Photoluminescence intermittency in single CdSe nanoparticles: Environment dependence

We report that photoluminescence (PL) intermittency properties of single CdSe semiconductor nanoparticles at room temperature are sensitive to local environments around nanoparticles. The PL intermittency behaviors depend on ambient gas (N₂ or air) and substrate material (glass or Au). Blueshift of the PL peak energy is observed on glass and Au surfaces during photodegradation in air. The mechanism of the PL intermittency of single CdSe nanoparticles is discussed.     

Photostabilization of dye on anatase titania nanoparticles by polymer capping

Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were prepared by the sol-gel method and characterized by XRD, TEM, FTIR and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy for their structure, morphology and particle size. Organization, stabilization of the nanoparticles of TiO₂ from further growth, and partially inhibiting the photodegradation was achieved by capping with polymers. Photodegradation of dye on TiO₂ nanoparticles encapsulated in different polymers has been studied by diffused reflectance UV spectroscopy. The role of the polymer on the photodegradation of TiO₂ has been compared and explained.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备Polyme/MS/SiO2(M=Pb,Cd)复合纳米材料

采用溶胶－凝胶结合水热结晶技术,可成功把高聚物引入MS－SiO2网络结构。合成一种新型的有机－无机硫化物即Polymer/MS/SiO2(M=Pb,Cd)复合纳米材料,其中聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯或聚丙烯酰胺等高聚物的引入将有效地防止无机粒子团聚,控制粒子尺寸,前者还能形成核－壳结构复合粒子。作者还详细讨论了该复合纳米材料的热分析,结果表明,聚合物的存在提高了原有MS－SiO2(M=Pb,Cd)材料的热稳定性。     

合成聚丙酰胺-硫属半导体复合纳米材料的新技术

在水溶液体系中采用同步聚合－水解技术制备聚丙烯酰胺－半导体纳米复合材料，该ＳＰＨ技术是基于丙烯胺单体的聚合和ＭＳ纳米粒子的形成同步发生，使生成的半导体纳米粒子可均匀分散在聚丙烯酰胺基质中，该技术还为制备其它有机聚合物－金属硫化物纳米复合物提供了一种新途径。     

Synthesis and characterization of TiO2/Ag/polymer ternary nanoparticles via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

We report on the novel ternary hybrid materials consisting of semiconductor (TiO₂), metal (Ag) and polymer (poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (POEM)). First, a hydrophilic polymer, i.e. POEM, was grafted from TiO₂ nanoparticles via the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique. These TiO₂-POEM brush nanoparticles were used to template the formation of Ag nanoparticles by introduction of a AgCF₃SO₃ precursor and a NaBH₄ aqueous solution for reduction process. Successful grafting of polymeric chains from the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles and the in situ formation of Ag nanoparticles within the polymeric chains were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). FT-IR spectroscopy also revealed the specific interaction of Ag nanoparticles with the CO groups of POEM brushes. This study presents a simple route for the in situ synthesis of both metal and polymer confined within the semiconductor, producing ternary hybrid inorganic-organic nanomaterials.     

Polymer assisted assembling of the semiconductor particles: Structural and electrical studies

CdS and Si semiconductor nanopraticles were embedded in a polymer matrix and characterized using various techniques. The surface properties and size distribution of the nanoparticles were monitored by POM and SEM and found to be uniform but around the crystalline frameworks of the polymer. XRD and FTIR analysis have been used to ensure the composite nature and particle size of the semiconductor loaded films. The electrical conductivity of these films were evaluated and found to increase with semiconductor dispersion and attains a percolation threshold at optimum composition. This composition and the distribution of the clusters is shown to vary with the type of the semiconductor, i.e., CdS or Si.     

Hybrid polymer-inorganic materials: multiscale hierarchy

The paper describes a new approach to producing hybrid composite materials with multiscale morphologies. We doped polymer submicrometer spheres with semiconductor or metal (CdS or Ag, respectively) nanoparticles and used these doped microspheres as the functional building blocks in production of hybrid periodically structured materials. The preparation of hybrid polymer particles included the following stages: (i) synthesis of monodisperse polymer microspheres, (ii) in situ synthesis of the inorganic nanoparticles either on the surface, or in the bulk of the polymer beads, and (iii) encapsulation of hybrid microspheres with a hydrophobic shell. We demonstrated that by changing the composition of the polymer beads good control could be achieved over the size of the nanoparticles.     

Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using surfactant free in-air and microwave method

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by a facile route involving the reaction of zinc sulphate heptahydrate and sodium hydroxide through drop-by-drop mixing synthesis-IA, instant mixing synthesis-IA and under the influence of microwave radiations. The synthesis under different reaction conditions played an important role and led to the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles of different size and shapes. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The concentration dependent antimicrobial activity of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was carried out. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV irradiation. Further, the optical properties of as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles were investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometry. The absence of surfactant led to a simple, cheap and fast method of synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles.     

Synthesis of anatase titania-carbon nanotubes nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity through a nanocoating-hydrothermal process

Anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles were covalently anchored onto acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) through a nanocoating-hydrothermal process to obtain TiO₂-MWNTs nanocomposites. The composition and structural properties of the nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, BET, TG, TEM, HRTEM, EDX, XPS, and FTIR, and the formation of ester-bond linkage between TiO₂ nanoparticles and MWNTs was demonstrated. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO₂-MWNTs nanocomposites was probed by photodegradation reaction of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation.     

Role of surface modification of CdS nanoparticles on the performance of hybrid photovoltaic devices based on p-phenylenevinylene derivate

The role of organic capping ligand of semiconductor nanoparticles in dictating the interfacial charge transfer processes in hybrid semiconductor nanoparticles/polymer-based photovoltaic devices is investigated. Morphology, optical and structural study of the CdS nanoparticles and the hybrid material were accomplished using X-ray diffraction (XRD), absorption (UV–vis), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) and time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy (PLRT). A broad band absorption in UV–visible region and considerable fluorescence quenching of MEH-PPV in the composites are noted indicating a photo-induced charge transfer and dissociation of excitons. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements indicating decreased lifetime further confirm this process. The solar cells open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current were improved using thiophenol modified CdS nanoparticles as electron acceptor in comparison to MEH-PPV only device demonstrating a promising approach to enhance charge transport in the hybrid nanoparticles–polymer composite photovoltaic cells (PV).     

Surface-modification of indium tin oxide nanoparticles with titanium dioxide by a nonaqueous process and its photocatalytic properties

Indium tin oxide nanoparticles prepared by co-precipitation were re-dispersed in benzyl alcohol and modified successfully with titanium dioxide using titanium tetrachloride as precursor. The morphologies and the re-dispersing processes of both the initial and modified indium tin oxide nanoparticles were investigated, respectively. The photocatalytic properties of the modified nanoparticles were compared with commercial P25 photocatalyst. It was found that (i) the average diameter of the initial indium tin oxide nanoparticles was 10.7 nm and that of the surface-modified nanoparticles was 14.5 nm; (ii) the optimal ultrasonication time was 10.0 min and 8.0 min for the initial and surface-modified ITO nanoparticles, respectively; (iii) the modified particles possessed a higher photocatalytic activity than commercial P25 photocatalyst in the photodegradation of rhodamine B in aqueous medium at pH 5.00; (iv) the pH of the medium markedly influences the photodegradation efficiency.     

Effect of deformation of a polymer matrix on the optical properties of CdS nanocrystals incorporated into it

A study is made of the photodegradation kinetics of luminescence and absorption of cadmium sulfide nanocrystals incorporated into a plastic polymer matrix. The reversibility effect of photodegradation under mechanical deformation (stretching) of a polymer film is revealed. It is suggested that the photodegradation reversibility is related to the extraction of electrons, photoexcited in nanocrystals, from deep-lying traps in the surrounding polymer matrix during its deformation. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 101–104, January–February, 2000.     

一种微光刻全息记录新材料：光刻蚀纤维素软片成像机理及其特性研究

报道一种新型的聚合物全息记录材料：光刻蚀纤维素软片（ＰＣＦ），对该材料较强的实时特性、较高的分辨本领、线性的表面浮雕调制特性等进行了实验研究，同时通过电子自旋共振谱（ＥＳＲ）、红外谱（ＩＲ）等手段研究了其成像过程中的光化学反应过程，证实了它的光降解机理。     

In Situ Synthesis of Oil-Based Polymer/Silver Nanocomposites by Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Free Radical Polymerization Processes

In this study, in situ synthesis of oil-based polymer–silver nanocomposites was achieved by using photoinduced free radical polymerization processes in which silver nanoparticles were formed by electron transfer reaction. An oil-based macromonomer was prepared and then copolymerized with styrene in the presence of AgNO₃. Copolymerization was started with free radicals formed by photolysis of 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl acetophenone and simultaneously silver nitrate was reduced to metallic silver in nanosize by electron transfer reaction. The amount of photoinitiator influenced the size of silver nanoparticles formed within the polymer films. Nanocomposite films were characterized by TEM and TGA analysis. The obtained polymer nanocomposite film was also examined in respect of surface coating material that would have an antibacterial effect against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and spore-forming bacteria. It was demonstrated that suitably coated nanocomposite samples exhibited an antibacterial effect against these bacteria.     

