Observation of Nucleation and Growth of CdS Nanocrystals in a Two-phase System

The nucleation and growth kinetics of CdS nanocrystals in a two-phase synthesis system have been investigated. It was found that the nucleation process is quite lengthy and overlapped with the growth process; nevertheless, as formed nanocrystals show extremely narrow size distribution owing to the unique heterogeneous reacting environment and Ostwald ripening growth. The nucleation and growth kinetics of the nanocrystals were also influenced strongly by the monomer concentration, capping agent concentration, and solvent polarity. It was also found that a high monomer concentration, a low capping agent concentration, and low solvent polarity lead to a higher maximum nucleus concentration and nanocrystal concentration, while high polarity solvents are favorable for the formation of nanocrystals with narrower size distribution and higher photoluminescence quantum yield.

Polyol-Mediated Synthesis of PbS Crystals: Shape Evolution and Growth Mechanism

An interesting shape evolution of. PbS crystals, that is, from cubes to (truncated) octahedra and finally to stable star-shaped multipods with six arms along the < 100 > directions is first realized via a facile polyol-mediated reaction between lead acetate and sulfur powder in the absence of surfactants. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques were employed to characterize the samples. We elucidate the important parameters (including reaction temperature and sulfur sources) responsible for the shape-controlled synthesis of PbS crystals.

Nucleation and growth of CUSO4 center dot 5H(2)O crystals on the liquid state stearic acid Langmuir-Blodgett film

Oriented crystallization of CUSO4 center dot 5H(2)O on a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film of stearic acid has been studied in the temperature ranges of 73-68 degrees C and 53-20 degrees C, respectively. This is the first time that the LB film at temperature above its melting point has been served as a template to induce nucleation and growth of crystals. The experimental results demonstrated that the LB film in the liquid state has the ability of directing the nucleation and growth of crystals. Moreover, X-ray diffraction patterns of the as prepared crystals revealed that the orientation of the attached crystals on the LB film is affected by temperature greatly.

Phosphine-Free Synthesis of High-Quality CdSe Nanocrystals in Noncoordination Solvents: "Activating Agent" and "Nucleating Agent" Controlled Nucleation and Growth

CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) are prepared in noncoordination solvents (1-octadecene (ODE) and paraffin liquid) with Ion g-chain primary alkylamine as the sole ligand, ODE-Se, and cadmium fatty acid salt as precursors. The obtained NCs meet the four fundamental parameters for high-quality NCs: high crystallinity, narrow size distribution, moderate photoluminescence quantum yield, and broad range size tunableness. Further, by simply regulating the relative molar ratio of alkylamine to cadmium precursor, the regular sized "nuclei" and final obtained NCs can be produced predictably within a certain size range.

Controlled synthesis of monodisperse nanocrystals by a two-phase approach without the separation of nucleation and growth processes

The synthesis of monodisperse nanocrystals is an important topic in the field of nanomaterials not only for practical applications, but also for scientific interest in fundamental research. In this feature article, we mainly focus on synthesis of monodisperse nanocrystals by a two-phase approach without the separation of nucleation and growth processes, and report some progress made recently in the observation and understanding of nucleation and growth of semiconductor nanocrystals. Firstly, a novel two-phase approach to monodisperse nanocrystals, which is different from the well-established synthesis models, is discussed. We demonstrate that the two-phase approach has a quite lengthy nucleation process, and can be applied to the synthesis of many kinds of binary monodisperse nanocrystals.

Submicrometre scale single-crystalline gold plates of nanometre thickness: synthesis through a nucleobase process and growth mechanism

Synthesis of submicrometre scale single-crystalline gold plates of nanometre thickness in the presence of nucleobase guanine through chemical reduction of HAuCl4 was investigated. The elemental composition of the as-prepared gold nanoplates was estimated using energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The as-prepared gold plates were composed of essentially (111) lattice planes, as revealed by both x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results. It was found that the molar ratio of HAuCl4 to guanine played a very important role in the formation of gold nanoplates. Gold nanoplates could be produced at a molar ratio of [HAuCl4]/[guanine] = 50: 1 while only smaller gold spherical nanoparticles were obtained at molar ratios of [HAuCl4]/[guanine] <= 20:1. A possible growth mechanism of the as-prepared gold nanoplates is proposed and discussed. The results and conclusion presented in this work may be valuable for our further understanding of the roles of precursor ligands in the control of nanoparticles aggregation states and the preparation of shape-controlled nanoparticles.

