Heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures with enhanced catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction

Heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures have been synthesized using a sacrificial template-based approach. Typically, monodispersed Au nanoparticles are prepared first, followed by Ag coating to form core-shell Au-Ag nanoparticles. Next, the galvanic replacement reaction between Ag shells and an aqueous H(2)PtCl(6) solution, whose chemical reaction can be described as 4Ag + PtCl(6)(2-)→ Pt + 4AgCl + 2Cl(-), is carried out at room temperature. Pure Ag shell is transformed into a shell made of Ag/Pt alloy by galvanic replacement. The AgCl formed simultaneously roughens the surface of alloy Ag-Pt shells, which can be manipulated to create a porous Pt surface for oxygen reduction reaction. Finally, Ag and AgCl are removed from core-shell Au-Ag/Pt nanoparticles using bis(p-sulfonatophenyl)phenylphosphane dihydrate dipotassium salt to produce heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures. The heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures have displayed superior catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction in direct methanol fuel cells because of the electronic coupling effect between the inner-placed Au core and the Pt shell.     

Interfacial deposition of Ag on Au seeds leading to AucoreAgshell in organic media

A seed mediated procedure for the synthesis of hydrophobic Au(core)Ag(shell) nanoparticles in toluene is demonstrated. The reaction proceeds by way of the interfacial reduction of silver ions by 3-pentadecylphenol followed by their deposition on hydrophobized Au nanoparticles. Such a hitherto unreported interfacial seeded growth reaction leads to the formation of phase pure Au(core)Ag(shell) nanoparticles that retain the hydrophobicity of the seed particles and remain stable in toluene. Such core-shell structures are however not formed in the aqueous phase. The core-shell architecture was verified using TEM analysis and the formation process was studied by recording the UV-vis spectra of the organic phase nanoparticles as a function of time. TEM kinetics also showed gradual increase in the silver layer thickness. Conclusive evidence was however obtained on examination of the HRTEM images of the products formed. Elemental analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the Au(core)Ag(shell) nanostructure revealed the presence of metallic silver. Moreover changing the surface capping of the Au seed does not affect the formation of the Au(core)Ag(shell) nanostructure.     

Core-shell and hollow nanocrystal formation via small molecule surface photodissociation; Ag@Ag2Se as an example

Metallic Ag nanoparticles have been converted to Ag2Se nanoparticles at ambient temperature and open atmosphere by UV photodissociation of adsorbed CSe2 on the Ag core surface. The photolysis could be prevented at any stage yielding Ag@Ag2Se core-shell structures of different thickness. Depending on the initial Ag nanoparticle size, either hollow or filled nanocrystals of Ag2Se could be prepared. The Kirkendall effect has been proposed to account for the formation of hollow nanoparticles. A coated-sphere Drude model has been used to explain the redshift of the Ag plasmon band as a function of the Ag2Se shell thickness as well as to provide the first estimates of the wavelength-dependent dielectric function of Ag2Se. This photochemical method might be especially promising for carrying out a direct room-temperature phototransformation of metallic into semiconductor nanostructures already assembled on surface templates.     

单分散铁氧体纳米颗粒的生长机制与成分偏聚的透射电子显微研究

理解纳米晶的生长机制对单分散纳米晶的可控合成至关重要。本文以热分解法制备的双金属铁氧体(钴铁氧和锰铁氧)纳米颗粒为例,利用透射电子显微镜(TEM)系统研究了铁氧体纳米晶的生长机制,揭示了由此造成的成分偏聚现象。对不同时间阶段的反应产物的分析结果表明,两步加热法(即先后在相对低的温度和相对高的温度下加热反应)是制备高质量的单分散铁氧体纳米晶的关键;通过控制低温反应阶段的时间可实现纳米晶的形核阶段和生长阶段的有效分离,从而有利于单分散纳米晶的合成。利用扫描透射电子显微镜(STEM)及电子能量损失谱(EELS)谱学成像技术分析,我们进一步发现了双金属铁氧体纳米晶中的成分偏聚现象,表明双金属铁氧体纳米晶在形核阶段主要形成富Fe的核芯,而在生长阶段则形成更富Co/Mn的双金属铁氧体壳层。这些结果对制备高质量的单分散铁氧体纳米晶具有重要的指导意义,同时也有助于正确理解热分解法制备的铁氧体纳米晶的表面成分和相关表面物理化学性质。     

