. Moreover, a direct electrochemical detection protocol based on a cyclic voltammetry in water solution that involves the use of glassy carbon electrode is also applied to characterize the prepared NPs. The developed NPs and the related electroanalytical method seem to be with interest for future sensing and biosensing applications including DNA sensors and immunosensors.     

Growth and desorption of indium epitaxial layers investigated by high field microscopy

Growth of indium single crystals on tungsten field emission tips was carried out by deposition of indium from vapour in ultra high vacuum, using substrate temperatures in the range of 293–420 K. Two different tungsten tips were used as the substrate: a perfect W single crystal in one case and a bi-crystal with a distinct grain boundary in the other. No influence of the grain boundary on the epitaxial growth was found. Two orientation relationships were observed mostly: {111}In ∥ {110}W with 〈110〉In ∥ 〈111〉W and {111}In ∥ {100}W with 〈110〉In ∥ 〈110〉W. In the first case the growth was initiated by the indium nucleus created on the ledges of the {110}W plane. A field strength of 0.9 V/Å was found for the evaporation field of indium. The field strength of the desorption of In-W interfacial layer atoms was found to be 4.4–5.2 V/Å. A mechanism of the growth of indium crystals has been proposed.     

Study of Au-Pd core-shell nanoparticles by using slow positron beam

Binary Au-Pd nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation of solutions containing Au³⁺ and Pd²⁺ ions (the ion ratio from 0.3:0.7 to 0.9:0.1 mM) and cationic surfactant (SDS: sodium dodecyl sulfate). In each case the core-shell structure (Au core, Pd shell) was confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The mean diameters of them were all about 9 nm, and the thickness of the Pd shell depends on the ratio of Pd²⁺ and Au³⁺ ions in solution. In order to study the electronic states of core-shell nanoparticles and their dependence on shell thickness, Doppler broadening measurements were performed for Au-Pd core-shell nanoparticles by using slow positron beam technique. The ratio curves of Au-Pd particles did not match with those of pure Pd and pure Au, but a small difference in the low electron momentum region was observed among nanoparticles depending on Pd shell thickness.     

Synthesis of a Au‐on‐Pd Heteronanostructure Stabilized by Citrate and its Catalytic Application

The preparation of Au‐on‐Pd heteronanostructure (HNS) using citrate‐stabilized polycrystalline Pd nanoparticles (NPs) as the seeds is described. The resulting Au‐on‐Pd HNS is characterized and it is found that the formation of Au‐on‐Pd HNS depends greatly on a ratio between Pd seeds and AuCl₄^? ions added and the optimal molar ratio is 10:1. If fewer AuCl₄^? ions are added (Pd/Au ratio is 100:1), the growth of Au NPs only occurs on part of the Pd seeds’ surface. The addition of more AuCl₄^? ions (Pd/Au ratio is 5:1) hinders the growth of Au NPs on the Pd seeds’ surface. To demonstrate the catalytic performance, the electrochemistry oxidation of ethanol and the reduction of p‐nitrophenol by NaBH₄ are chosen to examine the catalytic activity of Au‐on‐Pd HNS. Pd seeds, Au NPs, and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)‐stabilized PdAu nanoalloy are used as the references for comparison. In the first reaction, the catalytic reactivity of Au‐on‐Pd HNS is better than that of corresponding pure Pd or Au NPs, while the opposite occurs for the latter reaction. The catalytic activity of Au‐on‐Pd HNS is much higher than that of PVP‐stabilized PdAu nanoalloy.     

Effect of thermal conductivity on ultrasonic attenuation in praseodymium monochalcogenides

The ultrasonic attenuation in intermetallic praseodymium monochalcogenides are evaluated in the temperature interval 100–500 K along the crystallographic directions 〈100〉, 〈110〉, and 〈111〉 for longitudinal and shear waves. A comparison has been made with lanthanum monochalcogenides and other similar materials. Ultrasonic attenuation at different temperatures is mainly affected by the lattice thermal conductivity values of the materials at these temperatures. Thermoelastic loss is very small in comparison to the attenuation due to phonon-phonon interaction mechanism at higher temperatures.     

CVD金刚石薄膜孪晶形成的原子机理分析

采用X射线衍射技术、电子背散射衍射技术和扫描电镜分别观察了不同甲烷浓度条件下沉积的CVD自支撑金刚石薄膜的宏观织构、晶界分布和表面形貌. 研究了一阶孪晶在金刚石晶体{111}面生长的原子堆垛过程. 结果表明，由于一阶孪晶〈111〉60°的取向差关系以及{111}面的原子堆垛结构，使{111}面上容易借助碳原子的偏转沉积产生一阶孪晶. 低甲烷浓度时，碳原子倾向于在表面能较低的{111}面沉积，为孪晶的形成提供了便利，且高频率孪晶使薄膜织构强度减弱. 甲烷浓度升高使生长激活能较小的{001}面成为主要前沿生长面，因而只有〈001〉晶向平行薄膜法向的晶粒能够不断长大，因此孪晶形核概率明显减小. 另外，在薄膜中发现二阶孪晶，并对二阶孪晶的形成进行了分析. 关键词： 金刚石薄膜 孪晶 原子机理 取向差     

