Orientation in Nematic Liquid Crystals Doped with Orange Dyes and Effect of Carbon Nanoparticles

研究了掺杂两种分散染料橙的向列型液晶E7的性质以及碳纳米粒子(单壁碳纳米管或富勒烯C₆₀)的影响. 两种分散染料橙11和13具有较高的溶解度和有序参数,被作为掺杂剂同时使用. 与掺杂单染料相比,同时加入两种染料橙使液晶的有序参数明显提高. 与纯液晶相比,掺杂可引起向列相向各向同性相转变温度的升高.     

Synthesis and properties of magnetic and luminescent Fe3O4/SiO2/Dye/SiO2 nanoparticles

A simple and reproducible method was developed to synthesize a novel class of Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/dye/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles. As promising candidates for use in bioassays, the obtained nanoparticles have an average diameter of 30 nm, and the thickness of the outer shell of silica could be tuned by changing the concentration of the silicon precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate during the synthesis. These multifunctional nanoparticles were found to be highly luminescent, photostable and superparamagnetic. The luminescence intensity of the nanoparticles was increased as the dye concentration was increased in the preparation process. The color of the luminescence was successfully tuned by incorporating different dyes into the nanoparticles. The measurements of the emission spectra indicated that relative to the dye molecules dissolved in ethanol, the emission of the dye-doped nanoparticles exhibited either a red shift or a blue shift, to which a tentative explanation was given.     

A novel TiO2 nanoparticles/nanowires composite core with ZrO2 nanoparticles shell coating photoanode for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cell based on different electrolytes

The novel TiO₂ nanopartilces/nanowires (TNPWs) composite with ZrO₂ nanoparticles (ZNPs) shell-coated photoanodes were prepared to fabricate high-performance dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) based on different types of electrolytes. Hafnium oxide (HfO₂) is a new and efficient blocking layer material applied over the TNPWs-ZNPs core-shell photoanode film. TiO₂ nanoparticles (TNPs) and TiO₂ nanowires (TNWs) were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). DSSCs were fabricated using the novel photoanodes with an organic sensitizer D149 dye and different types of electrolytes namely liquid electrolyte, ionic liquid electrolyte, solid-state electrolyte, and quasi-solid-state electrolyte. The DSSC-4 made through the novel core-shell photoanode using quasi-solid-state electrolyte showed better photocurrent efficiency (PCE) as compared to the other DSSCs. It has such photocurrent-voltage characteristics: short circuit photocurrent (Jsc)?=?19 mA/cm², the open circuit voltage (Voc)?=?650 mV, fill factor (FF)?=?65 %, and PCE (η)?=?8.03 %. The improved performance of DSSC-4 is ascribed to the core-shell with blocking layer photoanode could increased electron transport and suppressed recombination of charge carriers at the TNPWs-ZNPs/dye/electrolyte interface.     

Removal of chromium(VI) and dye Alizarin Red S (ARS) using polymer-coated iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles by co-precipitation method

The present research was conducted with an aim to develop such adsorbent system: polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles which can remove heavy metal and dye from water of different concentration. Synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for contaminated water purification has been one of the outcomes of application of rapidly growing field of Nanotechnology in Environmental Science. In the present study, the efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles for removal of Cr(VI) and dye (alizarin) from water solutions of known concentrations were evaluated. The nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Polymer-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles carrying functional groups on their surface were synthesized by different methods for permanent magnet-assisted removal of heavy metal (chromium) and dye (Alizarin Red S) from water. The characterization showed that synthesized nanoparticles were in the size range of 10–50 nm. The adsorption capacities of the Fe₃O₄ using polyMETAC-coated particles for dye (Alizarin Red S) removal were 80–96 % and chromium 62–91 %. The chromium concentration was determined after magnetic separation using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and dye concentration was estimated with UV–visible spectrophotometer. Nanoparticles of polymer coated showed the highest removal capacity from water for metal and dye. The developed adsorbents had higher capacity for removal of heavy metal ions and dye.     

