Controlled hydrothermal synthesis and growth mechanism of various nanostructured films of copper and silver tellurides

Various nanostructured films of copper and silver tellurides were hydrothermally grown on the corresponding metal substrates through reactions between metal foils and tellurium powder in different media. Interesting morphologies including nanowires, nanorods, nanobelts, nanosheets, and hierarchical dendrites were obtained. The nanostructured films were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM). A growth mechanism was proposed based on the characterization results. This study provides a low-temperature, solution-phase approach to grow low-dimensional, nanostructured metal tellurides with controllable morphologies.     

Electrochemical synthesis of nanostructured ZnO films utilizing self-assembly of surfactant molecules at solid-liquid interfaces

An electrochemical synthesis strategy for the production of nanostructured films was developed by combining self-assembly of surfactant-inorganic aggregates at solid-liquid interfaces and an electrodeposition process. Through this approach high quality nanostructured ZnO films were cathodically deposited from a plating solution containing 0.1 wt % of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The resulting ZnO films possess lamellar structures with two different repeat distances, d001 = 31.7 A and d001* = 27.5 A, both of which feature well-defined long range order. Due to kinetically controlled surfactant-inorganic assembly during the deposition process, the film exhibits a wide distribution of the stacking directions of the ZnO layers, which will allow facile access of the guest molecules and analytes to the interlayers. The synthetic mechanism used here can be generalized to generate nanostructured films of other semiconducting and metallic materials with architectures that cannot be assembled by other means.     

溶致液晶及其在纳米结构材料合成中的应用

有序纳米结构材料是一类具有广泛应用前景的新材料,在分离、催化、传感器等领域的应用潜力巨大。近年来,利用溶致液晶模板合成纳米结构颗粒和薄膜材料的研究取得了一系列重要进展,包括新纳米结构金属和半导体材料的合成、由过渡金属水合物与表面活性剂构建的新液晶体系、溶致液晶与其它模板结合制备具有多级孔结构的新材料、影响液晶体系及纳米结构材料有序性与稳定性的关键因素、以及纳米结构形成机理等方面的内容。本文就上述几个方面的近期研究成果进行了总结与综述,并展望了利用溶致液晶模板合成纳米结构材料需要进一步深入开展的内容,有助于化学、化学工程和材料科学等领域的相关研究工作。     

Water-based wet chemical synthesis of (doped) ZnO nanostructures

Looking at its vast range of applications, nanostructured ZnO can be considered as a key technological material. Simple and ecological production techniques for this and other nanostructured materials can boost the detection of their unusual properties. In this context water-based wet chemical synthesis routes for nanostructured ZnO are explored in this study. The advantages and disadvantages of controlled double-jet precipitation, microemulsion preparation, hydrothermal synthesis and an aqueous solution-gel route are described for the formation of (doped) ZnO nanoparticles. The influence of the synthesis parameters on the particle size, size distribution and degree of agglomeration of the particles is reported. Thin films are prepared by chemical solution deposition from aqueous solution. The heat treatment profile and the precursor composition are seen to largely control the density, the grain size and the degree of preferential c-axis orientation.     

Semiconductor Gas Sensors: Dry Synthesis and Application

Since the development of the first chemoresistive metal oxide based gas sensors, transducers with innovative properties have been prepared by a variety of wet‐ and dry‐deposition methods. Among these, direct assembly of nanostructured films from the gas phase promises simple fabrication and control and with the appropriate synthesis and deposition methods nm to μm thick films, can be prepared. Dense structures are achieved by tuning chemical or vapor deposition methods whereas particulate films are obtained by deposition of airborne, mono‐ or polydisperse, aggregated or agglomerated nanoparticles. Innovative materials in non‐equilibrium or sub‐stoichiometric states are captured by rapid cooling during their synthesis. This Review presents some of the most common chemical and vapor‐deposition methods for the synthesis of semiconductor metal oxide based detectors for chemical gas sensors. In addition, the synthesis of highly porous films by novel aerosol methods is discussed. A direct comparison of structural and chemical properties with sensing performance is given.     

