Synthesis and characterization of flowerlike ZnO nanostructures via an ethylenediamine-meditated solution route

Flowerlike ZnO nanostructures were deposited on Si substrate by choosing hexamethylenetetramine as the nucleation control reagent and ethylenediamine as the chelating and capping reagent. Structural and optical measurements reveal that obtained ZnO exhibits well-defined flowerlike morphology, hexagonal wurtzite structure, uniform distribution on substrate, and strong photoluminescence in ultraviolet band. The well-arrayed pedals of each ZnO flower possess the typical tapering feature, and are built up by many well-aligned ZnO nanorods. Moreover, each single nanorod building up the pedal exhibits the single crystal nature and the growth direction along c-axis. Effects of the precursor composition on the morphology of ZnO were discussed.     

Liquid crystals alignment with PbS nanosculptured thin films

Lead sulphide (PbS) nano-sculptured thin films (nSTFs) are prepared for the first time using glancing angle deposition technique by physical vapour deposition process. An anisotropic morphology is obtained, which provides an orientational effect. Due to this anisotropic nature of PbS nSTF an attempt has been made to check its effect on the alignment of nematic liquid crystals (LCs). Two different LC devices were fabricated, that is, anti-parallel aligned or electrically-controlled birefringence and hybrid twisted nematic. It is noticed that in both types of devices, good alignment is obtained with high extinction and contrast. A significant effect of these alignments on the electro-optic properties of the LC is reported such as the threshold voltage, response time and contrast ratio.     

Synthesis of Y-type hexaferrites via a soft mechanochemical route

Y-type (Ba₂Co₂Fe₁₂O₂₂) hexaferrite precursors have been prepared via a soft mechanochemical route from mixtures comprising BaCO₃, Co(OH)₂ and α-FeOOH. The mixture was activated with a multi-ring type mill for varying duration. The chemical and structural changes during grinding were examined in detail by XRD, DTA-TG, SEM, XPS and FTIR. During grinding, extended crystallinity loss or lattice disturbance was observed without an emersion of any new crystalline phases. At the same time, electronic states were changed toward the final product, fully crystallized Y-phase ferrite. Mechanical activation for only 1 h was sufficient to obtain a precursor for phase pure Y-type by subsequent heating in air at temperatures as low as 1000 °C. Development of plate-like anisotropy by using a precursor with prolonged milling was also observed. Magnetic permeability, μ′, was ca. 3 at 1 GHz, equivalent to the reported data, in spite of the lower firing temperature.     

Synthesis of dandelion-like three-dimensional nickel nanostructures via solvothermal route

The objectives of the present research are synthesizing three-dimensional （3D） nickel nanostructures and investigating their magnetic properties. Thus a template-free method was used to prepare 3D dandelion-like nickel nanostructures via reducing of nickel chloride with hydrazine hydrate in ethylene glycol solution at 100 ℃. The resulting Ni nanostructures were characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and selected-area electron diffraction （SAED）. And the magnetic properties of the 3D Ni nanostructures were measured as well. Results indicated that solvothermal process could be successfully used to prepare 3D dandelion-like nanostructures of Ni at a relatively mild temperature of 100℃. And the conclusions were made as follows： as-prepared Ni samples had obvious shape anisotropy and were composed of fine nanocrystallites, while they had significantly enhanced ferromagnetic properties than bulk Ni and Ni nanoparticles.     

液相合成方形PbS纳米晶的光学特性

采用一种简单、温和的液相合成方法制备了PbS纳米晶，利用透射电镜和高分辨透射电镜对PbS纳米晶的形貌与晶型结构进行了表征．研究了PbS纳米晶的光学吸收和光致发光特性，并比较分析了包覆剂聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)和回流时间对产物光学特性的影响．结果表明：PVP分子链中的O原子与纳米晶表面吸附的游离态Pb原子形成Pb-O配位键，使产物的激子吸收大为减弱，同时引起了表面浅束缚态能量的升高，最终导致了荧光淬灭现象．     

Preparation of hollow carbon nanospheres at low temperature via new reaction route

Hollow carbon nanospheres were obtained at 200 °C via a new reaction route, by using magnesium, hexachloroethane and aluminum trichloride as starting materials and benzene as solvent. The products were characterized with X-ray diffraction pattern, transmission electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscope images and Raman spectrum. The reaction conditions are easy to be maintained and controlled. They may provide a new method to produce other carbonaceous materials. A possible mechanism of reaction was proposed.     

