Bi2O3 Nanoparticle Clusters: Reversible Agglomeration Revealed by Imaging and Nano‐Impact Experiments

Colloidal suspensions of Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles were studied in aqueous solution using imaging and electrochemical techniques. Nanoparticle tracking analysis revealed the particles to be agglomerated. In contrast, electrochemical detection via the nano‐impacts technique showed almost exclusive detection of monomeric nanoparticles. Comparison of the two techniques allows the conclusion to be drawn that the agglomeration/deagglomeration of the nanoparticles is reversible. A minimum rate constant for the deagglomeration process was estimated.     

用研磨电极研究Bi2O3的循环伏安行为

用研磨电极研究Bi2O3的循环伏安行为;微电极;氧化铋;循环伏安     

Reversible Magnetic Agglomeration: A Mechanism for Thermodynamic Control over Nanoparticle Size

We present a method for the synthesis and precise size control of magnetic nanoparticles in a reversible magnetic agglomeration mechanism. In this approach, nanoparticles nucleate and grow until a critical susceptibility is reached, in which magnetic attraction overcomes dispersive forces, leading to agglomeration and precipitation. This phase change in the system arrests nanoparticle growth and gives true thermodynamic control over the size of nanoparticles. We then show that increasing the alkyl chain length of the surfactant, and hence increasing steric stabilization, allows nanoparticles to grow to larger sizes before agglomeration occurs. Therefore, simply by choosing the correct surfactant, the size and magnetic properties of iron nanoparticles can be tailored for a particular application. With the continuous addition of the precursor solution, we can repeat the steps of nucleation, growth, and magnetic agglomeration indefinitely, making the approach suitable for large scale syntheses.     

Nanorod Aspect Ratios Determined by the Nano‐Impact Technique

The in situ electrochemical sizing of individual gold nanorods is reported. Through the combination of electrochemical dissolution and the use of a surface‐bound redox tag, the volume and surface area of the nanorods are measured, and provide the aspect ratio and the size of the nanorods. Excellent independent agreement is found with electron microscopy analysis of the nanorods, establishing the application of nano‐impact experiments for the sizing of anisotropic nanomaterials.     

Synthesis of Bi2O3 and Bi4(SiO4)3 Thin Films by the Sol-Gel Method

Bi2O3 thin films were prepared by dipping silica slides in ethanolic solutions of tris(2,2-6,6-tetramethylheptane-3, 5-dionato)bismuth(III) [Bi(dpm)3] [1] and heating in air at temperatures 500°C. Bi4(SiO4)3 homogeneous thin films were obtained from the reaction of the bismuth oxide coating with the silica glass substrate at temperatures higher than 700°C. For heat treatments at temperatures between 600°C and 700°C, Bi2SiO5 coatings were obtained. The composition and microstructure evolution of the films were determined by Secondary Ion-Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Glancing Angle X-Ray Diffraction (GA-XRD). The synthesis procedure was reproducible and allowed the control of the Bi2O3 phase composition. Moreover, the thin film annealing parameters were correlated with the formation of bismuth silicates, among which Bi4(SiO4)3 (BSO) is very appealing for the production of fast light-output scintillators [2].     

Light‐Driven Organocatalysis Using Inexpensive,Nontoxic Bi2O3 as the Photocatalyst

The development of enantioselective catalytic processes that make use of sunlight as the energy source and nontoxic, affordable materials as catalysts represents one of the new and rapidly evolving areas in chemical research. The direct asymmetric α‐alkylation of aldehydes with α‐bromocarbonyl compounds can be successfully achieved by combining bismuth‐based materials as low‐band‐gap photocatalysts with the second‐generation MacMillan imidazolidinone as the chiral catalyst and simulated sunlight as a low‐cost and clean energy source. This reaction also proceeded with high efficiency when the reaction vial was exposed to the morning sunlight on a clear September day in Tarragona, Spain.     

