Synthesis and thermal stability of cubic ZnO in the salt nanocomposites

Cubic zinc oxide (rs-ZnO), metastable under normal conditions, was synthesized from the wurtzite modification (w-ZnO) at 7.7 GPa and ∼800 K in the form of nanoparticles isolated in the NaCl matrix. The phase transition rs-ZnO → w-ZnO in nanocrystalline zinc oxide under ambient pressure was experimentally studied for the first time by using differential scanning calorimetry and high-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis. It was shown that the transition occurs in the temperature range from 370 to 430 K and its enthalpy at 400 K is −10.2 ± 0.5 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanowires by thermal oxidation of Zn thin films at various temperatures

In this research high-quality zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires have been synthesized by thermal oxidation of metallic Zn thin films. Metallic Zn films with thicknesses of 250 nm have been deposited on a glass substrate by the PVD technique. The deposited zinc thin films were oxidized in air at various temperatures ranging between 450 °C to 650 °C. Surface morphology, structural and optical properties of the ZnO nanowires were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD analysis demonstrated that the ZnO nanowires has a wurtzite structure with orientation of (002), and the nanowires prepared at 600 °C has a better crystalline quality than samples prepared at other temperatures. SEM results indicate that by increasing the oxidation temperature, the dimensions of the ZnO nanowires increase. The optimum temperature for synthesizing high density, ZnO nanowires was determined to be 600 °C. EDX results revealed that only Zn and O are present in the samples, indicating a pure ZnO composition. The PL spectra of as-synthesized nanowires exhibited a strong UV emission and a relatively weak green emission.     

Synthesis and characterization of indium-doped ZnO nanowires with periodical single-twin structures

In-doped ZnO (IZO) nanowires have been synthesized by a thermal evaporation method. The morphology and microstructure of the IZO nanowires have been extensively investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The products in general contain several kinds of nanowires. In this work, a remarkable type of IZO zigzag nanowire with a periodical twinning structure has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HRTEM observation reveals that this type of IZO nanowire has an uncommonly observed zinc blend crystal structure. These nanowires, with a diameter about 100 nm, grow along the [111] direction with a well-defined twinning relationship and a well-coherent lattice across the boundary. In addition, an IZO nanodendrite structure was also observed in our work. A growth model based on the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism is proposed for interpreting the growth of zigzag nanowires in our work. Due to the heavy doping of In, the emission peak in photoluminescence spectra has red-shifted as well as broadened seriously.     

Synthesis and optical properties of S-doped ZnO nanostructures: nanonails and nanowires

S-doped ZnO nanostructures such as nanonails and nanowires have been synthesized via a simple one-step catalyst-free thermal evaporation process on a large scale. The doping concentration of sulfur into ZnO nanonails and nanowire were 2 atm % and 7.5 atm %, respectively. Studies found that the S-doped ZnO nanonails and nanowires were single-crystalline wurtzite structure and grew along the (001) direction. The average diameters of the nanonails and nanowires were 70 and 50 nm, respectively. Low-temperature photoluminescence spectra of ZnO samples showed two luminescence peaks in the UV and green emission region, respectively. As the concentration of sulfur in the ZnO nanostructures increased, the intensity of the UV emission peak decreased dramatically, and it showed a little blue-shift while the intensity of the green emission increased greatly.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of xylene-formaldehyde resins

o-,p- andm-xylene have been condensed with formaldehyde using paratoluene sulphonic acid as a catalyst and acetic acid/acetic anhydride as a solvent. The xylene-formaldehyde resins thus obtained have been characterised by IR and NMR spectra. The average molecular weight of the resin samples was determined by vapour pressure osmometry. Kinetic parameters were determined by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of benzoxazine nitroxides

A new class of stable nitroxides (aminoxyls) having a 1,4-benzoxazine structure were synthesized and the corresponding thermal stability tested. All derivatives were stable in the entire range of temperatures employed, except those having a benzyl or a tert-butyl group at the β-position with respect to the aminoxyl function, which underwent radical fragmentation. Such a behavior allowed a kinetic study, carried out by means of EPR spectroscopy, to determine the corresponding rate constants and activation parameters (E(a)). Appropriate DFT calculations were performed for all nitroxides including also the thermally stable ones, in order to study the geometries of the fragmentation transition States as well as to compute the corresponding bond dissociation enthalpies (BDH), useful for further modeling purposes. The data obtained were interpreted on the basis of the relative stability of the leaving radical, according to the corresponding E(a) and BDH, whereas in the case of tert-butyl derivatives steric hindrance should play a determinant role, as evidenced by a comparison of the geometric, kinetic, and thermodynamic parameters upon the whole series.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of hydrotalcites containing manganese

The hydrotalcite based upon manganese known as charmarite Mn₄Al₂(OH)₁₂CO₃·3H₂O has been synthesised with different Mn/Al ratios from 4:1 to 2:1. Impurities of manganese oxide, rhodochrosite and bayerite at low concentrations were also produced during the synthesis. The thermal stability of charmarite was investigated using thermogravimetry. The manganese hydrotalcite decomposed in stages with mass loss steps at 211, 305 and 793 °C. The product of the thermal decomposition was amorphous material mixed with manganese oxide. A comparison is made with the thermal decomposition of the Mg/Al hydrotalcite. It is concluded that the synthetic charmarite is slightly less stable than hydrotalcite.     