Surface second harmonic generation from coumarin 343 dye-attached TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles at liquid–liquid interface

The nonlinear optical properties of coumarin 343 (C343) dye-attached TiO₂ nanoparticles in the size range 5–8 nm adsorbed at the interface of water/1,2-dichloroethane have been studied by using the surface second harmonic generation technique. No second harmonic (SH) response was observed from the bare TiO₂ nanoparticles adsorbed at the interface, however, a strong SH response was measured from the dye molecules attached at the surfaces of the nanoparticles. The increase in the SH intensity with the increase of TiO₂ nanoparticle concentration in the aqueous solution of C343 is mainly due to the pre-alignment of the dye molecules at the surfaces of nanoparticles and is partly due to the third-order polarization contribution of the nanoparticles to the observed total SH response.     

Fluorescence quenching of 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyl-5-phenyl phenazinium chloride by AgCl and Ag nanoparticles

Quenching of fluorescence of the dye 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyl-5-phenyl Phenazinium Chloride (Safranine T) has been investigated by AgCl nanoparticles in the W/O microemulsion medium at different [H₂O]/[AOT] ratios (ω) and with Ag nanoparticles and Ag⁺ in aqueous medium. A simple straightforward method has been introduced to prepare AgCl nanoparticles in well-characterized, monodispersed biomimicking nanocavities formed by sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) in heptane. Experimental results reveal that the size of the AgCl nanoparticles increases with increase in hydration. The results of the quenching experiment were analysed in the light of Stern Volmer equation. Quenching of fluorescence of the dye has been found to decrease with decrease in the size of the nanoparticles of AgCl and the variation of Stern Volmer quenching constants (K_SV) with particle size is different for two different size regimes.     

Laser induced synthesis of nanoparticles in liquids

The review of results on nanoparticles formation is presented under laser ablation of Ag, Au, and Cu-containing solid targets in liquid environments (H₂O, C₂H₅OH, C₂H₄Cl₂, etc.). X-ray diffractometry (XRD), UV-vis optical transmission spectrometry, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) characterize the nanoparticles. The morphology of nanoparticles is studied as the function of both laser fluence and nature of the liquid. The possibility to control the shape of nanoparticles by ablation of an Au target by an interference pattern of two laser beams is demonstrated. Formation of alloyed Au-Ag and Ag-Cu nanoparticles is reported under laser exposure of a mixture of individual nanoparticles. The effect of internal segregation of brass nanoparticles is discussed due to their small lateral dimensions. The factors are discussed that determine the distribution function of particles size under laser ablation. The influence of laser parameters as well as the nature on the liquid on the properties of nanoparticles is elucidated.     

Preparation of MgTi2O5 nanoparticles for sonophotocatalytic degradation of triphenylmethane dyes

MgTi₂O₅ (magnesium dititanate) nanoparticles were prepared by a simple hydrothermal assisted post-annealing method and characterized with various analytical techniques. The catalytic properties (sonocatalytic, photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic activity) were evaluated using the degradation of triphenylmethane dyes (crystal violet, basic fuchsin, and acid fuchsin). The sonophotocatalytic activity of MgTi₂O₅ nanoparticles towards crystal violet was found to be ~2.9 times higher than the photocatalytic activity and ~20 times higher than that of the sonocatalytic processes. In addition, the sonophotocatalytic efficiency of MgTi₂O₅ nanoparticles was found to be remarkable for the degradation of basic fuchsin (cationic dye) and acid fuchsin (anionic dye). The mechanism of these catalytic activities has been discussed in detail.     

TiO2 Nanoparticles Produced by Electric-Discharge-Nanofluid-Process as Photoelectrode of DSSC