A Facile Approach to Fabricate Water‐soluble Au‐Fe3O4 Nanoparticle for Liver Cancer Cells Imaging

Au‐Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were widely used as nanoplatforms for biologic applications through readily further functionalization. Dopamine (DA)‐coated superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles (DA@Fe₃O₄) have been successfully synthesized using a one‐step process by modified coprecipitation method. Then 2–3 nm gold nanoparticles were easily conjugated to DA@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles by the electrostatic force between gold nanoparticles and amino groups of dopamine to afford water‐soluble Au‐Fe₃O₄ hybrid nanoparticles. A detailed investigation by dynamic light scatting (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were performed in order to characterize the physicochemical properties of the hybrid nanoparticles. The hybrid nanoparticles were easily functionalized with a targeted small peptide A54 (AGKGTPSLETTP) and fluorescence probe fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) for liver cancer cell BEL‐7402 imaging. This simple approach to prepare hybrid nanoparticles provides a facile nanoplatform for muti‐functional derivations and may be extended to the immobilization of other metals or bimolecular on SPIO surface.     

纳米CuO/Bi2O3粉体的制备及催化性能

以Cu(NO3)2,Bi(NO3)3和CO(NH2)2为原料,用水解法并掺加添加剂直接制备出纳米CuO／Bi203粉体。用FI-IR,XRD和TEM对其组成、粒子大小、表面形貌进行表征。结果表明,CuO／Bi：0,为类球形纳米粉体,粒度均匀,粒径20nm～4nm。实验结果证明CuO／Bi2O3对合成丁炔二醇具有良好的催化活性和选择性。     

Preparation of Nano‐bismuth with Different Particle Sizes and the Size Dependent Electrochemical Thermodynamics

Nano‐bismuth has excellent electrochemical properties. However, it is still unclear how the particle size of nano‐bismuth influences its electrochemical thermodynamic properties. In this paper, spherical bismuth nanoparticles with different particle sizes were prepared by solvothermal method; the electrode potentials, the temperature coefficients of the electrode potentials and the thermodynamic functions of reaction for nano‐bismuth electrodes with different particle sizes at different temperatures were determined; and the effects of particle size on the electrode potential, the temperature coefficient and the thermodynamic functions were discussed. The experimental results show that particle size of bismuth nanoparticles has a significant influences on the electrochemical thermodynamic properties. The standard electrode potential of the nano‐bismuth electrode with a diameter of 39.9 nm was 0.009 V lower than that of the ordinary standard electrode (0.308 V); the temperature coefficient of the electrode potential with a diameter of 39.9 nm was nearly double that of 85.9 nm. With the particle sizes decrease, the standard molar Gibbs energy of reaction, the standard molar enthalpy of reaction, the standard molar entropy of reaction, the molar reversible reaction heat and the temperature coefficient increase; and these quantities are linearly related to the reciprocal of the particle diameter.     

Bi2O3 Hierarchical Nanostructures: Controllable Synthesis,Growth Mechanism,and their Application in Photocatalysis

Flower power : Unique 3D flower‐like Bi₂O₃ hierarchical nanostructures were synthesized using a mild aqueous template‐free method (see figure). By introducing VO₃^? into the reaction system, which mediated the nucleation and growth of Bi₂O₃, the in situ self‐assembly of 3D hierarchitectures from 2D nanosheets has been realized.

     

Gold Nanorod/Fe3O4 Nanoparticle “Nano‐Pearl‐Necklaces” for Simultaneous Targeting,Dual‐Mode Imaging,and Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells

Gold and pearls : Multifunctional nanoparticles, each composed of a single, amine‐modified gold nanorod, decorated with multiple “pearls” of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles capped with carboxy groups, are prepared. Their effectiveness in simultaneous targeting, dual‐mode imaging, and photothermal ablation of breast cancer cells is demonstrated.

