Multilayered core-shell structure of the dispersed phase in high-impact polypropylene

The multiphase morphology of high impact polypropylene (hiPP), which is a reactor blend of polypropylene (PP) with ethylene-propylene copolymer, was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy techniques in conjunction with an analysis of the hiPP composition and chain structure based on solvent fractionation, C-13-NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry measurements.

Synthesis and characterization of monodisperse spherical SiO2@RE2O3 (RE = rare earth elements) and SiO2@Gd2O3:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb, Dy, Sm, Er, Ho) particles with core-shell structure

Spherical SiO2 particles have been coated with rare earth oxide layers by a Pechini sol-gel process, leading to the formation of core-shell structured SiO2@RE2O3 (RE = rare earth elements) and SiO2@Gd2O3:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb, Dy, Sm, Er, Ho) particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), and cathodoluminescence spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting SiO2@RE2O3 (RE = rare earth elements) and SiO2@Gd2O3:Ln(3+) (Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Sm3+, Er3+, Ho3+) samples. The obtained core-shell phosphors have perfect spherical shape with narrow size distribution (average size ca. 380 nm), smooth surface and non-agglomeration. The thickness of shells could be easily controlled by changing the number of deposition cycles (40 nm for two deposition cycles).

Synthesis and luminescence properties of monodisperse spherical Y2O3 : Eu3+@SiO2 particles with core-shell structure

Y2O3: Eu3+ phosphor layers were deposited on monodisperse SiO2 particles with different sizes ( 300, 500, 900, and 1200 nm) via a sol-gel process, resulting in the formation of Y2O3: Eu3+@SiO2 core-shell particles. X-ray diffraction ( XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy ( TEM), time-resolved photoluminescence ( PL) spectra, and lifetimes were employed to characterize the Y2O3: Eu3+@SiO2 core-shell samples. The results of XRD indicated that the Y2O3: Eu3+ layers began to crystallize on the silica surfaces at 600 degrees C and the crystallinity increased with the elevation of annealing temperature until 900 degrees C. The obtained core-shell particles have perfect spherical shape with narrow size distribution and non-agglomeration. The thickness of the shells could be easily controlled by changing the number of deposition cycles ( 60 nm for three deposition cycles). Under the excitation of ultraviolet ( 250 nm), the Eu3+ ion mainly shows its characteristic red ( 611 nm, D-5(0)-F-7(2)) emissions in the core-shell particles from Y2O3: Eu3+ shells.

Nanoreactor of Fe3O4@SiO2 Core-Shell Structure with Nanochannels for Efficient Catalysis

We introduced a new nanoreactor system consisting of nanochannel-filled Fe3O4 core and SiO2 shell. Different morphologies of Fe3O4@SiO2 Core-shell nanostructures could be obtained through simple HCI etching of the magnetic cores. The outer silica shells were permeable and the Fe3O4 cores were accessible to the reactants. Therefore, the present nanoreactor system was applied to catalyze the reduction of H2O2, and it showed outstanding catalytic activity compared with bare Fe3O4 or Fe3O4@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles.

A simple method to prepare titania nanomaterials of core-shell structure, hollow nanospheres and mesoporous nanoparticles

A simple method to prepare titania nanomaterials of core-shell structure, hollow nanospheres and mesoporous nanoparticles has been developed. The core-shell nanostructures with NH4Cl as core and TiO2 center dot xH(2)O-NH4Cl as shell were prepared in nonaqueous system by the deposition on the surface of the aggregated NH4Cl crystals, which could be transformed into mesoporous anatase nanoparticles or hollow nanospheres by calcination at 500A degrees C or extraction with methanol, respectively. The hierarchical mesoporous nanostructures benefited the photocatalytic activities of the resultant titania nanomaterials, demonstrated by the UV light photodegradation of Methyl Orange.

Sol-gel synthesis and photoluminescence properties of spherical SiO2@LaPO4 : Ce3+/Tb3+ particles with a core-shell structure

LaPO4: Ce3+ and LaPO4: Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor layers have been deposited successfully on monodispersed and spherical SiO2 particles of different sizes ( 300, 500, 900 and 1200 nm) through a sol - gel process, resulting in the formation of core - shell structured SiO2@ LaPO4: Ce3+/ Tb3+ particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and general and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting SiO2@ LaPO4: Ce3+/ Tb3+ samples. The XRD results demonstrate that the LaPO4: Ce3+, Tb3+ layers begin to crystallize on the SiO2 templates after annealing at 700 degrees C, and the crystallinity increases on raising the annealing temperature. The obtained core - shell phosphors have perfectly spherical shape with a narrow size distribution, non-agglomeration, and a smooth surface. The doped rare-earth ions show their characteristic emission in the core - shell phosphors, i.e. Ce3+ 5d - 4f and Tb3+5D4 - F-7(J) (J = 6 - 3) transitions, respectively. The PL intensity of the Tb3+ increased on increasing the annealing temperature and the SiO2 core particle size.

