Synthesis and characterization of mixed-morphology CePO4 nanoparticles

Cerium phosphate nanoparticles with diameters of 10-180 nm were synthesized by a variety of solution techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) determined the crystalline phase(s) present in each sample. Population, shift, and spin-lattice relaxation ³¹P solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements accounted for all the ³¹P nuclei expected in each sample, and were able to distinguish between phosphorous nuclei in different environments and phases. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterized the morphology and crystallinity of the powder samples as well as of the sintered compacts of the powders. In conjunction with TEM, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) provided a measure of the composition of the bulk intergranular regions within each CePO₄ sample. The presence of an amorphous, phosphate-rich intergranular phase was found in those samples prepared by dissolution of ceria in H₃PO₄ under various conditions.     

Synthesis of sodium-polystyrenesulfonate-grafted nanoparticles by core-cross-linking of block copolymer micelles

Sodium poly(styrenesulfonate)(polySSNa)-grafted polymer nanoparticles were synthesized by core-cross-linking of block copolymer micelles and subsequent chemical transformation. Block copolymers, poly(p-((1-methyl)silacyclobutyl)styrene-block-poly(neopentyl p-styrenesulfonate)s, polySBS-b-polySSPen, were synthesized by nitroxy-mediated living radical polymerization. The block copolymers formed micelles (R_h=15-23 nm, where R_h represents the hydrodynamic radius) with a polySBS core and polySSPen shell in acetone. The micelle core was cross-linked by ring-opening polymerization of silacyclobutyl groups in polySBS. Hydrolysis of the neopentyl groups provided polySSNa-grafted nanoparticles. The R_h of the particles before the hydrolysis ranged from 12 to 21 nm in acetone, while they varied to the range from 50 to 110 nm in water after the hydrolysis.     

Selective ordering of surfactant modified gold nanoparticles in a diblock copolymer

Ordered aggregation of thiol-passivated Au nanoparticles in a diblock copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) has been observed. The morphology of the diblock copolymer/Au-nanocomposite was dependent on the composition of the thiol modifier. For the thiol modifier that does not preferentially interact with one of the blocks, a perpendicular (relative to the substrate) lamellar morphology is maintained. However, for a thiol with a surfactant structure similar to one of the blocks, we observed a parallel lamellar morphology and speculate that the nanoparticles have localized at the microdomain interface. These conclusions are based on transmission electron microscopy, angle-dependent X-ray photoelectron microscopy and tensiometry. These results are consistent with theoretical predictions on the hybrid systems composed of block copolymers and nanoparticles.     

Preparation and characterization of biodegradable nanoparticles based on amphiphilic poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) triblock copolymer

Amphiphilic triblock copolymers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB-PEG-PHB) were directly synthesized by the ring-opening copolymerization of β-butyrolactone monomer using PEG as macroinitiator. Their structure, thermal properties and crystallization were investigated by ¹H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction. It was found that both PHB and PEG blocks were miscible. With the increase in the PHB block length, the triblock copolymers became amorphous because amorphous PHB block remarkably depressed the crystallization of the PEG block. Biodegradable nanoparticles with core-shell structure were prepared in aqueous solution from the amphiphilic triblock copolymers, and characterized by ¹H NMR, SEM and fluorescence. The hydrophobic PHB segments formed the central solid-like core, and stabilized by the hydrophilic PEG block. The nanoparticle size was close related to the initial concentrations of the nanoparticle dispersions and the compositions of the triblock copolymers. Moreover, the PHB-PEG-PHB nanoparticles also showed good drug loading properties, which suggested that they were very suitable as delivery vehicles for hydrophobic drugs.     

Study of magnetic properties of ZnO nanoparticles codoped with Co and Cu

Here, we report on systematic studies of the magnetic properties of Co and Cu codoped ZnO nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel technique. The effect of hydrogenation and shape on the magnetic properties of Zn_0.93Co_0.05Cu_0.02O nanoparticles is presented. The Zn_0.93Co_0.05Cu_0.02O nanoparticles and well-aligned Zn_0.93Co_0.05Cu_0.02O nanorod array display ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. Our results demonstrate the influence of shape and hydrogenation on the ferromagnetic properties of Zn_0.93Co_0.05Cu_0.02O nanoparticles at room temperature.     

