Highly Selective Optical Detection of Fe3+ Ions in Aqueous Solution Using Label‐Free Silicon Nanocrystals

High brightness amine‐terminated silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) have been utilized in a simple and rapid assay for the highly selective and sensitive detection of Fe³⁺ via quenching of their strong blue luminescence, without the need for analyte‐specific labeling groups. Sensitive detection of Fe³⁺ is successfully demonstrated, with a linear relationship observed between luminescence quenching and Fe³⁺ concentration from 5 × 10^?6 to 900 × 10^?6m and a limit of detection of 1.3 × 10^?6m . The Si NCs show excellent selectivity toward Fe³⁺ ions, with no quenching of the luminescence signal induced by the presence of Fe²⁺ ions, allowing for solution phase discrimination between the ionic species in different charge states.     

Zwitterionic Block Copolymers for the Synthesis and Stabilization of Perovskite Nanocrystals

Traditional hot injection methods for the preparation of cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (CsPbX₃ PNCs, where X=Cl, Br, or I) rely on small molecule surfactants to produce PNCs with cube, plate, or rod-like morphologies. Here, we describe a new method whereby zwitterionic block copolymers are employed as macromolecular ligands in PNC synthesis, affording PNCs with excellent colloidal stability, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and in some cases distinctly non-cubic shapes. The block copolymers used in this study – composed of a poly(n-butyl methacrylate) hydrophobic block and zwitterionic methacrylate hydrophilic blocks – dissolve in useful solvents for PNC growth despite containing large mole percentages of zwitterionic groups. PNCs prepared with block copolymer ligands were found to disperse and retain their fluorescence in a range of polar organic solvents and were amenable to direct integration into optically transparent nanocomposite thin films with high PNC content.     

用于液体激光介质的Nd~(3+)离子掺杂氟化镧纳米颗粒的制备与性能表征

设计并合成了掺杂不同Nd3+离子浓度的氟化镧纳米颗粒,并用油酸进行了表面修饰,使得这类纳米颗粒可分散于常见的有机溶剂中形成透明、均一、稳定的溶液。对纳米颗粒的结构、晶相以及发光性能进行了表征。固体和溶液材料在1 060 nm都有强的发射峰,说明纳米晶格可有效地保护Nd3+离子免受外界环境对发光的猝灭影响。纳米颗粒有机溶液的吸收损耗和散射损耗测试结果表明,其总损耗系数能够满足激光介质材料的损耗要求,为该材料的实用化打下了基础。     

原位限域生长策略制备有序介孔碳负载的超小MoO3纳米颗粒

采用原位限域生长策略制备了一系列有序介孔碳负载的超小MoO₃纳米颗粒复合物(OMC-US-MoO₃). 其中, 有序介孔碳被用作基质来原位限域MoO₃纳米晶的生长. 依此方法制备的MoO₃纳米晶具有超小的晶粒尺寸(<5 nm), 并在介孔碳骨架内具有良好的分散度. 制得的OMC-US-MoO₃复合物具有可调的比表面积(428~796 m²/g)、 孔容(0.27~0.62 cm³/g)、 MoO₃质量分数(4%~27%)和孔径(4.6~5.7 nm). 当MoO₃纳米晶的质量分数为7%时, 所得样品OMC-US-MoO₃-7具有最大的孔径、 最小的孔壁厚度和最规整的介观结构. 该样品作为催化剂时, 表现出优异的环辛烯选择性氧化性能.     

MIL-101(Cr) Microporous Nanocrystals Intercalating Graphene Oxide Membrane for Efficient Hydrogen Purification

Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising two-dimensional building block for fabricating high-performance gas separation membranes. Whereas the tortuous transport pathway may increase the transport distance and lead to a low gas permeation rate, introducing spacers into GO laminates is an effective strategy to enlarge the interlayer channel for enhanced gas permeance. Herein, we propose to intercalate CO₂-philic MIL-101(Cr) metal-organic framework nanocrystals into the GO laminates to construct a 2D/3D hybrid structure for gas separation. The interlayer channels were partially opened up to accelerate gas permeation. Meanwhile, the intrinsic pores of MIL-101 provided additional transport pathways, and the affinity of MIL-101 to CO₂ molecules resulted in higher H₂/CO₂ diffusion selectivity, leading to a simultaneous enhancement in gas permeance and separation selectivity. The MIL-101(Cr)/GO membrane with optimal structures exhibited outstanding and stable mixed-gas separation performance with H₂ permeance of 67.5 GPU and H₂/CO₂ selectivity of 30.3 during the 120-h continuous test, demonstrating its potential in H₂ purification application.     

