Syntheses of opened hollow clay microspheres through a spray-drying approach and their derivative clay/carbon nanotubes composites

Opened hollow microspheres of organoclays were prepared via spray drying the suspension of modified Na+-montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) with alkylsulfonate. The microstructure and thermal properties of these opened hollow spheres were characterized by means of wide-angle X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the organoclays had larger interlayer spacing compared with pure Na+-MMT and higher thermal stability relative to the alkylsufonate.

Preparation and Luminescence Properties of YVO4:Ln and Y(V, P)O-4:Ln (Ln = Eu3+, Sm3+, Dy3+) Nanofibers and Microbelts by Sol-Gel/Electrospinning Process

One-dimensional YVO4:Ln and Y(V, P)O-4:Ln nanofibers and quasi-one-dimensional YVO4:Ln microbelts (Ln = Eu3+, Sm3+, Dy3+) have been prepared by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL), low-voltage cathodoluminescence (CL), and time-resolved emission spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the resulting samples.

Bluish-white emission from radical carbonyl impurities in amorphous Al2O3 prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process

Many efforts have been devoted to exploring novel luminescent materials that do not contain expensive or toxic elements, or do not need mercury vapor plasma as the excitation source. In this paper, amorphous Al2O3 powder samples were prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process. The resulting samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra, kinetic decay, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).

Synthesis and luminescent properties of Lu3Ga5O12 : RE3+ (RE = Eu, Tb, and Pr) nanocrystalline phosphors via sol-gel process

Lu3Ga5O12:Eu3+, Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+, and Lu3Ga5O12:Pr3+ phosphors were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence, and cathodoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the synthesized phosphors. The XRD results reveal that the sample begins to crystallize at 800 degrees C and fully crystallined pure Lu3Ga5O12 phase can be obtained at 1000 degrees C. The FESEM image indicates that the phosphor sample is composed of aggregated rice grainlike particles with sizes around 80-120 nm.

One-step immobilization of tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) via vapor-surface sol-gel deposition towards solid-state electrochemiluminescence detection

A novel method for immobilization of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2) on electrode surfaces based on the vapor-surface sol-gel deposition strategy is first demonstrated in this paper. Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2 immobilized sol-gel (Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2/sol-gel) films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and field-emitted scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). These results showed that Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2 was successfully incorporated into the silica sol-gel film. it was found that many irregular Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2/sol-gel clusters were formed on surfaces through one deposition and thick sol-gel films were observed after further deposition.

Glucose biosensor based on gold nanoparticle-catalyzed luminol electrochemiluminescence on a three-dimensional sol-gel network

An electrochemiluminescent glucose biosensor was proposed based on gold nanoparticle-catalyzed luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Gold nanoparticles were self-assembled onto silica sol-gel network, and then glucose oxidase was adsorbed on the surface of gold nanoparticles. The surface assembly process and the electrochemistry and ECL behaviors of the biosensor were investigated. The assembled gold nanoparticles could efficiently electrocatalyze luminol ECL ECL intensity of the biosensor depended on scan rate, luminol concentration, and size of gold nanoparticles.

Electrochemiluminescence detection of NADH and ethanol based on partial sulfonation of sol-gel network with gold nanoparticles

We developed a stable, sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on the synthesis of a new sol-gel material with the ion-exchange capacity sol-gel to coimmobilize the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and enzyme. The partial sulfonated (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane sol-gel (PSSG) film acted as both an ion exchanger for the immobilization of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and a matrix to immobilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs/PSSG/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) film modified electrode allowed sensitive the ECL detection of NADH as low as 1 nM. Such an ability of AuNPs/PSSG/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) film to promote the electron transfer between Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and the electrode suggested a new, promising biocompatible platform for the development of dehydrogenase-based ECL biosensors. With alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) as a model, we then constructed an ethanol biosensor, which had a linear range of 5 mu M to 5.2 mM with a detection limit of 12 nM.

Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of LaAlO3:RE3+ (RE = Tm, Tb) Nanocrystalline Phosphors via a Sol-Gel Process

LaAlO3:Tm3+ and LaAlO3:Tb3+ phosphors were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), photoluminescence, and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra were utilized to characterize the synthesized phosphors. The XRD results reveal that the fully crystalline pure LaAlO3 Phase can be obtained at 800 degrees C. The FE-SEM image indicates that the phosphor samples are composed of aggregated spherical particles with sizes ranging from 40 to 80 nm. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light (230 nm) and low-voltage electron beams (1-3 kV), the LaAlO3:Tm3+ and LaAlO3:Tb3+ phosphors show the characteristic emissions of Tb3+ (D-1(2)-> H-3(6,4),F-3(4) transitions) and Tm3+ (D-5(3,4)-> F-7(6,5,4,3) transitions) respectively. The CL of the LaAlO3:Tm3+ phosphors have high color purity and comparable intensity to the Y2SiO5:Ce3+ commercial product, and the CL colors of Tb3+-doped LaAlO3 phosphors can be tuned from blue to green by changing the doping concentration of Tb3+ to some extent.

Sol-gel derived Y2O3 as an efficient bluish-white phosphor without metal activator ions

In this paper, Y2O3 powder phosphors without metal activators were successfully prepared by the sol-gel method. The obtained sample shows an intense bluish-white emission (ranging from 350 to 600 nm, centered at 416 nm) under a wide range of UV light excitation (235-400 nm). The chromaticity coordinates of the sample are x = 0.159, y = 0.097, and the quantum yield is as high as 64.6%, which is a high value among the phosphor family without metal activators. The luminescent mechanisms have been ascribed to the carbon impurities in the Y2O3 host.

Multiform oxide optical materials via the versatile Pechini-type sol-gel process: Synthesis and characteristics

This feature article highlights work from the authors' laboratories on the various kinds of oxide optical materials, mainly luminescence and pigment materials with different forms (powder, core-shell structures, thin film and patterning) prepared by the Pechini-type sol-gel (PSG) process. The PSG process, which uses the common metal salts (nitrates, acetates, chlorides, etc.) as precursors and citric acid (CA) as chelating ligands of metal ions and polyhydroxy alcohol (such as ethylene glycol or poly ethylene glycol) as a cross-linking agent to form a polymeric resin on molecular level, reduces segregation of particular metal ions and ensures compositional homogeneity. This process can overcome most of the difficulties and disadvantages that frequently occur in the alkoxides based sol-gel process.

Phase transformation and photoluminescence properties of nanocrystalline ZrO2 powders prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process

Nanocrystalline ZrO2 fine powders were prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process followed by annealing from 500 to 1000 degrees C. The obtained ZrO2 samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and photoluminescence spectra (PL), respectively. The phase transition process from tetragonal (T) to monoclinic (M) was observed for the nanocrystalline ZrO2 powders in the annealing process, accompanied by the change of their photoluminescence properties. The 500 degrees C annealed ZrO2, powder with tetragonal structure shows an intense whitish blue emission (lambda(max) = 425 nm) with a wide range of excitation (230-400 nm). This emission decreased in intensity after being annealed at 600 degrees C (T + M-ZrO2) and disappeared at 700 (T + M-ZrO2), 800 (T + M-ZrO2), and 900 degrees C (M-ZrO2). After further annealing at 1000 degrees C (M-ZrO2), a strong blue-green emission appeared again (lambda(max) = 470 nm).

NOVEL COMPOSITES OF POLY(L-LACTIDE) AND SURFACE MODIFIED BIOACTIVE SiO2-CaO-P2O5 GEL NANOPARTICLES: MECHANICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Bioactive SiO2-CaO-P2O5 gel (BAG) nanoparticles with 40 nm in diameter were synthesized by the sol-gel route and further modified via the ring-opening polymerization of lactide on the surface of particles. Surface modified BAG (mBAG) was introduced in poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) matrix as bioactive filler. The dispersibility of mBAG in PLLA matrix was much higher than that of rough BAG particles. Tensile strength of the mBAG/PLLA composite could be increased to 61.2 MPa at 2 wt% filler content from 53.4 MPa for pure PLLA. The variation of moduli of the BAG/PLLA and mBAG/PLLA composites always showed an enhancement tendency with the increasing content of filler loading. The SEM photographs of the fracture surfaces showed that mBAG could be homogeneously dispersed in the PLLA matrix, and the corrugated deformation could absorb the rupture energy effectively during the breaking of materials. In vitro bioactivity tests showed that both BAG and mBAG particles could endow the composites with ability of the calcium sediment in SBF, but the surface modification of BAG particles could weaken this capability to some extent. Biocompatibility tests showed that both BAG and mBAG particles could facilitate the attachment and proliferation of the marrow cells on the surface of the composite.