Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles and carbon encapsulated nickel nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes

Nickel nanoparticles were prepared and uniformly supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by reduction route with CNTs as a reducing agent at 600 °C. As-prepared nickel nanoparticles were single crystalline with a face-center-cubic phase and a size distribution ranging from 10 to 50 nm, and they were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These nickel nanoparticles would be coated with graphene layers, when they were exposed to acetylene at 600 °C. The coercivity values of nickel nanoparticles were superior to that of bulk nickel at room temperature.     

A facile synthesis of palladium nanoparticles supported on functional carbon nanotubes and its novel catalysis for ethanol electrooxidation

In this study, a novel material, palladium nanoparticles-carboxylic functional carbon nanotubes (PdNPs-CFCNTs), based on PdNPs supported on CFCNTs was synthesized by a facile spontaneous redox method. The material reveals high electrochemical activity and excellent catalytic characteristic for alcohol electrooxidation on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in an alkaline medium. The preparation mechanism was studied by the galvanic cell effect between PdCl₄²⁻ and functional defect sites on CFCNTs. Results from UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the reduction of PdCl₄²⁻ to metallic Pd was successfully achieved. Morphologies of PdNPs supporting on CFCNTs (PdNPs-CFCNTs) were also characterized by transmission electron micrograph. PdNPs-CFCNTs with the best electrocatalytic characteristics were obtained under the condition as: the weight ratio of Pd to CFCNTs was kept at 2:1, the temperature was kept at 70 °C in the synthesis, and the scan rate of the applied potential was selected at 60 mV s⁻¹. The results indicate that PdNPs-CFCNTs could be a great potential material in direct ethanol fuel cells and ethanol sensors.     

氮杂石墨烯碳纳米管复合材料负载Pt催化剂在甘油选择性氧化中的应用

一直以来,以碳材料为载体负载的金属催化剂被广泛应用于甘油液相氧化反应.研究表明,催化剂活性与碳的孔径分布有关,随着碳载体微孔比例的增加,催化剂活性下降.此外,载体表面基团对金属活性有着重要影响.例如,载体表面含氧基团的吸电子作用可降低载体表面电子的流动性(电子密度和导电性),从而阻碍甘油氧化反应过程中OH–的吸附和再生,导致反应活性降低.因此,开发微孔比例小、富含负电性基团的碳载体成为甘油氧化过程中急需解决的问题之一.本文通过热解碳纳米管(MWCNTs)和三聚氰胺的混合物,在碳纳米管表面直接生长得到氮杂石墨烯(NG-MWCNTs),并采用SEM,N2吸附,TEM和XRD对所得复合材料进行了表征.实验发现,相比于单纯的MWCNTs和直接热解三聚氰胺所得的产物CNx,NG-MWCNTs具有更高的比表面积(173 m2/g)和更大的平均孔径.此外,NG-MWCNTs非常适合作为Pt催化剂的载体,Pt平均粒径可小至1.4±0.4 nm.所制备的Pt/NG-MWCNTs催化剂在甘油选择性氧化反应中具有很高的催化活性和甘油酸选择性(甘油转化率和甘油酸选择性分别可达64.4%和81.0%),且具有可重复使用性能.Pt/NG-MWCNTs催化剂优异的催化活性不仅与载体表面高分散的Pt有关,而且与N原子对Pt的给电子作用有关.     

处理方法对多壁碳纳米管结构及负载Ru催化剂氨分解反应活性的影响

分别用H2O2、强碱（NaOH、KOH）和HNO3处理CNTs。以处理后的CNTs为载体、通过浸渍RuCl3水溶液结合高温H2还原制备Ru/CNTs催化剂,并将其应用在氨分解催化反应中。利用XRD、TPR、TPD-MS表征手段研究了Ru在CNTs表面的分散、还原性能及CNTs表面化学基团,探究催化剂结构-性能间构效关系。结果表明,强碱及双氧水处理CNTs,为其表面引入了数量适宜的羧基、酸酐、酚等官能团,而传统硝酸处理则引入了大量的羧基、酸酐、酯、内酯、酚、醌和羰基等官能团,对CNTs本征结构性质影响很大。经强碱及双氧水处理CNTs上负载Ru后所得催化剂的效果明显优于传统硝酸处理CNTs上负载Ru催化剂。本研究为CNTs的新型处理方法、表面化学官能团分析、提高Ru/CNTs催化分解氨活性提供了新的思路。     

