Synthesis,structural and electrical characterization of PbS NCs in titania sol–gel films

Nanocrystals of lead sulfide were grown in TiO₂ (titania) thin films prepared by a sol-gel process. The synthetic procedure as well as the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the films are demonstrated. The structures and morphology of PbS nanocrystals were analyzed using HRTEM, SAED, AFM, HRSEM, XRD and EDAX elemental analysis technique. When the concentration of PbS in the titania matrix is 20 mol%, PbS NCs with a diameter of 2.0 nm are created. At a higher PbS concentration (> 40 mole%) in the titania matrix, PbS NCs and PbS clusters are created not only within the TiO₂ film but also on the external surface of the TiO₂ film. By increasing the PbS concentration up to 50 mol%, PbS nanocrystals of 6–8 nm in diameter are formed within the titania film and PbS clusters with a base size of about 100 nm² and a height up to about 20 nm were self assembled on the external surface of TiO₂ film. Quantum size effect and band gap energies were obtained from shifts of the absorption edge. For electrical measurements, PbS–TiO₂ films were deposited on an ITO/glass substrate, and then covered with gold contact. The electrical properties of ITO/PbS NCs–TiO₂/Au and ITO/PbS NCs–TiO₂/PbS cluster/Au structures were studied. I–V characteristics of the one layer structure are nearly linear and symmetric, while those of the two-layer structure exhibit rectifying behavior.     

Preparation of Gold Microcrystal-Doped TiO2, ZrO2 and Al2O3 Films Through Sol-Gel Process

Au-microcrystal-doped TiO₂, ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ films were made by sol-gel dip-coating method using titanium, zirconium and aluminum alkoxides with HAuCl₄ · 4H₂O. The influence of the oxide matrix composition on the maximum amount of the Au microcrystals that can be incorporated in the oxide film was examined. Some amount of Au microcrystals were exhausted to the surface of Au microcrystal-doped oxide films when an excess amount of HAuCl₄ · 4H₂O was dissolved in the coating solution. The maximum amount of Au that can be incorporated in the oxide film was found to increase with the increase of the pH point at zero charge (PZC) of the matrix oxide. This should be due to the fact that AuCl ₄ ^- ions are charged negative and also Au microcrystals tend to charge negative, so that the oxide gel with high PZC, which has a tendency to charge positive, may fix the ions and/or microcrystals to its interior. A maximum amount of Au microcrystals as high as 12.6 vol% was attained in an Au:Al₂O₃ film.     

Sol-Gel Deposition of ZrO2 Films in Air and in Oxygen-Free Atmospheres for Chemical Protection of 304 Stainless Steel: A Comparative Corrosion Study

ZrO₂ coatings for corrosion protection were deposited on 304 stainless steel by sol-gel method using zirconium propoxide as precursor and densified in air and in oxygen-free (argon or nitrogen) atmospheres. XRD and IR data of the films were practically independent of the atmosphere used in the densification step showing that the ceramic oxide is properly formed from the precursor. The corrosion behavior of the stainless steel substrate was studied by potentiodynamic polarization curves in the absence and the presence of ZrO₂ coatings prepared in air, argon or nitrogen. The coatings extended the lifetime of the material by a factor of almost eight in a very aggressive environment, independently of the preparation procedure. The possibility of depositing pure or mixed oxide films by sol-gel methods in the absence of additional oxygen will allow the preparation of specific coatings onto oxygen-reactive substrates.     

A Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticle Modified Screen‐printed Electrode for Anodic Stripping Determination of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride

A novel, sensitive and rapid voltammetric method applied for daclatasvir dihydrochloride (DSV.2HCl) detection in raw material, human plasma and urine using square wave voltammetry at a nano‐screen printed electrode (SPE) based on synthesized zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs). The attention to zirconium oxide nanoparticle syntheses arises from its likely use in making an electrode material in the electroanalytical process. Anodic stripping square wave voltammetric peaks have been recorded at the optimum conditions of drug solution as pH, scan rate, accumulation time and accumulation potential. Morphology of the used nanoparticles has been performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission microscope (TEM). ZrO₂ NPs were applied to screen printed electrode (ZrO₂‐MSPE) giving a new sensor to detect the DSV.2HCl drug. ZrO₂ NPs were tested for their electroactivity in improving electrodes sensitivity. The modified electrode has been used for the analysis of DSV.2HCl in spiked serum, spiked urine and pharmaceutical formulation.     