Au/Ag核-壳结构纳米粒子的制备及其SERS效应

随着大量有关表面增强拉曼散射 (SERS)的实验和理论研究的开展 ,金属纳米粒子作为一类重要的 SERS增强介质 ,已引起了人们浓厚的研究兴趣 [1] .而 Au和 Ag作为最常用的活性基底物质 ,更是研究的热点 [2 ,3 ] .最近 ,美国印第安那大学的 Nie等 [4 ] 在单个银纳米粒子上 ,观察到高达 1 0 14 ～ 1 0 15的SERS因子 .同时 ,他们的另外一项工作表明银纳米粒子的形状和大小对 SERS活性有很大影响 [5] .但是 ,由于 Ag溶胶制备的重复性较差 ,且粒度分布不均匀 ,通过控制银颗粒大小而调控 SERS活性是相当困难的[6] .与 Ag相比 ,Au在可见光…     

Au/Ag核一壳结构复合纳米粒子形成机制的研究

在已制备好的Au纳米粒子表面,通过化学还原的方法沉积生长Ag包覆层,通过 控制Au, Ag的比列,制备了粒度均匀且粒径可控的Au/Ag核-壳结构纳米粒子。利用 UV-vis吸收光谱和透射电子显微镜（TEM）对SAu, Ag摩尔比为1：10的复合纳米粒 子的光学性质和形态进行随时监测,直接观察了核-壳结构纳米粒子的生长过程： 一部分Ag+在Au核表面还原生长,溶液中其余Ag+还原形成银的纳米团簇向粒子表面 的继续沉积生长,壳层增厚。     

Facile synthesis of silver core - silica shell composite nanoparticles

Combining metal nanoparticles and dielectrics (e.g. silica) to produce composite materials with high dielectric constant is motivated by application in energy storage. Control over dielectric properties and their uniformity throughout the composite material is best accomplished if the composite is comprised of metal core - dielectric shell structured nanoparticles with tunable dimensions. We have synthesized silver nanoparticles in the range of 40-100nm average size using low concentration of saccharide simultaneously as the reducing agent and electrostatic stabilizer. Coating these silver particles with silica from tetraalkoxysilanes has different outcomes depending on the alcoholic solvent and the silver particle concentration. A common issue in solution-based synthesis of core-shell particles is heterogeneous nucleation whereupon two populations are formed: the desired core-shell particles and undesired coreless particles of the shell material. We report the formation of Ag@SiO(2) core-shell particles without coreless silica particles as the byproduct in 2-propanol. In ethanol, it depends on the silver surface area available whether homogeneous nucleation of silica on silver is achieved. In methanol and 1-butanol, core-shell particles did not form. This demonstrates the significance of controlling the tetraalkoxysilane hydrolysis rate when growing silica shells on silver nanoparticles.     

An approach to core–shell nanostructured materials with high colloidal and chemical stability: synthesis, characterization and mechanistic evaluation

Silver–polypyrrole (PPy) core–shell nanoparticles have been fabricated by a facile one-step “green” synthesis using silver nitrate as an oxidant and soluble starch as an environmentally benign stabilizer and co-reducing agent. The morphology and optical properties of the particles were significantly affected by the reaction temperature, soluble starch concentration, and ratio of pyrrole monomer to AgNO₃ oxidant. The core–shell nanoparticles exhibited outstanding dispersive properties in deionized water due to residual starch, as compared with PPy nanoparticles in which starch was absent. The mechanism of core–shell nanoparticle formation was elucidated through TEM imaging vs. reaction time. The colloidal and chemical stability of the nanoparticles was demonstrated in a variety of solvents, including acids, bases, and ionic and organic solvents, through monitoring the localized surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, the catalytic properties of these silver–PPy core–shell nanoparticles were also demonstrated.