Physicochemical characterization of an Indian traditional medicine, Jasada Bhasma: detection of nanoparticles containing non-stoichiometric zinc oxide

Herbs and minerals are the integral parts of traditional systems of medicine in many countries. Herbo-Mineral medicinal preparations called Bhasma are unique to the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of Indian Traditional Medicine. These preparations have been used since long and are claimed to be the very effective and potent dosage form. However, there is dearth of scientific analytical studies carried out on these products, and even the existing ones suffer from incomplete analysis. Jasada Bhasma is a unique preparation of zinc belonging to this class. This particular preparation has been successfully used by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes and age-related eye diseases. This work presents a first comprehensive physicochemical characterization of Jasada Bhasma using modern state-of-the-art techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), elemental analysis with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our analysis shows that the Jasada Bhasma particles are in oxygen deficient state and a clearly identifiable fraction of particles are in the nanometer size range. These properties like oxygen deficiency and nanosize particles in Jasada Bhasma might impart the therapeutic property of this particular type of medicine. A. C. Joshi: Private Practitioner (Vaidya).     

纳米银组装结构上罗丹明B的表面增强荧光效应

采用表面自组装技术,在玻璃表面构筑银纳米粒子的二维组装结构。银纳米粒子组装结构的表面等离子共振光谱中偶极子表面等离子体共振对组装结构更为敏感而表现出较大位移。组装银纳米粒子可极大增强罗丹明B的荧光。荧光的表面增强效应主要来自银纳米粒子对荧光分子所处区域的局部电磁场增强,银纳米粒子的表面分子修饰对其表面增强效应有较大的影响。     

Memory characteristics of platinum nanoparticle-embedded MOS capacitors

The capacitance characteristics of platinum nanoparticle (NP)-embedded metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with gate Al₂O₃ layers are studied in this work. The capacitance versus voltage (C–V) curves obtained for a representative MOS capacitor exhibit flat-band voltage shifts, demonstrating the presence of charge storages in the platinum NPs. The counterclockwise hysteresis and flat-band voltage shift, observed from the C–V curves imply that electrons are stored in a floating gate layer consisting of the platinum NPs present between the tunneling and control oxide layers in the MOS capacitor and that these stored electrons originate from the Si substrate. Moreover, the charge remains versus time curve for the platinum NP-embedded MOS capacitor is investigated in this work.     

Effects of target-substrate geometry and ambient gas pressure on FePt nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser deposition

FePt nanoparticles, in the forms of nanoparticle agglomerates and floccules-like nanoparticle networks, can be synthesized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at different ambient gas pressures. Backward plume deposition (BPD), as special target-substrate geometry, can achieve higher uniformity in terms of agglomerate size and size distribution, compared to conventional PLD. Both as-deposited FePt nanoparticles exhibit low K_u fcc phase and post-annealing at 600 °C is required for the phase transition to high K_u fct phase. FePt nanoparticle agglomerates deposited by BPD were found to have better fct phase crystallinity after annealing, which may be caused by the higher kinetic energy of backward moving ablated species due to shorter travel distance.     

Phase transfer of highly monodisperse iron oxide nanocrystals with Pluronic F127 for biomedical applications

Iron oxide nanoparticles made from the thermal decomposition method are highly uniform in all respects (size, shape, composition and crystallography), making them ideal candidates for many bioapplications. The surfactant coating on the as-synthesized nanoparticles renders the nanoparticles insoluble in aqueous solutions. For biological applications nanoparticles must be water soluble. Here we demonstrate the phase transfer of our nanoparticles with the biocompatible copolymer Pluronic F127. Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering indicate that the nanoparticles are coated discretely. Magnetic measurements show that the nanoparticles remain superparamagnetic with saturation magnetization ∼96% of the maximum theoretical value.