Oxide‐Supported IrNiOx Core–Shell Particles as Efficient,Cost‐Effective,and Stable Catalysts for Electrochemical Water Splitting

Active and highly stable oxide‐supported IrNiO_x core–shell catalysts for electrochemical water splitting are presented. IrNi_x@IrO_x nanoparticles supported on high‐surface‐area mesoporous antimony‐doped tin oxide (IrNiO_x /Meso‐ATO) were synthesized from bimetallic IrNi_x precursor alloys (PA‐IrNi_x /Meso‐ATO) using electrochemical Ni leaching and concomitant Ir oxidation. Special emphasis was placed on Ni/NiO surface segregation under thermal treatment of the PA‐IrNi_x /Meso‐ATO as well as on the surface chemical state of the particle/oxide support interface. Combining a wide array of characterization methods, we uncovered the detrimental effect of segregated NiO phases on the water splitting activity of core–shell particles. The core–shell IrNiO_x /Meso‐ATO catalyst displayed high water‐splitting activity and unprecedented stability in acidic electrolyte providing substantial progress in the development of PEM electrolyzer anode catalysts with drastically reduced Ir loading and significantly enhanced durability.     

Oxide‐Supported IrNiOx Core–Shell Particles as Efficient,Cost‐Effective,and Stable Catalysts for Electrochemical Water Splitting

Active and highly stable oxide‐supported IrNiO_x core–shell catalysts for electrochemical water splitting are presented. IrNi_x@IrO_x nanoparticles supported on high‐surface‐area mesoporous antimony‐doped tin oxide (IrNiO_x /Meso‐ATO) were synthesized from bimetallic IrNi_x precursor alloys (PA‐IrNi_x /Meso‐ATO) using electrochemical Ni leaching and concomitant Ir oxidation. Special emphasis was placed on Ni/NiO surface segregation under thermal treatment of the PA‐IrNi_x /Meso‐ATO as well as on the surface chemical state of the particle/oxide support interface. Combining a wide array of characterization methods, we uncovered the detrimental effect of segregated NiO phases on the water splitting activity of core–shell particles. The core–shell IrNiO_x /Meso‐ATO catalyst displayed high water‐splitting activity and unprecedented stability in acidic electrolyte providing substantial progress in the development of PEM electrolyzer anode catalysts with drastically reduced Ir loading and significantly enhanced durability.     

Facile synthesis of core‐shell organic–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles with amphiphilic polymer shell by one‐step sol–gel reactions

Organic–inorganic hybrid core‐shell nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 100 to 1000 nm were prepared by a one‐pot synthesis based on base catalyzed sol–gel reactions using tetraethoxysilane and a triethoxysilane‐terminated polyethylene‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) as reactants. Data from TEM, TGA, and solid‐state NMR analysis are in agreement with the formation of core‐shell nanoparticles with an inorganic‐rich core and an external shell consisting of an amphiphilic block copolymer monolayer. The influence of the organic–inorganic ratio, solution concentration, and postcuring temperature on core and shell dimensions of the nanospheres were investigated by TEM microscopy. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1699–1709, 2008     

Preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate)–poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐butadiene) core–shell nanoparticles

Poly(methyl methacrylate)–poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐butadiene) (PMMA–NBR) core–shell structured nanoparticles were prepared using a two‐stage semibatch microemulsion polymerization system with PMMA and NBR as the core and shell, respectively. The Gemini surfactant 12‐3‐12 was used as the emulsifier and found to impose a pronounced influence on the formation of core–shell nanoparticles. The spherical morphology of core–shell nanoparticles was observed. It was found that there exists an optimal MMA addition amount, which can result in the minimized size of PMMA–NBR core–shell nanoparticles. The formation mechanism of the core–shell structure and the interaction between the core and shell domains was illustrated. The PMMA–NBR nanosize latex can be used as the substrate for the following direct latex hydrogenation catalyzed by Wilkinson's catalyst to prepare the PMMA–HNBR (hydrogenated NBR) core–shell nanoparticles. The hydrogenation rate is rapid. In the absence of any organic solvent, the PMMA–HNBR nanoparticles with a size of 30.6 nm were obtained within 3 h using 0.9 wt % Wilkinson's catalyst at 130 °C under 1000 psi of H₂. This study provides a new perspective in the chemical modification of NBR and shows promise in the realization of a “green” process for the commercial hydrogenation of unsaturated elastomers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Reversible Modulation of Surface Plasmons in Gold Nanoparticles Enabled by Surface Redox Chemistry

