The synthesis of highly oriented GaN nanowire arrays

Highly oriented GaN nanowire arrays have been achieved by the catalytic reaction of gallium with ammonium. The resulting materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED). SEM images show that the resulting materials are nanowire arrays with a uniform length of about 10 μm. XRD, EDS, TEM and SAED indicate that the nanowire arrays are single-crystal hexagonal GaN with a wurtzite structure. They have diameters of 10 to 20 nm. Received: 2 October 2002 / Accepted: 7 October 2002 / Published online: 17 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. E-mail: wwwangjc@sina.com     

Large-scale fabrication and characterization of Cd-doped ZnO nanocantilever arrays

We demonstrate bulk synthesis of highly crystalline Cd-doped ZnO nanocantilever arrays (CZNAs) using Cd and Zn powders at 600 degrees C, which is characterized via scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and high resolution TEM. The results show that the as-prepared CZNAs have diameters of about 15-50 nm, and lengths up to 400 nm and the corresponding process of growth is suggested for conventional vapor solid mechanism.     

Production of microscale particles from fish bone by gas flow assisted laser ablation

Recycled wastes from fish and seafood can constitute a source of precursor material for different applications in the biomedical field such as bone fillers or precursor material for bioceramic coatings to improve the osteointegration of metallic implants.In this work, fish bones have been used directly as target in a laser ablation system. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser was used to ablate the fish bone material and a transverse air flow was used to extract the ablated material out of the interaction zone. The particles collected at a filter were in the micro and nanoscale range. The morphology as well as the composition of the obtained particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that the composition of the analyzed particles is similar to that of the inorganic part of the fish bone.     

Simple sonochemical synthesis and characterization of HgSe nanoparticles

Mercury selenide (HgSe) nanostructures were synthesized via a sonochemical method based on the reaction between HgCl(2), SeCl(4) and hydrazine hydrate (N(2)H(4)·H(2)O) in water, in presence of various capping agents. The effects of preparation parameters such as: the kind of capping agent and its amount, ultrasonic power, reaction time and temperature were investigated. It was found that morphology, particle size and phase of the products could be greatly affected by these parameters. HgSe nanostructures were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).     

Magnetic properties of Ni/NiO nanocomposites synthesized by one step solution combustion method

Ni/NiO nanocomposites were synthesized using solution combustion method and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen (CHN) analyser. The Ni or NiO content in Ni/NiO nanocomposites vary with the quantity of HNO₃ used for the synthesis. Magnetic coercivity (H_c) of Ni/NiO nanocomposites is found to be 413 Oe which can be used in magnetic applications. A feeble exchange bias of 7 Oe is seen from the NiO rich Ni/NiO.     

Preparation and photoluminescence of Sc-doped ZnO nanowires

We demonstrate bulk synthesis of single-crystal Sc-doped ZnO nanowires by using (Sc+Zn) powders at . These mass nanowires are characterized through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction, and high-resolution TEM, which have uniform diameters of about 40 nm and microns of several decades in length. The growth of ZnScO nanowires is suggested for self-catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid. In particular, PL spectra of these nanowires show emission peaks that intensely shift to long wavelength with increasing Sc and the doping quantity is found responsible for the different characteristics, in which PL mechanism is explained in detail.     

Versatile fabrication of dendritic cobalt microstructures using CTAB in high alkali media

A facile hydrothermal reduction route based on a precipitate slow-release controlled process was developed to fabricate highly ordered dendritic cobalt microcrystals using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in high alkali media. The shape, structure, and magnetic properties of the final products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results showed that the sample is hexagonal close-packed Co coexisting with cubic close-packed Co; the length of the main trunk is about 8 μm and diameter of the branches is 0.5-2 μm. Magnetic measurement at 300 K showed that these microstructures exhibited ferromagnetic character. The probable formation mechanism of the microcrystals was discussed on the basis of the experimental results.     

Synthesis, characterization and infrared emissivity study of polyurethane/TiO2 nanocomposites

In this study, polyurethane/titania (PU/TiO₂) nanocomposites were prepared in ultrasonic process and characterized by fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared emissivity analysis. The TEM and SEM results indicated that the nanoparticles were dispersed homogeneously in PU matrix on nanoscale. TGA-DSC confirmed that the heat stability of the composite was improved. Infrared emissivity study showed that the nanocomposite possessed lower emissivity value than those values of pure polymer and nanoparticles.     

