Optical,electrical, and thermal insulation properties of antimony-doped tin oxide nanoparticles prepared by frozen gel method

Antimony doped tin dioxide (ATO) nanoparticles with different Sb doping contents were prepared by freeze-drying the precursor gel and then calcined procedure. The obtained ATO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, optical and electrical techniques. Results indicated that ATO with 10 mol% Sb doping is optimal, with which had the lowest resistivity and highest transmittance in visible region as well as narrow particle size distribution. Thermal insulation properties of ATO/waterborne polyurethane (WPU) films coating on the glass substrates with different thickness were studied on a DIY heat insulating measurement box and showed that the glass coated with ATO/WPU films possessed better heat-insulating effect than empty glass .     

Spectroelectrochemistry of cytochrome c and azurin immobilized in nanoporous antimony-doped tin oxide

Stable immobilization of two redox proteins, cytochrome c and azurin, in a thin film of highly mesoporous antimony-doped tin oxide is demonstrated via UV-vis spectroscopic and electrochemical investigation.     

Preparation of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal doped with indium tin oxide nanoparticles

To study polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films doped with indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles (NPs), samples were prepared by ultraviolet-initiated polymerisation based on the thiol–acrylate system. Owing to the interaction between PDLC system and ITO NPs, the content and the size of ITO NPs are the main determinants to the microstructure which plays an essential role on the electro-optical and anti-infrared properties of the PDLC films. In the polymer matrix, a novel microstructure consisting of a dense surface, micron-sized meshes and submicron meshes is found to benefit the better performances of the low driven voltage (20.7 V), the relatively high contrast ratio (8.3) and the lowest transmittance(500–2500 nm) on average at about 3.55% with maximum of merely 7.6%. Thus, it lays a solid foundation for the further investigations on the microstructure and the performance of the PDLC films. Meanwhile, it is proved that the PDLC film, improved performance through doping ITO NPs, is promising to be a superior choice in the field of energy-saving.     

Synthesis of tin and tin oxide nanoparticles of low size dispersity for application in gas sensing

Nanocomposite core-shell particles that consist of a Sn0 core surrounded by a thin layer of tin oxides have been prepared by thermolysis of [(Sn(NMe2)2)2] in anisole that contains small, controlled amounts of water. The particles were characterized by means of electronic microscopies (TEM, HRTEM, SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The TEM micrographs show spherical nanoparticles, the size and size distribution of which depends on the initial experimental conditions of temperature, time, water concentration, and tin precursor concentration. Nanoparticles of 19 nm median size and displaying a narrow size distribution have been obtained with excellent yield in the optimized conditions. HRTEM, XPS, XRD and Mossbauer studies indicate the composite nature of the particles that consist of a well-crystallized tin beta core of approximately equals 11 nm covered with a layer of approximately equals 4 nm of amorphous tin dioxide and which also contain quadratic tin monoxide crystallites. The thermal oxidation of this nanocomposite yields well-crystallized nanoparticles of SnO2* without coalescence or size change. XRD patterns show that the powder consists of a mixture of two phases: the tetragonal cassiterite phase, which is the most abundant, and an orthorhombic phase. In agreement with the small SnO2 particle size, the relative intensity of the adsorbed dioxygen peak observed on the XPS spectrum is remarkable, when compared with that observed in the case of larger SnO2 particles. This is consistent with electrical conductivity measurements, which demonstrate that this material is highly sensitive to the presence of a reducing gas such as carbon monoxide.     

Preparation of manganese oxide nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of nanostructured manganese carbonate

MnO and Mn₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared in air and argon atmosphere by thermal decomposition of nanocrystalline manganese carbonate synthesized by reaction of manganese(II) nitrate with glycerol. Samples were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, simultaneous thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. Average sizes of prepared nanoparticles were calculated from XRD patterns using Scherrer equation. Also, the conditions for decomposition of manganese carbonate were optimized to obtain optimal nanoparticle sizes. Due to suitable sizes of prepared nanoparticles and the initial material, this method can be used in a wide range of industrial applications.     