Nucleation and growth of glycine crystals with controllable sizes and polymorphs on Langmuir-Blodgett films

Control of crystal polymorph and size is very important in many application fields. Herein we demonstrate that Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of stearic acid (SA) and octadecylamine (ODA) can serve as templates and generate different polymorphs of glycine crystals. In the neutral aqueous solutions, gamma-glycine crystallizes on LB films of ODA while the polymorphic outcome becomes the (x-form on LB films of SA. These observed results could be explained by the electrostatic interactions and geometric lattice matching at the LB film/crystal interfaces, respectively. By keeping the appropriate supersaturation, we have successfully controlled the number of crystals grown on LB films; for example, in some certain cases, only one piece of crystal was grown on LB films in solution. Therefore, large crystals of centimeter size could be prepared. These experimental results suggest a new approach to produce an organic crystal with bulk scale.

Hole nucleation and growth induced by crystallization and microphase separation of thin semicrystalline diblock copolymer films

We have investigated the hole nucleation and growth induced by crystallization of thin crystalline-coil diblock copolymer films. Semicrystalline rodlike assemblies from neutral/selective binary solvent are used as seeds to nucleate crystallization at temperatures above the glass transition temperature (T-g) but below melting point (T-m). The crystallization of nanorods drives neighboring copolymer chains to diffuse into the growing nanorods. Depletion of copolymer chains yields hole nucleation and growth at the edge of the nanorods. Simultaneously, the polymer chains unassociated into the nanorods were oriented by induction from the free surface and the substrate, leading to limitation of the hole depth to the lamellar spacing, similar to20 nm. The holes, as well as the nanorods, grow as t(alpha), where t is the annealing time and a crossover in the exponent a. is found. The orientation and stretching of the copolymer chains by the surface and interface are believed to accelerate the crystallization, and in turn, the latter accelerates the growth rate of the holes. At T > T-m, the grains melt and the copolymer chains relax and flow into the first layer of the film.

Controlled nucleation and growth of surface-confined gold nanoparticles on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified class slide: A strategy for SPR substrates

The thickness of the gold film and its morphology, including the surface roughness, are very important for getting a good, reproducible response in the SPR technique. Here, we report a novel alternative approach for preparing SPR-active substrates that is completely solution-based. Our strategy is based on self-assembly of the gold colloid monolayer on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified glass slide, followed by electroless gold plating. Using this method, the thickness of films can be easily controlled at the nanometer scale by setting the plating time in the same conditions. Surface roughness and morphology of gold films can be modified by both tuning the size of gold nanoparticles and agitation during the plating. Surface evolution of the Au film was followed in real time by UV-vis spectroscopy and in situ SPRS. To assess the surface roughness and electrochemical stability of the Au films, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used. In addition, the stability of the gold adhesion is demonstrated by three methods. The as-prepared Au films on substrates are reproducible and stable, which allows them to be used as electrodes for electrochemical experiments and as platforms for studying SAMs.

Influence of several non-nutrient additives on nonspecific immunity and growth of juvenile turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L.

The effects of three non-nutrient additives on nonspecific immunity and growth of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) were studied in this feeding experiment. The five treatments are basal diet alone, basal diets containing three different additives [0.4 g kg(-1) of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), 1.3 g kg (-1) of yeast cell wall and 0.8 g kg (-1) of bile acids] individually or in combination. Two hundred and twenty-five turbots (average initial weight 151.3 +/- 11.3 g) were randomly allotted in five treatments with three replicates within each treatment in a 72-day period. Comparing with basal diet group, activities of C3, C4, phagocyte, lysozyme, specific growth rate and feed conversion rate in yeast cell wall, XOS and the combined groups was enhanced significantly (P < 0.05); however, these parameters in bile acid groups were increased slightly (P > 0.05) except for phagocyte (P < 0.05); superoxide dismutase activity in additive groups was not significantly increased (P > 0.05) except for the combined group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of yeast cell wall and XOS enhanced the nonspecific immunity of juvenile turbot. Synergistic or additive effect of the three additives was not observed.

