A tight-binding study of LUMO states in ellipsoidal silicon nanocrystals

In this paper we report on tight-binding calculations of lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals states for silicon ellipsoidal nanocrystals. The electronic structure has been calculated for different nanocrystal shapes either keeping constant or varying the number of silicon atoms. We have found that changing the ellipsoid aspect ratio a non-obvious energy level structure is obtained. The implications for the infrared optical transitions and their relationship with the polarization of the radiation involved are discussed.     

Property improvement of pulsed laser deposited boron carbide films by pulse shortening

Growth characteristics and surface morphology of boron carbide films fabricated by ablating a B₄C target in high vacuum with a traditional KrF excimer laser and a high brightness hybrid dye/excimer laser system emitting at the same wavelength while delivering 700 fs pulses are compared. The ultrashort pulse processing is highly effective. Energy densities between 0.25 and 2 J cm⁻² result in apparent growth rates ranging from 0.017 to 0.085 nm/pulse. Ablation with nanosecond pulses of one order of magnitude higher energy densities yields smaller growth rates, the figures increase from 0.002 to 0.016 nm/pulse within the 2-14.3 J cm⁻² fluence window. 2D thickness maps derived from variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry reveal that, when ablating with sub-ps pulses, the spot size rather than the energy density determines both the deposition rate and the angular distribution of film material. Pulse shortening leads to significant improvement in surface morphology, as well. While droplets with number densities ranging from 1 × 10⁴ to 7 × 10⁴ mm⁻² deteriorate the surface of the films deposited by the KrF excimer laser, sub-ps pulses produce practically droplet-free films. The absence of droplets has also a beneficial effect on the stoichiometry and homogeneity of the films fabricated by ultrashort pulses.     

Titanium carbonitride films on cemented carbide cutting tool prepared by pulsed high energy density plasma

Hard films prepared by pulsed high energy density plasma (PHEDP) are characterized by high film/substrate adhesive strength, and high wear resistance. Titanium carbonitride (TiCN) films were deposited onto YG11C (ISO G20) cemented carbide cutting tool substrates by PHEDP at room temperature. XRD, XPS, SEM, AES, etc. were adopted to analyze the phases (elements) composition, microstructure and the interface of the films, respectively. The results show that, the uniform dense films are composed of grains ranging from 70 to 90 nm. According to the AES result, there is a broad transition layer between the film and the substrate, due to the ion implantation effect of the PHEDP. The transition layer is favorable for the film/substrate adhesion.     

Synthesis, morphology and random laser action of ZnO nanostructures

Three-dimensional (3-D) ZnO random-wall nanostructures and one-dimensional (1-D) ZnO nanorods were prepared on silicon substrates by a simple solid-vapour phase thermal sublimation technique. Optical pumped random lasing has been observed in the ZnO random-wall arrays with a threshold intensity of 0.38 MW/cm² in the emission wavelength from 380 to 395 nm. The optical gain was attributed to the closed-loop scattering and light amplification of the ZnO random-wall. The experimental result suggests that the morphology of nanostructure is the key factor to effect random lasing.     

Synthesis of poly(arylene disulfide)-vermiculite nanocomposites via in situ ring-opening reaction of cyclic oligomers

An exfoliated poly(4,4^′-oxybis(benzene)disulfide) (POBDS)/vermiculite (VMT) nanocomposite was prepared by using cyclo(4,4^′-oxybis(benzene)disulfide) (COBDS) oligomers and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide exchanged VMT. The POBDS/VMT nanocomposites were fabricated in two steps. First, the COBDS oligomers were used to swell and exfoliate organo VMT to afford COBDS-VMT nanocomposite precursor. Subsequently, the exfoliated POBDS-VMT nanocomposite can be made via in situ and instant melt ring-opening polymerization of the COBDS-VMT nanocomposite precursor. High molecular weight POBDS polymer can be formed in a few minutes. The nano scale dispersion of VMT layers within POBDS polymer was confirmed by both the X-ray diffraction patterns and TEM examinations. This methodology provides a potential approach to synthesize high performance polymer nanocomposite.     