Polyol-mediated synthesis of ultrafine tin oxide nanoparticles for reversible Li-ion storage

A simple, cheap and versatile, polyol-mediated fabrication method has been extended to the synthesis of tin oxide nanoparticles on a large scale. Ultrafine SnO₂ nanoparticles with crystallite sizes of less than 5 nm were realized by refluxing SnCl₂ · 2H₂O in ethylene glycol at 195 °C for 4 h under vigorous stirring in air. The as-prepared SnO₂ nanoparticles exhibited enhanced Li-ion storage capability and cyclability, demonstrating a specific capacity of 400 mAh g⁻¹ beyond 100 cycles.     

Synthesis of transparent and thermally stable polycyanurates and their thermal rearrangement

Transparent and thermally stable polycyanurates, whose solubility can be changed by thermal rearrangement, have been synthesized as functional films used in the multilayer coating process. Before the synthesis of polycyanurates, the model compound, 2,6‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)?6‐methoxy‐1,3,5‐triazine as a cyanurate is prepared and rearranged to an isocyanurate, 1,3‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)?5‐methyl‐1,3,5‐triazinane‐2,4,6‐trione in an excellent yield by thermal treatment. Based on this result, polycyanurates are prepared by the phase‐transfer‐catalyzed polycondensation of 2,4‐dichloro‐6‐methoxy‐1,3,5‐triazine with bisphenol monomers in the presence of quaternary ammonium salts. The polycyanurate obtained from 9,9‐bis(hydroxyphenyl)fluorene exhibits a high glass transition temperature at 251 °C. The solubility of polycyanurate films containing 1 wt % of tetrabutylammonium bromide can be changed by thermal rearrangement. The partially rearranged films keep high transparency and low birefringence. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3950–3955     

A novel chelating acid-assisted thermolysis procedure for preparation of tin oxide nanoparticles

Pure tin dioxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles were synthesized via thermolysis of tin phthalate and tin oxalate in the presence of oleic acid (OA) as solvent. Oleic acid (OA) was employed as an organic solvent, which can be applied to control particle growth and to stabilize the particles. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The orthorhombic phase SnO₂ nanoparticles with average size about 12 nm were synthesized through thermolysis of tin phthalate in the presence of oleic acid.     

Preparation of lead and tin oxide thin films by spin coating and their application on the electrodegradation of organic pollutants

In this work, lead and tin oxide films (Pb _x O _y /SnO₂) were prepared, using the spin coating technique. The influence of the temperature and duration of the thermal treatment on the final film composition were analysed. The metallic oxide films that were prepared, Pb _x O _y /SnO₂, were characterized by means of XRD, SEM/EDS and cyclic voltammetry. When different experimental preparation conditions were used different lead oxide phases were obtained. The electrochemical studies show that the films are stable and can be used as electrodes. Finally the films were tested as electrodes for the electrochemical degradation of a CHCl₃ aqueous solution.     

Renewable and optically transparent electroactive indium tin oxide surfaces for chemoselective ligand immobilization and biospecific cell adhesion

In this report, we show the successful transfer of a sophisticated electroactive immobilization and release strategy to an indium tin oxide (ITO) surface to generate (1) optically transparent, robust, and renewable surfaces, (2) inert surfaces that resist nonspecific protein adsorption and cell attachment, and (3) tailored biospecific surfaces for live-cell high-resolution fluorescence microscopy of cell culture. By comparing the surface chemistry properties on both ITO and gold surfaces, we demonstrate the ITO surfaces are superior to gold as a renewable surface, in robustness (durability), and as an optically transparent material for live-cell fluorescence microscopy studies of cell behavior. These advantages will make ITO surfaces a desired platform for numerous biosensor and microarray applications and as model substrates for various cell biological studies.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of stable aqueous dispersion of silver nanoparticles

A facile approach for the synthesis of stable aqueous dispersion of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using glucose as the reducing agent in water/micelles system, in which cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as capping agent (stabilizer) is described. The evolution of plasmon band of AgNPs was monitored under different conditions such as (a) concentration of sodium hydroxide, (b) concentration of glucose, (c) concentration of silver nitrate (d) concentration of CTAB, and (e) reaction time. AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fluorescence spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. The results revealed an easy and viable strategy for obtaining stable aqueous dispersion of AgNPs with well controlled shape and size below 30 nm in diameter.     