     

耦合氧化石墨烯的N掺杂Bi_2O_2CO_3微球光催化性能增强机制(英文)

光催化作为一种环境友好技术,在解决环境污染和能源匮乏问题方面展现出巨大应用潜力.TiO_2因其化学稳定性、无毒和低成本被广泛应用于能源转换和污染物降解等领域,但其快速的电子-空穴复合与低太阳能利用率等限制了其在光催化中的潜在应用.因此,寻找新的有优越可见光活性的催化剂是一个挑战.最近,(BiO)_2CO_3因其独特的形貌、化学稳定性和较高的催化效率成为有前景的光催化剂.然而,(BiO)_2CO_3较大的带隙限制了对太阳光的利用,快速的电子-空穴复合阻碍了光催化性能的提高.因此,提高(BiO)_2CO_3的光催化效率是当务之急.近期研究表明,通过与氧化石墨烯杂交提高载流子的分离能力,可有效增强光催化性能.基于此,我们设计并合成了一种氮掺杂的(BiO)_2CO_3与氧化石墨烯(GO)耦合的新型光催化剂(N-BOC-GO).首先,通过一步水热法合成了N-BOC-GO微球.N-BOC-GO光催化剂对NO可见光光催化去除性能达到62%.采用X射线衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis)和光致发光光谱(PL)等表征手段研究了N-BOC-GO的光催化性能增强机制.从N-BOC-GO的XRD谱中没有发现GO的衍射峰,说明加入的GO分散度高;N-BOC-GO中的BOC晶格参数没有发生变化,说明GO没有进入BOC晶格,但加入GO增强了N-BOC的结晶度.XPS结果表明,与N-BOC相比,N-BOC-GO的峰位置发生了明显位移,表明N-BOC和GO之间存在强相互作用.此外,FT-IR和拉曼光谱证明了在复合物中存在GO.SEM表明,N-BOC规则地团聚成微球,且微球被固定在有褶皱的GO片上.这说明GO与N-BOC的作用是静电作用或物理作用,在光激发过程中有利于N-BOC微球上的电子转移到GO片上.UV-Vis图谱中,N-BOC-GO表现出明显增强的可见光吸收,说明加入GO会明显提高N-BOC的吸收能力.此外,3D分层结构会通过SSR效应提高光吸收.从PL图可以发现,N-BOC-GO的电子-空穴复合明显下降,说明GO可以转移电子从而提高光催化性能.结合前面的分析,我们提出了N-BOC-GO光催化剂3D分层结构的形成和性能增强机制.在水热过程中,通过分子间相互作用使N-BOC自组装成块,随后在表面能最小化的作用下转化成3D微球.加入GO后,N-BOC和GO通过物理吸附使得N-BOC微球均匀分散在GO上,最后N-BOC-GO的形貌类似于玫瑰花和其叶子的组合.在可见光照射下,N-BOC产生电子-空穴对,电子从N-BOC表面转移到GO表面,表明GO可作为电子的收集者和传递者以有效分离电子-空穴对,延长载流子寿命.N-BOC价带上的空穴可以直接氧化NO或产生?OH氧化NO.此外,由于GO独特的特征,光催化反应发生在N-BOC催化剂表面和GO片上,从而提高了反应空间位点.故引入GO于N-BOC体系中可有效分离光生载流子和提高反应活性位点,从而显著提高可见光催化性能.     

Diblock‐Copolymer‐Mediated Self‐Assembly of Protein‐Stabilized Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Clusters for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) can be used as efficient transverse relaxivity (T₂) contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Organizing small (D<10 nm) SPIONs into large assemblies can considerably enhance their relaxivity. However, this assembly process is difficult to control and can easily result in unwanted aggregation and precipitation, which might further lead to lower contrast agent performance. Herein, we present highly stable protein–polymer double‐stabilized SPIONs for improving contrast in MRI. We used a cationic–neutral double hydrophilic poly(N‐methyl‐2‐vinyl pyridinium iodide‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (P2QVP‐b‐PEO) to mediate the self‐assembly of protein‐cage‐encapsulated iron oxide (γ‐Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles (magnetoferritin) into stable PEO‐coated clusters. This approach relies on electrostatic interactions between the cationic N‐methyl‐2‐vinylpyridinium iodide block and magnetoferritin protein cage surface (pI≈4.5) to form a dense core, whereas the neutral ethylene oxide block provides a stabilizing biocompatible shell. Formation of the complexes was studied in aqueous solvent medium with dynamic light scattering (DLS) and cryogenic transmission electron microcopy (cryo‐TEM). DLS results indicated that the hydrodynamic diameter (D_h) of the clusters is approximately 200 nm, and cryo‐TEM showed that the clusters have an anisotropic stringlike morphology. MRI studies showed that in the clusters the longitudinal relaxivity (r₁) is decreased and the transverse relaxivity (r₂) is increased relative to free magnetoferritin (MF), thus indicating that clusters can provide considerable contrast enhancement.     