Facile evolution of asymmetric organocatalysts in water assisted by surfactant Brønsted acids

Simple mixing of chiral amines and surfactant Brønsted acids such as p-dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) leads to highly effective and selective organocatalysts in water. The in situ generated catalysts catalyze highly stereoselective desymmetrization of prochiral ketones via direct aldol reactions (up to >16:1 dr, >99% ee) in water using micelle as reaction media. The current strategy was also applied in asymmetric Michael addition leading to a catalytic system with good activity and stereoselectivity.     

Phase evolution of lead titanate from its amorphous precursor synthesized by the OPM wet-chemical route

Lead titanate was synthesized by the OPM wet-chemical route by the dissolution of Ti metal in H₂O₂ followed by the addition of Pb²⁺ at high pH, resulting in a reactive and amorphous precipitate with (Pb:Ti=1:1) mole ratio, which was heat treated between 400°C and 700°C. The amorphous precipitate was characterized by DSC, and all of the powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman and XAS (EXAFS and XANES) spectroscopy at the Ti K edge. A metastable, stoichiometric and cubic pyrochlore phase (Pb₂Ti₂O₆, Fd3m) was identified by XRD and Raman spectroscopy up to approx. 450°C. Only tetragonal PbTiO₃ was identified at higher temperatures. XAS spectra showed that the local structure around the absorbing Ti atom of the intermediate pyrochlore phase is similar to that observed in the amorphous precursor. This fact indicates that the metastable intermediate pyrochlore (Pb₂Ti₂O₆) is kinetically favored to be formed because of its similarity to the amorphous precipitate, instead of the slightly different and thermodynamically favored tetragonal (PbTiO₃, P4/mmm) perovskite structure that is only formed at higher temperatures, after the crystallization of the metastable intermediate pyrochlore.     

Hierarchical ZSM-5 catalyst synthesized by a Triton X-100 assisted hydrothermal method

ZSM-5 zeolite with a hexagonal cubic morphology was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using Triton X-100, a nonionic surfactant. The samples prepared with and without the surfactant were characteriz...     

水热法制备的LuFeO3晶粒的超声催化活性

超声波在水中传播时会产生大量空化气泡,空化气泡经历成核、生长和瞬间崩塌等过程,并在崩塌瞬间产生局部高温和高压,过程中会发出瞬间闪光,即声致发光.局部高温高压及声致发光可将半导体价带上的电子激发至导带,形成电子/空穴对,电子和空穴迁移至半导体颗粒表面,参与一系列氧化还原反应致使有机污染物发生分解.由于超声波在各种液体中都具有很强的穿透能力,因此与半导体光催化技术相比,半导体超声催化技术在降解高浓度和不透明染料废水时具有明显优势. LuFeO3是稀土正铁氧体中的一员,具有独特磁结构、巨介电常数及多铁性,近年来引起了人们极大的研究兴趣.同时, LuFeO3也是一种窄带隙半导体材料,使其可以作为一种潜在的超声催化剂,但相关报道很少.半导体材料的晶粒尺寸及形貌对其超声催化活性的影响非常大,因此制备出不同晶粒尺寸及形貌的LuFeO3颗粒并研究其超声催化性能具有重要意义.目前LuFeO3的主要制备方法为传统的固相反应法,该法需要反复研磨和高温煅烧使原料彻底反应,而且制备出的颗粒尺寸较大,相互粘连严重,形貌难以控制.在众多纳米材料制备方法中,水热法在调控晶粒尺寸及形貌上具有巨大优势.本课题组曾采用水热法成功制备了单相的LuFeO3颗粒,通过改变NaOH浓度,可以对产物的晶粒尺寸及形貌进行调控.基于此,本文以酸性橙(AO7)、罗丹明B (RhB)、甲基橙(MO)和亚甲基蓝(MB)为目标降解物,考察了水热法所制备的LuFeO3颗粒在超声辐照下的超声催化性能,并系统研究了晶粒尺寸及形貌、无机离子和乙醇对LuFeO3颗粒超声催化活性的影响及LuFeO3颗粒重复利用性能.以对苯二甲酸(TPA)为分子荧光探针,采用光致发光(PL)技术检测在超声辐照下LuFeO3反应液中产生羟基自由基(?OH)的情况,探讨了LuFeO3颗粒的超声催化机理.超声催化反应结果表明,采用水热法制备的LuFeO3颗粒在超声辐照下表现出良好的超声催化活性.在NaOH浓度为0.625 mol/L时制备的LuFeO3颗粒尺寸最小,表现出最好的超声催化活性;经过30 min超声催化反应后,AO7,RhB,MO和MB的超声降解率分别为89%,82%,73%和67%.加入Cl?, NO3?, SO42?, PO43?和HCO3?对LuFeO3颗粒的超声催化活性有抑制作用.向反应液中加入2%(v/v)乙醇后, LuFeO3颗粒在超声辐照下对AO7几乎没有降解,表明?OH在超声催化中起重要作用.重复回收实验结果表明, AO7的降解率随着循环次数增加有所下降,这可能是由于催化剂回收时的损失所致.尽管如此,催化剂仍能保持较高的催化活性,经4次循环后,反应30min时AO7的降解率为65%.PL结果表明, LuFeO3颗粒在超声催化反应中产生了大量的?OH,添加乙醇可以消耗?OH并抑制染料的超声催化降解.由此可见,?OH是超声催化降解RhB的主要活性物种.我们对LuFeO3导带和价带的电位进行了估算,从热力学角度对LuFeO3颗粒超声催化降解染料的机理做出了初步解释.     