Characterization of Ag/Pt core-shell nanoparticles by UV-vis absorption, resonance light-scattering techniques

The water-soluble Ag/Pt core-shell nanoparticles were prepared by deposition Pt over Ag colloidal seeds with the seed-growth method using K2PtCl4 with trisodium citrate as reduced agent. The Ag:Pt ratio is varied from 9:1 to 1:3 for synthesizing Pt shell layer of different thickness. A remarkable shift and broadening of Ag surface plasmon band around 410 nm was observed. The contrast of TEM images of Ag/Pt colloids has been obtained. Various techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis absorption and resonance light-scattering spectroscopy were used to characterize nanoparticles. The data of TEM, UV-vis and resonance light-scattering spectrum all confirm formation of Ag/Pt core-shell nanoparticles. Resonance light-scattering and emission spectrum show the Ag and Ag/Pt core-shell nanoparticles have a nonlinear light-scattering characteristic.     

MnO octahedral nanocrystals and MnO@C core-shell composites: synthesis, characterization, and electrocatalytic properties

We present a simple and facile synthesis of MnO octahedral nanocrystals and MnO@C core-shell composite nanoparticles. The synthesis is accomplished by a single-step direct pyrolysis of cetyltrimethylammonium permanganate in specially made Let-lock union cells. The products are characterized by HRSEM, HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The product consists mainly of octahedral MnO nanocrystals and MnO coated with carbon (MnO@C). The core-shell particles are observed only when the core size is smaller than 150 nm. The shape of the nanocrystals can be controlled by varying parameters such as reaction temperature and duration. As the temperature increases from 600 to 800 degrees C, the octahedral MnO crystals observed are without any carbon shell. The effect of time and temperature on the octahedral MnO nanocrystal formation is described. The electrocatalytic activities of the products are studied for oxygen reduction reaction in aqueous basic medium and are compared with bulk MnO. The MnO nanocrystals and core-shell composites exhibit higher activity than that of bulk MnO.     

Synthesis of Au@Ag core-shell nanocubes containing varying shaped cores and their localized surface plasmon resonances

We have synthesized Au@Ag core-shell nanocubes containing Au cores with varying shapes and sizes through modified seed-mediated methods. Bromide ions are found to be crucial in the epitaxial growth of Ag atoms onto Au cores and in the formation of the shell's cubic shape. The Au@Ag core-shell nanocubes exhibit very abundant and distinct localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties, which are core-shape and size-dependent. With the help of theoretical calculation, the physical origin and the resonance mode profile of each LSPR peak are identified and studied. The core-shell nanocrystals with varying shaped cores offer a new rich category for LSPR control through the plasmonic coupling effect between core and shell materials.     

Redox-transmetalation process as a generalized synthetic strategy for core-shell magnetic nanoparticles

Although multicomponent core-shell type nanomaterials are one of the highly desired structural motifs due to their simultaneous multifunctionalities, the fabrication strategy for such nanostructures is still in a primitive stage. Here, we present a redox-transmetalation process that is effective as a general protocol for the fabrication of high quality and well-defined core-shell type bimetallic nanoparticles on the sub-10 nm scale. Various core-shell type nanomaterials including Co@Au, Co@Pd, Co@Pt, and Co@Cu nanoparticles are fabricated via transmetalation reactions. Compared to conventional sequential reduction strategies, this transmetalation process has several advantages for the fabrication of core-shell type nanoparticles: (i) no additional reducing agent is needed and (ii) spontaneous shell layer deposition occurs on top of the core nanoparticle surface and thus prevents self-nucleation of secondarily added metals. We also demonstrate the versatility of these core-shell structures by transferring Co@Au nanoparticles from an organic phase to an aqueous phase via a surface modification process. The nanostructures, magnetic properties, and reaction byproducts of these core-shell nanoparticles are spectroscopically characterized and identified, in part, to confirm the chemical process that promotes the core-shell structure formation.     

