Effect of nanoscale size and medium on metal work function in oleylamine-capped gold nanocrystals

The work function is an important material property with several applications in photonics and optoelectronics. We aimed to characterize the work function of clusters resulting from gold nanocrystals capped with oleylamine surfactant and drop-casted onto gold substrate. We used scanning Kelvin probe microscopy to investigate the work function, and complemented our study mainly with X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The oleylamine works as an electron blocking layer through which the electrical conduction takes place by tunneling effect. The surface potential appears to depend on the size of the clusters, which can be ascribed to their difference in effective work function with the substrate. The charge state of gold clusters is discussed in comparison with theory, and their capacitance is calculated from a semi-analytical equation. The results suggest that at the nanoscale the work function is not an intrinsic property of a material but rather depends on the size and morphology of the clusters, including also effects of the surrounding materials.     

Vibration sample magnetometry, a good tool for the study of nanomagnetic inclusions

The accurate determination of the ferromagnetic contribution in a composite in which the ratio of the ferromagnetic part vs. the total of composite is 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵ is a problem of great importance in relation to the development of new materials in our days. In this work, the potential of Vibration Sample Magnetometry (VSM) in the identification and quantification of nanomagnetic inclusions is illustrated and discussed in three different cases: PbFe₁₂O₁₉/ Al₂O₃ thin films, nanopowders of magnetite in a polymeric matrix, and carbon nanotubes with iron inside in a silica matrix (Fe/ CN_x/ SiO₂). In all cases, the determination of the existence of preferential orientation, the correct quantification of the magnetic part, and the dependence of the coercive field with on synthesis conditions were revealed using this technique.     

Thermodynamics approach of the formation of Ni catalyst particles for carbon nanotubes growth

Size-dependent thermodynamic parameters, such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy, for the transition of a Ni nanofilm to catalyst particles for subsequent carbon nanotube growth have been explored. In this investigation, we consider the derived equations of the size-dependent melting temperature of nanosolids based on our previous works. Using this thermodynamic approach, it is found that the diameter of Ni particles is 3 times greater than the thickness of the original film. From the critical and stable sizes of transformed Ni nanoparticles, a minimum film thickness for transformation of film to nanoparticles was obtained. Our predictions are in good agreement with experimental results.     

Role of interfacial structure in nanostructured elemental metals: a new thermo-mechanical process for the preparation of nanostructured binary alloys

In this article we present the first results obtained for nanostructured γ-Ni₂₀Zn₈₀ alloy prepared by a thermo-mechanical (TM) process developed in our laboratory. The process uses the energy stored in the defect structure, generated via mechanical milling of the nickel, to accelerate the reaction in the solid state, allowing a more rapid alloy formation. The process presents several advantages, when compared with techniques currently used for the production of this class of materials. The X-ray diffraction pattern for the alloy produced by the TM process is compared with that measured for the same alloy, produced by the mechanical alloying technique. The results show that the TM process holds the potential to become a valuable alternative method for the production of nanostructured materials.     

Synthesis of MnO2/MWNTs Nanocomposites Using a Sonochemical Method and Application for Hydrazine Detection

A sonochemical method has been successfully used to synthesize MnO₂/MWNTs nanocomposites. The structure and nature of the resulting MnO₂/MWNTs composite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction (EDX), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).The results show that the sonochemically synthesized MnO₂ nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed on the modified MWNT surfaces. The performance of the MnO₂/MWNTs nanocomposites modified electrode was characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Nyquist plots. The electrode exhibits efficient electron transfer ability and high electrochemical response towards hydrazine. This may be attributed to the small particle size, high dispersion of MnO₂ particles. The fabricated hydrazine sensor showed a wide linear range of 5.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?3 M with a response time less than 5 s and a detection limit of 0.2 μM. Taking the advantage of the unique properties of both MWNTs and MnO₂, it would greatly broaden the applications of MWNTs and MnO₂.     