Optical and Conductivity Properties of PbS Nanocrystals in Amorphous Zirconia Sol-Gel Films

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystals (NCs), embedded in amorphous zirconia sol-gel film with different PbS mole concentration (5–30%), were grown at temperature, ranging from 200°C to 350°C. The size of PbS NCs was determined by TEM and by blue shift of the absorption edge. The size increased with an increase of the synthesis temperature and PbS mole concentration. The optical and electrical properties of various sizes of PbS NCs in zirconia film are investigated utilizing absorption, photoluminescence (PL) and current-voltage measurement. The PL spectra were Stokes shifted from the corresponding absorption edge by about 0.5 eV. The latter can be associated with recombination process from surface state. The electrical properties were investigated by the deposition of the PbS NCs-zirconia films on ITO/glass substrate, followed by their coverage with gold contact. The current-voltage characteristics depend on the PbS NCs size and exhibits nonlinear nearly symmetric curve, associated with the space-charge limited current or the tunneling of carriers through the nanocrystalline film.     

Combustion Derived Nanocrystalline‐ZrO2 and Its Catalytic Activity for Biginelli Condensation under Microwave Irradiation

Nanocrystalline zirconium(IV) oxide (nc‐ZrO₂) possessing high surface area was synthesized by a low temperature eco‐friendly solution combustion method using a new organic fuel alanine. The powder XRD, SEM and surface area measurements were carried out for characterization of nc‐ZrO₂. The powder XRD results revealed that, the nc‐ZrO₂ has the pure tetragonal phase. The crystallite size calculated by Scherrer's formula and BET surface area were found to be ca. 53–57 nm and ca. 275 m²/g, respectively. SEM micrograph exhibited the macroporous nature of the powder. nc‐ZrO₂ has been employed as a catalyst for the solvent‐free synthesis of 3,4‐dihydro‐ pyrimidin‐2‐ones (DHPMs) by a microwave (MW) assisted one‐pot, multicomponent Biginelli condensation reaction of araldehydes, ethylacetoacetate and urea or thiourea. DHPMs are obtained in good to excellent yields (85%–96%) under this reaction condition within short interval of time (10–20 min).     

EXAFS study of zirconium alkoxides as precursor in the sol-gel process: I. Structure investigation of the pure alkoxides

The properties of materials obtained by sol-gel processing show a certain dependence on the type of metal alkoxide and the solvent. Some authors assumed that these effects are caused by the degree of oligomerization of the metal alkoxides and their solvation. In order to obtain information on the structure and molecular complexity of the metal alkoxide we performed an EXAFS study on primary zirconium alkoxides Zr(OR)₄, with OR = n-propoxide and n-butoxide in solution of their parent alcohol. The EXAFS data for zirconium iso-propoxide have been used as a reference, because its solid state structure is known from X-ray analysis. The Zr-Zr correlations which were observed for all investigated systems provide evidence for an oligomeric structure. Because the analysis of the co-ordination spheres around the central Zr-atom revealed different Zr-O bond lengths, some of the formerly postulated structure models can be ruled out. We propose solvated dimers or trimers or mixtures of both species as possible structures of zirconium propoxide and zirconium butoxide in solution of their parent alcohol.     