Synthesis of mixed silver halide nanocrystals in reversed micelles

The specifics of the synthesis of silver halide nanocrystals of mixed composition and the core-shell structures in reversed micelles were experimentally studied. It was shown that homogeneous AgBr _x I_{1 ? x} nanocrystals of ～5 nm in size with the iodide concentration up to 70%, as well as the core-shell structures AgI/AgBr and AgBr/AgI, can be synthesized by the micellar synthesis. It was found that the relation of the crystalline structures of the core and shell materials plays an important role in the shell formation. The shell of γ-AgI alone is formed on the AgBr nanocrystals with a close lattice type, whereas β-AgI with the hexagonal lattice forms an individual phase of nanoparticles, rather than the shell.     

Synthesis of Ag-coated polystyrene colloids by an improved surface seeding and shell growth technique

In this paper, an improved surface seeding and shell growth technique was developed to prepare Ag-polystyrene core shell composite. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) could act as the linker between Ag ions (Ag nanoparticles) and polystyrene (PS) colloids and the reducing agent in the formation of Ag nanoparticles. Due to the multi-functional characteristic of PEI, Ag seeds formed in-situ and were immobilized on the surface of PEI-modified PS colloids and no free Ag clusters coexist with the Ag “seeding” PS colloids in the system. Then, the additional agents could be added into the resulting dispersions straightly to produce a thick Ag nanoshell. The Ag nanoshell with controllable thickness was formed on the surface of PS by the “one-pot” surface seeding and shell growth method. The Ag-coverage increased gradually with the increasing of mass ratio of AgNO₃/PS. The optical properties of the Ag-PS colloids could be tailored by changing the coverage of Ag.     

Controlled synthesis and magnetic properties of bimagnetic spinel ferrite CoFe2O4 and MnFe2O4 nanocrystals with core-shell architecture

A combination of hard phase CoFe(2)O(4) and soft phase MnFe(2)O(4) as the bimagnetic nanocrystals in a core-shell architecture has been synthesized, and their magnetic properties have been systematically studied. Both HRTEM and EDS results confirmed the formation of bimagnetic core-shell structured nanocrystals. On the basis of the systematic and comparative studies of the magnetic properties of a mechanical mixture of pure CoFe(2)O(4) and MnFe(2)O(4) nanocrystals, chemically mixed Co(1-x)Mn(x)Fe(2)O(4) nanocrystals, and bimagnetic core-shell CoFe(2)O(4)@MnFe(2)O(4) and MnFe(2)O(4)@CoFe(2)O(4) nanocrystals, the bimagnetic core-shell nanocrystals show very unique magnetic properties, such as the blocking temperature and coercivity. Our results show that the coercivity correlates with the volume fraction of the soft phase as the theoretical hard-soft phase model has suggested. Furthermore, switching the hard phase CoFe(2)O(4) from the core to the shell shows great changes in the coercivity of the nanocrystals. The bimagnetic core-shell nanocrystals evidently demonstrate the rational design capability to separately control the blocking temperature and the coercivity in magnetic nanocrystals by varying the materials, their combination, and the volume ratio between the core and the shell and by switching hard or soft phase materials between the core and shell. Such controls via a bimagnetic core-shell architecture are highly desirable for magnetic nanocrystals in various applications.     