Switchable surface redox chemistry is demonstrated in gold@iron/iron oxide core–shell nanoparticles with ambient oxidation and plasmon‐mediated reduction to modulate the oxidation state of shell layers. The iron shell can be oxidized to iron oxide through ambient oxidation, leading to an enhancement and red‐shift of the gold surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This enhanced gold SPR can drive reduction of the iron oxide shell under broadband illumination to reversibly blue‐shift and significantly dampen gold SPR absorption. The observed phenomena provide a unique mechanism for controlling the plasmonic properties and surface chemistry of small metal nanoparticles.     

Solid‐State Electrochemical Method for Determining Core and Shell Size in Pd@PdO Nanoparticles

Electrochemical characterization of palladium nanoparticles surrounded by a palladium oxide shell (Pd@PdO) is described from a combination of voltammetry plus electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance experiments at nanoparticle deposits on graphite electrodes in contact with aqueous H₂SO₄ and NaOH solutions. A method for determining the metal core size and oxide shell thickness of the Pd@PdO nanoparticles, based on a combination of conventional voltammetry of nanoparticles in DMSO solution and voltammetry of nanoparticle deposits in contact with 0.10 M aqueous NaOH solution, is described.     

Real‐Time Intracellular Measurements of ROS and RNS in Living Cells with Single Core–Shell Nanowire Electrodes

Nanoelectrodes allow precise and quantitative measurements of important biological processes at the single living‐cell level in real time. Cylindrical nanowire electrodes (NWEs) required for intracellular measurements create a great challenge for achieving excellent electrochemical and mechanical performances. Herein, we present a facile and robust solution to this problem based on a unique SiC‐core–shell design to produce cylindrical NWEs with superior mechanical toughness provided by the SiC nano‐core and an excellent electrochemical performance provided by the ultrathin carbon shell that can be used as such or platinized. The use of such NWEs for biological applications is illustrated by the first quantitative measurements of ROS/RNS in individual phagolysosomes of living macrophages. As the shell material can be varied to meet any specific detection purpose, this work opens up new opportunities to monitor quantitatively biological functions occurring inside cells and their organelles.     

Spinel ferrite/MnO core/shell nanoparticles: chemical synthesis of all-oxide exchange biased architectures

In this communication, we report the synthesis and characterization of organic-capped core/shell CoFe2O4/MnO nanoparticles. Magnetic properties of the core/shell nanoparticles were compared to those of individual CoFe2O4 and MnO nanoparticles prepared with similar methods. Magnetic measurements revealed that the core/shell nanoparticles displayed a shift in the hysteresis loops corresponding to exchange biasing exchange fields of about 0.6 kOe, due to the ferrimagnetic/antiferromagnetic interface.     

Preparation and characterization of polytetrafluoroethylene‐polyacrylate core–shell nanoparticles

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)‐polyacrylate core–shell nanoparticles were produced by using PTFE micropowder and acrylate via seeded emulsion polymerization in the presence of fluorosurfactant. The properties of emulsion under various polymerization conditions were investigated and optimized. The chemical composition of the PTFE‐polyacrylate nanoparticles was characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The particle size and core–shell structure of the resulting PTFE‐polyacrylate nanoparticles were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Wettability of the PTFE‐polyacrylate core–shell particles was higher than the pristine PTFE. The formation of this kind of PTFE‐polyacrylate core–shell nanoparticles could improve the compatibility of PTFE with other materials because PTFE is covered by polyacrylate shell, which make them promising in various fields. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of CuCorePtShell Nanoparticles as Model Structures for Core–Shell Electrocatalysts by Direct Platinum Electrodeposition on Copper

