Preparation and characterisation of Ag incorporated Al2O3 nanocomposite films obtained by sol‐gel method

Sol‐gel route has been applied for a deposition of the thin films of aluminum oxide and Ag embedded in Al₂O₃ films. The films are spin‐coated on Si and quartz substrates with the film thickness of 120 nm. XRD analysis has been used for the determination of the film structure. FTIR spectroscopy is applied for studying vibrational properties of the obtained coatings. Optical characterization is done by UV‐VIS spectroscopy. The formation of Ag nanoparticles has been confirmed by XRD and optical data. The sol‐gel process is found to be useful technology for incorporation of Ag nanoparticles in the metal oxide matrices. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of annealing temperatures on properties of sol‐gel grown ZnO‐ZrO2 films

Mixed ZnO‐ZrO₂ films have been obtained by sol‐gel technology. By using spin coating method, the films were deposited on Si and glass substrates. The influence of thermal annealings (the temperatures vary from 400 °C to 750 °C) on their structural properties has been studied. The structural behavior has been investigated by the means of XRD and FTIR techniques. The results revealed no presence of mixed oxide phases, the detected crystal phases were related to the hexagonal ZnO and to crystalline ZrO₂. The sol‐gel ZnO‐ZrO₂ films showed polycrystalline structure with a certain degree of an amorphous fraction. The optical transmittance reached 91% and it diminished with increasing the annealing temperatures. The optical properties of the sol‐gel ZnO‐ZrO₂ films, deposited on glass substrates are excellent with high transparency and better then those of pure ZrO₂ films, obtained at similar technological conditions. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and characterization of fine lithium niobate powders by sol‐ gel method

Lithium niobate (LN) nanocrystal powders were prepared by low‐temperature sol‐gel method. Dihydrate lithium acetate as lithium source, and niobium chloride as niobium source were used as starting materials. The gel and powders were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The results show that when the gel was heat‐treated at 600°C, the fine LN nanocrystals with the size of 40‐60 nm were obtained, and the size of the powders become larger with the heat‐treated temperature increasing. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Microstructural,optical and electrical properties of GeO2 thin films prepared by sol‐gel method

GeO₂ thin films were prepared by sol‐gel method on ITO/Glass substrate. The electrical and optical properties and the microstructures of these films were investigated with special emphasis on the effects of an annealing treatment in ambient air. The films were annealed at various temperatures from 500 °C to 700 °C. Structural analysis through X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscope (AFM) showed that surface structure and morphological characteristics were sensitive to the treatment conditions. The optical transmittance spectra of the GeO₂/ITO/Glass were measured using a UV‐visible spectrophotometer. All films exhibited GeO₂ (101) orientation perpendicular to the substrate surface where the grain size increased with increasing annealing temperature. The optical transmittance spectroscopy further revealed high transparency (over 70 %) in the wave range 400 – 800 nm of the visible region. At an annealing temperature level of 700 °C, the GeO₂ films were found to possess a leakage current density of 1.31×10^‐6A/cm² at an electrical field of 20 kV/cm. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and characterization of Nd,Yb – yttrium oxide nanopowders obtained by sol‐gel method

Nanopowders of Y₂O₃ pure, doped and codoped by Nd³⁺, Yb³⁺ were obtained by sol‐gel method. Solution with ethylene glycol was choosed as the proper solution where crystallites of powder with Nd and Yb dopants had the same size. Finally the one‐phased compounds of Y₂O₃ doped 0.5 at% Nd and 1, 2 or 4 at% Yb were obtained. Grain growth and their morphology were investigated in various temperature and time of heating. The changes of crystallite sizes and lattice constants in relation to the heating time and temperature for the composition Y₂O₃ doped 0.5 at% Nd and 2 at% Yb are presented. Y₂O₃ containing 0,5 at% of Nd exhibits intense luminescence bands centered at 920 nm, 1100 nm and 1360 nm whereas a single band at about 1020 nm appears in samples co‐doped with neodymium and ytterbium. Luminescence spectra recorded did not depend on the sample preparation procedure and size of grains. OH impurity affects critically the relaxation dynamics of luminescent ion in nanopowders. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical studies on ZnO films prepared by sol‐gel method

