One-pot synthesis of gold nanorods via autocatalytic growth of sonochemically formed gold seeds: The effect of irradiation time on the formation of seeds and nanorods

A one-pot synthesis for gold nanorods was developed using sonochemical reduction of gold ions in an aqueous solution in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, silver nitrate, and ascorbic acid, where we focused on the autocatalytic growth of gold seeds formed by ultrasonic irradiation for short times. In growth experiments with these sonochemically formed gold seeds, sigmoidal shape growth curves were observed, and the induction period before growth began was longer for shorter irradiation times. This result indicated that the number of sonochemically formed gold seeds increased with increasing irradiation time. The average aspect ratio of the gold nanorods produced changed from 2.0 at an irradiation time of 0.5 min to 3.6 at 15 min. The gold nanorods produced were longer and wider when the irradiation time was shorter.     

Mechanism of sonochemical reduction of permanganate to manganese dioxide in aqueous alcohol solutions: Reactivities of reducing species formed by alcohol sonolysis

The sonochemical reduction of MnO₄⁻ to MnO₂ in aqueous solutions was investigated as a function of alcohol concentration under Ar. The rate of MnO₄⁻ reduction initially decreased with increasing alcohol concentration, and then increased when the alcohol concentration was increased further. The concentrations at which the reduction rates were minimum depended on the hydrophobic properties of the added alcohols under ultrasonic irradiation. At low concentrations, the alcohols acted as OH radical scavengers; at high concentrations, they acted as reductant precursors: R_ab, formed by abstraction reactions of the alcohols with sonochemically formed OH radicals or H atoms, and R_py, formed by alcohol pyrolysis under ultrasonic irradiation. The results suggest that the reactivity order of the sonochemically formed reducing species with MnO₄⁻ at pH 7–9 is the sum of H₂O₂ and H > R_py > R_ab. The peak wavelengths of MnO₂ colloidal solutions formed at high 1-butanol concentrations shifted to shorter wavelengths, suggesting the formation of small particles at high 1-butanol concentrations. The rates of sonochemical reduction of MnO₂ to Mn²⁺ in the presence of 1-butanol were slower than that in the absence of 1-butanol, because the sonochemical formation of H₂O₂ and H, which act as reductants, was suppressed by 1-butanol in aqueous solutions.     

Mechanism for sonochemical reduction of Au(III) in aqueous butanol solution under Ar based on the analysis of gaseous and water-soluble products

When an aqueous Au(III) solution containing 1-butanol was sonicated under Ar, Au(III) was reduced to Au(0) to form Au particles. This is because various reducing species are formed during sonication, but the reactivity of these species has not yet been evaluated in detail. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the effects of Au(III) on the rates of the formation of gaseous and water-soluble compounds (CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, CO, CO₂, H₂, H₂O₂, and aldehydes), and the rate of Au(III) reduction as a function of 1-butanol concentration. The following facts were recognized: 1) for Au(III) reduction, the contribution of the radicals formed by the pyrolysis of 1-butanol was higher than that of the secondary radicals formed by the abstraction reactions of 1-butanol with ·OH, 2) ·CH₃ and CO acted as reductants, 3) the contribution of ·H to Au(III) reduction was small in the presence of 1-butanol, 4) aldehydes and H₂ did not act as reductants, and 5) the types of species that reduced Au(III) changed with 1-butanol concentration.     

Facile sonochemical synthesis of tellurium and tellurium dioxide nanoparticles: Reducing Te(IV) to Te via ultrasonic irradiation in methanol

In this study, tellurium (Te) nanostructures were synthesized via a facile sonochemical method by reducing TeCl₄ to Te under ultrasonic irradiation in methanol. Moreover, by carrying out the reaction in an alkaline environment TeO₂ nanoparticles were produced. According to our knowledge, it is the first time that without secondary reducing agent Te⁴⁺ are reduced to Te. Also, the effects of ultrasonic power, irradiation time, solvent, and surfactant on the morphology and particle size of Te nanostructures were investigated. The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, FT-IR and DRS.     

Shape and size transformation of gold nanorods (GNRs) via oxidation process: A reverse growth mechanism

The anisotropic shape transformation of gold nanorods (GNRs) with H₂O₂ was observed in the presence of “cethyl trimethylammonium bromide” (CTAB). The adequate oxidative dissolution of GNR is provided by the following autocatalytic scheme with H₂O₂: Au⁰ → Au⁺, Au⁰ + Auⁿ⁺ → 2Au³⁺, n = 1 and 3. The shape transformation of the GNRs was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As-synthesised GNRs exhibit transverse plasmon band (TPB) at 523 nm and longitudinal plasmon band (LPB) at 731 nm. Upon H₂O₂ oxidation, the LPB showed a systematic hypsochromic (blue) shift, while TPB stays at ca. 523 nm. In addition, a new emerging peak observed at ca. 390 nm due to Au(III)-CTAB complex formation during the oxidation. TEM analysis of as-synthesised GNRs with H₂O₂ confirmed the shape transformation to spherical particles with 10 nm size in 2 h, whereas centrifuged nanorod solution showed no changes in the aspect ratio under the same condition. Au³⁺ ions produced from oxidation, complex with excess free CTAB and approach the nanorods preferentially at the end, leading to spatially directed oxidation. This work provides some information to the crystal stability and the growth mechanism of GNRs, as both growth and shortening reactions occur preferentially at the edge of single-crystalline GNRs, all directed by Br⁻ ions.     