Gold nanoparticles/tetraaminophenyl porphyrin functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites modified glassy carbon electrode for the simultaneous determination of p-acetaminophen and p-aminophenol

A novel electrochemical platform was designed and prepared for simultaneous determination of p-acetaminophen (AMP) and p-aminophenol (AP) by combining the excellent conductivity and electrocatalytic activities of tetraaminophenyl porphyrin functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs-CONH-TAPP) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The as-synthesized CNTs-CONH-TAPP composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The incisive oxidation current responses of AMP and AP at the modified electrode promised a sensitive and selective simultaneous determination of AMP and AP. Under optimized conditions, the peak currents were directly proportional to the concentrations of AMP and AP over the ranges of 4.5–500 μmol L⁻¹ and 0.08–60 μmol L⁻¹, respectively, and the limits of detection were 0.44 μmol L⁻¹ for AMP and 0.025 μmol L⁻¹ for AP(S/N = 3) respectively. The proposed modified electrode showed excellent selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability and could be applied in simultaneous determination of p-acetaminophen and p-aminophenol in real samples.     

Cobalt nanoparticles supported on ionic liquid‐functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for Heck reaction

A novel and environmentally friendly cobalt nanoparticle catalyst supported on ionic liquid‐functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes was successfully prepared and evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck reaction. Several reaction parameters, including type and amount of solvent and base, were evaluated. This nanocatalyst could also be recovered and reused at least six times without any discernible decrease in its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of iron oxides using ammonium iron citrate precursor: Thin films and nanoparticles

Ammonium iron citrate (C₆H₈O₇·nFe·nH₃N) was used as a precursor for preparing both iron-oxide thin films and nanoparticles. Thin films of iron oxides were fabricated on silicon (111) substrate using a successive-ionic-layer-adsorption-and-reaction (SILAR) method and subsequent hydrothermal or furnace annealing. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the iron-oxide films obtained under various annealing conditions show the changes of the micro-scale surface structures and the magnetic properties. Homogenous Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles around 4 nm in diameter were synthesized by hydrothermal reduction method at low temperature and investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

Preparation and characterization of nanostructured thin films of Au and Ag nanoparticles synthesized by ascorbic acid on modified glass surface

Immobilization of Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by ascorbic acid on chemically modified glass surface has been studied. 3‐[2‐(2‐Aminoethylamino)ethylamino]propyl‐trimethoxysilane (AMPTS), N‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilan, and 3‐trimethoxysilyl‐1‐propanethiol (MSPT) were used as surface modifying agents. To improve immobilization efficiency, the ammonia solution has been used along with the silane reagents, which assisted to adsorb the metal NPs on glass surface. It was found that AMPTS and MSPT have considerable effect on deposition of Ag and AuNPs on glass substrate. The fabricated thin films were characterized by using UV‐Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and subjected to antimicrobial resistance test. The UV–Vis spectra show a distinctive plasmon resonance absorbance peak for thin films of Au and AgNPs prepared with MSPT and AMPTS, respectively. Atomic force microscopy images indicate that formation of Au and AgNPs with spherical morphology after immobilization on the glass substrate and also the dimensions of NPs on the surface appear larger than those observed in the parent colloidal solution. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy measurements confirmed the presence of silver and gold on the modified glass surface, and elemental composition was measured. The Au and AgNPs thin films show antibacterial activity against gram negative (Escherichia coli) and gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria in comparison with a blank sample. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using biochar-supported nano-palladium/iron: Preparation,characterization, and influencing factors

