Semiconductor "nano-onions" with multifold alternating CdS/CdSe or CdSe/CdS structure

"Nano-onions" with multifold alternating CdS/CdSe or CdSe/CdS structure have been synthesized via a two-phase approach. The influences of shell on photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields (QYs) and PL lifetimes are investigated and discussed. It is found that the outmost shell plays an important role in the PL QYs and PL lifetimes of the multishells "onion-like" nanocrystals. The PL QYs and PL lifetimes fluctuate regularly with CdSe and CdS shells. The PL QY increases when the nanocrystals have an outmost CdS shell; however, it decreases dramatically with the outmost CdSe shell. The trend of the change of PL lifetimes is consistent with that of the QYs. The crystal structure and composition of the novel nano-onions are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectra techniques.

Syntheses of fully sulfonated polyaniline nano-networks and its application to the direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c

Fully sulfonated polyaniline nano-particles, nano-fibrils and nano-networks have been achieved for the first time by electrochemical homopolymerization of orthanilic acid using a three-step electrochemical deposition procedure in a mixed solvent of acetonitrile (ACN) and water. The diameter of the uniform nano-particles is about 60nm, and the nano-fibrils can be organized in two-dimensional (21)) or three-dimensional (313) non-periodic networks with good electrical contact. Average distance between contacts is about 850 and 600 nm for a 2D and 3D system, respectively. The details of the poly(orthanilic acid) (POA) nano-structure were examined with a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM). The structure and properties of POA were characterized with FTIR, UV-vis and electrochemical methods. The 3D POA nano-networks coated platinum electrode gave a direct electrochemical behavior of horse heart cytochrome c (Cyt c) immobilized on this electrode surface, a pair of well-defined redox waves with formal potential (E-ol) of -0.032 V (versus Ag/AgCl) was achieved. The interaction between Cyt c and POA makes the formal potential shift negatively compared to that of Cyt c in solution. Spectrophotometric and electrochemical methods were used to investigate the interaction of Cyt c with POA.

Scanned probe oxidation on an octadecyl-terminated silicon (111) surface with an atomic force microscope: kinetic investigations in line patterning

Scanned probe oxidation (SPO) nanolithography has been performed with an atomic force microscope (AFM) on an octadecyl-terminated silicon (111) surface to create protuberant oxide line patterns under ambient conditions in contact mode. The kinetic investigations of this SPO process indicate that the oxide line height increases linearly with applied voltage and decreases logarithmically with writing, speed. The oxide line width also tends to vary with the same law. The ambient humidity and the AFM tip state can remarkably influence this process, too. As compared with traditional octadecylsilated SiO2/Si substrate, such a substrate can guarantee the SPO with an obviously lowered voltage and a greatly increased writing speed. This study demonstrates that such alkylated silicon is a promising silicon-based substrate material for SPO nanolithography.

Direct patterning of negative nanostructures on self-assembled monolayers of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid on Au(111) substrate via dip-pen nanolithography

Both bare and self-assembled monolayer (SAM) protected gold substrate could be etched by allyl bromide according to atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICPMS) analysis results. With this allyl bromide ink material, negative nanopatterns could be fabricated directly by dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) on SAMs of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHA) on Au(111) substrate. A tip-promoted etching mechanism was proposed where the gold-reactive ink could penetrate the MHA resist film through tip-induced defects resulting in local corrosive removal of the gold substrate. The fabrication mechanism was also confirmed by electrochemical characterization, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and fabrication of positive nanopatterns via a used DPN tip.

Nano-reactors for controlling the selectivity of the free radical grafting of maleic anhydride onto polypropylene in the melt

This paper reports on a successful application of the concept of nanoreactors to effectively controlling the selectivity of the free radical grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) onto polypropylene (PP) in the melt, an industrially relevant process. More specifically, a free radical initiator of type ROOR was first confined into (or encapsulated by) the galleries of an organically modified montmorillonite (o-MMT) whose interdistance was 2.4 nm. Primary free radicals (RO center dot) formed inside the o-MMT galleries had to diffuse out before they could react with the PP backbone. The controlled release of the primary free radicals significantly increased the grafting degree of MAH onto PP and greatly reduced the level of the chain scission of the latter. Those results were better understood by electron spin resonance studies on model systems and by Monte Carlo simulations.