Bimetallic (Ag)Au nanoparticles prepared by the seed growth method: two-dimensional assembling, characterization by energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, and proposed mechanism of growth

Layered core-shell bimetallic silver-gold nanoparticles were prepared by overdeposition of Au over Ag seeds by the seed-growth method using tetrachloroauric acid, with hydroxylamine hydrochloride as the reductant. The effects of pH, reduction rate, and seeding conditions on the morphology and surface plasmon extinction of the bimetallic nanoparticles were investigated. Nanoparticles prepared by a rapid reduction in the neutral ambient and assembled into two-dimensional nanoparticulate films by adsorption of 2,2'-bipyridine were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results are consistent with Ag core and Ag/Au-alloyed shell composition of the nanoparticles. Evidence of the presence of Ag on the surface of the nanoparticles, of enrichment of the Ag/Au alloy shell by Ag toward or at the nanoparticle surface, and of modification of the nanoparticle surface by adsorbed chlorides is also provided. Reduction of the size of the Ag seeds, alloying of Ag and Au in the shell of the nanoparticles, and modification of their surfaces by adsorbed chlorides are tentatively attributed to positive charging of the nanoparticles during the electrocatalytic overdeposition of Au over Ag seeds.     

MFI/MFI核壳分子筛合成的影响因素及结晶动力学

以低硅铝比ZSM-5 为核, 采用二次生长法水热合成了MFI/MFI核壳分子筛. 发现对核相分子筛进行预处理是合成的关键步骤. 通过控制壳相合成过程(如合成温度、合成时间和核相分子筛加入量)可有效控制核壳分子筛的壳层生长. 以异丙苯(IPB)及1,3,5-三异丙苯(1,3,5-TIPB)裂解为探针反应, 发现与核相分子筛相比, 核壳分子筛的IPB裂解反应活性相当. 而1,3,5-TIPB裂解活性下降68%, 与外表面Al含量下降程度相近, 表明MFI/MFI核壳分子筛较好地保留了分子筛的核相反应活性. 结晶动力学计算结果表明, MFI/MFI核壳分子筛的成核活化能为51.5 kJ·mol-1, 生长活化能为26.5 kJ·mol-1.     

Thermodynamic considerations and computer simulations on the formation of core-shell nanoparticles under electrochemical conditions

We report on thermodynamic modeling and computer simulations on the electrochemical generation of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) by means of quenched molecular dynamics (QMD). The present results suggest that the spontaneous formation of core-shell NPs depends on several factors, i.e. size and shape of the core, chemical composition of the system, and under-/oversaturation conditions. Homo- and heteroatomic prototypical systems were considered. The former systems were Au and Pt. The latter were Ag(core)/Au(shell), Pt(core)/Au(shell), Au(core)/Ag(shell) and Au(core)/Pt(shell).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Copolymercore-Silvershell Composite Microspheres

Composite microspheres composed of monodispersed poly（St-co-MAA） latices with diameter about 260 nm as core and Ag nanocrystals as shell were prepared by an in situ reduction method. The shell thickness could be controlled in the range of 15--45 nm by this coating process. The structure and the composition of the core-shell microspheres were characterized by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, X-ray diffractometry （XRD）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, and thermogravimetric analysis （TG）. The formation of the composite microspheres is explained by the nucleation of silver on the surface of the latices followed by growth of the silver shell.     

贵金属在Ag_2S纳米颗粒中由内向外的迁移现象

纳米颗粒具有明显区别于块体材料的新奇特性,本文利用透射电镜观察,描述并讨论一种发生在贵金属(Au、Ag、Pd和Pt)和硫化银(Ag_2S)构成的核壳结构纳米颗粒中的有趣现象,即贵金属在Ag_2S纳米颗粒中由内向外的迁移。迁移可在室温下进行,其最终结果使最初的核壳结构颗粒演变成由贵金属和Ag_2S构成的异质纳米二聚体结构,如Au-Ag_2S、Ag-Ag_2S、PdAg_2S和Pt-Ag_2S。电镜表征表面实验条件下贵金属在Ag_2S的迁移类似于一种整体迁移的模式且迁移过程中伴随着颗粒形貌结构的演变。贵金属在Ag_2S中的经空位互换的扩散机制或半导体纳米颗粒的自纯化机制可以用来解释这种迁移现象。