醇体系中合成CuGaS2纳米晶及其形貌演变

以CuCl2·2H2O,自制的GaCl3和(NH2)2CS为原料,在乙二醇体系中合成了花状结构的CuGaS2纳米晶．产物分别用X射线粉末衍射仪、透射电子显微镜、场发射扫描电子显微镜、高分辩透射电子显微镜和X射线光电子能谱仪进行了表征．实验结果表明,220℃反应24 h得到均匀的花状纳米结构CuGaS2,它是由厚度80-100 nm的片晶组成．同时,通过反应时间的控制,可以清楚的看到由纳米颗粒到纳米球以及花状纳米结构的演变过程．另外,研究了反应温度、反应时间、溶剂等对产物和形貌的影响．此外,对花状结构纳米晶的生长机理进行了初步的探讨．室温荧光光谱表明,随粒径的降低,发光位发生了部分蓝移．     

Fabrication of mesoporous ZnO nanosheets from precursor templates grown in aqueous solutions

Mesoporous ZnO nanosheets were successfully prepared by pyrolytic transformation of zinc carbonate hydroxide hydrate, Zn₄CO₃(OH)₆·H₂O. The nanosheets were initially formed as assemblies on glass substrates during chemical bath deposition (CBD) in aqueous solutions of urea and zinc acetate dihydrate, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate hexahydrate, or zinc sulfate heptahydrate at 80°C. It was key to induce heterogeneous nucleation of Zn₄CO₃(OH)₆·H₂O by promoting a gradual hydrolysis reaction of urea and controlling the degree of supersaturation of zinc hydroxide species. Morphology of Zn₄CO₃(OH)₆·H₂O was largely influenced by the anions present in the CBD solutions. The Zn₄CO₃(OH)₆·H₂O nanosheets were transformed into wurtzite ZnO by heating at 300°C in air without losing the microstructural feature.     

Comprehensive and High-throughput Electrolysis of Water and Urea by 3–5 nm Nickel and Copper Coordination Polymers

Metal-organic coordination polymers (CP) have attracted the scientific attention for electrochemical water oxidation as it has the similar coordination structure like natural photosynthetic coordinated complex. However, the harsh synthesis conditions and bulky nature pose a major challenge in the field of catalysis. Herein, 3–5 nm CP particles synthesized at room temperature using aqueous solutions of Ni²⁺/Cu²⁺ and 2,5-dihydroxyterepthalic acid as precursor were applied for alkaline water and urea electrolysis. The overpotential required is only 300 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² by Nano-Ni CP for water oxidation, with turnover frequency (TOF) of 21.4 s⁻¹ which is around 8 times higher than its bulk-counterpart. Overall water and urea splitting were achieved with Nano-Cu (−) ∥ Nano-Ni (+) couple on Ni foam at 1.69 and 1.52 V to achieve 10 mA cm⁻², respectively. High electrochemical surface area (ECSA), high TOF, and enhanced mass diffusion are found to be the key parameters responsible for the state-of-the-art water and urea splitting performances of nano-CPs as compared to their bulk counterparts.     

多种纳米结构Fe掺杂TiO2光热耦合水分解制氢研究

氧空位是材料缺陷工程的重要组成. 基于光生氧空位的直接热利用, 实现纯水分解制氢的光热耦合实验, 被认为是太阳能综合利用的有效途径. 以多种制备方法合成的TiO₂纳米材料为基础, 研究了多种形貌纳米TiO₂及其Fe掺杂改性材料的光热耦合反应能力. 通过高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)、 X射线衍射(XRD)和电子顺磁共振(EPR)对晶体特征进行表征, 利用漫反射光谱(DRS)、 光致发光(PL)和三电极测试法表征了材料的性能, 并结合密度泛函理论(DFT)计算了产氢反应路径. 研究结果表明, 溶胶-凝胶法制备的纳米颗粒相比水热法制备的纳米片及纳米线, 体相内缺陷较多, 载流子强度高, 光热耦合产氢效果较差. Fe掺杂改性扩展了光响应, 增强了载流子分离和寿命, 降低了电子传输阻抗, 利于光反应过程中光生氧空位的形成, 克服了制氢反应中的关键能垒. 同时, 纳米材料中的缺陷促进了Fe离子的有效掺杂, Fe掺杂TiO₂纳米颗粒的光热耦合平均产氢量为9.73 μmol/g, 性能提升达13倍.