Room-temperature ferromagnetism in silicon oxide/silicon nitride composite films

Room-temperature ferromagnetism has been observed in silicon oxide/silicon nitride composite films formed on Si substrates at different substrate temperatures, and the ferromagnetic properties of the samples have been found to depend on the silicon nitride content of the films. It is proposed that the ferromagnetism is related to the interface states between the silicon oxide particles and silicon nitride particles. The saturation magnetization (M_S) reached its maximum value in the film produced at a substrate temperature of 400 °C. A further study on the magnetic properties of the film has been carried out using first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. The calculations suggest that the magnetic moments of the film originate from N 2p and Si 2p states in the vicinity of the hetoro-interface.     

Room-temperature decay and light reactivation of high-Tc ferromagnetism in an oxide-diluted magnetic semiconductor

We present a novel route for manipulation of the ferromagnetic order in Co-doped TiO2 using UV laser irradiation. The ferromagnetic order of the nanocrystal films decays with aging in air at room temperature, which can be reactivated and enhanced by UV irradiation, whereas the coercive force reduces with irradiation time. Photoinduced trapped electrons were suggested to induce the ferromagnetic order. We believe that light manipulation is a general method for tuning the magnetic properties of oxide-based diluted magnetic semiconductors, which can find practical applications in future integrated magneto-optical nanoelectronics.     

Surface-plasmon-enhanced band emission of ZnO nanoflowers decorated with Au nanoparticles

A simple strategy was used to enhance band emission through the transfer of defect emission from ZnO to Au by using the energy match between the defect emission of ZnO and the surface plasmon absorbance of Au NPs through decorating the surface of ZnO nanoflowers with Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). The ZnO nanostructure, which was comprised of six nanorods that were attached on one side in a flower-like fashion, was synthesized by using a hydrothermal method. The temperature-dependent morphology and detailed growth mechanism were studied. The influence of the density of the Au NPs that were deposited onto the surface of ZnO on photoluminescence was investigated to optimize the configuration of the ZnO/Au system in terms of the maximum band emission. The sequential transfer of defect energy from ZnO to Au and electron transfer from excited Au to ZnO was proposed as a possible mechanism for the enhanced band emission.     

Half-metallic ferromagnetism in Ag-doped ZnO: An ab initio study

The spin-resolved electronic structures of ZnO doped with 6.25% Ag have been studied with the first-principles calculations based on the spin density functional theory. The substitutional Ag impurities and their nearest neighbor O atoms are shown to be in a spin polarized state with a global magnetization of 1.0μ_B. Ag-doped ZnO is in a ferromagnetic ground state which can be explained by Zener's double exchange mechanism. Furthermore, band structure calculations show a half-metallic behavior of the Ag-doped ZnO. These results indicate that Ag-doped ZnO shows promise as a dilute magnetic semiconductor free of magnetic precipitation and may find applications in the field of spintronics.     

Room-temperature surface-erosion route to ZnO nanorod arrays and urchin-like assemblies

A solution surface-erosion route was successfully employed to produce one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanostructures. ZnO nanorod arrays and three-dimensional urchin-like assemblies could be selectively obtained with different manipulations. In this process, zinc foil was introduced to an organic solution system and acted both as a reactant and substrate to support the 1D nanostructures obtained. This method, without any template, apparatus, surfactants, or additional heterogenous substrates, has greatly simplified the preparation of oriented 1D ZnO nanostructures. In particular, this simple route could be carried out at room temperature over a period as short as several minutes, thus it could be conveniently transferred to industrial applications. The possible formation mechanism, erosion process, and influence factors were also investigated.     

Room-temperature irradiation route to synthesize a large-scale single-crystalline ZnO hexangular prism

A large-scale single-crystalline ZnO hexangular prism was successfully synthesized through a simple gamma-irradiation method at room temperature and under ambient pressure. The product of a ZnO hexangular prism with a rim of 230 +/- 10 nm and a length up to 8.5 microm was well monodisperse and showed a very strong and broad green light emission at around 577 nm. A possible formation process was also proposed.     

Room temperature ferromagnetism in undoped and Fe doped ZnO nanorods: Microwave-assisted synthesis

One-dimensional (1D) undoped and Fe doped ZnO nanorods of average length ∼1 μm and diameter ∼50 nm have been obtained using a microwave-assisted synthesis. The magnetization (M) and coercivity (H_c) value obtained for undoped ZnO nanorods at room temperature is ∼5×10⁻³ emu/g and ∼150 Oe, respectively. The Fe doped ZnO samples show significant changes in M -H loop with increasing doping concentration. Both undoped and Fe doped ZnO nanorods exhibit a Curie transition temperature (T_c) above 390 K. Electron spin resonance and Mössbauer spectra indicate the presence of ferric ions. The origin of ferromagnetism in undoped ZnO nanorods is attributed to localized electron spin moments resulting from surface defects/vacancies, where as in Fe doped samples is explained by F center exchange mechanism.     