In the present study, peanut shell, a green waste raw material, was used to prepare biochar (BC) and to obtain BC-supported nano-palladium/iron (BC-nPd/Fe) composites for removing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from water. Characterization analysis demonstrated that nPd/Fe particles were well dispersed on the BC surface with weakened magnetic properties. The average particle diameter and specific surface area of nPd/Fe were 101.3 nm and 6.7 m² g⁻¹, whereas the corresponding values of the BC-nPd/Fe materials were 88.8 nm and 14.8 m² g⁻¹, respectively. Several factors were found to influence the dechlorination of 2,4-D, including the weight ratio of BC to Fe, Pd loading ratio, initial solution pH, 2,4-D concentration, and reaction temperature. Dechlorination results indicated that the 2,4-D removal and phenoxyacetic acid (PA) generation rates were 44.1% and 20.1%, respectively, in the nPd/Fe system, and 100.0% and 92.1%, respectively, in the BC-nPd/Fe system. The dechlorination of 2,4-D was well described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model (R² > 0.97), and the observed rate constants k_obs were 0.0042 min (nPd/Fe) and 0.0578 min (BC-nPd/Fe), respectively. The reaction mechanism indicated that the dechlorination hydrogenation was the main process to remove 2,4-D from water in the BC-nPd/Fe system. In addition, BC inhibited the formation of a passivation layer on the particle surface during the reaction, thus maintaining the high reactivity of BC-nPd/Fe. The easy preparation technique, high 2,4-D dechlorination capacity, and mild reaction conditions suggest that BC-nPd/Fe may be a promising alternative composite to remove 2,4-D from water.     

Sequestration of CO2 using Cu nanoparticles supported on spherical and rod-shape mesoporous silica

The CO₂ sequestration is one of the most promising solutions to tackle global warming. In this study, spherical mesoporous silica particles (MPS-S) and rod-shaped mesoporous silica particles (MPS-R) loaded with Cu nanoparticles were selectively prepared and employed for CO₂ adsorption. For the first time uniform Cu nanoparticles were incorporated into the rod-shaped mesoporous silica particles by post-synthesis modification using both N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (PEDA) and ethylenediamine (EDA) as coupling agents. The physiochemical properties of the mesoporous and copper grifted silica composites were investigated by CHN elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), surface area analysis, scanning, transmission electron microscopy and gas analysis system (GSD 320, TERMO). The mesoporous silica shows highly ordered mesoporous structures, with the rod-shaped particles having a higher surface area than the spherical ones. Copper nanoparticles with an average diameter of 6.0 nm were uniformly incorporated into the MPS-S and MPS-R. Moreover, Cu-loaded mesoporous silica exhibits up to 40% higher CO₂ adsorption capacity than the bare MPS. The MPS-R modified with Cu nanoparticles showed a maximum CO₂ adsorption capacity of 0.62 mmol/g and the humidity showed a slight negative effect on CO₂ uptake process. The enhancement of CO₂ adsorption onto transition metal/mesoporous substrates provides basis for imminent CO₂ sequestration.     

Sensitive determination of hydrazine using poly(phenolphthalein), Au nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode

This study reports a detailed analysis of an electrode material containing poly(phenolphthalein), carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles which shows superior catalytic effect towards to hydrazine oxidation in Britton–Robinson buffer (pH 10.0). Glassy carbon electrode was modified by electropolymerization of phenolphthalein (PP) monomer (poly(PP)/GCE) and the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was dropped on the surface. This modified surface was electrodeposited with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GCE). The fabricated electrode was analysed the determination of hydrazine using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and amperometry. The peak potential of hydrazine oxidation on bare GCE, poly(PP)/GCE, CNT/GCE, CNT/poly(PP)/GCE, and AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GCE were observed at 596 mV, 342 mV, 320 mV, 313 mV, and 27 mV, respectively. A shift in the overpotential to more negative direction and an enhancement in the peak current indicated that the AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GC electrode presented an efficient electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of hydrazine. Modified electrodes were characterized with High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Amperometric current responses in the low hydrazine concentration range of 0.25–13 µM at the AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GCE. The limit of detection (LOD) value was obtained to be 0.083 µM. A modified electrode was applied to naturel samples for hydrazine determination.     

