Morphology-engineered strain transformation in Ge/GeO2 core/shell nanoparticles

Growth of nanoparticles embedded in a host matrix can lead to substantial strain. Ge/GeO₂ core/shell nanoparticles embedded in amorphous Al₂O₃ matrix is fabricated by the pulsed laser deposition method and rapid thermal annealing technique, which is confirmed by the experimental HRTEM result and consistent with Zhdanov׳s theoretical prediction. A finite-element calculation is performed to investigate the tuning effect on the strain by the morphology evolution of the Ge/GeO₂ core/shell nanoparticle embedded in Al₂O₃ matrix. The simulated result indicates that the strain at the interface between the core and the shell strongly depends on the morphology of the nanoparticles. Moreover, it can be found that there is a dramatic transformation of the strain on Ge core from tensile to compressive strain during the shrinkage of Ge core and the expansion of GeO₂ shell. The simulated results indicate that the strain can be designed by tuning the morphology of the nanoparticles, which provides an opportunity to engineer the properties of the nano-sized core/shell structures.     

Morphological control of Ni/NiO core/shell nanoparticles and production of hollow NiO nanostructures

Chemical synthesis coupled with a microwave irradiation process allowed for the control of size (6–40 nm), shape, and shell thickness of Ni/NiO core/shell nanoparticles. In this unique synthetic route, the size of Ni nanoparticles (NiNPs) was strongly influenced by the nickel salt-to-stabilizer ratio and the amount of the stabilizer. Interestingly, it was observed that the shape of the nanoparticles was altered by varying the reaction time, where longer reaction times resulted in annealing effects and rupture of the stabilizer micelle leading to distinct shapes of Ni/NiO core/shell nanostructures. Product cooling rate was another important parameter identified in this study that not only affected the shape, but also the crystal structure of the core/shell nanoparticles. In addition, a simple and cost-effective method of microwave irradiation of NiNPs led to the formation of distinctly shaped hollow NiO nanoparticles. These high surface area core/shell nanoparticles with well-controlled morphologies are important and can lead to significant advancement in the design of improved fuel cells, electrochromic display devices, and catalysis systems.     

Chemical synthesis of self-assembled Ni nanoparticles and understanding of nonmagnetic layer inside their surface

To chemically synthesize mono-dispersed and self-assembled Ni nanoparticles, it was important to find the best combination of a Ni precursor and a ligand. Our Ni nanoparticles exhibited a face-centered cubic structure and superparamagnetism at room temperature. The value of saturation magnetization for our Ni nanoparticles was largely different from that of bulk Ni. Because of the relationship between the diameter and saturation magnetization per volume, the number of atoms composing the Ni nanoparticle was correlated with magnetization. This result indicated that a magnetic core/shell structure inside a Ni nanoparticle was produced. The nonmagnetic layer, as a magnetic shell of the core/shell structure, was created due to the low crystallinity of Ni nanoparticles and was composed of amorphous Ni‒O states. As a result, antiferromagnetic spins arrayed in the Ni‒O states were broken. Disordered spins were generated, which eventually decreased the total magnetization of the Ni nanoparticles.     

Exchange bias in a magnetic ordered/disordered nanoparticle system: A Monte Carlo simulation study

We have employed the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method to gain information on the exchange bias (EB) effect in nanoparticles composed of a ferromagnetic core and a disordered ferrimagnetic shell. The magnetic disorder of the shell affects the EB properties to the extent that they exhibit aging and training effects. The results of our MC simulations are in very good agreement with the experimental findings in a granular system composed of Fe nanoparticles (mean size ∼6 nm) embedded in a Fe oxide matrix confirming that the glassy nature of the shell is responsible for the observed aging and training effects.     

Size effect in the melting and freezing behaviors of Al/Ti core-shell nanoparticles using molecular dynamics simulations

The thermal stability of Ti@Al core/shell nanoparticles with different sizes and components during continuous heating and cooling processes is examined by a molecular dynamics simulation with embedded atom method. The thermodynamic properties and structure evolution during continuous heating and cooling processes are investigated through the characterization of the potential energy, specific heat distribution, and radial distribution function(RDF). Our study shows that, for fixed Ti core size, the melting temperature decreases with Al shell thickness, while the crystallizing temperature and glass formation temperature increase with Al shell thickness. Diverse melting mechanisms have been discovered for different Ti core sized with fixed Al shell thickness nanoparticles. The melting temperature increases with the Ti core radius. The trend agrees well with the theoretical phase diagram of bimetallic nanoparticles. In addition, the glass phase formation of Al–Ti nanoparticles for the fast cooling rate of 12 K/ps, and the crystal phase formation for the low cooling rate of 0.15 K/ps. The icosahedron structure is formed in the frozen 4366 Al–Ti atoms for the low cooling rate.     