Solid-phase crystallization of amorphous Si films on glass and Si wafer

When amorphous silicon films deposited on glass by physical or chemical vapor deposition are annealed, they undergo crystallization by nucleation and growth. The growth rate of Si crystallites is the highest in their 〈111〉 directions along or nearly along the film surface. The directed crystallization is likely to develop the 〈110〉//ND or 〈111〉//ND oriented Si crystallites. As the annealing temperature increases, the equiaxed crystallization increases, which in turn increases the random orientation. When amorphous Si is under a stress of the order of 0.1 GPa at about 540 °C, the tensile stress increases the growth rate of Si grains, whereas the compressive stress decreases the growth rate. However, the crystal growth rate increases with the increasing hydrostatic pressure, when the pressure is of the order of GPa at 530–540 °C. These phenomena have been discussed based on the directed crystallization model advanced before, which has been further elaborated.     

Fabrication of NIR‐Excitable SERS‐Active Composite Particles Composed of Densely Packed Au Nanoparticles on Polymer Microparticles

A simple fabrication method is demonstrated for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)‐active plasmonic nanoballs, which consisted of Au nanoparticles (NPs) and core–shell polystyrene and amino‐terminated poly(butadiene) particles, by heterocoagulation and Au NP diffusion. The amount of Au NPs introduced into the core–shell particles increases with the concentration of Au NPs added to the aqueous dispersion of the core–shell particles. When the amount of Au NPs increases, closely packed, three‐dimensionally arranged and close‐packed Au NPs arrays are formed in the shells. Strong SERS signals from para‐mercaptophenol adsorbed onto composite particles with multilayered Au NPs arrays are obtained by near‐infrared (NIR) light illumination.     

Channeling and axial to planar channeling transition of protons in magnesium oxide

The channeling of 1.7 MeV protons along 〈100〉 axial direction, (100), (110) and (111) planar directions in magnesium oxide single crystals and axial to planar channeling transitions from 〈100〉 to (100), (110) and (210) have been studied experimentally. The experimental data and preliminary analysis of results are presented.     

Plasmonics properties of trimetallic Al@Al2O3@Ag@Au and Al@Al2O3@AuAg nanostructures

Bimetallic and trimetallic nanoparticles have attracted significant attention in recent times due to their enhanced electrochemical and catalytic properties compared to monometallic nanoparticles. The numerical calculations using Mie theory has been carried out for three-layered metal nanoshell dielectric–metal–metal (DMM) system consisting of a particle with a dielectric core (Al@Al₂O₃), a middle metal Ag (Au) layer and an outer metal Au (Ag) shell. The results have been interpreted using plasmon hybridization theory. We have also prepared Al@Al₂O₃@Ag@Au and Al@Al₂O₃@AgAu triple-layered core–shell or alloy nanostructure by two-step laser ablation method and compared with calculated results. The synthesis involves temporal separations of Al, Ag, and Au deposition for step-by-step formation of triple-layered core–shell structure. To form Al@Ag nanoparticles, we ablated silver for 40 min in aluminium nanoparticle colloidal solution. As aluminium oxidizes easily in water to form alumina, the resulting structure is core–shell Al@Al₂O₃. The Al@Al₂O₃ particle acts as a seed for the incoming energetic silver particles for multilayered Al@Al₂O₃@Ag nanoparticles is formed. The silver target was then replaced by gold target and ablation was carried out for different ablation time using different laser energy for generation of Al@Al₂O₃@Ag@Au core–shell or Al@Al₂O₃@AgAu alloy. The formation of core–shell and alloy nanostructure was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy. The absorption spectra show shift in plasmon resonance peak of silver to gold in the range 400–520 nm with increasing ablation time suggesting formation of Ag–Au alloy in the presence of alumina particles in the solution.     

Highly Enhanced Emission of Visible Light from Core–Dual‐Shell‐Type Hybridized Nanoparticles

Core–dual‐shell‐type hybridized nanoparticles (NPs) having Au‐core/dye‐doped silica inner shell/Au outer shell are successfully fabricated by developing a biphasic process that is a kind of so‐called “one‐pot” method. The resulting hybridized NPs exhibit evidently about 20‐fold enhancement of fluorescence intensity, increase in fluorescence quantum yield, and decrease in fluorescence lifetime. These effects depend on the metal nanostructure being optimized, compared with the reference hybridized NPs with neither a Au‐core nor a Au outer shell, due to the gap‐mode effect induced by localized surface plasmon resonance in the core–dual‐shell‐type MIM‐like nanostructure. More detailed elucidation concerning the enhancement mechanism will provide the possibility of photonic device application, for example as a high‐performance point light source, nanolaser, or sensor for bioimaging in the visible region in the near future.