藻蓝蛋白原位还原Ag（Ⅰ）与纳米Ag（O）形成动态过程的谱学研究

在4℃避光条件下，将藻蓝蛋白（简称PC）与AgNO3作用，通过UV，FS，FTIR等谱学方法研究了PC与Ag（Ⅰ）原位还原与纳米Ag（0）粒子形成的动态过程。结果显示：PC在615nm的特征吸收峰强度明显减弱，并随Ag（Ⅰ）浓度增加和时间延长单调降低；PC的荧光发射峰和荧光激发峰也均呈现衰减趋势。同步荧光光谱观察到纳米Ag（0）粒子形成的动态过程。用TEM观察到所形成的Ag（0）分散于PC表面，形成PC为核，纳米银为壳部分包覆的生物缀合物，粒子呈球形，有较窄的分布尺寸，粒径在15～30nm之间。     

Propagation of a reaction front accompanied by island formation: CO/Au/Ni(1 1 1)

Recent high-pressure scanning tunneling microscopy studies, performed at room temperature, have explicitly demonstrated the specifics of the CO-mediated removal of Ni atoms from the topmost layer of an Au/Ni(1 1 1) surface alloy. After an incubation period, the reaction is found to start at step edges. On each edge, a large fraction of Ni atoms is removed from the terrace in certain areas, whereas other areas are nearly intact after a given time. With increasing time, the former areas begin to overlap and the reaction front becomes somewhat more homogeneous. The Au atoms remaining behind the front form nm-sized islands. Here, we present Monte Carlo simulations reproducing all these observations.     

Synthesis,growth and characterization of non-linear optical material: l-Tryptophan p-nitrophenol (LTPNP) single crystal

A new nonlinear optical organic crystal l-tryptophan p-nitrophenol (LTPNP) of dimension 19 mm × 2 mm × 1.5 mm has been grown from an aqueous solution for the first time by slow evaporation technique at ambient temperature. The crystal structure of LTPNP was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. LTPNP crystallizes in non-centrosymmetric monoclinic system with space group P₂₁. The recorded FTIR spectrum confirms the presence of various functional groups in the grown crystal and confirms the formation of LTPNP. Thermal stability and melting temperature of the LTPNP crystal were identified from TG/DTA analysis. The optical absorption study confirms the suitability of the crystal for device applications. LTPNP exhibits SHG efficiency over 1.7 orders of magnitude higher than that of urea and 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of KDP.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of red-emitting M2Si5N8:Eu2+-based (M=Ca,Sr, Ba) phosphors by a simple nitrate reduction

M2Si5N8:Eu2+-based(M=Ca,Sr,Ba)red-emitting phosphors are fabricated at relatively low temperature(1200°C)and atmospheric pressure using a simple solid-state reaction process.Several processing parameters are systematically investigated to optimize the phosphors structural characterization and photoluminescence performance,including the amount of europium and the properties of the precursor materials.The as-prepared M2Si5N8:Eu2+-based(M=Ca,Sr,Ba)phosphors are orange in color and are intensively emitted in the red region of 580–670 nm under 465 nm excitation.     

Vertical bonding distances of PTCDA on Au(1 1 1) and Ag(1 1 1): Relation to the bonding type

The vertical bonding distance of 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (PTCDA) above the Au(1 1 1) surface has been measured by the normal incidence X-ray standing wave (NIXSW) technique. The carbon skeleton of PTCDA has a vertical distance of D = (3.27 ± 0.02) Å to the Au(1 1 1) substrate. This distance corresponds very nearly to the sum of the van der Waals radii of carbon and gold, suggesting the adsorption to be a physisorptive one. In contrast, the PTCDA/Ag(1 1 1) interface which according to spectroscopic data follows the standard model of chemisorption very closely, shows a considerably smaller bonding distance of D = (2.86 ± 0.01) Å [A. Hauschild, K. Karki, B.C.C. Cowie, M. Rohlfing, F.S. Tautz, M. Sokolowski, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94 (2005) 036106, comment: Rurali et al., Phys. Lett. 95 (2005) 209205, reply: Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (2005) 209206]. The different vertical adsorption heights of PTCDA on gold and silver are discussed in relation to the different bonding mechanisms on both noble metal surfaces.     