The Microwave‐Assisted Ionic‐Liquid Method: A Promising Methodology in Nanomaterials

In recent years, the microwave‐assisted ionic‐liquid method has been accepted as a promising methodology for the preparation of nanomaterials and cellulose‐based nanocomposites. Applications of this method in the preparation of cellulose‐based nanocomposites comply with the major principles of green chemistry, that is, they use an environmentally friendly method in environmentally preferable solvents to make use of renewable materials. This minireview focuses on the recent development of the synthesis of nanomaterials and cellulose‐based nanocomposites by means of the microwave‐assisted ionic‐liquid method. We first discuss the preparation of nanomaterials including noble metals, metal oxides, complex metal oxides, metal sulfides, and other nanomaterials by means of this method. Then we provide an overview of the synthesis of cellulose‐based nanocomposites by using this method. The emphasis is on the synthesis, microstructure, and properties of nanostructured materials obtained through this methodology. Our recent research on nanomaterials and cellulose‐based nanocomposites by this rapid method is summarized. In addition, the formation mechanisms involved in the microwave‐assisted ionic‐liquid synthesis of nanostructured materials are discussed briefly. Finally, the future perspectives of this methodology in the synthesis of nanostructured materials are proposed.     

One-step fabrication of nanostructured Ni film with lotus effect from deep eutectic solvent

We report a procedure to fabricate nanostructured Ni films via programmed electrochemical deposition from a choline-chloride-based ionic liquid at a high temperature of 90 °C. Three electrodeposition modes using constant voltage, pulse voltage, and reverse pulse voltage produce a variety of nanostructured Ni films with micro/nanobinary surface architectures, such as nanosheets, aligned nanostrips, and hierarchical flowers. The nanostructured Ni films possess face-centered cubic crystal structure. Amazingly, it is found that the electrodeposited Ni films deliver the superhydrophobic surfaces without any further modifications by low surface-energy materials, which might be attributed to the vigorous micro/nanobinary architectures and the surface chemical composition. The electrochemical measurements reveal that the superhydrophobic Ni film exhibit an obvious passivation phenomenon, which could provide enhanced corrosion resistance for the substrate in the aqueous solutions.     

Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanostructured Materials and Their Applications

Owing to their high natural abundance, low cost, easy availability, and excellent magnetic properties, considerable interest has been devoted to the synthesis and applications of iron oxide nanostructured materials. Liquid-phase synthesis methods are economical and environmentally friendly with low energy consumption and volatile emissions, and as such have received much attention for the preparation of iron oxide nanostructured materials. Herein, the liquid-phase synthesis methods of iron oxide nanostructured materials including the co-precipitation method, microemulsion method, conventional hydrothermal and solvothermal methods, microwave-assisted heating method, sonolysis method, and other methods are summarized and reviewed. Many iron oxide nanostructured materials, self-assembled nanostructures, and nanocomposites have been successfully prepared, which are of great significance to enhance their structure-dependent properties and applications. The specific roles of liquid-phase chemical reaction parameters in regulating the chemical composition, structure, crystallinity, morphology, particle size, and dispersive behavior of the as-prepared iron oxide nanostructured materials are emphasized. The biomedical, environmental, and electrochemical energy storage applications of iron oxide nanostructured materials are discussed. Finally, challenges and perspectives are proposed for future investigations on the liquid-phase synthesis and applications of iron oxide nanostructured materials.     

纳米发光材料研究的若干进展

本文综述纳米发光材料的研究进展情况,着重总结了（稀土）掺杂型纳米发光材料的制备方法和表征手段,同时介绍了这些纳米发光材料的性质和应用,并对其未来发展趋势进行了展望。     

Hybrid organic/inorganic materials for photonic applications via assembling of nanostructured molecular units