The synthesis of Cu(core)Pt(shell) model catalysts by the direct electrochemical deposition of Pt on Cu particles is presented. Cu particles with an average diameter of 200 nm have been deposited on glassy‐carbon electrodes by double pulse electrodeposition from a copper sulfate solution. Subsequent deposition from a platinum nitrate solution under potential control allows for a high selectivity of the Pt deposition towards Cu. Using a combination of cyclic voltammetry, XPS and sputtering, the structure of the generated particles has been analyzed and their core–shell configuration proven. It is shown that the electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction is similar to that of other PtCu catalyst systems. The synthesized structures could allow for the analysis of structure–activity relations of core–shell catalysts on the way to the simple and controlled synthesis of supported Cu(core)Pt(shell) nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts.     

Advanced design of t and pH dual‐responsive PDEAEMA–PVCL core–shell nanogels for siRNA delivery

The synthesis, characterization, and potential application as gene delivery systems of biodegradable dual‐responsive core–shell nanogels based on poly(2‐diethylaminoethyl) methacrylate (PDEAEMA) and poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) are reported. These core–shell nanogels, having a PDEAEMA‐based core and a PVCL‐based shell, were synthesized by batch seeded emulsion polymerization. An indepth study of their swelling behavior was carried out, which presented a dual‐dependent thermo‐ and pH sensitivity. Core–shell nanogels synthesized formed complexes spontaneously through electrostatic interactions when mixing with small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. Moreover, the core–shell nanogel/siRNA complexes showed higher polyanion exchange resistance compared to that of the PDEAEMA‐based nanogel/siRNA complexes, indicating that the PVCL‐based shell enhanced the stability of the complexes. In vitro siRNA release profiles showed that siRNA release was controlled by the pH of the medium as well as by the crosslinking density of the PVCL‐based shell. These results indicate that dual‐responsive core–shell nanogels synthesized could be potentially useful as gene delivery systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3203–3217     

Atom‐Precise Polyoxometalate–Ag2S Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Atomically precise polyoxometalate–Ag₂S core–shell nanoparticles were generated in a top‐down approach under solvothermal conditions and structurally confirmed by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction as an interesting core–shell structure comprising an in situ generated Mo₆O₂₂^8? polyoxometalate core and a mango‐like Ag₅₈S₃₈ shell. This result demonstrates the possibility to integrate polyoxometalate and Ag₂S nanoparticles into a core–shell heteronanostructure with precisely controlled atomical compositions of both core and shell.     

Polystyrene‐Core–Silica‐Shell Hybrid Particles Containing Gold and Magnetic Nanoparticles

Polystyrene‐core–silica‐shell hybrid particles were synthesized by combining the self‐assembly of nanoparticles and the polymer with a silica coating strategy. The core–shell hybrid particles are composed of gold‐nanoparticle‐decorated polystyrene (PS‐AuNP) colloids as the core and silica particles as the shell. PS‐AuNP colloids were generated by the self‐assembly of the PS‐grafted AuNPs. The silica coating improved the thermal stability and dispersibility of the AuNPs. By removing the “free” PS of the core, hollow particles with a hydrophobic cage having a AuNP corona and an inert silica shell were obtained. Also, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were encapsulated in the core, which resulted in magnetic core–shell hybrid particles by the same strategy. These particles have potential applications in biomolecular separation and high‐temperature catalysis and as nanoreactors.     