Room-temperature synthesis of pompon-like ZnO hierarchical structures and their enhanced photocatalytic properties

In this paper, an efficient and simple route combined with a subsequent calcining process to synthesize pompon-like ZnO microstructures at room temperature (25 °C) has been developed. The samples were intensively investigated by SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and XRD. The results indicate that the well-crystallized pompon-like ZnO is assembled by interlaced nanoplates with uniform thickness of about 50 nm. The photocatalytic trials confirm that the pompon-like ZnO exhibits excellent degradation efficiency under UV light. Moreover, the as-prepared ZnO samples show superior durability and stability after six photodegradation cycling runs. Finally, a mechanism was proposed to elucidate the photodegradation reaction of the pompon-like ZnO.     

Activation of high-T(C) ferromagnetism in Mn2+-doped ZnO using amines

We report the discovery that high-TC ferromagnetism in manganese-doped ZnO (Mn2+:ZnO) can be activated by amine binding and calcination. The activation of ferromagnetism is attributed to the incorporation of uncompensated p-type dopants into the ZnO lattice upon amine calcination, a process that has substantial precedence in the literature surrounding p-type ZnO. The experimental observations are consistent with a microscopic mechanism involving formation of bound magnetic polarons upon introduction of p-type dopants into Mn2+:ZnO. These results clearly demonstrate that Mn2+:ZnO ferromagnetism is critically sensitive to defects other than the magnetic dopants themselves, offering some insight into the diversity of experimental observations reported previously for this material.     

Conformal Coverage of ZnO Nanowire Arrays by ZnMnO3: Room-temperature Photodeposition from Aqueous Solution

Compositionally and structurally complex semiconductor oxide nanostructures gain importance in many energy-related applications. Simple and robust synthesis routes ideally complying with the principles of modern green chemistry are therefore urgently needed. Here we report on the one-step, room-temperature synthesis of a crystalline–amorphous biphasic ternary metal oxide at the ZnO surface using aqueous precursor solutions. More specifically, conformal and porous ZnMnO₃ shells are photodeposited from KMnO₄ solution onto immobilized ZnO nanowires acting not only as the substrate but also as the Zn precursor. This water-based, low temperature process yields ZnMnO₃/ZnO composite electrodes featuring in 1 M Na₂SO₄ aqueous solution capacitance values of 80–160 F g⁻¹ (as referred to the total mass of the porous film i. e. the electroactive ZnMnO₃ phase and the ZnO nanowire array). Our results highlight the suitability of photodeposition as a simple and green route towards complex functional materials.     

Synthesis and synchrotron light-induced luminescence of ZnO nanostructures: nanowires, nanoneedles, nanoflowers, and tubular whiskers

ZnO nanostructures, including single-crystal nanowires, nanoneedles, nanoflowers, and tubular whiskers, have been fabricated at a modestly low temperature of 550 degrees C via the oxidation of metallic Zn powder without a metal catalyst. Specific ZnO nanostructures can be obtained at a specific temperature zone in the furnace depending on the temperature and the pressure of oxygen. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that ZnO nanostructures thus prepared are single crystals with a wurtzite structure. X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) from the ZnO nanostructures show noticeable morphology-dependent luminescence. Specifically, ZnO nanowires of around 15 nm in diameter emit the strongest green light. The morphology of these nanostructures, their XEOL, and the implication of the results will be discussed.     

Super-hydrophobic tin oxide nanoflowers

Super-hydrophobic 3D SnO(2) flowers with nanoporous petals were produced from the 3D Sn nanoflowers using a controlled shape-preserving thermal oxidation process.     

High-Tc ferromagnetism in a Co-doped ZnO system dominated by the formation of a zinc-blende type Co-rich ZnCoO phase

The modulation of the distribution of magnetic ions embedded in the host is crucial for the functionality of dilute magnetic semiconductors. Through an element-specific structural characterization, we observe the formation and enhancement of an unrevealed Co-doped ZnO phase and consequently magnetic properties from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism are controlled by surface-modification.     

