Use of Time-Resolved Fluorescence Analysis to Assess Molecular Mobility and Ionic Conductivity in Nanocomposite Organic-Inorganic Gels

This work is a short review of studies on nanocomposite organic-inorganic gels by stretched-exponential analysis of fluorescence decay profiles. Emphasis is given to the conditions which allow maximum probe mobility and minimum confinement conditions with the aim to assess ionic conductivity in these materials and with the purpose to employ them with dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical solar cells and other analogous systems.     

甘氨酸燃烧法合成纳米ZnO-MgO及其紫外光发射

利用甘氨酸燃烧法制备了ZnOMgO纳米复合材料,并在不同温度进行热处理.通过X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜和傅里叶变换红外吸收谱,对其升温过程中的结构变化进行了表征,研究了热处理温度对样品室温光致发光行为的影响.结果表明,复合材料的发光性能与纯ZnO相比有很大改善,经900℃热处理的纳米复合材料,其发射谱由一个强紫外发射带(峰值385nm)构成;当热处理温度低于900℃时,发光强度随热处理温度的升高而增强,进一步将热处理温度升至1000℃时发光强度又明显降低.发光强度主要受ZnO、MgO纳米晶的粒子尺寸、结晶完善程度,尤其是受两相纳米粒子之间相互作用的影响.同时发现选择合适的甘氨酸与硝酸根离子的摩尔比,对改善样品紫外发光特性也很重要.     

Studies on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) based gel electrolyte nanocomposite for sodium-sulfur batteries

Experimental investigations on a sodium ion conducting gel polymer electrolyte nanocomposite based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), dispersed with silica nanoparticles are reported. The gel nanocomposites have been obtained in the form of dimensionally stable, transparent and free-standing thick films. Physical characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been performed to study the structural changes and the ion-filler-polymer interactions due to the dispersion of SiO₂ nanoparticles in gel electrolytes. The highest ionic conductivity of the electrolyte has been observed to be 4.1 × 10⁻³ S cm^− 1 at room temperature with ~ 3 wt.% of SiO₂ particles. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity has been found to be consistent with Vogel-Tammen-Fulcher (VTF) relationship in the temperature range from 40 to 70 °C. The sodium ion conduction in the gel electrolyte film is confirmed from the cyclic voltammetry, impedance analysis and transport number measurements. The value of sodium ion transport number (t_Na+) of the gel electrolyte is significantly enhanced to a maximum value of 0.52 on the 15 wt.% SiO₂ dispersion. The physical and electrochemical analyses indicate the suitability of the gel electrolyte films in the sodium batteries. A prototype sodium-sulfur battery, fabricated using optimized gel electrolyte, offers the first discharge capacity of ~165 mAh g^− 1 of sulfur.     

Ultrasound facilitates the synthesis of potassium hexatitanate and co-intercalation with PbS–CdS nanoparticles

In this paper, ultrasonic irradiation was applied for the synthesis of K₂Ti₆O₁₃ nanobelts and novel nanocomposite (PbS–CdS/Ti₆O₁₃) through ion exchanging and co-intercalation processes. Thirty minutes of ultrasonic irradiation caused the formation of pure, uniform potassium hexatitanate with smaller particle size. The incorporation of PbS and CdS nanoparticles into the layers and on the surface of titanate in the presence of ultrasound was done directly, without pre-treatment process and led to the preparation of new nanocomposite. The physicochemical properties of the layered K₂Ti₆O₁₃ and PbS–CdS/Ti₆O₁₃ nanocomposite were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible spectra (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence technique (PL). The results showed that the PbS–CdS/Ti₆O₁₃ possessed a higher interlayer spacing than that of K₂Ti₆O₁₃, which indicated the formation of an intercalated nanomaterial. Besides that the absorption edge of titanate shifted to the visible light region owing to the incorporation of semiconductor guest molecules. These characteristics make these nanocomposites promising for use as photocatalysts. Besides that, other samples were synthesized by stirring method at the same conditions and their characteristics were compared with sono-synthesized samples.     

Sonochemical modification of carbon nanotubes for enhanced nanocomposite performance

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been treated using 20 kHz ultrasound in combination with dilute nitric and sulfuric acids at much lower concentrations than previously reported. The measurements revealed an optimum set of sonication conditions (in this case 30 min at 12 W cm⁻²) exists to overcome aggregation of the nanotubes and to allow efficient dispersion in ethanol or in chitosan. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy suggested the removal of amorphous material and reduction of the CNT diameter as well as modifications to their defect structures. The surface oxidation was determined by FTIR spectroscopy. At longer times or higher ultrasound intensities, degradation such as nanotube shortening and additional defect generation in the graphitic network occurred and the benefits of using ultrasound decreased. The modified CNTs were used as fillers for chitosan films and gave a tenfold increase in tensile strength and integrity of the films. The methodology was combined with sonochemical generation of gold or iron oxide nanoparticles to produce a range of functional membranes for catalytic reductive hydrogenation or dye degradation under conditions that are more environmentally benign than those previously used. Our results further add to the usefulness of sonochemistry as a valuable tool in preparative materials chemistry but also illustrate the crucial importance of careful control over the experimental conditions if optimum results are to be obtained.     