Coating nano-hemalite on (Y,Gd)BO3 : Eu3+ phosphors by a facile method

(Y, Gd) BO3:Eu3+ particles coated with nano-hematite were prepared by a facile method I for example (humid) solid phase reaction at room temperature. The resulted hematite-coated (Y, Gd)BO3:Eu3+ particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and photoluminescence spectra (PL). The SEM and EDS analyses indicate that the particles are coated with a very thin layer of iron oxide. XPS results further confirmed that the coating was hematite, and the coating thickness was in nanometer range. XRD patterns showed that either the hematite coating was too thin or the content of hematite was too small, so that the XRD cannot detect it. The emission spectra illustrate that the peak near 580 nm disappears due to the coating of iron oxide, and when the coating is very thin, the ratio of D-5(0)-> F-7(2) to D-5(2)-> F-7(1) of coated particles is higher than that of uncoated ones, which indicates that the color purity of the phosphor is increased by coating nano-hematite.

Oriented nano-structured hydroxyapatite from the template

Natural bone is one kind of compounds consisting of hydroxyapatite (HAp) nano-rods, which are embedded in the template of collagen matrix in vivo with the same crystallographic organization. Herein HAp nano-rods precursors were synthesized via wet chemical method. Large-scale HAp nano-wires with the same crystallographic organization as the template of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) were obtained by the electrophoretic deposition and the technology of the template. It provides a meaningful method to study and understand the information of biological molecules' mineralization process.

Sol-gel fabrication, patterning and photoluminescent properties of LaPO4 : Ce3+, Tb3+ nanocrystalline thin films

Ce3+ and/or Tb3+-doped LaPO4 nanocrystalline thin films and their patterning were fabricated by a sol-gel process combined with soft lithography on silicon and quartz glass substrates. The results of XRD indicated that the films began to crystallize at 700 degreesC. The 1000 degreesC annealed single layer films are transparent by eyes, uniform and crack-free with a thickness of about 200 nm and an average grain size of 100 nm. Patterned thin film with different band widths (5-50 mum) were obtained by micro-molding in capillaries technique. The luminescence and energy transfer properties of Ce3+ and Tb3+ were studied in LaPO4 films.

Patterning and photolumine scent properties of perovskite-type organic/inorganic hybrid luminescent films by soft lithography

Perovskite-type organic/inorganic hybrid layered compound (C6H5C2H4NH3)(2)PbI4 was synthesized. The patterning Of (C6H5C2H4NH3)(2)PbI4 thin films on silicon substrate was realized by the micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) process, a kind of soft lithography. Bright green luminescent stripes with different widths (50, 15, 0.8 mum) have been obtained. The structure and optical properties Of (C6H5C2H4NH3)(2)PbI4 films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, respectively. It is shown that the organic-inorganic layered (C6H5C2H4NH3)(2)PbI4 film was c-axis oriented, paralleling to the substrate plane. Green exciton emission at 525 nm was observed in the film, and the explanations for it were given.

Preparation, patterning and luminescent properties of oxyapatite La-9.33(SiO6)(4)O-2 : A (A = Eu3+, Tb3+, Ce3+) phosphor films by sol-gel soft lithography

Silicate oxyapatite La-9.33 (SiO6)(4)O-2:A (A = Eu3+, Tb3+ and/or Ce3+) phosphor films and their patterning were fabricated by a sol-gel process combined with soft lithography. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy and photoluminescence spectra, as well as lifetimes, were used to characterize the resulting films. The results of XRD indicated that the films began to crystallize at 800degreesC and the crystallinity increased with the increase in annealing temperatures. Transparent nonpatterned phosphor films were uniform and crack-free, which mainly consisted of rodlike grains with a size between 150 and 210 nm. Patterned thin films with different bandwidths (20, 50 mum) were obtained by the micromoulding in capillaries technique. The doped rare earth ions (Eu3+, Tb3+ and Ce3+) showed their characteristic emission in crystalline La-9.33(SiO6)(4)O-2 phosphor films, i.e. Eu3+ D-5(0)-F-7(J) (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4), Tb3+ D-5(3,4)-F-7(J) (J = 3, 4, 5, 6) and Ce3+ 5d (D-2)-4f (F-2(2/5), F-2(2/7)) emissions, respectively. Both the lifetimes and PL intensity of the Eu3+, Tb3+ ions increased with increasing annealing temperature from 800 to 1100 degreesC, and the optimum concentrations for Eu3+, Tb3+ were determined to be 9 and 7 mol% of La3+ in La-9.33(SiO6)(4)O-2 films, respectively. An energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ was observed in the La-9.33(SiO6)(4)O-2:Ce, Tb phosphor films, and the energy transfer efficiency was estimated as a function of Tb3+ concentration.