Electrodeposition and electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes: effect of the deposition conditions

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through a three-step process, including an electrochemical treatment of MWCNT, electro-oxidation of PtCl₄ ²⁻ to Pt(IV) complex, and an electro-conversion of Pt(0) on MWCNT. The effect of formation conditions for Pt(IV) complexes on the Pt nanoparticals transformed was investigated. The structure and elemental composition of the resulting Pt/MWCNT electrode were characterized by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The electrocatalytic properties of the resulting Pt/MWCNT electrode for methanol oxidation have been investigated. The high electrocatalytic activity and good stability of Pt/MWCNT electrode may be attributed to the high dispersion of platinum nanoparticles and the particular properties of the MWCNT supports.     

Effective one-pot synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran derivatives using nickel Schiff-base complex immobilized on iron oxide nanoparticles

Nickel Schiff-base complex immobilized on silica-coated Fe₃O₄ as a heterogeneous catalyst was designed and characterized by different techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The synthesized nanocatalyst has been explored as a new and efficient recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the one-pot three-component synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran derivatives. The reaction proceeds smoothly to supply the respective products in excellent yields and low reaction times. The catalyst can be easily recovered by a magnetic field and reused for eight consecutive reaction cycles without significant loss of activity.     

Influence of the particle size on the antibacterial activity of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Dysphania ambrosioides extract,supported by molecular docking analysis

Bacteria-associated infections have increased in recent years due to treatment resistance developed by these microorganisms. Due to the high antibacterial capacity associated with their nanometric size, nanoparticles, such as zinc oxide (ZnO), have proven to be an alternative for general medical procedures. One of the methodologies to synthesize them is green synthesis, where the most commonly used resources are plant species. Using Dysphania ambrosioides extract at various synthesis temperatures (200, 400, 600, and 800 °C), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) with average sizes ranging from 7 to 130 nm, quasi-spherical shapes, and hexagonal prism shapes were synthesized. Larger sizes were obtained by increasing the synthesis temperature. The ZnO crystalline phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The sizes and shapes were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The Zn-O bond vibration was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetry showed the stability of ZnO-NPs. The antibacterial evaluations, disk diffusion test, and minimum bactericidal concentration, demonstrated the influence of particle size. The smaller the nanoparticle size, the higher the inhibition for all pathogenic strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and dental pathogens: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia. The molecular docking study showed a favorable interaction between ZnO-NPs and some proteins in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as TagF in Staphylococcus epidermidis and AcrAB-TolC in Escherichia coli, which led to proposing them as possible targets of nanoparticles.     

A simple approach for synthesis of hollow mesoporous nanotubes loaded with metallic and magnetic nanoparticles: Only one step is required

Hollow mesoporous polypyrrole (PPy)@Pd‐Fe₃O₄ nanotubes were prepared using MoO₃ nanorods as hard templates in one step, in which construction of PPy nanotubes, preparation of Pd nanoparticles, synthesis of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and removal of MoO₃ nanorods were combined together. To the best of our knowledge, this is the simplest approach for the synthesis of nanomaterials with catalytic activity, magnetic property and hollow mesoporous structure simultaneously. Although the preparation procedure was simplified, the catalytic activity and magnetic property were not sacrificed. In the catalytic reduction of 4‐nitrophenol, both reaction rate constant and turnover frequency were higher than those of previous reports. Importantly, the nanotubes could be easily separated from the reaction solution in the presence of a magnetic field, and saturation magnetization could be controlled by the amount of pyrrole monomer. After six recycles, the catalytic activity maintained 94.8% of that of the first run, indicating good stability and reusability.     

碳纳米管负载的纳米Pd-Ag催化剂对乙醇和丙醇氧化的电化学活性

在乙二醇和水混合溶剂中,采用硼氢化钠还原的方法制备了多壁碳纳米管（MWCNT）负载的Pd和Pd-Ag纳米颗粒催化剂;在碱性介质中,用循环伏安法测试了这些催化剂对乙醇、正丙醇和异丙醇的电氧化性能。结果表明,Pd和Pd-Ag纳米颗粒均匀地分散在MWCNT表面;Pd/MWCNT、Pd₄Ag₁/MWCNT、Pd₂Ag₁/MWCNT和Pd₁Ag₁/MWCNT催化剂上金属颗粒的平均粒径分别为7、4、7和11 nm。相比乙醇和异丙醇,所制备的催化剂对正丙醇的氧化表现出较大的电流密度。与Pd/MWCNT催化剂相比,双金属Pd_nAg₁/MWCNT（n=4、2、1）催化剂,尤其是Pd₄Ag₁/MWCNT上的电流密度更大,表明Ag的加入提高了Pd催化剂对醇氧化的电化学活性,其原因是因为醇氧化过程所产生的中间体物种在双金属Pd-Ag/MWCNT催化剂上的吸附力有所减弱。     