Nano-scale copper oxidation on leadframe surface

Copper oxidation studies were carried out by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) techniques. The growth of copper oxide occurs as a copper surface comes in an oxygen containing environment. The reaction sequence leading to oxidation of the copper surface is generally accepted to be oxygen chemisorption, nucleation and growth of the surface oxide and bulk oxide growth. HRTEM examination of the cross section of the oxidized copper sample revealed the interface region in between the copper and copper oxide. At high oxidation temperature, formation of micro-voids and separations were observed along this interface region. Poor adhesion at this interface region due to micro-voids and separation were found to be the root cause of delamination issue. EELS analysis determined that for regions with intact interface the oxidation system is Cu/CuO/Cu₂O/CuO, however, in regions containing micro-voids or separation it is found to be Cu/Cu₂O/CuO.     

Room temperature chemical synthesis of lead selenide thin films with preferred orientation

Room temperature chemical synthesis of PbSe thin films was carried out from aqueous ammoniacal solution using Pb(CH₃COO)₂ as Pb²⁺ and Na₂SeSO₃ as Se²⁻ ion sources. The films were characterized by a various techniques including, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and UV-vis-NIR techniques. The study revealed that the PbSe thin film consists of preferentially oriented nanocubes with energy band gap of 0.5 eV.     

Structural transformation of MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanobelts into MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes

The structural transformation of MoO₃ nanobelts into MoS₂ nanotubes using a simple sulfur source has been reported. This transformation has been extensively investigated using electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (ED), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX and TEM-EDX). The method described in this report will serve as a generic route for the transformation of other oxide nanostructures into the chalcogenide nanostructures.     

Reentrant spin glass behavior in antiferromagnetic single crystalline Ba6Mn24O48 nanoribbons

Single crystalline Ba₆Mn₂₄O₄₈ nanoribbons with diameters ranging from one hundred nanometers to a few hundred nanometers and length up to tens of microns are synthesized via a facile molten salt method. These nanoribbons are characterized by a range of methods including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The magnetic properties of Ba₆Mn₂₄O₄₈ nanoribbons are investigated by the zero-field-cooled (ZFC), field-cooled (FC) magnetization, and ac susceptibility. Upon cooling, we find the reentrant spin glass (RSG) behavior in these nanoribbons, i.e., paramagnetic (PM), antiferromagnetic (AFM), and spin glass (SG). The RSG behavior might be due to the surface spin disorder, geometrical frustration and Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ mixture in Ba₆Mn₂₄O₄₈ nanoribbons.     

Cytotoxicity and inflammation in human alveolar epithelial cells following exposure to occupational levels of gold and silver nanoparticles

This study explores the viability of rare earth-doped zirconia nanophosphors as probable candidates for white light emission. Undoped ZrO₂ and single- and double-doped ZrO₂:M (where M?=?Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺) nanophosphors have been synthesized using a simple sonochemical process. The products were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and photoluminescence spectrophotometry. The SEM micrographs show that resultant nanoparticles have dendritic shape. TEM and HRTEM studies showed that the size of the majority of the nanoparticles were around 28?±?5?nm. Characteristic blue and green emission from Tb³⁺ ions and red from Eu³⁺ dopant ions were observed. The CIE coordinates of the double-doped ZrO₂:Tb³⁺ (1.2?%):Eu³⁺ (0.8?%) nanophosphor lie in the white light region of the chromaticity diagram and show promise as good phosphor materials for new lighting devices.     

Large-scale and catalyst-free synthesis of zinc nanotubes and nanowires

Metallic zinc one-dimensional materials including nanotubes and nanowires were synthesized on a large scale by a simple method. The process was both catalyst and template free. The resulting Zn nanotubes and Zn nanowires were characterized and confirmed by means of X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The growth of Zn nanotubes was reported for the first time.     