Patterning and luminescent properties of nanocrystallineY(2)O(3): Eu3+ phosphor films by sol-gel soft lithography

Nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor films and their patterning were fabricated by a Pechini sol-gel process combined with a soft lithography. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical microscopy, UV/vis transmission and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting films. The results of XRD indicated that the films began to crystallize at 500 degreesC and the crystallinity increased with the elevation of annealing temperatures. Uniform and crack free non-patterned phosphor films were obtained, which mainly consisted of grains with an average size of 70 nm. Using micro-molding in capillaries technique, we obtained homogeneous and defects-free patterned gel and crystalline phosphor films with different stripe widths (5, 10, 20 and 50 mum). Significant shrinkage (50%) was observed in the patterned films during the heat treatment process. The doped Eu3+ showed its characteristic emission in crystalline Y2O3 phosphor films due to an efficient energy transfer from Y2O3 host to them. Both the lifetimes and PL intensity of the Eu3+ increased with increasing the annealing temperature from 500 to 900 degreesC, and the optimum concentrations for Eu3+ were determined to be 5 mol%.

Preparation, patterning and luminescent properties of nanocrystalline Gd2O3 : A (A = Eu3+, Dy3+, Sm3+, Er3+) phosphor films via Pechini sol-gel soft lithography

Nanocrystalline Gd2O3:A (A = Eu3+, Dy3+, Sm3+, Er3+) phosphor films and their patterning were fabricated by a Pechini sol-gel process combined with a soft lithography. X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy, UV/vis transmission and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting films. The results of XRD indicated that the films began to crystallize at 500 degreesC and that the crystallinity increased with the elevation of annealing temperatures. Uniform and crack free non-patterned phosphor films were obtained by optimizing the composition of the coating sol, which mainly consisted of grains with an average size of 70 nm and a thickness of 550 nm. Using micro-molding in capillaries technique, we obtained homogeneous and defects-free patterned gel and crystalline phosphor films with different stripe widths (5, 10, 20 and 50 mum). Significant shrinkage (50%) was observed in the patterned films during the heat treatment process. The doped rare earth ions (A) showed their characteristic emission in crystalline Gd2O3 phosphor films due to an efficient energy transfer from Gd2O3 host to them. Both the lifetimes and PL intensity of the rare earth ions increased with increasing the annealing temperature from 500 to 900 degreesC, and the optimum concentrations for Eu3+, Dy3+, sm(3+), Er3+ were determined to be 5, 0.25, 1 and 1.5 mol% of Gd3+ in Gd2O3 films, respectively.

Patterning and optical properties rhodamine B-doped organic-inorganic silica films fabricated by sol-gel soft lithography

Rhodamine B (RB)-doped organic-inorganic silica films and their patterning were fabricated by a sol-gel process combined with a soft lithography. The resulted film samples were characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM), optical microscope and UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra. The effects of the concentration of the RB dye and heat treatment temperature on the optical properties of the hybrid silica films have been studied. Four kinds of patterning structures with film line widths of 5, 10, 20 and 50 mum have been obtained by micromolding in capillaries by a soft lithography technique. The RB-doped hybrid silica films present a red color, with an excitation and emission bands around 564 and 585 mum, respectively. With increasing the RB concentration, the emission intensity of the RB-doped hybrid silica films increases and the emission maximum presents a red shift. The emission intensity of the films decreases with increasing the heat treatment temperatures.

Patterning thin polymer films by surface-directed dewetting and pattern transfer

The pattern evolution processes of thin polystyrene (PS) film on chemically patterned substrates during dewetting have been investigated experimentally. The substrates have patterns of self-assembly monolayers produced by microcontact printing with octadecyltrichlorosilane. Optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy images reveal that ordered micrometer scale pattern can be created by surface direct dewetting. Various pattern sizes and pattern complexities can be achieved by controlling the experimental parameters. The dewetting pattern has been transferred to form PDMS stamp for soft lithography.

Systematic investigation of alkali metal ion transfer across the micro- and nano-water/1,2-dichloroethane interfaces facilitated by dibenzo-18-crown-6

Facilitated alkali metal ion (M+= Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) transfers across the micro- and nano-water/1,2-dichloroethane (W/DCE) interfaces supported at the tips of micro- and nanopipets by dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) have been investigated systematically using cyclic voltammetry. The theory developed by Matsuda et al. was applied to estimate the association constants of DB18C6 and M+ in the DCE phase based on the experimental voltammetric results. The kinetic measurements for alkali metal ion transfer across the W/DCE interface facilitated by DB18C6 were conducted using nanopipets or-submicropipets, and the standard rate constants (k(0)) were evaluated by analysis of the experimental voltammetric data. They increase in the following order: k(Cs+)(0) < k(Li+)(0) < k(Rb+)(0) < k(Na+)(0) < k(K+)(0), which is in accordance with their association constants except Cs+ and Li+.