A novel two-phase thermal approach for synthesizing CdSe/CdS core/shell nanostructure

CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals have been synthesized through a low cost and simple two-phase thermal route. The optical spectroscopy and structural characterization evidenced the core/shell structure of the CdSe/CdS nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction patterns of CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles exhibited peak positions corresponding to those of their bulk cubic crystal structures. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirmed the elemental composition of the CdSe/CdS nanoparticles. The absorption spectra of core/shell nanoparticles showed red shift with respect to the core CdSe nanoparticles. The photoluminescence study indicates that the intensity of the emission maximum is considerably increased in the core/shell structure as compared with the parent material, and the capping of CdS nanoparticles with CdSe material exhibit a near band-edge emission, indicating a successful passivation by removing surface defects. The high-resolution transmission microscope images of the bare and core/shell nanoparticles ascertained the monodispersed and well-defined spherical particles. The average particle sizes for CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles are 2.5 and 5 nm, respectively, thus confirming, the larger diameter of CdSe/CdS core/shell nanostructure than the core CdSe nanoparticles.     

Dependence of exchange bias on core/shell relative dimension in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic nanoparticles

We employ a modified Metropolis Monte Carlo simulation to study the effect of bimagnetic core/shell relative dimension on exchange bias in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic nanoparticles. The exchange bias field is inversely proportional to the ferromagnetic shell thickness in the antiferromagnetic (core)/ferromagnetic (shell) nanoparticles, while in the nanoparticles with an opposite core/shell structure the exchange bias behavior is complex and distinguished in different ranges of the ferromagnetic core radius. The work elucidates unambiguously how the core and shell dimensions optimize the exchange bias in nanoparticles.     

Cu/C核/壳纳米结构的气相合成、形成机理及其光学性能研究

采用乙酰丙酮铜为原料, 通过化学气相沉积大批量制备出Cu/C核/壳纳米颗粒和纳米线. 研究结果表明, 通过控制沉积温度可对Cu/C核/壳纳米材料的形貌和结构进行很好的控制. 比如, 沉积温度为400 ℃时可获得直径约200 nm的Cu/C核/壳纳米线, 沉积温度为450 ℃ 时可获得直径约200 nm的Cu/C核/壳纳米颗粒和纳米棒的混合产物, 沉积温度为600 ℃时可获得直径约22 nm的Cu/C核/壳纳米颗粒. 获得的Cu/C核/壳纳米结构是由一个新颖的凝聚机理形成的, 而这种机理不同于著名的溶解-析出机理. 紫外-可见光谱和荧光光谱分析结果表明: Cu/C核/壳纳米线和纳米颗粒均在225 nm处出现Cu的吸收峰, 同时在620 和616 nm处分别出现了纳米线和纳米颗粒的表面等离子共振吸收峰. Cu/C核/壳纳米线在312 和348 nm处、 Cu/C核/壳纳米颗粒在304 和345 nm处出现荧光发射谱峰. 关键词： Cu/C核/壳结构 纳米线 纳米颗粒 光学性能     

A study of the properties of core/shell/shell Ag/FeCo/Ag nanoparticles

The properties of heterophase core/shell/shell Ag/FeCo/Ag nanoparticles synthesized via a plasma method that are promising for biological applications are studied. As is established, the core/shell/shell Ag/FeCo/Ag nanoparticles exhibit a superparamagnetic state at room temperature that allows one to manage the hyperthermia process. The magnetic characteristics of core/shell/shell Ag/FeCo/Ag nanoparticles are interpreted by assuming partial oxidation of the surface layer of a ferromagnetic FeCo shell and formation of the antiferromagnetic Co_xFe_1–xО layer on the FeCo surface. The interaction between the surface antiferromagnetic Co_xFe_1–xО layer and the ferromagnetic FeCо shell causes the emergence of the exchange bias in Ag/FeCo/Ag nanoparticles.     

Strain distributions of confined Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles

The strain distributions of Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles confined in the Al2O3 matrix with different core sizes are investigated by using the finite element method, respectively. The simulation results clearly indicate that the compressive strains exerted on the Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles can be induced by the Al2O3 matrix. Moreover, it can be found that the strain gradient existing in a Au/Ag nanoparticle is much larger than that in a Ag/Au nanoparticle, which could be due to the larger Young's modulus of Au than that of Ag. With the core size increasing, the strain gradient existing in the Au/Ag nanoparticle becomes larger, while the strain gradient existing in the Ag/Au nanoparticle keeps constant. These different strain distributions may have significant influences on the structures and morphologies of the Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles, leading to the different physical properties for potential applications.     