Preparation and characterization of aqueous colloids of Pt-Ru nanoparticles

A synthetic method for platinum-ruthenium (PtRu) nanoparticles in aqueous media is proposed. This method employs citric acid as a capping agent and NaBH(4) as a reducing agent with the aid of pH control. The number-averaged size of the PtRu nanoparticles was ca. 2 nm. The crystal phase and chemical composition of the nanoparticles was investigated by X-ray diffraction measurement and scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, which indicated that the nanoparticles mainly consisted of an alloy of Pt and Ru. Electrochemical measurement showed that the PtRu nanoparticles had catalytic activity for methanol oxidation.     

低压供热涂层材料制备及热性能研究

低压供热技术具有安全系数高和节能降耗等优势,因而成为石化稠油长输管线、风力发电叶片冬季防覆冰和室内供暖等领域的研究热点之一。本文制备了一系列低压供热涂层材料,研究不同碳功能填料对涂层发热速率、发热功率及最高发热温度的影响规律,并揭示石墨烯和碳纤维对提升涂层材料热性能的协同作用。其中石墨烯纳米片的还原程度对材料热性能具有重要影响,降低其表面官能团密度对提升涂层供热特性具有促进作用,但是官能团密度过低会导致石墨烯纳米片的团聚现象,引起涂层发热不均匀。加入适量碳纤维可以提高石墨烯的均匀分散性,提升发热速率。优化石墨烯纳米片和碳纤维的比例后,采用24V电压驱动时,涂层材料的发热速率达到7.1℃·s^-1,功率密度为800W·m^-2,最高发热温度为124℃。     

Preparation and thermal properties of a novel flame-retardant coating

A novel silicone and phosphate modified acrylate (DGTH) was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR. It was found that DGTH could be cured both by UV radiation and moisture mode with FTIR. The flammability and thermal behavior of the cured film were studied by the limited oxygen index (LOI), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and real time Fourier transform infrared (RT-FTIR). The LOI value of the cured film is 48 and the TG data shows that the cured film has three characteristic degradation temperature regions, attributing to the decomposition of phosphate and polyurethane to alcohols and isocyanates, thermal pyrolysis of alkyl chains, and decomposition of unstable structures in char, respectively. The RT-FTIR data implies that the degraded products of phosphate form poly(phosphoric acid) further catalyse the breakage of carbonyl groups to form an intumescent char, preventing the samples from further burning.     

Combined ATRP and 'click' chemistry for designing stable tumor-targeting superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Important issues in the design of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) for cancer diagnosis include stability under physiological conditions and specificity in targeting the cancer cells. In the present study, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to graft SPIONs with poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (SPIONs-P(GMA-co-PEGMA)). The PEGMA in the copolymer chain confers high stability to the nanoparticles in aqueous medium, and prevents recognition by macrophages with the aim of prolonging their in vivo circulation time. The GMA groups were used for conjugating the cancer targeting ligand, folic acid (FA), via 'click' chemistry. Using this method, the amount of FA conjugated to the nanoparticles (SPIONs-P(GMA-co-PEGMA)-FA) can be readily controlled. The specificity of cellular uptake of the nanoparticles by three different cell lines was investigated. The cellular iron uptake by KB cells (human epidermoid carcinoma) after 24 h of incubation is about thirteen and five times higher than those by 3T3 fibroblasts and macrophages, respectively. No significant cytotoxicity was observed with these three types of cells. The high targeting efficiency and biocompatibility of these nanoparticles are promising features for in vivo specific targeting and detection of tumor cells which overexpress the folate receptor.     

Mechanism for the formation of tin oxide nanoparticles and nanowires inside the mesopores of SBA-15