Application of surfactant assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for sample preparation of chlorophenols in water samples

A simple, rapid, and efficient method, based on surfactant assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (SA-DLLME), followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed for the extraction and determination of chlorophenols as model compounds in environmental water samples. A conventional cationic surfactant called cethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a disperser agent in the proposed approach. Thirty-five microliter of 1-octanol as an extraction solvent was injected rapidly into 11 mL aqueous sample containing 0.09 mmol L⁻¹ of CTAB, the mixture was then shaken for 3 min to disperse the organic phase. Having the extraction procedure been completed, the mixture was centrifuged and 20 μL of collected phase was injected into HPLC for subsequent analysis. Some parameters such as the type and volume of the extraction solvent, the type and concentration of surfactant, pH, ionic strength, shaking time, extraction temperature and centrifugation time were optimized. The preconcentration factors (PFs) in a range of 187-353 were obtained under the optimum conditions. The linear range, detection limit (S/N = 3), and precision (n = 5) were 0.2-200, 0.1 μg L⁻¹, and 4.7-6.9%, respectively. Tap water, sea water and mineral water samples were successfully analyzed for the existence of chlorophenols using the proposed method.     

Evaluation of surfactant assisted pressurized liquid extraction for the determination of glycyrrhizin and ephedrine in medicinal plants

Surfactant assisted pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with a laboratory made system was applied for the extraction of glycyrrhizin in Radix glycyrrhizae/liquorice and ephedrine in Ephedra sinica. The proposed system set-up for this current work was simpler as no heating and back pressure regulator was required. Extraction with surfactant assisted PLE was carried out dynamically at a flow of 1.5 mL min⁻¹, at room temperature, under an applied pressure of 10-20 bar with an extraction time of 45-50 min. The extraction efficiencies of the proposed method using surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100 were compared with sonication using organic solvent for different batches of medicinal plants materials. For the determination of glycyrrhizin in R. glycyrrhizae, the extraction efficiencies of surfactant assisted PLE with SDS and Triton X-100 was observed to be comparable with sonication. The method precision was found to vary from 1.6 to 2.6% (R.S.D., n = 6) on different days. For ephedrine in E. sinica, surfactant assisted PLE with SDS was found to give higher extraction efficiencies compared to Triton X-100. The overall method precision for surfactant assisted PLE with SDS for ephedrine in E. sinica was found to vary from 1.5 to 4.1% (R.S.D., n = 6) on different days. The marker compounds present in the various medicinal plant extracts were determined by gradient elution HPLC. Our data showed the possibility of PLE at room temperature and the advantages of eliminating the use of organic solvents in the extraction process.     