小粒径同质/异质壳层结构NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)纳米颗粒的近红外发光特性

采用共沉淀法制备了粒径小于5 nm的六方相NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)纳米颗粒.纳米颗粒表面缺陷会使发光中心产生严重的淬灭,对其表面包覆适当厚度的壳层可以有效地减少发光淬灭,提高发光性能.对NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)核心纳米颗粒分别进行同质和异质包覆并且通过调节核壳比制备了不同壳层厚度的NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)@NaGdF_4和NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)@Na YF4纳米颗粒,研究了不同的壳层厚度对核心纳米颗粒发光的影响,并对两种不同核壳结构纳米颗粒的发光性能进行了对比.在808 nm近红外光激发下,NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)纳米颗粒发射出位于约866,893,1060 nm的近红外发射.与核心纳米颗粒相比,核壳结构的纳米颗粒的荧光强度增强,荧光寿命增长,并且随着壳厚的增加,荧光强度出现先增强后减弱、荧光寿命逐步增长的趋势.与相同条件下同质包覆的NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)@NaGdF_4纳米颗粒相比,异质包覆的NaGdF_4:3%Nd~(3+)@NaYF_4纳米颗粒光谱荧光强度增强,寿命增长.     

银/二氧化钛核壳纳米颗粒对碲化镉纳米晶的荧光增强研究

利用新合成的复合纳米结构银/二氧化钛核壳纳米颗粒,研究了金属银纳米颗粒对碲化镉纳米晶层荧光的增强情况.结果表明,这种新型复合金属纳米结构能极大地增强发光纳米晶层的荧光强度.银/二氧化钛核壳纳米颗粒是以水合肼、硝酸银和四异丙氧基钛为原材料,利用胶体化学法在水溶液中合成.透射电子显微镜图片表明这种新合成的银/二氧化钛纳米材料基本上呈球形,有较为明显的核壳结构,中间黑色的核是银纳米颗粒,外层颜色较浅部分是二氧化钛壳层.另外,包裹二氧化钛壳层后,银纳米颗粒的表面等离子吸收带从409 nm红移至430 nm,也证实了这种新型核壳纳米材料的形成.将此合成方法得到的银/二氧化钛纳米颗粒和碲化镉纳米晶用旋转涂覆方法进行直接组合后,得到了银纳米颗粒对碲化镉纳米晶荧光的明显增强,并对其增强的物理过程进行了讨论.这种能够增强荧光团发光的新型复合银纳米结构将在发光器件、荧光成像、生物探测等方面具有一定的应用价值.     

Growth of three-shell onionlike bimetallic nanoparticles

We show by molecular dynamics simulations on three systems (B/A=Pd/Ag, Cu/Ag, and Ni/Ag) that three-shell metallic nanoparticles made by a core of a metal A, an intermediate shell of metal B and an external shell of metal A (A-B-A nanoparticles) can be grown by deposition of B atoms onto an A core. The growth of the intermediate B shell is triggered by the fact that the most favorable positions for isolated B impurities inside A clusters are located just one layer below the cluster surface.     

Gold decorated NaYF<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Yb,Er/NaYF<Subscript>4</Subscript>/silica (core/shell/shell) upconversion nanoparticles for photothermal destruction of BE(2)-C neuroblastoma cells

Gold decorated NaYF₄:Yb,Er/NaYF₄/silica (core/shell/shell) upconversion (UC) nanoparticles (~70–80 nm) were synthesized using tetraethyl orthosilicate and chloroauric acid in a one-step reverse microemulsion method. Gold nanoparticles (~6 nm) were deposited on the surface of silica shell of these core/shell/shell nanoparticles. The total upconversion emission intensity (green, red, and blue) of the core/shell/shell nanoparticles decreased by ~31% after Au was deposited on the surface of silica shell. The upconverted green light was coupled with the surface plasmon of Au leading to rapid heat conversion. These UC/silica/Au nanoparticles were very efficient to destroy BE(2)-C cancer cells and showed strong potential in photothermal therapy.     

Core/shell structured ZnO/SiO2 nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic property

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a simple chemical synthesis route. Subsequently, SiO₂ layers were successfully coated onto the surface of ZnO nanoparticles to modify the photocatalytic activity in acidic or alkaline solutions. The obtained particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and zeta potential. It was found that ultrafine core/shell structured ZnO/SiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully obtained. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/SiO₂ core/shell structured nanoparticles in Rhodamine B aqueous solution at varied pH value were also investigated. Compared with uncoated ZnO nanoparticles, core/shell structured ZnO/SiO₂ nanoparticles with thinner SiO₂ shell possess improved stability and relatively better photocatalytic activity in acidic or alkaline solutions, which would broaden its potential application in pollutant treatment.     