Co-catalyst-free large ZnO single crystal for high-efficiency piezocatalytic hydrogen evolution from pure water

Piezocatalytic materials have been widely used for catalytic hydrogen evolution and purification of organic contaminants.However,most studies focus on nano-size and/or polycrystalline catalysts,suffering from aggregation and neutralization of internal piezoelectric field caused by polydomains.Here we report a single crystal ZnO of large size and few bulk defects crafted by a hydrothermal method for piezocatalytic hydrogen generation from pure water.It is noteworthy that single-side surface areas of both original as-prepared ZnO and Ga-doped ZnO bulk crystals are larger than 30 cm².The high quality of ZnO and Ga-doped ZnO bulks are further uncovered by high-resolution transmission electron microscope(HRTEM),photoluminescence(PL)and X-ray diffraction(XRD).Remarkably,an outstanding hydrogen production rate of co-catalyst-free Ga-doped ZnO bulk crystal(i.e.,a maximum rate of 5915μmol h^-1 m^-2)is observed in pure water triggered by ultrasound in dark,which is over 100 times higher than that of its powder counterpart(i.e.,52.54μmol h^-1 m^-2).The piezocatalytic performance of ZnO bulk crystal is systematically studied in terms of varied exposed crystal facet,thickness and conductivity.Different piezocatalytic performances are attributed to magnitude and distribution of piezoelectric potential,revealed by the finite element method(FEM)simulation.The density functional theory(DFT)calculations are employed to investigate the piezocatalytic hydrogen evolution process,indicating a strong H₂O adsorption and a low energy barrier for both H₂O dissociation and H2 generation on the stressed Znterminated(0001)ZnO surface.     

Room-temperature spin-transition iron compounds

Abstract  Since the discovery of the spin transition phenomenon in tris(N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamato) iron(III) complexes [1], numerous investigations have been devoted to this field of molecular magnetism. The spin transition phenomenon is probably the most spectacular example of bistability in molecular chemistry. However, it is a challenge to obtain spin transition materials when working under ambient conditions (e.g. room temperature and pressure), which would be highly advantageous for potential applications. So far, only some Fe(II) and Fe(III) molecular systems have shown temperature-induced spin transitions around and even above room temperature. Within this review we discuss the characteristics of this class of bistable compounds in detail and we try to draw more general conclusions regarding the integration, implementation and application of spin transition compounds as switching elements in hybrid molecular devices. Graphical abstract        

Room-temperature spin-transition iron compounds

Abstract  

Since the discovery of the spin transition phenomenon in tris(N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamato) iron(III) complexes [1], numerous investigations have been devoted to this field of molecular magnetism. The spin transition phenomenon is probably the most spectacular example of bistability in molecular chemistry. However, it is a challenge to obtain spin transition materials when working under ambient conditions (e.g. room temperature and pressure), which would be highly advantageous for potential applications. So far, only some Fe(II) and Fe(III) molecular systems have shown temperature-induced spin transitions around and even above room temperature. Within this review we discuss the characteristics of this class of bistable compounds in detail and we try to draw more general conclusions regarding the integration, implementation and application of spin transition compounds as switching elements in hybrid molecular devices.     

室温离子液体中合成方钠石的研究

本文以离子液体为溶剂, 在常压下采用离子液体热合成方法合成了方钠石分子筛.     

Polyamidoamine dendrimers-assisted electrodeposition of gold-platinum bimetallic nanoflowers

Novel Au-Pt bimetallic flower nanostructures fabricated on a polyamidoamine dendrimers-modified surface by electrodeposition are reported. These polyamidoamine dendrimers were stable, and they assisted the formation of Au-Pt bimetallic nanoflowers during the electrodeposition process. These nanoflowers were characterized by field-emitted scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical methods. FE-SEM images showed that the bimetallic nanoflower included two parts: the "light" and the "pale" part. The two parts consisted of many small bimetallic nanoparticles, which was attributed to the progressive nucleation process. Moreover, the "light" part contained more bimetallic nanoparticles. The morphologies of bimetallic nanoflowers depended on the electrodeposition time and potential and the layer number of assembled dendrimers. The average size of nanoflowers increased with the increase in electrodeposition time. The layer number of assembled dendrimers obviously affected the size and morphologies of the "pale" parts of deposited nanoflowers. EDS and XPS indicated that the content of Au element was higher than that of Pt element in the nanoflowers. The bimetallic nanoflowers-modified electrode had electrochemical properties similar to those of bare gold and platinum electrodes. It also exhibited significant electrocatalytic activities toward oxygen reduction.