A standard sol‐gel method was used to deposit ZnO thin films of suitable thickness on glass substrate.The optical characteristics of the visible to infrared range on thermal stress were critically observed. Morphological signature of the films was detected by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and the crystallite size determined by Scherrer method from XRD data were consistent with grain size estimated from spectroscopic data through Meulenkamp equation. The optical band gap value from the transmission spectrum was found to corroborate with the existing works. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Sintering behavior of ZnO:Al ceramics fabricated by sol‐gel derived nanocrystalline powders

ZnO:Al ceramics (Zn:Al, 0.95:0.05) were prepared by using sol‐gel derived nanocrystalline powders. XRD patterns of the doped ceramics revealed the existence of both zincite (JCPDS 36‐1451) and gahnite (JCPDS 5‐0669) phases. Gahnite phase (ZnAl₂O₄) was segregated along the ZnO grain boundaries. At the sintering temperature of 1200 °C, relative density of the undoped and Al doped ceramics were measured as 0.695 and 0.628, respectively. Both grain size and relative density of the ceramics decreased with Al doping. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nd(III) and Yb(III) ions incorporated in Y4Al2O9 obtained by sol‐gel method: synthesis,structure, crystals and luminescence

The nanocrystalline powders of Y₄Al₂O₉ (YAM) pure and doped by Nd, Yb and codoped by Nd and Yb were obtained via modified sol‐gel method. These powders were characterized by X‐ray diffraction method, scanning electron microscopy and high resolution scanning electron microscopy, luminescence spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis (DTA). We obtained single phase powders of crystalline structure with average size 70 nm exhibiting interesting luminescent properties. Efficient non‐radiative energy transfer between Nd and Yb was found. DTA confirmed the phase transition at about 1400 °C. From these nanocrystalline powders, the crystals YAM:Yb, YAM:Yb,Nd were grown by micro‐pulling down technique. They were cracking during cooling owing to the phase transition. Luminescent properties of YAM:Nd,Yb crystals were identical with properties of corresponding nanopowders within experimental incertitude. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Low‐temperature preparation of bismuth ferrite microcrystals by a sol‐gel‐hydrothermal method

Well‐crystallized pure perovskite bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) powders with various morphologies have been synthesized by a novel sol‐gel‐hydrothermal route for the first time, which combined the conventional sol‐gel process and the hydrothermal method. The as‐prepared samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and ferroelectric test system. The results revealed that the compositions, morphological and dimensional changes in bismuth ferrite samples synthesized by sol–gel–hydrothermal method strongly depend on the concentrations of mineralizer. Ferroelectric hysteresis loops are displayed in the BiFeO₃ samples. The bismuth ferrites were hydrothermally synthesized at as low a temperature as 180 °C, which is comparatively lower than that synthesized by the normal sol–gel route. The formation mechanism of the bismuth ferrite crystalline was also discussed. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Solvothermal synthesis of mesoporous slabstone‐like TiO2 and its photodegradation preference in a methyl orange‐rhodamine B mixture solution

Mesoporous slabstone‐like anatase TiO₂ micro‐nanometer composite structure has been successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method at 180 °C using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a structure‐directing agent, followed by calcination at 400 °C for 2 h. The crystal structure and morphology of the product were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and HRTEM. Its BET specific surface area was obtained from N₂ adsorption‐desorption isotherm measurement. Rhodamine B (RB) aqueous solution was used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the as‐prepared TiO₂ under simulated sunlight irradiation and compared with that of commercial TiO₂ (P25). A RB and methyl orange (MO) coexisting solution was chosen to investigate the photodegradation preference of the slabstone‐like TiO₂ on these two dyes. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of the as‐prepared TiO₂ is much higher than that of P25, and MO is the preferential degradation species in the MO‐RB mixture solution.     