One-step electrodeposition of Ag-decorated ZnO nanowires

A new route for synthesizing Ag-decorated ZnO nanowires (NWs) on conductive glass substrates using a one-step electrodeposition technique is described here. The structural, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties of Ag-decorated ZnO nanowires were studied in detail using techniques such X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and photoelectrochemical measurements. Both pure and Ag-decorated ZnO nanowires were found to crystallize in the wurtzite structure, irrespective of their Ag contents. Increasing the Ag content from pure ZnO NWs to 3% Ag ZnO NWs decreases the photoluminescence intensity, shifts the optical band gap to the red, and increases the photocurrent up to threefold. This behavior was attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect induced by the Ag nanoparticles, which inhibits charge recombination and improves charge transport on the ZnO surface.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of secondary sugar allyltin derivatives

Reaction of sugar allylic mesylates with tri-n-butyltin cuprate affords the primary and secondary allyltin derivatives: Sug-CHCH-CH₂SnBu₃ and Sug-CH(SnBu₃)-CHCH₂ with the latter predominating. The S_N2′ addition led almost exclusively to one isomer with the S configuration at the newly created stereogenic center. Only traces of the opposite R isomer were formed. Both stereoisomers of secondary allyltins decompose at high temperature (140°C) with elimination of the tin moiety and opening of the sugar ring. The main S isomer gives the dienoaldehyde CH₂CH-CHCH-[(CHOR)₃]-CHO with the cis geometry across the internal double bond. The minor R isomer provides the trans dienoaldehyde under the same conditions. These results strongly suggest the concerted (E2) mechanism of thermal decomposition of secondary sugar allyltin derivatives.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of hydrotalcites based upon gallium

Hydrotalcites based upon gallium as a replacement for aluminium in hydrotalcite over a Mg/Al ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 were synthesised. The d(003) spacing varied from 7.83 Å for the 2:1 hydrotalcite to 8.15 Å for the 3:1 gallium containing hydrotalcite. A comparison is made with the Mg/Al hydrotalcite in which the d(003) spacing for the Mg/Al hydrotalcite varied from 7.62 Å for the 2:1 Mg hydrotalcite to 7.98 Å for the 4:1 hydrotalcite. The thermal stability of the gallium containing hydrotalcite was determined using thermogravimetric analysis. Four mass loss steps at 77, 263–280, 485 and 828 °C with mass losses of 10.23, 21.55, 5.20 and 7.58% are attributed to dehydration, dehydroxylation and decarbonation. The thermal stability of the gallium containing hydrotalcite is slightly less than the aluminium hydrotalcite.     

Comparative structure and optical properties of Ga-, In-, and Sn-doped ZnO nanowires synthesized via thermal evaporation

ZnO nanowires doped with a high concentration Ga, In, and Sn were synthesized via thermal evaporation. The doping content defined as X/(Zn + X) atomic ratio, where X is the doped element, is about 15% for all nanowires. The nanowires consist of single-crystalline wurtzite ZnO crystal, and the average diameter is 80 nm. The growth direction of vertically aligned Ga-doped nanowires is [001], while that of randomly tilted In- and Sn-doped nanowires is [010]. A correlation between the growth direction and the vertical alignment has been suggested. The broaden X-ray diffraction peaks indicate the lattice distortion caused by the doping, and the broadening is most significant in the case of Sn doping. The absorption and photoluminescence of Sn-doped ZnO nanowires shift to the lower energy region than those of In- and Ga-doped nanowires, probably due to the larger charge density of Sn.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of silicon-containing esters of phosphorus acids

A number of trialkylsilylmethyl diphenyl phosphates MeRR′SiCH₂OP(O)(OPh)₂ (1a-e: R=Et (a), Pr (b), CF₃CH₂CH₂ (c, e), Me₃SiCH₂ (d); R′=Me (a-d), Et (e)) were synthesized and their thermal rearrangement, of the 1,2-shift type, was studied. The rearrangement consists of the migration of an alkyl group from Si atom to the methylene carbon atom and gives the corresponding silyl esters. The rate of the rearrangement was found to increase in the order1d<1b<1a<1 (R=R′=Me)<1c corresponding to the enhancement of the total inductive effect (−I) of the substituents at the Si atom. The relative migration ability of the substituents at the Si atom, determined by GC/MS analysis of the disiloxane fraction resulting from hydrolysis of pyrolyzed phosphates1a-e, increases in the order R=Pr<Et<CF₃CH₂CH₂<Me≪Me₃SiCH₂, which differs substantially from the order in which the rate of the rearrangement of phosphates1a-d changes. The electronegativity of the migrating group affects noticeably the relative ability to migrate. For Part 4, see Ref. 1. Deceased. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1767–1772, September, 1998.     