Optical Properties of Planar Nanostructures Based on Semiconductor Quantum Dots and Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles

The optical properties of a composite material consisting of a thin polymer film, which is activated by semiconductor CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and silver nanoparticles, on a transparent dielectric substrate have been investigated. It is revealed that the presence of silver nanoparticles leads to an increase in the QD absorption (by a factor of 4) and in the fluorescence intensity (by a factor of 10), whereas the fluorescence time drops by a factor of about 10. Excitation of the composite medium by a pulsed laser is found to result in narrowing of the fluorescence band and a sublinear dependence of its intensity on the pulse energy. In the absence of silver nanoparticles, the fluorescence spectrum of QDs is independent of the excitation-pulse energy density, and the fluorescence intensity depends linearly on the pulse energy in the entire range of energy densities, up to 75 mJ/cm².     

Ultrasonic-assisted preparation and characterization of CdS nanoparticles in the presence of a halide-free and low-cost ionic liquid and photocatalytic activity

An ultrasonic-assisted and environmentally favorable method is proposed for preparation of CdS nanoparticles in the presence of a halide-free and low-cost room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, ([EMIM][EtSO₄]). The prepared samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR). Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) of the products reveal a blue shift of 1.45 eV relative to bulk CdS, which can be attributed to the quantum confinement effect of the prepared nanoparticles. Investigation of photocatalytic activity for the CdS nanoparticles towards photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) demonstrates that photodegradation of MB increases with RTIL content of the media using visible and UV irradiations.     

基于等离激元多重杂化效应的光吸收结构

近年来,以聚合物为代表的高分子材料由于具有比其他光吸收材料(如半导体材料、碳基材料以及贵金属纳米材料)更好的柔性和粘弹性而受到广泛关注.本文基于等离子体再聚合技术和磁控溅射工艺在聚合物材料层上制备了具有等离激元多重杂化效应的光吸收结构,该结构具有宽谱高吸收特性.该结构的制备工艺简单易行,对不同聚合物材料具有通用性,在光学器件领域具有广泛的应用前景.     

表面结构对SnO2半导体纳米粒子荧光性质的影响

本文利用荧光光谱对ＳｎＯ２纳米粒子水溶胶及其有机溶胶的光学性质进行了研究。发现粒子的表面结构对其光学性质具有极大的影响。水溶胶的荧光发射是由氧空位控制的,其发射强度工;有机溶胶由于表面活性剂的作用,改变粒子的表面结构,得到较强的荧光发射。     

Surface modification of magnetic metal nanoparticles through irradiation graft polymerization

To tailor the interfacial interaction in magnetic metal nanoparticles filled polymer composites, the surfaces of iron, cobalt and nickel nanoparticles were grafted by irradiation polymerization. In the current report, effects of grafting conditions, including irradiation atmosphere, irradiation dose and monomer concentration, on the grafting reaction are presented. The interaction between the nanoparticles and the grafted polymer was studied by thermal analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. It was found that there is a strong interfacial interaction in the form of electrostatic bonding in the polymer-grafted nanoparticles. The dispersibility of the modified nanoparticles in chloroform was significantly improved due to the increased hydrophobicity.     

Synthesis and characterization of bamboo-like CdS/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes composites with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

In order to efficiently use the visible light in the photocatalytic reaction, a novel bamboo-like CdS/TiO₂ nanotubes composite was prepared by a facile chemical reduction method, in which CdS nanoparticles located in the TiO₂ nanotubes. The composition and structure of this nanocomposite were characterized by TEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy. This CdS/TiO₂ nanotubes composite exhibited much higher visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue than pure TiO₂ nanotubes and CdS nanoparticles, and the highest photodegradation efficiency after 6 h irradiation can reach 84.5%. It is inferred that the unique structure of CdS/TiO₂ nanotubes composites acts an important role for the improvement of their photocatalytic activity.