Preparation of size‐controlled In2O3 nanoparticles

Highly crystalline and monodisperse In₂O₃ nanoparticles were successfully prepared by thermal decomposition of In(dipy)₃Cl₃·2H₂O in oleylamine and oleic acid under inert atmosphere. The size of In₂O₃ nanoparticles could be readily tuned from 10–15 nm to 40–50 nm, depending on the molar ratio of precursor to combined solvent in the reaction system. As‐synthesized In₂O₃ nanoparticles have a center‐body cubic structure as characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction and selected‐area electron diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that In₂O₃ nanoparticles have a narrow size distribution. A relatively strongly PL peak centered at 378 nm could be clearly seen when 10–15 nm In₂O₃ nanoparticles redispersed in cyclohexane were excited at 275 nm at room temperature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Zwitterionic Iron Oxide (γ‐Fe2O3) Nanoparticles Based on P(2VP‐grad‐AA) Copolymers

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of zwitterionic core–shell hybrid nanoparticles consisting of a core of iron oxide multicore nanoparticles (MCNPs, γ‐Fe₂O₃) and a shell of sultonated poly(2‐vinylpyridine‐grad‐acrylic acid) copolymers. The gradient copolymers are prepared by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of 2‐vinylpyridine (2VP), followed by the addition of tert‐butyl acrylate and subsequent hydrolysis. Grafting of P(2VP‐grad‐AA) onto MCNP results in P(2VP‐grad‐AA)@MCNP, followed by quaternization using 1,3‐propanesultone—leading to P(2VP_S‐grad‐AA)@MCNP with a zwitterionic shell. The resulting particles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and thermogravimetric analysis measurements, showing particle diameters of ≈70–90 nm and an overall content of the copolymer shell of ≈10%. Turbidity measurements indicate increased stability toward secondary aggregation after coating if compared to the pristine MCNP and additional cytotoxicity tests do not reveal any significant influence on cell viability.

     

Ambient‐Pressure Stabilization of β‐GdB3O6 by Doping with Bi3+ and Color‐Tunable Emissions by Co‐Doping with Tb3+ and Eu3+: The First Photoluminescence Study of a High‐Pressure Polymorph

Rare‐earth borates are good candidates for optical applications. To date, however, the high‐pressure/high‐temperature technique has produced a large number of novel borates with optical properties that have rarely been investigated due to the severe problem of substantial defects. We targeted the high‐pressure polymorph of β‐GdB₃O₆ and synthesized three solid solutions of β‐Gd_0.75−x Bi_0.25Tb_x B₃O₆ (0≤x ≤0.75), β‐Gd_0.75−y Bi_0.25Eu_y B₃O₆ (0≤y ≤0.75), and β‐Gd_0.50−z Bi_0.25Tb_0.25Eu_z B₃O₆ (0≤z ≤0.05) by using typical solid‐state reactions at 820 °C. Here, the function of Bi³⁺ is to stabilize the high‐pressure phase by lowering the synthetic temperature and being the sensitizer to promote the green and red emissions of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺. The multiple energy transfer paths were investigated by using lifetime decay experiments and photoluminescent spectra, and both efficiency and mechanism were determined. Eventually, color‐tunable and white emissions were achieved by rational doping of Bi³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Eu³⁺ into β‐GdB₃O₆, that is, the CIE chromaticity coordinate for β‐Gd_0.44Bi_0.25Tb_0.30Eu_0.01B₃O₆ is (0.318, 0.365) with a correlated color temperature of 6101 K.