Synthesis of Ag/Polypyrrole Core-Shell Nanospheres by a Seeding Method

Ag/polypyrrole (PPy) core‐shell nanospheres were fabricated through the redox reaction between pyrrole monomer and silver nitrate in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and by using the Ag colloidal nanoparticles acting as the seedings. The prepared nanospheres with a shell thickness of 10–12 nm and a core diameter of 20–40 nm are uniform in size and well dispersed. The morphologies, compositions, and electrochemical activities of Ag/PPy composites were characterized by TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA and CV. The synthetic route employed here is gentle and can be extended to prepare other conducting polymer/inorganic nanocomposites.     

Establishing the Structural Integrity of Core–Shell Nanoparticles against Elemental Migration using Luminescent Lanthanide Probes

Core–shell structured nanoparticles are increasingly used to host luminescent lanthanide ions but the structural integrity of these nanoparticles still lacks sufficient understanding. Herein, we present a new approach to detect the diffusion of dopant ions in core–shell nanostructures using luminescent lanthanide probes whose emission profile and luminescence lifetime are sensitive to the chemical environment. We show that dopant ions in solution‐synthesized core–shell nanoparticles are firmly confined in the designed locations. However, annealing at certain temperatures (greater than circa 350 °C) promotes diffusion of the dopant ions and leads to degradation of the integrity of the nanoparticles. These insights into core–shell nanostructures should enhance our ability to understand and use lanthanide‐doped luminescent nanoparticles.     

Ternary Hybrid γ‐Fe2O3/CrVI/Amine Oxidase Nanostructure for Electrochemical Sensing: Application for Polyamine Detection in Tumor Tissue

Dichromate binds to surface‐active maghemite nanoparticles (SAMNs) to form a stable core–shell nanostructures (SAMN@Cr^VI). The hybrid was characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy, high‐angle annular dark‐field imaging, electron energy‐loss spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques, which revealed a strong interaction of dichromate with the nanoparticle surface. Electrochemical characterization showed lower charge‐transfer resistance, better electrochemical performance, and more reversible electrochemical behavior with respect to naked SAMNs. Moreover, SAMN@Cr^VI is an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen peroxide reduction. Furthermore, an enzyme, namely, bovine serum amine oxidase (BSAO: EC 1.4.3.6), was immobilized on SAMN@Cr^VI by self‐assembly to give a ternary hybrid nanostructured catalyst for polyamine oxidation (SAMN@Cr^VI‐BSAO). SAMN@Cr^VI‐BSAO was applied for the development of a reagentless, fast, inexpensive, and interference‐free polyamine biosensor, which was successfully exploited for the discrimination of tumorous tissue from healthy tissue in human crude liver extracts.     

“Click” synthesis of thermally stable au nanoparticles with highly grafted polymer shell and control of their behavior in polymer matrix

Thermally stable core–shell gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with highly grafted polymer shells were synthesized by combining reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization and click chemistry of copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). First, alkyne‐terminated poly(4‐benzylchloride‐b‐styrene) (alkyne‐PSCl‐b‐PS) was prepared from the alkyne‐terminated RAFT agent. Then, an alkyne‐PSCl‐b‐PS chain was coupled to azide‐functionalized Au NPs via the CuAAC reaction. Careful characterization using FT‐IR, UV–Vis, and TGA showed that PSCl‐b‐PS chains were successfully grafted onto the Au NP surface with high grafting density. Finally, azide groups were introduced to PSCl‐b‐PS chains on the Au NP surface to produce thermally stable Au NPs with crosslinkable polymer shell ( Au‐PSN₃‐b‐PS 1 ). As the control sample, PS‐b‐PSN₃‐coated Au NPs ( Au‐PSN₃‐b‐PS 2 ) were made by the conventional “grafting to” approach. The grafting density of polymer chains on Au‐PSN₃‐b‐PS 1 was found to be much higher than that on Au‐PSN₃‐b‐PS 2 . To demonstrate the importance of having the highly packed polymer shell on the nanoparticles, Au‐PSN₃‐b‐PS 1 particles were added into the PS and PS‐b‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) matrix, respectively. Consequently, it was found that Au‐PSN₃‐b‐PS 1 nanoparticles were well dispersed in the PS matrix and PS‐b‐P2VP matrix without any aggregation even after annealing at 220 °C for 2 days. Our simple and powerful approach could be easily extended to design other core–shell inorganic nanoparticles. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Preparation of NiAl double hydroxide@polypyrrole materials for high‐performance supercapacitors