Silica supported submicron SiO2@Y2SiO5 : Eu3+ and SiO2@Y2SiO5 : Ce3+/Tb3+ spherical particles with a core-shell structure: Sol-gel synthesis and characterization

X-1-y(2)SiO(5):Eu3+ and X-1-Y2SiO5:Ce3+ and/or Tb3+ phosphor layers have been coated on nonaggregated, monodisperse, submicron spherical SiO2 particles by a sol-gel process, followed by surface reaction at high temperature (1000 degrees C), to give core/shell structured SiO2@Y2SiO5:Eu3+ and SiO2@Y2SiO5:Ce3+/Tb3+ particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), TEM, photoluminescence (PL), low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL), and time-resolved PL spectra and lifetimes are used to characterize these materials. The XRD results indicate that X-1-Y2SiO5 layers have been successfully coated on the sur- face Of SiO2 particles, as further verified by the FESEM and TEM images. The PL and CL studies suggest that SiO2@Y2SiO5:Eu3+, SiO2@Y2SiO5:Tb3+ (or Ce3+/Tb3+), and SiO2@Y2SiO5:Ce3+ core/shell particles exhibit red (Eu3+, 613 rim: D-5(0)-F-7(2)), green (Tb3+, 542nm: D-5(4)-F-7(5)), or blue (Ce3+, 450nm: 5d-4f) luminescence, respectively. Pl, excitation, emission, and time-resolved spectra demonstrate that there is an energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in the SiO2@Y2SiO5:Ce3+,Tb3+ core/shell particles.

Luminescence properties of sol-gel derived spherical SiO2@Gd-2(WO4)(3): Eu3+ particles with core-shell structure

Monodisperse, core-shell structured SiO2@Gd-2(WO4)(3):Eu3+ particles were prepared by the sol-gel method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and low-voltage cathodoluntinescence (CL). PL and CL study revealed that the core-shell structured SiO2@Gd-2(WO4)(3):Eu3+ particles show strong red emission dominated by the D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition of Eu3+ at 615 nm with a lifetime of 0.89 ins. The PL and CL emission intensity can be tuned by the coating number of Gd-2(WO4)(3):Eu3+ phosphor layers on SiO2 particles, the size of the SiO2 core particles, and by accelerating voltage and the filament current, respectively.

Preparation of magnetic and conductive NiZn ferrite-polyaniline nanocomposites with core-shell structure

Magnetic and conductive NiZn ferrite-polyaniline nanocomposites with novel core-shell structure have been fabricated by microemulsion process. The samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, IR, UV-vis, voltage/current detector and SQUID magnetometry. The core-shell structure of nanocomposites was observed by TEM. The changes of the magnetic and conductive properties after polyaniline coating were investigated.

The study of novel Fe3O4@gamma-Fe2O3 core/shell nanomaterials with improved properties

The surface structure of the iron oxide nanoparticles obtained by the co-precipitation method has been investigated, and a thin layer of alpha-FeOOH absorbed on surface of the nanoparticle is confirmed by analyses of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS). After annealed at 400 degrees C, the alpha-FeOOH can be converted to gamma-Fe2O3. The simple-annealed procedure resulted in the formation of Fe3O4@gamma-Fe2O3 core/shell structure with improved stability and a higher magnetic saturation value, and also the simple method can be used to obtain core/shell structure in other similar system.

The effects of shell characteristics on the current-voltage behaviors of dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO/TiO2 core/shell arrays

The ZnO/TiO2 core/shell structure was formed through deposition of a TiO2 coating layer on the hydrothermally fabricated ZnO nanorod arrays through radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The effects of the TiO2 shell's characteristics on the current-voltage behaviors of the core/shell-based dye-sensitized solar cells (CS-DSSC) were investigated. As the rates of injection, transfer, and recombination of electrons of such CS-DSSC were affected significantly by the crystallization, morphology, and continuity of the TiO2 shells, the photovoltaic efficiency was accordingly varied remarkably. In addition, the efficiency was further improved by enhancing the surface area in the core/shell electrode.