利用自制TiO₂纳米粒子研究敏化染敏太阳能电池. 使用自制的旋转涂布加热平台装置将产出的TiO₂粒子均匀的涂布在ITO导电玻璃上形成薄膜,浸泡于N-719 染料中12小时以上作为DSSCs的光电极 元件,最后完成染料敏化太阳能电池的系统组装并进行光电转换效率测量. 实验结果表明,放电过程产出的TiO₂纳米粒子具有锐钛矿晶相,粒径尺寸可控制在20～70 nm,粒子表面电位约为-30 mV,是稳定的纳米悬浮夜. 添加0.5 mL 的Triton X-100在导电玻璃表面上,利用的旋转涂布加热到22 oC可以制得厚度均匀缜密的薄膜结构,不但粒子不受到热处理效应与介面活性剂的影响而发生晶相改变,并且薄膜也有良好的染料吸附效果. 较厚二氧化钛薄膜的光电极会提升敏化染敏太阳能电池的效率. 实验结果得知,以15 μm的二氧化钛薄膜组装DSSCs测得最高效率2.15%,但是当薄膜厚度超过15 μm 则会导致开路电压与充填因子逐渐下降,光电转换效率变差.     

Random fiber laser of POSS solution-filled hollow optical fiber by end pumping

Random fiber laser is obtained by end pumping a hollow optical fiber (HOF) filled with a dispersive solution of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) nanoparticles and laser dye pyrromethene 597 (PM597) in carbon disulfide (CS₂), in which the concentration is 1.5×10^?2 M for PM597 and 18.5 wt% for POSS, respectively. It is found that the pump light at the one end of the liquid core optical fiber (LCOF) can pass the whole length of LCOF because the POSS nanoparticles were dispersed in CS₂ at a molecular level (1–3 nm) with high stability and without sedimentation. Above the threshold pump energy (～0.81 mJ) the random fiber laser appears coherent and resonant feedback multimode lasing in the weakly scattering system. For the LCOF containing PM597 with the same concentration and no POSS nanoparticles, there occurs only ASE that can be observed under the same experimental condition.     

Synthesis and multifunctionality of (CeO2-NiO) nanocomposites synthesized via sonochemical technique

CeO₂, NiO and their nanocomposite were synthesized using facile sonochemical technique. XRD assure single phase CeO₂ and NiO while the nanocomposite consists of the two phases only. CeO₂ nanoparticles possess cubic shape, NiO was formed in nanorods, and CeO₂ decorated the NiO nanorods in the nanocomposite. The magnetic behavior of the nanocomposite lies between those of the two parents with a ferromagnetic tendency. Metal oxide nanoparticles acted as catalyst in the formation of carbon nanofibers (CNFs), while the nanocomposite leads to the production of carbon nanotubes. The photocatalyst (CeO₂-NiO) achieved complete dye degradation (100%) in light for the tested dye at 50 min. The decay products were analyzed using GC mass confirming mineralization of Bb red dye.     

Synthesis, characterisation and functionalisation of luminescent silica nanoparticles

The synthesis of highly monodispersed, homogeneous and stable luminescent silica nanoparticles, synthesized using a process based on the Stöber method is reported here. These particles have been functionalised with the ruthenium and europium complexes: bis (2,2??-bipyridine)-(5-aminophenanthroline) Ru bis (hexafluorophosphate), abbreviated to (Ru(bpy)₂(phen-5-NH₂)(PF₆)), and tris (dibenzoylmethane)-mono (5-aminophenanthroline) europium(III), abbreviated to (Eu:TDMAP). Both dyes have a free amino group available, facilitating the covalent conjugation of the dyes inside the silica matrix. Due to the covalent bond between the dyes and the silica, no dye leaching or nanoparticle diameter modification was observed. The generic and versatile nature of the synthesis process was demonstrated via the synthesis of both europium and ruthenium-functionalised nanoparticles. Following this, the main emphasis of the study was the characterisation of the luminescence of the ruthenium-functionalised silica nanoparticles, in particular, as a function of surface carboxyl or amino group functionalisation. It was demonstrated that the luminescence of the ruthenium dye is highly affected by the ionic environment at the surface of the nanoparticle, and that these effects can be counteracted by encapsulating the ruthenium-functionalised nanoparticles in a plain 15 nm silica layer. Moreover, the ruthenium-functionalised silica nanoparticles showed high relative brightness compared to the free dye in solution and efficient functionalisation with amino or carboxyl groups. Due to their ease of fabrication and attractive characteristics, the ruthenium-functionalised silica nanoparticles described here have the potential to be highly desirable fluorescent labels, particularly, for biological applications.     