Comparative Study of the Acidity of Sulphated Zirconia Supported on Alumina Prepared by Sol-Gel and Impregnation Methods

Sulphated and unsulphated alumina-zirconia with atomic ratio Zr/Al = 0.5 were prepared by sol-gel and impregnation methods. The solid prepared by the sol-gel method exhibits the higher specific surface area. The Kelvin probe shows that the value of unsulphated sample is around 400 mV. This value grows up to 1100 mV for sample prepared by impregnation of aerogel alumina by sulphated propoxide zirconium and up to 1450 mV for sulphated alumina-zirconia aerogel catalyst. The modification of the work function is probably due to the charge transfer from the zirconium and aluminium to an oxygen species, responsible for the increase of Lewis acidity. XPS results show that the aluminium and zirconium exist in oxide form as Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂. The sulphur is present as sulphate species in the solids bonded to the Al—Zr—O framework. Furthermore, the oxygen species exist in different types created by the introduction of sulphur in the bulk of solids.Compared to the impregnated catalyst the sol-gel sulphated alumina zirconia exhibits higher activity in the isopropanol dehydration reaction in the temperature range 423 K–523 K.     

Anomalous small‐angle X‐ray scattering characterization of composites based on sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone), zirconium phosphates,and zirconium oxide

The morphology and distribution of zirconium oxide and zirconium phosphates in a matrix of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) were investigated with anomalous small‐angle X‐ray scattering (ASAXS) and electron microscopy. ASAXS revealed that ZrO₂ was distributed in the SPEEK matrix in the form of nanoparticles smaller than 13 Å. A decrease in the conductivity suggested that the sulfonic groups were bound to the zirconium oxo species at the particle surface. Furthermore, two kinds of membranes containing zirconium phosphate were investigated. In one case, the phosphate was directly dispersed in the polymer solution for the casting of the membrane. In the other case, the phosphate was previously treated with n‐propyl ammonium and polybenzimidazole. From ASAXS data, the fractal dimension could be estimated. Mass‐fractal behavior was confirmed for the SPEEK membrane containing previously exfoliated zirconium phosphate, with aggregates of 6.3–165 Å. Surface‐fractal behavior was detected for membranes with untreated phosphates, with aggregates of 6.4–185 Å. The untreated phosphates caused an increase in the permeability, without changing the proton conductivity much. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 567–575, 2004     

Role of graphene in structural transformation of zirconium oxide

Fine powders of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) were prepared using zirconium oxychloride by combustion method. The crystalline size of pure ZrO₂ was in range of 14–45 nm. Graphene was incorporated in ZrO₂ using graphene oxide as precursor and reducing it with hydrazine hydrate. X-Ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy methods were used to characterize the samples. The role of graphene in structural transformation of ZrO₂ to monoclinic phase was clearly observed.     

Preparation of ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixed oxide by combination of sol–gel and alcohol-aqueous heating method and its application in tetrahydrofuran polymerization

Without using any acid or base catalyst, complexing agent or zirconium alkoxides, ZrO₂–SiO₂ mixed oxide with the ZrO₂ content of 50 mol% was prepared by combination of sol–gel and alcohol-aqueous heating method using zirconyl nitrate and tetraethoxysilane as starting materials. The structural and surface acidic properties were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, NH₃-TPD and pyridine adsorption FTIR. Compared with another mixed oxide with the same ZrO₂ content prepared by mechanical grinding, the obtained ZrO₂–SiO₂ mixed oxide was homogeneously mixed in molecular level. The existed Zr–O–Si hetero-linkages strongly retarded the ZrO₂ particle growth. The obtained mixed oxide maintained amorphous phase until it was calcined at 1,173 K for 3 h when crystallization of tetragonal zirconia took place. NH₃-TPD and pyridine adsorption FTIR showed that both Brønsted and Lewis acidity were largely developed in the mixed oxide and most of the acidic sites belonged to the medium acidity. Because of the existence of abundant medium acidity, the mixed oxide showed catalytic activity for tetrahydrofuran polymerization. Furthermore, the produced poly tetramethylene ether glycol had moderate average molecular weight around 2,000. Neither the pure oxides nor the mixed oxide prepared by the mechanical grinding presented catalytic activity for this reaction.     