Hybrid organic–inorganic materials exhibit so versatile properties that they can be considered one of the most interesting classes of materials for photonic applications, for the development of both passive and active devices. A synthetic route used for the preparation of nanostructured organic/inorganic (O/I) materials is the assembling of nano-building blocks (NBBs). This approach allows controlling the extent of phase interaction, which in its turn governs the structure-properties relationships. The non-hydrolytic sol–gel process is recognized as a useful route for the preparation of nanostructured molecular units. The condensation reaction of methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane and diphenylsilanediol in a non-hydrolytic sol–gel process has been exploited in order to synthesize nanostructured molecular units for the preparation of hybrid organic/inorganic coatings. The non-hydrolytic condensation reactions were run adding different compounds such as triethylamine, titanium isopropoxide, titanium chloride, and dibutyldilauryltin as condensation promoters. The NBB synthesis was also run under controlled hydrolitic conditions, by exploiting the in situ water production using an ethanol/acetic acid mixture. These reactions have been compared in terms of the influence of the employed reagents on the condensation degree and the product structure. Multinuclear NMR, ATR-FTIR and FT-Raman techniques have been used to study the reaction steps and characterize the final condensation products. Hybrid O/I materials have been prepared by assembling methacrylate-based NBBs in the presence of suitable thermal and photo-initiators. The study on the progress of the thermal polymerization process using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) will be presented, as well as the preliminary results on the two photon polymerization (TPP) process for the preparation of patternable films.     

Bioassisted synthesis of catalytic gold/silica nanotubes using layer-by-layer assembled polypeptide templates

We report the bioassisted synthesis of gold nanoparticle/silica (Au NP/silica) tubes using layer-by-layer (LBL) assembled poly(L-lysine)/poly(L-tyrosine) (PLL/PLT) multilayer films deposited on the polycarbonate (PC) membrane pores as both mediating agents and templates. The novelty of this approach is the in situ synthesis of Au NP/silica tubes using PLL/PLT multilayer films for sequential growth of Au NPs and silicas. The experimental data revealed that the buildup of the LBL multilayer films was mainly driven by the formation of hydrogen bond and the polypeptide macromolecular assemblies adopted mainly β-sheet conformation. The as-prepared Au NP/silica tubes possessed promising catalytic activity toward the reduction of p-nitrophenol. The synthesis conditions such as the concentration of gold precursor and polypeptide molecular weight were found to influence the gold weight ratio and particle size in the tubes and the catalytic properties of the Au NP/silica tubes. This approach provides a facile, robust, and green method to obtain nonaggregated metal nanoparticles immobilized in porous oxide network at ambient conditions. Using the synergy between biomimetic or bioassisted synthesis of nanostructured materials and LbL assembly technique, a variety of structures such as films, tubes, and capsules comprising of multiple compositions can be obtained.     

针形颗粒二氧化钛纳米薄膜的制备

使用醋酸修饰的溶胶-凝胶法制备了一种由针形颗粒构成的二氧化钛纳米薄膜.研究发现,可以通过控制溶胶-凝胶过程的反应条件控制所制备的纳米薄膜的形貌.对这种形貌的形成机理进行了讨论.     

Sol-gel synthesis of TeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-based materials using citric acid as hydrolysis modifier

Sol-gel processing of tellurium oxide has been investigated in the tellurium isopropoxide/citric acid/isopropanol/water system. As evidenced by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), citric acid has been found to be a relevant chemical modifier to control hydrolysis-condensation reactions of highly reactive tellurium isopropoxide Te(OCH(CH₃)₂)₄. Thus, depending on the main synthesis chemical parameters such as alkoxide concentration, water and modifier ratios, colloidal sols and gels have been successfully synthesised. The thermal behaviour of the dried gels has been investigated by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry coupled with thermogravimetry and also FTIR spectroscopy. On the one hand, the crystallisation of the non-centrosymmetric γ-TeO₂ polymorph as well as the α-TeO₂ phase which the crystallite size ranges from a few ten nanometers (∼50 nm) to a few microns as a function of heat treatment, and, on the other hand, the synthesis of homogeneous sols which can be handled in air and so particularly suitable for the elaboration of thin films provide new opportunities for making tellurite based materials and thin film devices for practical applications.     