The formation of polycrystalline tin oxide nanoparticles (NP) and nanowires was investigated using nanocasting approach included solid-liquid strategy for insertion of SnCl₂ precursor and SBA-15 silica as a hard template. HR-TEM and XRD revealed that during the thermal treatment in air 5 nm tin oxide NP with well defined Cassiterite structure were formed inside the SBA-15 matrix mesopores at 250 °C. After air calcination at 700 °C the NP assembled inside the SBA-15 mesopores as polycrystalline nanorods with different orientation of atomic layers in jointed nanocrystals. It was found that the structure silanols of silica matrix play a vital role in creating the tin oxide NP at low temperature. The pure tin chloride heated in air at 250 °C did not react with oxygen to yield tin oxide. Tin oxide NP were also formed during the thermal treatment of the tin chloride loaded SBA-15 in helium atmosphere at 250 °C. Hence, it is well evident that silanols present in the silica matrix not only increase the wetting of tin chloride over the surface of SBA-15 favoring its penetration to the matrix pores, but also react with hydrated tin chloride according to the proposed scheme to give tin oxide inside the mesopores. It was confirmed by XRD, N₂-adsorption, TGA-DSC and FTIR spectra. This phenomenon was further corroborated by detecting the inhibition of SnO₂ NP formation at 250 °C after inserting the tin precursor to SBA-15 with reduced silanols concentration partially grafted with tin chloride.     

Surfactant-assisted synthesis and characterization of stable silver bromide nanoparticles in aqueous media

Colloidal dispersions of silver bromide (AgBr) in aqueous surfactant medium have been prepared using a surfactant-assisted synthesis approach with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The surfactant acts both as source of bromide ion as well as the stabilizing agent. Upon progressive addition of silver nitrate to aqueous CTAB solution, stable AgBr dispersions were obtained. Formation of surfactant cation (CTA(+)) stabilized AgBr was confirmed by way of XRD, FTIR and NMR studies. Thermal behavior of the isolated nanoparticles was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), where the occurrence of phase transition in the surfactant-stabilized nanoparticles was observed. Kinetics of the particle growth was investigated by dynamic light scattering measurements, which predicted the formation of surfactant bilayered structures associated with the nanoparticles of AgBr. Band gap of the nanoparticles was determined by suitably analyzing the UV-visible spectral data, which concluded that the particles behaved like insulators. Morphology of the particles, studied by TEM measurements, was found to be spherical. Finally, enthalpy of formation of surfactant-stabilized AgBr, determined calorimetrically, was found to be dependent on the concentration of the precursors.     

Preparation and characterization of stable monodisperse silver nanoparticles via photoreduction

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by UV irradiation of [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ aqueous solution using poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) as both reducing and stabilizing agents. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed from the appearance of surface plasmon absorption maxima around 420 nm. It was found that the formation rate of silver nanoparticles from Ag₂O was much quicker than that from AgNO₃, and the absorption intensity increased with PVP concentration as well as irradiation time. The maximum absorption wavelength (λ_max) was blue shift with increasing PVP content until 8 times concentration of [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ (wt%). The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the resultant particles were 4–6 nm in size, monodisperse and uniform particle size distribution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the colloidal nanoparticles were the pure silver. In addition, the silver nanoparticles prepared by the method were stable in aqueous solution over a period of 6 months at room temperature (25 °C).     

A low temperature processable tin oxide interlayer via aminemodification for efficient and stable organic solar cells

The exploitation of proper electron transport layers(ETLs)and interface optimization can play a pivotal role to promote the performance of organic solar cells(OSCs).In this work,low temperature processable tin oxide(SnO₂)colloidal nanoparticles with ethanolamine(EA)treatment are successfully employed for efficient and stable OSCs with light soaking free.The EA is chemically bonded with SnO₂,and the ethanolamine treated tin oxide(E-SnO₂)layer delivers a suitable work function of 4.10 eV and a unique surface texture with suspended polar moieties.The enhanced performance of E-SnO₂ based OSCs can be attributed to the improved charge transport and electron extraction,which is correlated with the regulated energy level alignment and contact quality of E-SnO₂/active layer.As a result,considerable power conversion efficiencies(PCEs)of 10.30%,13.93%and 15.38%for PTB7-Th/PC₇₁ BM,PM7/ITC6-4 F and PM6/Y6 based OSCs have been realized with E-SnO₂ as ETL,respectively.Compared with ZnO based devices,the E-SnO₂ based OSCs exhibit an improved light aging stability,which can retain 94.3%of their initial PCE of 15.38%after 100 h light aging for E-SnO₂/PM6/Y6 based OSCs.This work demonstrates that the enormous potential of E-SnO₂ to serve as ETL for high-efficiency and stable OSCs.