Facile synthesis of ultrafine Co3O4 nanocrystals embedded carbon matrices with specific skeletal structures as efficient non-enzymatic glucose sensors

A facile, effective, and environmentally friendly method has been adopted for the first time to prepare tiny Co₃O₄ nanocrystals embedded carbon matrices without using surfactants, harmful organic reagents or extreme conditions. Structural characterizations reveal that the size-controlled Co₃O₄ nanocrystals are uniformly dispersed on carbon matrices. Electrochemical measurements reveal that Co₃O₄-ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) can more efficiently catalyze glucose oxidation and acquire better detection parameters compared with those for the Co₃O₄-macroporous carbon, Co₃O₄-reduced graphene oxide, and free Co₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) (such as: the large sensitivity (2597.5 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹ between 0 and 0.8 mM and 955.9 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹ between 0.9 and 7.0 mM), fast response time, wide linear range, good stability, and surpassingly selective capability to electroactive molecules or Cl⁻). Such excellent performances are attributed to the synergistic effect of the following three factors: (1) the high catalytic sites provided by the uniformly dispersed and size-controlled Co₃O₄ nanocrystals embedded on OMC; (2) the excellent reactant transport efficiency caused by the abundant mesoporous structures of OMC matrix: (3) the improved electron transport in high electron transfer rate (confinement of the Co₃O₄ NPs in nanoscale spaces ensured intimate contact between Co₃O₄ nanocrystals and the conducting OMC matrix). The superior catalytic activity and selectivity make Co₃O₄-OMC very promising for application in direct detection of glucose.     

Efficient Counter Electrode Manufactured from Ag2S Nanocrystal Ink for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

It is generally believed that silver or silver‐based compounds are not suitable counter electrode (CE) materials for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to the corrosion of the I^?/I₃^? redox couple in electrolytes. However, Ag₂S has potential applications in DSSCs for catalyzing I₃^? reduction reactions because of its high carrier concentration and tiny solubility product constant. In the present work, CE manufactured from Ag₂S nanocrystals ink exhibited efficient electrocatalytic activity in the reduction of I₃^? to I^? in DSSCs. The DSSC consisting of Ag₂S CE displayed a higher power conversion efficiency of 8.40 % than that of Pt CE (8.11 %). Moreover, the devices also showed the characteristics of fast activity onset, high multiple start/stop capability and good irradiated stability. The simple composition, easy preparation, stable chemical property, and good catalytic performance make the developed Ag₂S CE as a promising alternative to Pt CE in DSSCs.     

氧掺入对纳米硅薄膜微结构及能带特性的影响

采用等离子体增强化学气相沉积法(PECVD)制备了富硅氧化硅薄膜,利用XRD衍射仪,傅里叶变换红外透射光谱仪以及紫外-可见光分光光度计分析了氧掺入对薄膜微观结构以及能带特性的影响。结果表明,随着氧掺入比(CO2/SiH4)的增加,薄膜晶粒尺寸减小,晶化度降低,纳米硅(nc-Si)表面的张应力先增加后减小。红外吸收谱分析表明,氧掺入比增加导致薄膜内氧含量增高,富氧Si—O键合密度增加,富硅Si—O键合密度降低。同时,薄膜结构因子减小,有序度增大,薄膜微观结构得到改善。当氧掺入比大于0.08时,薄膜结构因子增大,有序度降低。此外,氧掺入增加导致薄膜带隙不断增加,带尾宽度呈现先减小后增大的趋势。因此,通过氧掺入可以调节纳米硅薄膜微观结构及能带特性,氧掺入比为0.08时,薄膜具有高晶化度和较宽的带隙,微观结构得到有效改善,可用作薄膜太阳能电池的本征层。     

单颗粒稀土纳米晶的三基色上转换发光

可调谐发光颜色的上转换荧光纳米粒子具有广阔的应用前景。本文设计并成功合成了结构紧凑的多层核-壳纳米颗粒。在不同波段激光的泵浦下,该颗粒中不同壳层分别产生红、绿、蓝3种颜色的上转换荧光。光谱测试结果表明,样品三基色发光的颜色纯度较好,并且可以实现全色域的颜色实时调节。此外,还测试了样品发光强度与泵浦功率之间的依赖关系,用于研究其中的上转换发光机理。这种在单颗粒水平上具有全色域可调发光的紧凑核-壳结构纳米晶体在多通道生物检测及成像、超高分辨率显示器件、高端防伪应用等领域显示出巨大的潜力。