A facile synthesis and characterization of monodisperse spherical pigment particles with a core/shell structnre

In this paper, a facile sol-gel process for producing monodisperse, spherical, and nonaggregated pigment particles with a core/shell structure is reported. Spherical silica particles (245 and 385 nm in diameter) and Cr2O3, alpha-Fe2O3, ZnCo2O4, CuFeCrO4, MgFe2O4, and CoAl2O4 pigments are selected as cores and shells, respectively. The obtained core/shell-structured pigment samples, denoted as SiO2@Cr2O3 (green), SiO2@alpha-Fe2O3 (red), SiO2@MgFe2O4 (brown), SiO2@ZnCo2O4 (dark green), SiO2@CoAl2O4 (blue), and SiO2@CuFeCrO4 (black), are well characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflection, as well as by investigating the magnetic properties. The results of XRD and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) demonstrate that the pigment shells crystallize well on the surface Of SiO2 Particles. The thickness of the pigment shell can be tuned by the number of coatings, to some extent. These pigment particles can be well dispersed in some solvents (such as glycol) to form relatively more stable suspensions than the commercial products.

Simple and convenient preparation of Au-Pt core-shell nanoparticles on surface via a seed growth method

Au-Pt core-shell nanoparticles were prepared on glass surface by a seed growth method. Gold nanoparticles were used as seeds and ascorbic acid-H2PtCL6 solutions as growth solutions to deposit Pt shell on the surface of gold nanoparticles. These core-shell nanoparticles and their growth process were examined by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and field-emission environmental scanning electron microscopy and the results indicated that the deposition speed was fast and nanoparticles with obvious core-shell structure could be obtained after 2 min. Moreover, this seed growth method for preparation of the core-shell nanoparticles is simple and convenient compared with other seed growth methods with NH4OH as a mild reductant. In addition, electrochemical experiments indicated that these Au-Pt core-shell nanoparticles had similar electrochemical properties to those of the bulk Pt electrode.

Structure-properties relationship in toughening of poly(butylene terephthalate) with core-shell modifier

The performance of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) core-shell modifier with different grafting degree, acrylonitrile (AN) content, and core-shell ratio in toughening of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) matrix was investigated. Results show PBT/ABS blends fracture in ductile mode when the grafting degree is high, and with the decrease of grafting degree PBT/ABS blends fracture in a brittle way. The surface of rubber particles cannot be covered perfectly for ABS with low grafting degree and agglomeration will take place; on the other hand, the entanglement density between SAN and PBT matrix decreases because of the low grafting degree, inducing poor interfacial adhesion. The compatibility between PBT and ABS results from the strong inter-action between PBT and SAN copolymer and the interaction is influenced by AN content. Results show ABS cannot disperse in PBT matrix uniformly when AN content is zero and PBT/ABS fractures in a brittle way. With the addition of AN in ABS, PBT/ABS blends fracture in ductile mode. The core-shell ratio of ABS copolymers has important effect on PBT/ABS blends.

Zn2SiO4/ZnO Core/Shell Coaxial Heterostructure Nanobelts Formed by an Epitaxial Growth

Si-doped ZnO can be synthesized on the surface of the early grown Zn2SiO4 nanostructures and form core/ shell coaxial heterostructure nanobelts with an epitaxial orientation relationship. A parallel interface with a periodicity array of edge dislocations and an inclined interface without dislocations can be formed. The visible green emission is predominant in PL spectra due to carrier localization by high density of deep traps from complexes of impurities and defects. Due to band tail localization induced by composition and defect fluctuation, and high density of free-carriers donated by doping, especially the further dissociation of excitons into free-carriers at high excitation intensity, the near-band-edge emission is dominated by the transition of free-electrons to free-holes, and furthermore, exhibits a significant excitation power-dependent red-shift characteristic. Due to the structure relaxation and the thermalization effects, carrier delocalization takes place in deep traps with increasing excitation density. As a result, the green emission passes through a maximum at 0.25I(0) excitation intensity, and the ratio of the violet to green emission increases monotonously as the excitation laser power density increases. The violet and green emission of ZnO nanostructures can be well tuned by a moderate doping and a variation in the excitation density.