Core/shell structured ZnO/SiO2 nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic property

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a simple chemical synthesis route. Subsequently, SiO₂ layers were successfully coated onto the surface of ZnO nanoparticles to modify the photocatalytic activity in acidic or alkaline solutions. The obtained particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and zeta potential. It was found that ultrafine core/shell structured ZnO/SiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully obtained. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/SiO₂ core/shell structured nanoparticles in Rhodamine B aqueous solution at varied pH value were also investigated. Compared with uncoated ZnO nanoparticles, core/shell structured ZnO/SiO₂ nanoparticles with thinner SiO₂ shell possess improved stability and relatively better photocatalytic activity in acidic or alkaline solutions, which would broaden its potential application in pollutant treatment.     

Optical properties and electric conductivity of gold nanoparticle-containing, hydrogel-based thin layer composite films obtained by photopolymerization

Poly(acrylamide) [poly(AAm)] and poly(N-isopropyl-acrylamide) [poly(NIPAAm)] based gel films containing Au nanoparticles (d = 14 ± 2.5 nm) were synthesized. Monomers and cross-linker were added to a gold nanodispersion, and after the addition of the initiator, polymer films were prepared on the surface of an interdigital microelectrode by photopolymerization. In the course of the syntheses the gold concentration of the films was constant (10.8 μg/cm²) and the volume fraction of Au nanoparticles (?_Au) in the polymer gel films varied in the range of 0.58-85.3%. Poly(AAm)-based films swell when the temperature increases: due to a temperature shift of 15 °C the Au plasmon absorption maximum at λ = ∼532 nm was shifted towards shorter wavelengths by 16.6 nm (blue shift) through the swelling of the polymer gel film. In the case of poly(NIPAAm) the temperature-induced shrinking resulted in a red shift, namely the maximum was shifted by 18.07 nm by a temperature shift of 15 °C. In the case of both composites, the electric conductivity of the samples was shown to increase with increasing Au particle concentration. In the case of the poly(AAm)-based composite containing ?_Au = 0.85 gold the resistance of the film spread on the surface of the electrode was 0.16 MΩ at 25 °C and 0.66 MΩ at 50 °C, i.e. the conductivity of the sample decreased with increasing temperature. The opposite effect is observed in the case of the poly(NIPAAm)-based composite: as temperature is raised, the resistance of the composite abruptly drops at the point of collapse of the NIPAAm gel (it is 0.28 MΩ at 32 °C and only 0.021 MΩ at 35 °C). This thermosensitive effect was detectable only at sufficiently high Au contents (?_Au = 0.85) in both gels.     

用激光解吸附电离法对三甲苯生成二次有机气溶粒子的分析

利用实验室烟雾腔,在不同的实验条件下研究了由羟基启动的三甲苯光氧化反应所产生的二次有机气溶胶,采用激光解吸附技术和气溶胶飞行时间质谱仪测量了产物的化学组分和粒子的粒径分布。结果表明:随着反应物三甲苯浓度的增加,所生成的二次有机气溶胶粒子数量增多;随着反应时间的延长,生成的粒子数目也增加,但是反应到一段时间后,检测到的粒子数目几乎保持不变;光照强度的增加有利于二次有机气溶胶的生成;通过对产物的化学成分分析,说明了在二次有机光氧化产物中粒子相产物主要是芳香的环保留产物、非芳香环保留产物和环断裂产物。     

Promotion effect of Pt on a SnO2–WO3 material for NOx sensing

Metal-oxide nanocomposites were prepared over screen-printed gold electrodes to be used as room-temperature NO_x (nitric-oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)) sensors. Various weight ratios of SnO₂–WO₃ and Pt loadings were used for NO sensing. The sensing materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET surface analysis. The NO-sensing results indicated that SnO₂–WO₃ (1:2) was more effective than other materials were. The sensor response (S=resistance of N₂/resistance of NO=R_N2/R_NO) for detecting 1000 ppm of NO at room temperature was 2.6. The response time (T₉₀) and recovery time (TR₉₀) was 40 s and 86 s, respectively. By further loading with 0.5% Pt, the sensor response increased to 3.3. The response and recovery times of 0.5% Pt/SnO₂–WO₃ (1:2) were 40 s and 206 s, respectively. The linearity of the sensor response for a NO concentration range of 10–1000 ppm was 0.9729. A mechanism involving Pt promotion of the SnO₂–WO₃ heterojunction was proposed for NO adsorption, surface reaction, and adsorbed NO₂ desorption.     

Synthesis, structural and magnetic properties of the nanocomposite Fe63B23Nd7Y3Nb3Cr1 magnets

The Fe₆₃B₂₃Nd₇Y₃Nb₃Cr₁ nanocomposite magnets in the form of sheets have been prepared by copper mold casting technique. The phase evolution, crystal structure, microstructural and magnetic properties have been investigated in the as-cast and annealed states. The as-cast sheets show magnetically soft behaviors which become magnetically hard by thermal annealing. The optimal annealed microstructure was composed of nanosize soft magnetic α-Fe (19-29 nm) and hard magnetic Nd₂Fe₁₄B (45-55 nm) grains. The best hard magnetic properties such as intrinsic coercivity, _jH_c of 1119 kA/m, remanence, B_r of 0.44 T, magnetic induction to saturation magnetization ratio, M_r/M_s=0.61 and maximum energy product, (BH)_max of 55 kJ/m³ was obtained after annealing at 680 °C for 15 min. The annealing treatment above 680 °C results in non-ideal phase grains growth, which degrade the magnetic properties.