Sol‐gel synthesis of electrospun BaO/MnO nanocomposite fibers and their magnetic characterization

A new approach, combining in‐situ sol‐gel process with electrospinning, was used to prepare magnetic barium acetate/manganese acetate/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite nanofibers. The composite gel was synthesized by sol‐gel method in the presence of 10 wt.% PVA aqueous solution. PVA was used as stabilizer and polymeric matrix. The resultant barium acetate/manganese acetate/PVA composite nanofibers were calcined at 1023 K for 5 h. This formed BaO/MnO nanocomposite crystalline fibers with average diameter less than 100 nm and were characterized with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Energy Dispersive X‐ray Analysis (EDAX), powder X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), UV‐Vis‐Spectroscopy (UV) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) respectively. These composite fibers exhibited a uniform cylindrical morphology, with the BaO/MnO nanoparticles implanted in the fibers. M‐H curves were obtained at 300 K and 20 K. From the M‐H curves, room temperature ferromagnetism was observed at 300 K. At low temperatures, the ferromagnetic behavior was masked by the paramagnetic behavior. The saturation magnetization at 300 K was found to be 0.004 emu /g and the saturation magnetization at 20 K was found to be 0.658 emu /g. The magnetization at 20 K was found to be very large and it was several times larger than at 300 K. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

TiO2 nanoparticles synthesis for application in proton exchange membranes

In the present paper, suitable TiO₂ nanoparticles are successfully synthesized by sol‐gel method, in order to utilize the freshly prepared TiO₂ nanoparticles for proton exchange membrane (PEM) preparation. Titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) is used as precursor and ethanol as a solvent. The optimum and suitable TiO₂ nanoparticles were obtained by varying gelatinisation time (4–120 h), concentration of precursor (TiCl₄) in ethanol (2–15 vol%), and reaction temperature (15–35 °C). The morphology, size and purity of the nanoparticles are investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Optimum results were found at 4 h of gelatinisation time, 10% precursor concentration and 25 °C temperature for preparation of TiO₂ nanoparticles. Thus prepared nanoparticles are found to be suitable for preparation of nanocomposite PEM, and consequently the prepared PEM indicates enhanced properties, such as, higher thermal stability (high glass transition temperature of 184.1 °C), excellent proton conductivity (0.0822 S cm⁻¹ at room temperature) and low methanol permeability (1.11 × 10⁻⁹ cm2 s⁻¹).     

Sm2O3/TiO2对亚甲基蓝染料的光催化降解行为研究

采用浸渍法制备Sm2O3掺杂TiO2的负载型光催化剂Sm2O3/TiO2,考察其在紫外可见光区对亚甲基蓝的光降解行为.利用XRD、N2吸附、SEM、TEM、XPS和ICP-OES等手段表征Sm2O3/TiO2样品,考察Sm2 O3掺杂量和亚甲基蓝浓度对亚甲基蓝紫外光降解活性的影响和催化剂Sm2O3/TiO2的催化稳定性.结果表明,Sm2O3/TiO2对亚甲基蓝的紫外光降解活性高于TiO2,这归因子掺杂Sm2O3引起TiO2的晶体缺陷.这种晶体缺陷作为光生电子和空穴的陷阱实现光生电子-空穴对的有效分离,从而提高Sm2O3/TiO2的光催化活性.Sm2O3/TiO2对亚甲基蓝的光降解活性随着Sm2O3掺杂量的增加先增大后减小,随着亚甲基蓝浓度的增大而减小.Sm2 O3掺杂量5.0wt;的Sm2O3/TiO2对亚甲基蓝紫外光降解的7次循环实验未出现明显失活.     

Zn2+掺杂高岭石基纳米TiO2光催化材料的表面特性研究

基于高岭石表面是以Si-O键为主的亲水表面且具有巨大比表面积,易于复合光催化优异的TiO2膜.以高岭石为基材,溶胶-凝胶法制备了具有光催化活性的Zn2掺杂TiO2/高岭石复合光材料.采用XRD、FrIR、Raman、XPS等技术对材料的晶体结构、分子结构、表面元素组成及化学态、纳米TiO2晶体膜的覆盖面积进行表征分析.结果表明:Ti-O与高岭石结构的Si-O发生化学键合,在高岭石表面形成Si-O-Ti键合的纳米TiO2晶体膜,占高岭石表面积的91.35;.掺杂的Zn2只是在TiO2晶体表面复合氧化成红锌矿,而不能进入TiO2晶格.物理化学复合增加了基材高岭石表面晶体缺陷,有利于TiO2晶体表面光生载流子的增生和传输.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of anatase flower‐like nanostructures for photocatalytic degradation of dye