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Safranin-O by heterogeneous nanoparticles for environmental applications

Nanostructure titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has been synthesized by hydrolysis of titanium tetrachloride in aqueous solution and Ag-TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by photoreduction method. The resulting materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the sizes of the synthesized TiO₂ and Ag-TiO₂ particles are in the range of 1.9-3.2 nm and 2-10 nm, respectively. Moreover, Ag-TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity on photodegradation of Safranin-O (SO) dye as compared to pure TiO₂. The positive effect of silver on the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ may be explained by its ability to trap electrons. This process reduces the recombination of light generated electron-hole pairs at TiO₂ surface and therefore enhances the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles. The effects of initial dye and nanoparticle concentrations on the photocatalytic activity have been studied and the results demonstrate that the dye photodegradation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. The observed maximum degradation efficiency of SO is about 60% for TiO₂ and 96% for Ag-TiO₂.     

Luminescence of Nile red as indicator of composition of nanoparticles from diketonate complexes of trivalent metals

We study the sensitization of fluorescence of Nile red in nanoparticles formed in aqueous solutions of complexes of Al, In, Sc, and Lu with DBM, DBM, and phen and of complexes of In with MBTA and phen. We show that, at concentrations of Nile red of 2–50 nM and complexes of 10–30 μM, the fluorescence intensity of Nile red in aqueous solutions increases by 1.5–2 orders of magnitude compared to its fluorescence in H₂O. We find that, at these concentrations of Nile red in solutions of complexes Al, the dye is completely contained in nanoparticles from these complexes. We show that Nile red molecules are inhomogeneously distributed in nanoparticles from complexes and, upon the completion of the formation of nanoparticles, dye molecules tend to be localized in regions of nanoparticles formed from diketonate complexes M(diketone)₃phen (M is Lu or In) and Al(DBM)₃. Upon the localization of Nile red in these regions, the maximum of its fluorescence spectrum shifts toward ∼600 nm and, upon the penetration of Nile red into nanoparticles from Sc complexes, the shift of the maximum of its fluorescence spectrum compared to the spectrum in water does not exceed 10 nm. The shifts of the spectra are collated with the ability of ions to form diketonate and hydroxy diketonate complexes. We demonstrate that the fluorescence of Nile red is efficiently sensitized, not only upon its penetration into nanoparticles formed from complexes, but also upon its adsorption on the nanoparticle surface when Nile red molecules are introduced in solutions of already formed nanoparticles.     

Nanoparticles produced by laser ablation of solids in liquid environment

A review of results on nanoparticles formation is presented under laser ablation of Ag, Au, and Ti solids targets in liquid environments (H₂O, C₂H₅OH, C₂H₄Cl₂, etc.). X-ray diffractometry (XRD), UV-Vis optical transmission spectrometry, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) characterise the nanoparticles. The morphology of nanoparticles is studied as a function of both laser fluence and nature of the liquid. The evidence of an intermediate phase of Au-Ag alloy is presented under exposure of a mixture of individual nanoparticles to laser radiation. Self-influence of the beam of a femtosecond laser is discussed under the ablation of the Ag target in liquids under Ti:sapphire laser. The factors are discussed that determine the distribution function of particle size under laser ablation. The influence of laser parameters as well as the nature on the liquid on the properties of nanoparticles is elucidated. PACS 42.62.-b; 61.46.+w; 78.66.-w     

Preparation and photocatalytic properties of silver nanoparticles loaded on CNTs/TiO2 composite

In this study, new nanoscale photocatalyst based on silver and CNTs/TiO₂ was successfully prepared by photoreduction method. The prepared Ag-CNTs/TiO₂ was characterized by TEM, XRD and XPS. The photocatalytic activity was also evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red X-3B dye. The results indicated that the photocatalytic efficiency of CNTs/TiO₂ increased in the presence of Ag nanoparticles and the photocatalysis reaction followed a first order kinetics. The kinetic constant of Ag-CNTs/TiO₂ for dye degradation was nearly 1.2 times than that of CNTs/TiO₂, which indicated decorating Ag nanoparticles on CNTs/TiO₂ could enhance the photocatalytic ability.     