Study on charge transfer interaction and valence state of layered perovskite-type mixed valence complex [NH3(CH2) n NH3]2[(AuII2)(AuIIII4)(I3)2] (n = 7, 8), by means of 197Au Mössbauer spectroscopy

Cs₂[Au^I X ₂][Au^III X ₄](X = Cl, Br, and I) is well known for the three-dimensional perovskite-type gold mixed valence system. Recently, layered perovskite-type gold mixed valence complexes, [NH₃(CH₂) _n NH₃]₂[(Au^II₂)(Au^IIII₄)(I₃)₂] (n = 7 and 8), have been synthesized. We have investigated the relationship between the structural dimensionality and the Au^I–Au^III charge transfer interaction for Cs₂[Au^II₂][Au^IIII₄] and [NH₃(CH₂) _n NH₃]₂[(Au^II₂)(Au^IIII₄)(I₃)₂] (n = 7 and 8) by means of ¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Study of Schottky contact between Au and NiO nanowire by conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM): The case of surface states

In this work, NiO nanowires have been synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction of NiCl₂ with Na₂C₂O₄ in the presence of ethylene glycol at 180 °C for 12 h, then calcinated at 400 °C for 2 h. The NiO nanowires were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The resulting current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the NiO nanowires exhibited a clear rectifying behavior. This rectify behavior was attributed to the formation of a Schottky contact between Au coated atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip and NiO nanowires (nano-M/SC) which was dominated by the surface states in NiO itself. Photo-assisted conductive AFM (PC-AFM) was used to demonstrate how the I–V characteristics are influenced by the surface states. Our I–V results also showed that the nano-M/SCs had a good photoelectric switching effect at reverse bias.     

Atomistic mechanisms for the ordered growth of Co nanodots on Au(7 8 8): a comparison between VT-STM experiments and multi-scaled calculations

Hetero-epitaxial growth on a strain-relief vicinal patterned substrate has revealed unprecedented 2D long range ordered growth of uniform cobalt nanostructures. The morphology of a sub-monolayer Co deposit on a Au(1 1 1) reconstructed vicinal surface is determined by using variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (VT-STM). A rectangular array of nanodots (3.8 nm × 7.2 nm) is found for a particularly large deposit temperature range lying from 65 to 300 K. This paper focuses on the early stage of growth at temperatures between 35 and 480 K. Atomistic mechanisms leading to the nanodots array are elucidated by comparing statistical analysis of VT-STM images with multi-scaled numerical calculations. Molecular dynamics allows the quantitative determination of the activation energies for the atomic motion, whereas the kinetic Monte Carlo method simulates the submonolayer Co growth over mesoscopic time scale and space scale.     

Synthesis of nanocomposites of iron oxide/gold (Fe3O4/Au) loaded on activated carbon and their application in water treatment by using sonochemistry: Optimization study

This paper focuses on the finding best operational conditions using response surface methodology (RSM) for Rhodamine123 (R123) and Disulfine blue (DSB) dyes removal by ultrasound assisted adsorption onto Au-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon (Au-Fe₃O₄ NPs-AC). The influences of variables such as initial R123 (X₁) and DSB concentration (X₂), pH (X₃), adsorbent mass (X₄) and sonication time (X₅) on their removal were investigated by small central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology. The significant variables and the possible interactions among variables were investigated and estimated accordingly. The best conditions were set as: 4 min, 4.0, 0.025 g, 13.5 and 26.5 mg L⁻¹ for sonication time, pH, adsorbent weight, initial R123 and DSB concentration, respectively. At above conditions, the adsorption equilibrium and kinetic follow the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, respectively. The maximum monolayer capacity (Q_max) of 71.46 and 76.38 mg g⁻¹ for R123 and DSB show sufficiency of model for well presentation of experimental data.     

热解法制备KY3F10: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm)纳米晶及其特性研究

有机染料和量子点等荧光标记材料存在发射光谱宽、 光热稳定性差和细胞毒性等缺陷, 限制了其在生物学研究中的应用. 镧系掺杂上转换发光材料不存在"自发荧光"和"光漂白"现象, 灵敏度高, 长期稳定性好, 利于活体检测. 论文首次采用热解法, 以油酸和十八烯为表面活性剂和溶剂, 制备了KY₃F₁₀: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm) 纳米晶. 研究了油酸含量对产物形貌和粒径尺寸的影响, 当油酸与十八烯的比例为3:1时, 为制备类球形单分散纳米晶体的最佳工艺条件, 在980 nm半导体激光器激发下, 样品KY₃F₁₀: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm) 分别发射出较强的黄绿、 绿色和蓝色光, 这些结果显示KY₃F₁₀: Yb, RE(RE=Er, Ho, Tm) 纳米粒子作为生物探针在多重荧光标记方面具有优异的特性.     

Layer by layer growth of silver chloride nanoparticle within the pore channels of SBA-15/SO3H mesoporous silica (AgClNP/SBA-15/SO3K): Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial properties

The growth of silver chloride nanoparticles within the pore channels of functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous was achieved by sequential dipping steps in alternating bath of potassium chloride and silver nitrate under ultrasound irradiation at pH=9. The effects of sequential dipping steps in growth of the AgCl nanoparticles have been studied. The growth and formation of AgCl nanoparticles inside the sulfonated SBA-15 were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antibacterial activity of the synthesized materials was investigated against Escherichia coli (E.coli) using the conventional diffusion-disc method. The materials showed high antibacterial activity.