Flower‐like hierarchical nanostructures of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have been synthesized in large scale by a facile and controlled hydrothermal and after annealing process. The morphologies of flower‐like hierarchical nanostructures are formed by self‐organization of several tens of radially distributed thin flakes with a thickness of several nanometers holding a larger surface area. The materials are characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The ultraviolet photocatalytic degradation of R6G dyes has been studied over this flower‐like hierarchical nanostructures and the activity is compared with that of commercial P25 TiO₂ under same conditions. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

AgBr/TiO2纳米纤维的制备及其光催化性能研究

以钛酸丁酯、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)、无水乙醇为原料,利用静电纺丝技术制备出Ti(OC4H9)4/PVP纳米纤维,经500～1000℃高温煅烧制得TiO2纳米纤维,再通过水热法将AgBr纳米颗粒负载到TiO2纳米纤维表面.利用X射线衍射仪、场发射扫描电镜、差热-热重分析对AgBr/TiO2纳米纤维进行表征分析.利用甲基...     

Zn掺杂纳米TiO2材料制备与光催化性能的研究

通过水热合成的方法制备了Zn掺杂的纳米TiO2光催化剂.利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)及紫外-可见光分光计进行了物相结构、显微组织及光催化性能的检测与表征.结果表明:在Zn的掺杂量为0.6;时,纳米TiO2光催化剂由单一的锐钛矿相组成,晶粒尺寸约为6~10 nm,对太阳光的吸收波长增加到510 nm,提高对太阳光的利用效率,增强光催化的效果,经光催化反应100 min后,对甲基橙有机物的降解率达到92;.     

不同晶型TiO2的制备与光催化性能研究

采用溶胶凝胶法,利用不同温度热处理制备了不同晶体结构的TiO2纳米晶.利用XRD、SEM、EDS、XPS等分析方法对样品的晶体结构、形貌、化学元素组成以及价态进行了表征.结果表明400 ℃、500 ℃热处理TiO2为锐钛矿晶型,600 ℃ 热处理为锐钛矿金红石混合晶型,700 ℃热处理为金红石晶型,单颗粒子呈现类似球形形貌.以罗丹明B为目标污染物,测试了样品的光催化性能,结果表明400 ℃热处理TiO2具有最高的光催化活性,3 h后对罗丹明B的降解率达到94.6;,其反应速率常数达到0.969 h-1.     

Microwave-assisted green synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles and their optical and photocatalytic properties

Abstract

In this study, SnO₂ has been synthesized using Andrographis Paniculata (A. Paniculata) by microwave-assisted method. It is also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It exhibits the tetragonal structure with average crystallite size of 27?nm. The stretching vibration peak of Sn-O-Sn is 670?cm^?1. SEM reveals the formation of nanoparticles. The bandgap was estimated by the tauc’s relation as 3.52?eV from the UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectra. Biosynthesized SnO₂ nanoparticles show excellent photocatalytic activity against Congo red dye under sunlight irradiation.     

Fabrication of free‐standing TiO2 nanotube membranes with through‐hole morphology

In the present work, we show a simple and robust ex‐situ method to fabricate free‐standing membranes consisting of vertically oriented, both‐side‐open TiO₂ nanotube arrays. In this method, self‐organized TiO₂ nanotube membranes with different thickness ranging from seven to tens of micrometers could be easily separated from the metallic Ti substrate by applying a reverse‐bias voltage at the end of anodization. The stress developing at the TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti interface during H₂ gas generation facilitates the separation of the TiO₂ membranes. This procedure leads to an intact, free‐standing TiO₂ nanotube membrane with closed bottoms. After exposing the TiO₂ membrane to HF vapor, the barrier layer at the closed bottoms was etched away, and then a free‐standing TiO₂ membrane with through‐hole morphology was obtained. The bottom‐opening process is a slow barrier layer thinning process. Meanwhile, it is found that the mean diameter of tube bottoms monotonously decreases with the increasing the etching time.