Subjects: Materials Science >> Materials Chemistry submitted time 2017-11-01
Abstract： Doping additional ions into semiconductor is a potential strategy to modify the electronic structure of semiconductor materials. By using a highly reactive colloidal Cu clusters as doping precursor, we present here the successful doping of Cu ions into TiO2 nanocrystalline that simultaneously transformed from amorphous anodic TiO2 nanotubes during a dissolution and recrystallization process. The Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (Cu-TNPs) film was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The Cu-TNPs show a rugby-like shape with exposed active {101}, {001} facets and the long-axis parallel to [001] lattice direction. The substitutional Cu2+ ions dopants in TiO2 nanocrystals caused the swelling of the crystalline unit cell. Such efficient doping design facilitate the improvement of nanostructured TiO2 as a potential biosensor for glucose molecules.
Peer Review Status:
Awaiting Review
Subjects: Materials Science >> Materials Chemistry submitted time 2017-11-01
Abstract： We report a simple and environment-friendly route to prepare platinum/reduced graphene oxide (Pt/rGO) nanocomposites (NCs) with highly reactive MnOx colloids as reducing agents and sacrificial templates. The colloids are obtained by laser ablation of a metallic Mn target in graphene oxide (GO)-containing solution. Structural and morphological investigations of the as-prepared NCs revealed that ultrafine Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with an average size of 1.8 (± 0.6) nm are uniformly dispersed on the surfaces of rGO nanosheets. Compared with commercial Pt/C catalysts, Pt/rGO NCs with highly electrochemically active surface areas show remarkably improved catalytic activity and durability toward methanol oxidation. All of these superior characteristics can be attributed to the small particle size and uniform distribution of the Pt NPs, as well as the excellent electrical conductivity and stability of the rGO catalyst support. These findings suggest that Pt/rGO electrocatalysts are promising candidate materials for practical use in fuel cells.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Materials Science >> Materials Chemistry submitted time 2017-10-31
Abstract： Incorporating noble metal nanoparticles on the surface or inner side of semiconductors to form a hybrid nanostructure is an effective route to improve the gas sensing performance of these semiconductors. In this study, we present novel Au-decorated ZnO nanospheres (Au-ZnO NSs) obtained by laser irradiation of liquids. Structural characterization indicated that the Au-ZnO NSs consisted of single crystalline ZnO NSs with few Au nanoparticles decorated on their surfaces and abundant encapsulated Au nanoparticles with relatively small sizes. Laser irradiation-induced heating–melting–evaporating processes are responsible for the formation of unique Au-ZnO NSs. Gas sensing properties of the Au-ZnO NSs, as gas sensing materials, were investigated and compared with those of pure ZnO NSs. The former showed lower working temperature, higher sensitivity, better selectivity, and good reproducibility. The response values of Au-ZnO NSs and pure ZnO NSs sensors to ethanol of 100 ppm were 252 and 75 at working temperature of 320 °C and 360 °C, respectively. The significant enhancements in gas sensing performance should be attributed to the electronic sensitization induced by the depleted layers between encapsulated Au nanoparticles and ZnO and chemical sensitization originating from the catalytic effects of Au nanoparticles decorated on the surfaces that dissociated molecular oxygen.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Subjects: Materials Science >> Materials Chemistry submitted time 2017-10-31
Abstract： A general and straightforward strategy was developed for fabricating transition metal carbide (TMC)/carbon (C) core/shell nanospheres (NSs) by laser ablation of transition metals in acetone/ethanol liquid. Various TMC/C core/shell NSs such as TaC/C, NbC/C, HfC/C, and MoC/C core/shell NSs were successfully fabricated, highlighting the generality of this method. Crucially, this approach is green, facile, catalyst-free, and especially can be operated under ambient environments. Interestingly, all of the as-synthesized TMCs in the NS cores showed a cubic phase and structures similar to that of NaCl-type. The cores were further encapsulated by amorphous carbon shell with different thickness. As an example of the functional properties of these compound materials, the TaC/C core/shell NSs obtained were investigated as a supercapacitor electrode, which showed a large specific capacitance, excellent rate capability and remarkable cycling ability, revealing that the NSs could be used as new electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage. The photoluminescence of TaC/C core/shell NSs exhibited strong emission under the specific excitation wavelength at room temperature, showing potential biomedical applications due to the good biocompatibility of carbon shell. Besides, the basic physical and chemical reactions involved in the unique formation mechanism under highly nonequilibrium states induced by ultrafast laser ablation were discussed.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
Hits
Hits
Downloads
Comment