Composite Fiber Spun Mat Synthesis and In Vitro Biocompatibility for Guide Tissue Engineering

Composite scaffolds are commonly used strategies and materials employed to achieve similar analogs of bone tissue. This study aims to fabricate 10% wt polylactic acid (PLA) composite fiber scaffolds by the air-jet spinning technique (AJS) doped with 0.5 or 0.1 g of zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂) for guide bone tissue engineering. ZrO₂ nanoparticles were obtained by the hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyzed the synthesized PLA/ZrO₂ fiber scaffolds. The in vitro biocompatibility and bioactivity of the PLA/ZrO₂ were studied using human fetal osteoblast cells. Our results showed that the hydrothermal technique allowed ZrO₂ nanoparticles to be obtained. SEM analysis showed that PLA/ZrO₂ composite has a fiber diameter of 395 nm, and the FITR spectra confirmed that the scaffolds’ chemical characteristics are not affected by the synthesized technique. In vitro studies demonstrated that PLA/ZrO₂ scaffolds increased cell adhesion, cellular proliferation, and biomineralization of osteoblasts. In conclusion, the PLA/ZrO₂ scaffolds are bioactive, improve osteoblasts behavior, and can be used in tissue bone engineering applications.     

Effect of Zirconia Precursor on the Properties of ZrO2-SiO2 Sol-Gel Oxides

Sol-gel zirconia-silica oxides were synthesized with two zirconium precursors, zirconium n-butoxide and zirconium acetylacetonate, and two different hydrolysis catalysts, HCl and H₂SO₄. The samples prepared with HCl were additionally sulfated with a 1 M solution of H₂SO₄. Characterization was performed with FTIR and ²⁹Si-MAS-NMR spectroscopy, as well as with nitrogen adsorption. Because zirconium and silicon alkoxides have different hydrolysis rates, it was necessary to perform a pre-hydrolysis of the silicon alkoxide before mixing. The atom distribution in the ZrO₂-SiO₂ system depended on the zirconium precursor, which also determined the zirconium incorporation in the silica lattice, which was greater for zirconium acetylacetonate. The zirconium precursor also was responsible for the silanol concentration, which increases when samples were sulfated. Sulfating stabilizes the specific surface area. On sulfate samples calcined at 800°C BET areas larger than 500 m²/g were obtained.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis and Characterization of SiO2—P2O5—ZrO2

Zirconia phosphosilicates were prepared by the sol-gel method using tetraethylorthosilicate, triethyl phosphate, and zirconium n-propoxide. Monolithic, transparent gels were formed with 10 mole% ZrO₂, and 10, 20 or 30 mole% P₂O₅. The influence of the mole% P₂O₅, treatment temperature and water content, on thermal behavior, water adsorption, and proton conductivity were studied. A heat treatment at 200°C was effective in removal of residual organics, creating a porous material capable of good water retention upon rehydration.     

Phase composition and catalytic properties of ZrO2 and CeO2-ZrO2 in the ketonization of pentanoic acid to 5-nonanone

The phase composition, microstructure, and catalytic properties of the samples of ZrO₂ and CeO₂-ZrO₂ calcined in air at 450–500°C in the ketonization reaction of pentanoic acid were studied. It was found that ZrO₂ of tetragonal and monoclinic modifications is characterized by sufficiently high activity and selectivity for 5-nonanone; the yield of 5-nonanone was 66.3–64.9%. The modification of zirconium dioxide with cerium oxide leads to the formation of a substitutional solid solution based on tetragonal ZrO₂. Upon the addition of CeO₂ in an optimum amount of 10 wt % to zirconium dioxide, an increase in the conversion of pentanoic acid was observed with the retention of high selectivity for the target product, which led to an increase in the yield of 5-nonanone to 73.3%. Based on the results of physicochemical studies performed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the physicochemical and catalytic properties of the test catalysts were compared.     

Fabrication of PbS Nanoparticles Embedded in Silica Gel by Reverse Micelles and Sol-Gel Routes

PbS doped-silica gels showing a visible absorption onset were prepared by the sol-gel method. PbS nanoparticles with strong quantum-confinement effect were obtained from sodium sulfide and lead nitrate by the reverse micelle method. Chemical parameters such as the water/surfactant and the [Pb²⁺]/[S²⁻] ratios play a very important role in the PbS particle size and in their absorption threshold. The PbS nanoparticles were dispersed in a hydrolyzed solution of TEOS and converted to homogeneous gels after heating. The absorption threshold of PbS doped-gel is blue shifted compared to the one of the as-prepared PbS particles. The non-linear optical properties of the PbS nanoparticle solution were measured by degenerate four-wave mixing and theX ⁽³⁾ value was estimated to be 1.95 10⁻¹¹ esu.     