Exploration on the microwave‐assisted synthesis and formation mechanism of polyaniline nanostructures synthesized in different hydrochloric acid concentrations

Under microwave‐assisted synthesis, polyaniline (PANI) products with multiple nanostructures were synthesized by the oxidative polymerization of aniline and ammonium peroxodisulfate in the different concentrations of hydrochloric acid solutions. The structural analysis of PANI using FTIR, UV, and XPS indicated that phenazine‐like oligomers were produced in acid‐free and low acidic systems. Moreover, long linear PANI chains were obtained in the presence of highly acidic solutions. The morphology of PANI observed by SEM and TEM showed that nanoscale structures, including stacked sheets, nanotubes, branched nanofibers, and uniform nanofibers, occurred respectively in acid‐free solution, low acidity, medium and high acidity systems, effectively regulating by acidity. The formation mechanism of PANI nanostructures was explored here. The sheets were formed by the oligomers containing flat phenazine rings that can be stacked together with strong π–π interactions. Furthermore, nanotubes were fabricated by the self‐curling of thin sheets consisted of phenazine‐like oligomers with numerous linear units in the chains. The nanofibers are supposed to form by the linear PANI chains and the secondary growth during aniline polymerization caused the branch formation on the nanofibers. All results indicate that acidity, rather than microwave assistance, is the critical factor that determines the polymerization mechanism and the final nanostructure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3357–3369     

利用双模板剂的多级孔ZSM-11分子筛的合成、表征和催化性能

ZSM-11与ZSM-5分子筛具有相似的孔道结构,通常表现出相似的催化性能,但近年来的研究发现,ZSM-11分子筛在某些反应过程具有明显优于ZSM-5的催化性能,因而逐渐引起科研界和工业界的广泛重视.但受其微孔尺寸的限制,在使用过程中往往容易积碳,并导致快速失活.为此,向微孔体系引入介孔制备多级孔ZSM-11分子筛是一种规避上述问题的有效方式.我们研究组前期已对分子筛进行碱处理脱硅及在该体系中加入CTAB制备多级孔分子筛进行了系统研究.在此基础上本文通过改变介孔模板剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)和微孔模板剂四丁基溴化铵(TBABr)的摩尔比(R),采用一步法制备了一系列多级孔ZSM-11分子筛材料,并通过多种表征手段对材料的性质进行了系统研究.随着R值的增加,广角XRD测试结果表明,产物的结晶度逐渐下降,同时小角XRD测试结果表明产物中逐渐产生有序介孔相; XRF测试结果表明,产物的总包硅铝比呈上升趋势; SEM表征结果表明,首先棒状纳米晶团聚体形貌的ZSM-11分子筛的晶粒尺寸逐渐降低,随后晶粒之间插入无定形样品,直至最终产物几乎完全为无定形材料构成; TEM图片与上述表征结果一致,样品初始晶格条纹清晰且晶粒边缘规整,随后晶粒边缘开始弯曲不平,接着晶体样品中开始产生有序介孔材料,最终几乎完全变为有序介孔材料.综合上述表征结果和相关文献可推测,该有序介孔材料为类MCM-41材料.另外,我们采用N2物理吸附对材料的织构性质进行了考察,发现随着R值增大,产物的微孔减少,介孔增多.然而TEM结果表明,在类MCM-41产生之前,样品中介孔的增多并非来源于晶内孔,而是来源于晶粒之间的堆积孔,这是由于在合成过程中CTAB胶束嵌入ZSM-11的晶粒之间所导致.合成体系的碱度对产物的物化性质和织构性质也起了非常重要的作用.我们将这个体系与NaOH+CTAB对分子筛进行脱硅后处理体系进行了对比,发现虽然前者只能产生晶间孔而后者可产生晶内孔,但碱度对两者的作用相似,即降低碱度均可导致类MCM-41有序介孔相的产生.此外,还通过NH3-TPD和Py-IR技术对材料的酸性进行了考察.基于上述研究结果,提出了多级孔ZSM-11分子筛的形成机理.随着R值的变化,CTAB分别起了覆盖效应、胶束效应和模板效应.这些效应在合成多级孔ZSM-11分子筛过程中相互协同,同时又与TBABr的结构导向效应相互竞争,进而影响合成产物的孔结构、形貌、酸性以及用于二甲醚和苯烷基化的催化性能.     

