Energy relations between small and large unit cell boron–nitrogen polymer analogues of spiral graphite and nanoneedle structures

Based on a comparison of nuclear charges combined with a convexity property of Hamiltonians, and employing nuclear charge transformations representing a limited case of the Universal Molecule Model, simple electronic energy relations are obtained for the unit cells of polymeric boron–nitrogen analogues of carbon-based nanoneedles and spiral graphite structures.     

Low-temperature Growth of Single-crystal SrCO3 Nanoneedles

Owing to the important role of dimensionality in the properties of nanomaterials, various types of 1D nanostructured materials, including metals and alloys, inorganic oxides, inorganic salts and polymers have been synthesized and their novel properties were also extensively studied in the recent years1-5. Various preparation methods towards diverse 1D-nanomaterials, including templating methods, catalytic growth, electrochemistry, chemical vapor deposition, solution-based solvothermal treatmen…     

From crystalline V2O5 to nanostructured vanadium oxides using aromatic amines as templates

Nanoneedles, nanorods of B-VO₂, and vanadium oxide nanotubes with high crystallinity were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal treatment using crystalline V₂O₅ as a precursor and aromatic amines (C₆H₅-(CH₂)_n-NH₂ with n=0, 1, 3) as structure-directing templates. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms and infrared spectroscopy. Nanoneedles, 0.5-5 μm in length and about 50 nm in average diameter and VO₂(B) nanorods about 20-100 nm wide and up to 2.5 μm long, have been obtained. The inner and the outer diameters of the vanadium oxide nanotubes vary, respectively, between 15-25 and 70-100 nm with a length up to 4 μm.     

Superhydrophobic surfaces based on dandelion-like ZnO microspheres

This study presents a simple method to fabricate superhydrophobic surface based on ZnO nanoneedles. ZnO nanoneedles had been constructed on zinc layers by immersing in an aqueous NH₄OH solution at 80 °C. The ZnO films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The ZnO films exhibited excellent superhydrophilicity (contact angle for water was 0°), while they changed wettability to superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle greater than 150° after further chemical modification with n-dodecanoic acid. The procedure reported here only needs readily available reagents and laboratory equipments, which can be applied to various substrates of any size and shape.     

Breaking K+ Concentration Limit on Cu Nanoneedles for Acidic Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Multi-Carbon Products

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) to multi-carbon products (C₂₊) in acidic electrolyte is one of the most advanced routes for tackling our current climate and energy crisis. However, the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the poor selectivity towards the valuable C₂₊ products are the major obstacles for the upscaling of these technologies. High local potassium ions (K⁺) concentration at the cathode's surface can inhibit proton-diffusion and accelerate the desirable carbon-carbon (C−C) coupling process. However, the solubility limit of potassium salts in bulk solution constrains the maximum achievable K⁺ concentration at the reaction sites and thus the overall acidic CO₂RR performance of most electrocatalysts. In this work, we demonstrate that Cu nanoneedles induce ultrahigh local K⁺ concentrations (4.22 M) – thus breaking the K⁺ solubility limit (3.5 M) – which enables a highly efficient CO₂RR in 3 M KCl at pH=1. As a result, a Faradaic efficiency of 90.69±2.15 % for C₂₊ (FE_C2+) can be achieved at 1400 mA.cm⁻², simultaneous with a single pass carbon efficiency (SPCE) of 25.49±0.82 % at a CO₂ flow rate of 7 sccm.