Designed synthesis of nanostructured siloxane-organic hybrids from amphiphilic silicon-based precursors

This paper reports on recent progress in the synthesis of nanostructured siloxane-organic hybrids based on the self-assembly of amphiphilic silicon-based precursors. A variety of ordered hybrid materials have been obtained by molecular design of the precursors. Alkoxysilanes and chlorosilanes with covalently attached hydrophobic organic tails are hydrolyzed to form amphiphilic molecules containing silanol groups, leading to the formation of layered (lamellar) structures. Transparent and oriented thin films of lamellar hybrids were prepared by the reaction in the presence of tetraalkoxysilane. In addition, the design of molecules having alkyl chains and large oligosiloxane heads led to the formation of mesophases consisting of cylindrical assemblies, providing a direct pathway to ordered porous silica. The synthesis, structural features, and formation processes of these hybrid mesostructures are discussed.     

From diatoms to silica-based biohybrids

This critical review shows that diatoms can be a source of inspiration for the synthesis of advanced nanostructured biohybrids. These single cell microalgae are living inside a porous silica shell called 'frustule'. Mimicking this model, silica-based biohybrids have been produced via the so-called sol-gel process. Biomolecules such as proteins, enzymes or antibodies can be trapped within a silica matrix leading to hybrid biosensors and bioreactors. Whole cells remain viable and retain their metabolic activity leading to the formation of living biohybrids that offer new possibilities in the field of biotechnology and nanomedicine. Diatom frustules exhibit an incredible variety of sophisticated shapes; they can be used as 3D hierarchically structured materials for the realization of sensors, photonic devices or microfluidics. They can also be a model for the bio-templated synthesis of nanostructured materials. Diatom nanotechnology is becoming a new field of research where biologists and materials scientists are working together! (125 references).     

Materials for polymer electronics applications – semiconducting polymer thin films and nanoparticles

The paper presents two different approaches to nanostructured semiconducting polymer materials: (i) the generation of aqueous semiconducting polymer dispersions (semiconducting polymer nanospheres SPNs) and their processing into dense films and layers, and (ii) the synthesis of novel semiconducting polyfluorene-block-polyaniline (PF-b-PANI) block copolymers composed of conjugated blocks of different redox potentials which form nanosized morphologies in the solid state.     

Graphene‐Assisted Room‐Temperature Synthesis of 2D Nanostructured Hybrid Electrode Materials: Dramatic Acceleration of the Formation Rate of 2D Metal Oxide Nanoplates Induced by Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

A new prompt room temperature synthetic route to 2D nanostructured metal oxide–graphene‐hybrid electrode materials can be developed by the application of colloidal reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets as an efficient reaction accelerator for the synthesis of δ‐MnO₂ 2D nanoplates. Whereas the synthesis of the 2D nanostructured δ‐MnO₂ at room temperature requires treating divalent manganese compounds with persulfate ions for at least 24 h, the addition of RGO nanosheet causes a dramatic shortening of synthesis time to 1 h, underscoring its effectiveness for the promotion of the formation of 2D nanostructured metal oxide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of the accelerated synthesis of 2D nanostructured hybrid material induced by the RGO nanosheets. The observed acceleration of nanoplate formation upon the addition of RGO nanosheets is attributable to the enhancement of the oxidizing power of persulfate ions, the increase of the solubility of precursor MnCO₃, and the promoted crystal growth of δ‐MnO₂ 2D nanoplates. The resulting hybridization between RGO nanosheets and δ‐MnO₂ nanoplates is quite powerful not only in increasing the surface area of manganese oxide nanoplate but also in enhancing its electrochemical activity. Of prime importance is that the present δ‐MnO₂–RGO nanocomposites show much superior electrode performance over most of 2D nanostructured manganate systems including a similar porous assembly of RGO and layered MnO₂ nanosheets. This result underscores that the present RGO‐assisted solution‐based synthesis can provide a prompt and scalable method to produce nanostructured hybrid electrode materials.     

Formation of Carbon Materials by the Oxidative Pyrolysis of Methane on Resistive Catalysts

Kinetics and Catalysis - This review describes the regularities of the synthesis of nanostructured carbon materials (NCMs) based on the pyrolysis of methane on the surface of conductive materials...