The effects of external applied voltage on the nonlinear refractive index and the birefringence of a dye-doped nematic mixture

The nonlinear refractive index, n₂, and the birefringence, Δn, of a nematic liquid crystal mixture (denoted as 1294-1b) doped with a anthraquinone derivative (denoted as AQ) dye were measured as a function of an external ac applied voltage. The self-phased modulation effect was used to measure the nonlinear refractive index of homeotropical-aligned samples. The change of the dyed liquid crystal nonlinearity, which is the direct impact of the applied voltage on the dye molecules orientation, was not observed for the nonlinear response of the pure liquid crystal. Planar (homogeneous) aligned samples were used for birefringence measurements by taking into account the absorption coefficients of the dye. The birefringence decreased to a limiting value in the high voltage region for both pure and dye-doped samples, although in the presence of the absorbing dye the birefringence of the liquid crystal was not approximately changed.The polarized absorption spectra of the dye in nematic mixture were recorded in parallel-aligned liquid crystal cell and its dichroic ratio R and the order parameter S_d were obtained. The electro-optical effect of the guest-host system was also using polarized spectroscopic method.     

Preparation and Fluoroimmunoassay Application of New Red-Region Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles

This is the first report on the preparation and utilization of a novel red-region fluorescent dye (tetracarboxy aluminum phthalocyanine) doped silica nanoparticles. In these nanoparticles, the tetracarboxy aluminum phthalocyanine molecules were covalently bound to silica matrix to protect the dye leaking from nanoparticles in bio-applications. The surface of the nanoparticles was modified by amino groups and easily bioconjugated with goat anti-human IgG antibody. By employing these nanoparticles as fluorescent probe, a sensitive fluoroimmunoassay method has been developed for the determination of trace level of human IgG. The calibration graph for human IgG was linear over the range of 0–500 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.6 ng mL⁻¹. Compared with the corresponding system using free AlC₄Pc as a probe for determining human IgG, the sensitivity of the proposed system was notably increased. The method was applied to the analysis of human IgG in human sera with satisfactory results.     

Microstructural analysis of liquid and amorphous SiO2 nanoparticles

Microstructural properties of liquid and amorphous SiO₂ nanoparticles have been investigated via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the interatomic potentials that have weak Coulomb interaction and Morse-type short-range interaction under non-periodic boundary conditions. Structural properties of spherical nanoparticles with different sizes of 2, 4 and 6 nm obtained at 3500 K have been studied through partial radial distribution functions (PRDFs), coordination number and bond-angle distributions, and compared with those observed in the bulk. The core and surface structures of liquid SiO₂ nanoparticles have been studied in detail. We found significant size effects on structure of nanoparticles. Calculations also show that if the size is larger than 4 nm, liquid SiO₂ nanoparticles at the temperature of 3500 K have a lightly distorted tetrahedral network structure with the mean coordination number Z_Si-O≈4.0 and Z_O-Si≈2.0 like those observed in the bulk. Moreover, temperature dependence of structural defects and SiO_x stoichiometry in nanoparticles on cooling from the melt has been found and presented.     

The design of a peptide linker group to enhance the SERS signal intensity of an atto680 dye‐nanoparticle system

The Surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) spectra of three modified atto680 dyes were recorded using Au nanoparticles and an excitation laser operating at 670 nm. The dyes were modified with linker groups based on the small peptides, Cys, Cys–Gly and Cys–Gly–Gly. The Cys thiol group acted as the coupling point to the Au surface and the Gly  NH₂ group used to attach the dye. The maximum signal was recorded for the Cys–Gly linker. This gave a signal intensity for the 577 cm⁻¹ Raman peak of the atto680 dye that was more than 27 times greater than the unmodified dye. The Au nanoparticles used had a diameter of 49.8 ± 1.2 nm and were synthesised by the citrate reduction method. The Raman dye‐AuNP probes were also used in an immunoassay to detect mouse IgG in the femto mole range. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.