负载钨催化剂的载体效应及其表面酸性

运用BET、XRD、FT-Raman以及微量吸附量热等手段对由浸渍三种晶型氧化锆及其前体氢氧化锆制备的负载钨催化剂的结构及其表面酸性进行了研究。结果表明起始原料和制备条件对氧化锆的结构有显著影响。浸渍在氢氧化锆上的钨物种会使氢氧化锆转变为四方晶型氧化锆。但浸渍于氧化锆上的钨物种使氧化锆发生晶型转变相对较难。负载钨催化剂表面强酸位的形成与载体晶型、表面钨物种WO_x以及WO_x与载体氧化锆之间的相互作用有关。催化剂上的强酸位可因残留的Na⁺离子所毒化或阻抑。少量Y³⁺离子对表面酸性则无明显影响。     

Determination of yttrium and lanthanum in zirconium dioxide by HPLC, X-ray fluorescence and neutron activation analyses

Summary Lanthania-and yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide ceramics have been examined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), thermal neutron activation (NA) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses and thus determine the stabilizer content. Ceramic powders with the composition ZrO₂:x mol % La₂O₃ (x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 33) and ZrO₂:x mol % Y₂O₃ (x=10, 15, 20 and 25) were prepared by the citrate and the co-precipitation techniques, respectively. The lanthanum content was determined by HPLC (x=5.09, 9.78, 14.98, 19.81 and 25.94) and NA (x=5.15, 10.32, 17.25, 21.08 and 27.97) analyses, the yttrium content by HPLC (x=8.5, 13.5, 17.9 and 22.1) and XRF (x=9.9, 15.8, 20.1 and 24.9) analyses. An experimental sequence, based on continuous dilution of ceramic powder solutions, is proposed for preparing samples for HPLC measurements. A swimming pool nuclear reactor is used for NA analysis. The quantitative determinations of yttrium and lanthanum doping levels obtained using those techniques are described.     

Mass Spectrometric and Photoelectron Spectroscopic Studies of Zirconium Oxide Molecular and Cluster Anions

We present a preliminary report on our mass spectrometric and photoelectron spectroscopic studies of zirconium oxide molecular and cluster anions using a newly built laser vaporization/time-of-flight/magnetic bottle, negative ion photoelectron spectrometer. This work was motivated in part by evidence which suggests that zirconium dioxide catalyzes the radiolysis of interfacial water. We present our mass spectrometric observations of oxygen-rich zirconium oxide cluster anions and our photoelectron spectra of ZrO^– and ZrO ₂ ^– . From the photoelectron spectrum of ZrO^–, the adiabatic electron affinity of ZrO was determined to be 1.3±0.3 eV, and from this value, the dissociation energy of ZrO^– (into Zr and O^–) was found to be 7.8±0.3 eV. From the photoelectron spectrum of ZrO₂, the adiabatic electron affinity of ZrO₂ was determined to be 1.8±0.4 eV.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Mixed Oxide Compositions of Cobalt-Zirconium and their Catalytic Activity in the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide

The article presents the results of research on the hydrothermal synthesis of nanoscale oxide of cobalt and zirconium and their mixed oxide compositions. The synthesized samples have been characterized by the X-ray phase, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods; the composition of the samples has been determined by chemical analysis methods, and their catalytic activity in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide has been studied. It has been shown that during synthesis, highly dispersed cobalt and zirconium oxide are formed, and the sample of the composition (mol %): Co₃O₄(88)−ZrO₂(12) has the highest specific surface area (181.2 m²/g) and the highest activity (K=6.18 ⋅ 10⁻² s⁻¹) against the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The increasing of the ZrO₂ content in oxide compositions reduces their catalytic activity. The particle size in the synthesized samples is 7–38 nm.