Ternary composites of multi-wall carbon nanotubes,polyaniline, and noble-metal nanoparticles for potential applications in electrocatalysis

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes were coated with a conducting polymer, polyaniline phosphotungstate. Such composite structures have mixed electronic and proton conductivity, high surface area and porosity. These materials were decorated with catalytically-active noble metals — Pt, Pd, and Rh. Metal nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix. Such ternary composites can be considered as electrode materials in sensors, electrolysers, supercapacitors, and especially in low-temperature fuel cells with a proton-conducting polymer membrane.     

Synthesis and characterization of niobium-promoted cobalt/iron catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide

Bimetallic Co /Fe catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes( CNTs) were prepared,and niobium( Nb) was added as promoter to the 70 Co ∶30Fe /CNT catalyst. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized,and the catalytic performances were analyzed at the same operation conditions( H_2 ∶CO( volume ratio) = 2 ∶1,p = 1 MPa,and t = 260 ℃) in a tubular fixed-bed microreactor system. The addition of Nb to the bimetallic catalyst decreases the average size of the oxide nanoparticles and improves the reducibility of the bimetallic catalyst. Evaluation of the catalyst performance in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction shows that the catalyst results in high selectivity to methane,and the selectivity to C_(5+) increased slightly in the bimetallic catalyst unlike that in the monometallic catalysts. The addition of 1% Nb to the bimetallic catalyst increases CO conversion and selectivity to C_(5+). Meanwhile,a decrease in methane selectivity is observed.     

Seed-mediated synthesis of copper nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes and their application in nonenzymatic glucose biosensors

In this paper, for the first time, Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) were prepared by seed-mediated growth method with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) playing the role of seeds. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and AuNPs were first dropped on the surface of glassy carbon (GC) electrode, and then the electrode was immersed into growth solution that contained CuSO₄ and hydrazine. CuNPs were successfully grown on the surface of the CNTs. The modified electrode showed a very high electrochemical activity for electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose in alkaline medium, which was utilized as the basis of the fabrication of a nonenzymatic biosensor for electrochemical detection of glucose. The biosensor can be applied to the quantification of glucose with a linear range covering from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 5 × 10⁻³ M and a low detection limit of 3 × 10⁻⁸ M. Furthermore, the experiment results also showed that the biosensor exhibited good reproducibility and long-term stability, as well as high selectivity with no interference from other oxidable species.     

Synthesis,stereocomplex crystallization and properties of poly(l‐lactide)/four‐armed star poly(d‐lactide) functionalized carbon nanotubes nanocomposites

Functionalized carbon nanotubes (F‐CNTs) were synthesized through the nucleophilic substitution reaction between four‐armed star poly(d ‐lactide) (4PDLA) and acryl chloride of carbon nanotubes and were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that the 4PDLA was successfully grafted onto carbon nanotubes, and it contained 45.5 wt% of 4PDLA. Poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA) nanocomposites with different F‐CNTs content were prepared by solution casting. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy results showed that F‐CNTs were uniformly dispersed in the nanocomposites. Crystallization behavior and crystal structure of PLLA nanocomposites were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing microscope and X‐ray diffraction. The results found that poly(lactide) stereocomplex crystal could be formed between PLLA and F‐CNTs. F‐CNTs played different roles in the process of solution casting and melting crystallization. Polarizing microscope also revealed that crystallization temperature had a significant effect on the nucleation and spherulites growth of PLLA. Thermal stability and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile testing. These results demonstrated that the addition of F‐CNTs obviously improved thermal stability and tensile strength of PLLA. The results showed that PLLA/F‐CNTs would have potential values in engineering fields. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.