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of biocompatible silver sulfide nanoworms

In this study, silver sulfide nanoworms were prepared via a rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal method by reacting silver nitrate and thioacetamide in the aqueous solution of the Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) protein. The morphology, composition, and crystallinity of the nanoworms were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results show that the nanoworms were assembled by multiple adjacent Ag₂S nanoparticles and stabilized by a layer of BSA attached to their surface. The nanoworms have the sizes of about 50 nm in diameter and hundreds of nanometers in length. The analyses of high-resolution TEM and their correlative Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) indicate that the adjacent Ag₂S nanoparticles grow by misoriented attachment at the connective interfaces to form the nanoworm structure. In vitro assays on the human cervical cancer cell line HeLa show that the nanoworms exhibit good biocompatibility due to the presence of BSA coating. This combination of features makes the nanoworms attractive and promising building blocks for advanced materials and devices.     

Shells on nanowires detected by analytical TEM

Nanostructures in the form of nanowires or filled nanotubes and nanoparticles covered by shells are of great interest in materials science. They allow the creation of new materials with tailored new properties. For the characterisation of these structures and their shells by means of analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM), especially by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), the accurate analysis of linescan intensity profiles is necessary. A mathematical model is described, which is suitable for this analysis. It considers the finite electron beam size, the beam convergence, and the beam broadening within the specimen. It is shown that the beam size influences the measured result of core radius and shell thickness. On the other hand, the influence of the beam broadening within the specimen is negligible. At EELS, the specimen thickness must be smaller than the mean free path for inelastic scattering. Otherwise, artifacts of the signal profile of a nanowire can pretend a nanotube.     

Magnetoresistivity and microstructure of YBa2Cu3Oy prepared using planetary ball milling

We have studied the microstructure and the magnetoresistivity of polycrystalline YBa₂Cu₃O_y (YBCO or Y-123 for brevity) embedded with nanoparticles of Y-deficient YBCO, generated by the planetary ball milling technique. Bulk samples were synthesized from a precursor YBCO powder, which was prepared from commercial high purity Y₂O₃, Ba₂CO₃ and CuO via a one-step annealing process in air at 950 °C. After planetary ball milling of the precursor, the powder was uniaxially pressed and subsequently annealed at 950 °C in air. Phase analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), granular structure examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microstructure investigation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) were carried out. TEM analyses show that nanoparticles of Y-deficient YBCO, generated by ball milling, are embedded in the superconducting matrix. Electrical resistance as a function of temperature, ρ(T), revealed that the zero resistance temperature, T_co, is 84.5 and 90 K for the milled and unmilled samples respectively. The milled ceramics exhibit a large magnetoresistance in weak magnetic fields at liquid nitrogen temperature. This attractive effect is of high significance as it makes these materials promising candidates for practical application in magnetic field sensor devices.     

Synthesis of platinum and platinum–ruthenium-modified diamond nanoparticles

With the aim of developing dimensionally stable-supported catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell application, Pt and Pt–Ru catalyst nanoparticles were deposited onto undoped and boron-doped diamond nanoparticles (BDDNPs) through a chemical reduction route using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. As-received commercial diamond nanoparticles (DNPs) were purified by refluxing in aqueous nitric acid solution. Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were employed to characterize the as-received and purified DNPs. The purified diamond nanoparticulates, as well as the supported Pt and Pt–Ru catalyst systems, were subjected to various physicochemical characterizations, such as scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analysis, TEM, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. Physicochemical characterization showed that the sizes of Pt and Pt–Ru particles were only a few nanometers (2–5 nm), and they were homogeneously dispersed on the diamond surface (5–10 nm). The chemical reduction method offers a simple route to prepare the well-dispersed Pt and Pt–Ru catalyst nanoparticulates on undoped and BDDNPs for their possible employment as an advanced electrode material in direct methanol fuel cells.     

Structural, optical and electrical characterization of antimony-substituted tin oxide nanoparticles

Antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanostructures were prepared using chemical precipitation technique starting from SnCl₂, SbCl₃ as precursor compounds. The antimony composition was varied from 5 to 20 wt%. The lower resistance was observed at composition of Sn:95 and Sb:05, when compared with undoped and higher doping concentration of antimony. The average crystalline size of undoped and doped tin oxide was calculated from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and found to be in the range of 30-11 nm and it was further confirmed from the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the nanoparticles agglomerates forming spherical-shaped particles of few hundreds nanometers. The samples were further analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrical resistance measurements.