Preparation and self-assembly of copper nanoparticles via discharge of copper rod electrodes in a surfactant solution: a combination of physical and chemical processes

Cu nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 10-15 nm were prepared and self-assembled via discharge of bulk copper rods in a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/ascorbic acid solution. Ascorbic acid was used as a protective agent to prevent the nascent Cu nanoparticles from oxidation in the solution; otherwise spindle-like Cu₂O/CuO structures, with a lateral dimension of 30-50 nm and length of up to 100 nm, were formed in pure deionized water. The surfactant CTAB had a critical influence on self-assembly of spherical Cu nanostructures (with diameter of 700 nm-1 μm). Such a low-temperature and non-vacuum method, exhibiting the characters of both physical and chemical processes, provides a versatile choice for economical preparation and assembly of various metal nanostructures.     

Structural,optical and photoelectron spectroscopic studies of nano/micro ZnO:Cd rods synthesized via sol-gel route

Thin films of cadmium doped zinc oxide rod like microstructure have been synthesized by a very simple sol-gel dip coating technique. Sols were prepared from hydrated zinc oxide precursor and 2-methoxyethanol solvent with monoethanolamine as a sol stabilizer. XRD pattern confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of the deposited ZnO films. Surface morphologies of the films have been studied by a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope, which confirmed that the films are composed of densely packed randomly oriented nano/submicron rods with diameter in the range 300–400 nm having various lengths. We proposed a possible growth mechanism for this rodlike structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study was used to determine the binding energies and the Zn 2p3/2, Cd 3d5 and O 1s peaks in the XPS spectra were located at 1021.08 eV, 404.6 eV and 529.8 eV respectively, which confirmed the Cd doping in ZnO. Cadmium content in the film was estimated both from energy dispersive X-ray analysis and XPS measurement. Band gap energy determined from optical transmittance spectra systematically varied from 3.28 eV to 3.15 eV for 0% to 5.6% of Cd doping. Urbach parameter determined from the band tail of the transmittance spectra showed that it increased with doping percentage and this parameter for a fixed cadmium doping level decreased with increase of temperature.     

Synthesis and electrical characterization of Li0.30Ca0.35TaO3 perovskite synthesized via a polymerized complex route

The synthesis of Li_0.30Ca_0.35TaO₃ perovskite by a Pechini-type polymerizable precursor method is carefully described. The thermal decomposition of the precursor and the formation of a pure perovskite phase were investigated by means of differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetric analysis (DTA-TGA) and XRD techniques. A pure and well-crystallized phase has been obtained at a lower temperature and with a much shorter synthesis time than the phase obtained by conventional solid-state reaction method. The morphology of the powder after heating at 1300 °C was observed by laser granulometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Impedance spectroscopy data allowed us to determine the electrical properties, i.e., permittivity and dc-conductivity, of the bulk and grain boundaries. The results are discussed on the assumption of the brick layer model.     

A novel microwave assisted reverse micelle fabrication route for Th (IV)‐MOFs as highly efficient adsorbent nanostructures with controllable structural properties to CO and CH4 adsorption: Design,and a systematic study

Reducing gas contaminants by affordable and effective adsorbents is a major challenge in the 21^st century. In the present study, thorium metal organic framework (Th‐MOF) nanostructures are introduced as highly efficient adsorbents. These compounds were manufactured via a novel route resulting from the development of microwave assisted reverse micelle (MARM) and ultrasound assisted reverse micelle (UARM) methods. The products were characterized utilizing XRD, SEM, TGA/DSC, BET, and FT‐IR analyses. Based on the results, the samples synthesized by MARM had uniform size distribution, high thermal stability, and significant surface area. Calculations using DFT/B3LYP indicated that the compounds have a tendency to the polymeric form, which could theoretically confirm the formation of Th‐MOF. Results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that synthesis parameters played a critical role in the manufacturing of products with distinctive properties. Response surface methodology (RSM) predicted the possibility of creating Th‐MOF adsorbents with the surface area of 2579 m²/g, which was a considerable value in comparison with the properties of other adsorbents. Adsorption studies showed that, in the optimum conditions, the Th‐MOF products had high adsorption capacity for CO and CH₄. It is believed that the synthesis protocol developed in the present study and the systematic studies conducted on the samples which lead to products with ideal adsorption properties.