Zinc Coordination Complex for use in Uniform ZnS Microflowers Synthesis

Uniform snowball zinc sulfide (ZnS) microflowers with nanosheet covering were synthesized using the one step reaction of zinc coordination compounds with thiourea at 160 °C for 24 h. X‐ray single crystal diffraction, electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction were used to characterize the products. The flower‐like ZnS crystals may have some application in catalyst or solar cell devices. This work is also expected to be applied in the fabrication of other transition metal sulfide crystals with special morphology.     

Improving the visible light photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 via the synergetic effects of B doping and Ag loading

B-doped together with Ag-loaded mesoporous TiO₂ (Ag/B–TiO₂) was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method in the presence of boric acid, triblock copolymer surfactant, and silver nitrate, followed by heat treatment. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. It was revealed that all samples consist of highly crystalline anatase with mesoporous structure. For Ag/B–TiO₂, B was doped into TiO₂ matrix in the form of both interstitial B and substitutional B while Ag was deposited on the surface of B–TiO₂ in the form of metallic silver. Compared with the single B-doped or Ag-loaded TiO₂ one, mesoporous Ag/B–TiO₂ exhibits much higher visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine 6G, which can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of B doping and Ag loading by narrowing the band gap of the photocatalyst and preventing the fast recombination of the photogenerated charge carriers, respectively.     

Thermal stability and reaction properties of passivated Al/CuO nano-thermite

Thermal stability and reaction properties of Al-CuO system, a mixture of 50-200 nm aluminum nanoparticles passivated by nitrocellulose and 12 nm copper (II) oxide, were investigated with microstructure characterization, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Transmission electron microscopy observation confirmed that the passivation coating successfully hinders the oxidization. TGA revealed that the passivation shell does not influence the ignition temperature of the thermite reaction. Reaction chemistry of the nano-thermite was elucidated by heating the composite both in inert ambient and vacuum. It was found that the thermite reaction composes of three continuing steps: At 570 °C, Al is oxidized into Al₂O₃ by reacting with CuO, which forms Cu₂O and produces a significant amount of heat. Subsequently two endothermic reactions occur. Starting at 800 °C, alumina reacts with Cu₂O and forms CuAlO₂. Above this temperature CuAlO₂ will decompose and eventually produce alumina, Cu, and O₂ at 1000 °C. Since the nano-thermite reaction pathway differs greatly from bulk thermite reactions, these results are important to develop a nano-thermite platform that can be used for a novel low cost, low temperature, and copper based microjoining and advance IC packaging.     

Synthesis of nanocrystalline and mesoporous zinc sulphide from a single precursor Zn(SOCCH3)2Lut2 complex

We report the formation of mesoporous zinc sulphide, composed by the fine network of nanoparticles, which was formed via a single precursor Zn(SOCCH₃)₂Lut₂ complex. The complex was chemically synthesized using zinc carbonate basic, 3,5-lutidine and thioacetic acid, in air. The metal precursor complex was characterized using different conventional techniques. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) result indicates that the decomposition of the complex starts at 100 °C and continues up to 450 °C, finally yielding ZnS. ZnS nanocrystals were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), N₂-sorption isotherm, UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The grain diameter of nanocrystals was found to be 4-5 nm. The material followed Type-IV N₂-sorption isotherm, which is the characteristic of mesoporous materials. The band gap energy, as obtained from optical measurements was around 3.8 eV.     

Characterization, sintering and dielectric properties of nanocrystalline zinc oxide prepared by a citric acid-based combustion route

Nanosized zinc oxide has been synthesized through a novel single step solution combustion route using citric acid as fuel. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the synthesized ZnO nanopowder has the pure wurtzite structure. The phase purity of the nanopowder has been confirmed using differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The morphology and crystalline size of the as-prepared nanopowder characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the powder consisted of a mixture of nanoparticles and nanorods. The nanocrystalline ZnO could be sintered to ∼97% of the theoretical density at 1200 °C in 4 h. The dielectric constant (ε_r) and dielectric loss (ε_i) of sintered ZnO pellets at 5 MHz were 1.38 and 9×10⁻², respectively, at room temperature.