A novel NiAl double hydroxide@polypyrrole (LDH@PPy) core–shell material was designed and fabricated by a facile in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole (Py) monomer. The microstructure and morphology of the LDH@PPy composites were determined by X‐ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy/transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric and differential thermal, revealing that the polypyrrole (PPy) was successfully coated onto the surface of the NiAl‐LDH (LDH) core and the loading amount of PPy impacted the thickness and the dispersion of the conductive PPy shell. The electrochemical performances of the LDH@PPy composites were also evaluated by cyclic voltammogram, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements. The results indicated that the supercapacitor performances were attributed to the synergy of unique core–shell heterostructure and each individual component, where the LDH core provided the high‐energy storage capacity and the PPy shell with networks had high electronic conductivity. These shorted the ion diffusion pathway and made electrolyte ions more easily accessible for faradic reactions to enhance the electrochemical performance of the LDH@PPy composites. It was found that the LDH@PPy composite (LDH@PPy₇) fabricated at 7 mL?L^?1 of Py monomer feed exhibiting the best electrochemical performances with high specific capacitance of 437.5 F?g^?1 at 2 A?g^?1 and excellent capacitance retention of about 91% after 1000 cycles. The work provides a simple approach for designing organic–inorganic core–shell materials with potential application in supercapacitors. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1653–1662     

Comparative Structural,Optical, and Photoluminescence Studies of YF3:Pr,YF3:Pr@LaF3, and YF3:Pr@LaF3@SiO2 Core–Shell Nanocrystals

Praseodymium (Pr³⁺)‐doped YF₃ (core) and LaF₃ ‐covered YF₃ :Pr (core–shell) nanocrystals (NCs ) were prepared successfully by an ecofriendly, polyol‐based, co‐precipitation process, which were then coated with a silica shell by using a sol–gel‐based Stober method. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM ), thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) , UV /vis, energy bandgap, and photoluminescence studies were used to analyze the crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of the nanomaterial. XRD and TEM results show that the grain size increases after sequential growth of crystalline LaF₃ and the silica shell. The silica surface modification enhances the solubility and colloidal stability of the core–shell‐SiO₂ NCs . The results indicate that the surface coating affects the optical properties because of the alteration in crystalline size of the materials. The emission intensity of silica‐modified NCs was significantly enhanced compared to that of core and core–shell NCs . These results are attributed to the formation of chemical bonds between core–shell and noncrystalline SiO₂ shell via La–O–Si bridges, which activate the “dormant” Pr³⁺ ions on the surfaces of the nanoparticles. The luminescence efficiency of the as‐prepared core, core–shell, and core–shell‐SiO₂ NCs are comparatively analyzed, and the observed differences are justified on the basis of the surface modification surrounding the luminescent seed core NCs .     

Bioinspired Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Hydrophobic Drug Delivery

A large range of nanoparticles have been developed to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs. However, drug loading is usually less than 10 % or even 1 %. Now, core–shell nanoparticles are fabricated having exceptionally high drug loading up to 65 % (drug weight/the total weight of drug‐loaded nanoparticles) and high encapsulation efficiencies (>99 %) based on modular biomolecule templating. Bifunctional amphiphilic peptides are designed to not only stabilize hydrophobic drug nanoparticles but also induce biosilicification at the nanodrug particle surface thus forming drug‐core silica–shell nanocomposites. This platform technology is highly versatile for encapsulating various hydrophobic cargos. Furthermore, the high drug loading nanoparticles lead to better in vitro cytotoxic effects and in vivo suppression of tumor growth, highlighting the significance of using high drug‐loading nanoparticles.