Attachment-driven morphology evolvement of rectangular ZnO nanowires

The rectangular cross-sectional ZnO nanowires were synthesized in a solution method. An attachment-driven growth mechanism was proposed for the morphology evolvement of ZnO nanocrystals from nanoparticles to nanoplates and eventually to nanowires. Due to the pileup attachment of the nanoplates to recrystallize into nanowires, unique one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanowires with the rectangular cross section were obtained, which is different from those nanowires in the previous reports. It is the first time the evidence that "oriented attachment" can occur not only for nanoparticles but also for nanoplates was obtained, suggesting that "oriented attachment" is an intrinsic behavior for nanosized materials. According to the growth model proposed based on the direct TEM observations, ZnO nanocrystals can be easily controlled as nanoparticles, nanoplates, or nanowires by tuning the synthetic parameters.     

Growth and characterization of Mn- and Co-doped ZnO nanowires

A flow injection chemiluminescence method is proposed for the determination of cobalt, based on the strong catalytic effect of Cobalt(II) (1,10-phenanthroline)₃ complex on the lucigenin-periodate reaction in alkaline medium. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the chemiluminescence signal responded linearly to the concentration of cobalt(II) in the 1.0 × 10⁻⁹–3.0 × 10⁻⁷ g mL⁻¹ range with a detection limit of 4.4 × 10⁻¹⁰ g mL⁻¹ cobalt(II). The relative standard deviation for the determination of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ g mL⁻¹ of cobalt was 2.3% in eleven replicated measurements. The method was successfully applied to the determination of cobalt(II) in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Synthesis and synchrotron light-induced luminescence of ZnO nanostructures: nanowires, nanoneedles, nanoflowers, and tubular whiskers

ZnO nanostructures, including single-crystal nanowires, nanoneedles, nanoflowers, and tubular whiskers, have been fabricated at a modestly low temperature of 550 degrees C via the oxidation of metallic Zn powder without a metal catalyst. Specific ZnO nanostructures can be obtained at a specific temperature zone in the furnace depending on the temperature and the pressure of oxygen. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that ZnO nanostructures thus prepared are single crystals with a wurtzite structure. X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) from the ZnO nanostructures show noticeable morphology-dependent luminescence. Specifically, ZnO nanowires of around 15 nm in diameter emit the strongest green light. The morphology of these nanostructures, their XEOL, and the implication of the results will be discussed.     

Synthesis, structure and thermal stability of fully hydrophobic porphyrin-DNA conjugates

The DNAs modified with tetraphenyl porphyrin at the center of 13mer oligonucleotide were synthesized using phosphoramidite chemistry and automated DNA synthesis. When the porphyrin modified oligonucleotide was annealed with its complementary strand, they formed a standard B-form duplex. The porphyrin moiety intercalated in the duplex, and moderately lowered the thermal stability.     

Synthesis,characterization and thermal stability of novel carborane-containing epoxy novolacs

Carborane bisphenol novolacs(3 and 4) were synthesized in the presence of acid catalyst from carborane bisphenols(5 and 6) and formaldehyde. Further epoxidization of carborane bisphenol novolacs with epichlorohydrin gave carborane bisphenol epoxy novolacs(1 and 2). The molecular weight and epoxy value of obtained resins were determined using the molecular weight of their precursors. The epoxy values of 1 and 2 were 0.48 and 0.52 respectively, higher than the maximum theoretical epoxy value(0.45) of difunctional carborane bisphenol epoxy resins. FTIR and NMR were utilized to characterize 1 and 2. The curing behaviors were also studied by DSC and the optimized curing conditions were obtained.TGA analysis indicated that carborane moiety could shield its adjacent organic structures against initial decomposition. On the other hand, B―H on carborane cage could react with oxygen to form a three-dimensional network linked by B―O―B and B―C bonds, which further blocked the movement of formed radicals and thus the degradation process was inhibited.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and optical study of bunches of ZnO nanowires

Bunches of ZnO nanowires have been synthesized by hydrothermal process with the assistance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The obtained bunches of ZnO nanowires are hexagonal wurtzite structures, and they exhibit orange visible emission ~600 nm. It seems the orange emission ~600 nm is due to the presence of Zn(OH)₂ on the surface of ZnO nanowires. On the basis of material information provided by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence, a growth mechanism is proposed for the formation of bunches of ZnO nanowires.