Changes in RNA, DNA, protein contents and growth of turbot Scophthalmus maximus larvae and juveniles

The growth potential of turbot Scophthalmus maximus larvae and juveniles was studied using nucleic acid-based indices and protein variables. The experiment was carried out from 4 to 60 days post hatching (dph). A significant increase in instantaneous growth rate during metamorphosis and retarded growth rate during post-metamorphic phase were observed. Ontogenetic patterns of DNA, RNA and protein all showed developmental stage-specific traits. The RNA:DNA ratio decreased up to 12 dph, then increased rapidly till 19 dph and fluctuated until 35 dph followed by a decline to the end. The RNA:DNA ratio was positively correlated with growth rate of juveniles during the post-metamorphic phase, whereas this ratio was not a sensitive indicator of growth during the pre-metamorphic phase and metamorphosis. The protein:DNA ratio showed a similar tendency to the RNA:DNA ratio. Changes of DNA content and protein:DNA ratio revealed that growth of S. maximus performed mainly by hyperplasia from 4 to 12 dph and hypertrophy until 21 dph during the pre-metamorphic larval phase. Growth was dominantly hypertrophical from the early- to mid-metamorphosing phase and hyperplastic thereafter. The results show that the DNA content and protein:DNA ratio can evaluate growth rates of larval and juvenile S. maximus on a cellular level.

Induction of triploidy in large yellow crocker Pseudosciaena crocea (Richardson, 1846): effects of pressure shocks and growth performance in the first rearing year

The precociously sexual maturation in large yellow crocker Pseudosciaena crocea has become a serious problem. In an attempt to solve this problem, the production of sterile triploids could be an effective strategy. In this study, triploid P. crocea was obtained by subjecting fertilized eggs to pressure shock. Flow-cytometry analysis was used to assess ploidy level. In terms of triploid rate and hatching rate, the optimal conditions of pressure shock for triploidy induction in P. crocea were 7500 psi for 3 min shock at 3 min after fertilization at 20 degrees C. With the application of these parameters, 100% triploid fish were produced. During the first rearing year, triploid P. crocea had a similar growth performance compared with its diploid counterpart before the age of 8 months and showed a significant advantage at the age of 10 and 12 months in body weight and body length (P < 0.05). At the age of 12 months, the carcass weight of triploids was markedly higher than that of diploid control, and gonadal somatic index was significantly lower than that of their diploid control. During the first rearing year, survival in triploid group was 76.44%, inferior to its diploid control (83.21%).

Formation and growth of Bryopsis hypnoides lamouroux regenerated from its protoplasts

Tissue culture, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and spectra analysis were used for studying the aggregation mechanism of protoplasts from Bryopsis hypnoides Lamouroux and the discrepancy between the protoplast-regenerated plants and the wild type. The aggregation of protoplasts from B. hypnoides was observed in natural seawater and artificial seawater with different pH values, and the location and mechanism of the materials causing the aggregation were also studied. Results showed that the protoplasts could aggregate into some viable spheres in natural seawater and subsequently grow into mature individuals. Aggregation of the protoplasts depended exclusively upon the pH value (6-11), and the protoplasts aggregated best at pH 8-9. Some of the extruded protoplasts were separated into two parts by centrifugation: the pellet (PO) and the supernatant (PL). The PO could aggregate in artificial seawater (pH 8.3) but not in PL. No aggregation was found in PO cultured in natural seawater containing nigericin, which can dissipate the proton gradients across the membrane. These experiments suggest that the aggregation of protoplasts is proton-gradient dependent and the materials causing the aggregation were not in the vacuolar sap, but located on the surface or inside the organelles. Furthermore, the transfer of the materials across the membrane was similar to Delta pH-based translocation (Delta pH/TAT) pathway that occurs in the chloroplasts of higher plants and bacteria. Obvious discrepancies in both the total soluble proteins and the ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b between the regenerated B. hypnoides and the wild type were found, which may be related to the exchange of genetic material during aggregation of the organelles. In the process of development, diatom Amphora coffeaeformis Agardh attached to the protoplast aggregations, retarding their further development, and once they were removed, the aggregations immediately germinated, which showed that diatoms can affect the development of other algae.

Quantitative traits correlative analysis and growth comparison among different populations of bay scallop, Argopecten irradians

The shell traits and weight traits are measured in cultured populations of bay scallop, Argopecten irradians. The results of regression analysis show that the regression relationships for all the traits are significant (P < 0.01). The correlative coefficients between body weight, as well as tissue weight with shell length, shell height and shell width are significant (P < 0.05). But the correlative coefficients between the anterior and posterior auricle length with body weight as well as tissue weight are not significant (P > 0.05). The multiple regression equation is obtained to estimate live body weight and tissue weight. The above traits except anterior and posterior auricle length are used for the growth and production comparison among three cultured populations, Duncan's new multiple range procedure analysis shows that all the traits in the Lingshuiqiao (LSQ) population are much more significant than those of the other two populations (P < 0.01), and there is no significant difference between the Qipanmo (QPM) and Dalijia (DLJ) populations in all traits (P > 0.05). The results indicate that the LSQ population has a higher growth rate and is expected to be more productive than the other two populations.