Thermally activated phase transitions in Fe-Ni core-shell nanoparticles

Fe-Ni core-shell nanoparticles are versatile functional materials, and their thermal stabilities are crucial for their performances in operating conditions. In this study, the thermodynamic behaviors of Fe-Ni core-shell nanoparticles are examined under continuous heating. The solid–solid phase transition from body centered cubic (bcc) to face centered cubic (fcc) in the Fe core is identified. The transition is accompanied with the generation of stacking faults around the core-shell interface, which notably lowers the melting points of the Fe-Ni core-shell nanoparticles and causes even worse thermal stability compared with Ni ones. Moreover, the temperature of the structural transformation is shown to be tuned by modifying the Ni shell thickness. Finally, the stress distributions of the core and the shell are also explored. The relevant results could be helpful for the design, preparation, and utilization of Fe-based nanomaterials.     

Consistency of ΛΛ hypernuclear events

In this work, we report on the study of Ni-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles prepared by a polymer precursor method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data analysis evidenced the formation of only the tetragonal rutile-type phase in all samples. Meanwhile, the mean crystallite size shows a progressive reduction with the Ni content, the unit cell volume and residual strain does not show any clear dependence on the Ni content. Room temperature M?ssbauer spectra were well modeled by using two doublets which represent the particle core and shell surface regions. Assuming that the isomer shift (IS) of the core region remains constant for all samples, the isomer shift of the shell region shows a linear increase with the Ni content. That increase was assigned to the progressive increase in the s-electronic density produced by either the generation of oxygen vacancies or the formation of Ni complexes at the surface due to the surface segregation of Ni ions as the Ni content is increased. Larger QS values obtained for the doublet of the shell are associated with the stronger distortions in the nearest surrounding of tin atoms produced by the surface segregation of Ni ions.     

Novel Two-Step Approach for the Synthesis of Cadmium Selenide/Zinc Sulfide Core/Shell Nanocomposites with Precursor Injection Technique

This work describes the synthesis of cadmium selenide/zinc sulfide core/shell nanoparticles from the cadmium oxide precursor through a convenient, two-step approach. This modified novel synthesis procedure for cadmium selenide/zinc sulfide nanoparticles in trioctylphosphine oxide and trioctyl phosphine provides better control over growth dynamics. The outer zinc sulfide shell provides efficient confinement of electron and hole wave functions inside the nanocrystals as well as high photochemical stability. The materials have been characterized using a range of optical and structural techniques. The high resolution transmission electron microscope micrographs of the cadmium selenide/zinc sulfide core/shell nanoparticles show well-defined spherical particles with an increase in diameter as compared to the parent cadmium selenide material. Thus, the present simulation and its extension can give insight to the understanding of the formation of core/shell or other heterostructures in different kinds of self-assembled aggregates.     

Engineered inorganic core/shell nanoparticles

It has been for a long time recognized that nanoparticles are of great scientific interest as they are effectively a bridge between bulk materials and atomic structures. At first, size effects occurring in single elements have been studied. More recently, progress in chemical and physical synthesis routes permitted the preparation of more complex structures. Such structures take advantages of new adjustable parameters including stoichiometry, chemical ordering, shape and segregation opening new fields with tailored materials for biology, mechanics, optics magnetism, chemistry catalysis, solar cells and microelectronics. Among them, core/shell structures are a particular class of nanoparticles made with an inorganic core and one or several inorganic shell layer(s). In earlier work, the shell was merely used as a protective coating for the core. More recently, it has been shown that it is possible to tune the physical properties in a larger range than that of each material taken separately. The goal of the present review is to discuss the basic properties of the different types of core/shell nanoparticles including a large variety of heterostructures. We restrict ourselves on all inorganic (on inorganic/inorganic) core/shell structures. In the light of recent developments, the applications of inorganic core/shell particles are found in many fields including biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. In addition to a representative overview of the properties, general concepts based on solid state physics are considered for material selection and for identifying criteria linking the core/shell structure and its resulting properties. Chemical and physical routes for the synthesis and specific methods for the study of core/shell nanoparticle are briefly discussed.     

Light scattering calculations from Au and Au/SiO2 core/shell nanoparticles

Given the importance of the optical properties of Au and Au/SiO₂ core/shell nanoparticles, in this article we focus our attention on the light scattering properties of such systems and on a relative comparison. In particular, we report theoretical results of angle-dependent light scattering intensity and scattering efficiency for Au and Au/SiO₂ core/shell nanoparticles increasing the Au particle radius from 30 to 130 nm, and for Au/SiO₂ core/shell particles changing the core-to-shell sizes ratio. Finally, a comparison between the scattering efficiency of the Au and Au/SiO₂ core/shell nanoparticles is drawn. The results of this work can be used in the design of tunable efficiency light scattering devices (biological and molecular sensors, solar cells).