An organic-inorganic hybrid ultrathin film: preparation and characterization of copper phthalocyanine derivative-ferric oxide nanoparticles

A nanoparticulate ferric oxide-copper tris(2,4-di-tert-amylphenoxy)-8-quinolinolylphthalocyanine hybrid ultrathin film was constructed from alternate layers by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The composition, morphology and structure of the film were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction, visible spectroscopy and polarized UV-Vis spectroscopy. All the above analyses suggest that the thin film is a kind of one-dimensional superlattice, composed of organic and inorganic components. The XPS data reveal that the nanoparticulate ferric oxide exists as an alpha-Fe2O3 phase in the films. Gas-sensing measurements show that the hybrid LB film has very fast response-recovery characteristics towards 2 ppm C2H5OH vapor.

Alternating LB film of ferric oxide nanoparticles-copper phthalocyanine derivative and its gas sensitivity

Nanoparticulate ferric oxide - tris - (2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy) - (8-quinolinolyl) copper phthalocyanine Langmuir-Blodgett Z-type multilayers were obtained by using monodisperse nanoparticle ferric oxide hydrosol as the subphase. XPS data reveal that the nanoparticle ferric oxide exist as alpha -Fe2O3 phase in the films. Transition electron microscopic (TEM) image of the alternating monolayer shows that the film was highly covered by the copper phthalocyanine derivative and the nanoparticles were arranged rather closely. IR and visible spectra all give the results that the nanoparticles were deposited onto the substrate with the copper phthalocyanine derivative. The gas-sensing measurements show that the alternating LB film had very fast response-recovery characteristic to 2 ppm C2H5OH gas, and also sensitive to larger than 200 ppm NH3.

Study of ferric oxide nanoparticles-tris-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)-(8-quinolinolyl) copper phthalocyanine composite LB film

The ferric oxide nanoparticles-tris-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)-(8-quinolinolyl) copper phthalocyanine (CuPcA(2)) composite ultrathin film was obtained by LB (Langmuir-Blodgett) technique. Structure of the composite LB film was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectra, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectra and visible spectra. Gas sensitivity measurements indicate that the composite LB film is sensitive to 100-200 ppm C2H5OH at room temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Photoluminescence of ZnO : Tb nanoparticles

Terbium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by hydrolyzing zinc acetate and terbium acetate. Nanoparticle-matrix-facilitated photoluminescence which is related to Tb3+ ions has been observed for ZnO:Tb nanoparticles. The dependence of emission intensity on doping concentration of Tb3+ ions has been investigated. An energy transfer from excited states of ZnO hosts to dopants is disclosed by the fact that the emission intensity of Tb3+ centers increases with increasing Tb content at the expense of emission from defect states in ZnO matrix.

On the chemical synthesis and drug delivery response of folate receptor-activated, polyethylene glycol-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles

We describe here the chemical synthesis and in vitro drug delivery response of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalized magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, which were activated with a stable ligand, folic acid, and conjugated with an anticancer drug, doxorubicin. The functionalization and conjugation steps in the chemical synthesis were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The drug-release behavior of PEG-functionalized and folic acid-doxorubicin-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles was characterized by two stages involving an initial rapid release, followed by a controlled release. (C) 2007 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

One-pot green synthesis of biocompatible arginine-stabilized magnetic nanoparticles

A green one-step approach has been developed for the synthesis of amino-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles. The synthesis was accomplished by simply mixing FeCl2 with arginine under ambient conditions. It was found that the Fe2+/arginine molar ratio, reaction duration and temperature greatly influence the size, morphology and composition of magnetic nanoparticles. The arginine-stabilized magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques.

Monodisperse mesoporous superparamagnetic single-crystal magnetite nanoparticles for drug delivery

In this contribution, we report a facile, gram-scale, low-cost route to prepare monodisperse superparamagnetic single-crystal magnetite NPs with mesoporous structure (MSSMN) via a very simple solvothermal method. The formation mechanism of MSSMN is also discussed and we think that Ostwald ripening probably plays an important role in this synthesis process. It is also interestingly found that the size and morphology of mesoporous Fe3O4 NPs can be easily controlled by changing the amount of NaOH and 1,2-ethylenediamine (ETH). Most importantly, the MSSMN can be used as an effective drug delivery carrier. A typical anticancer drug, doxorubicin (Dox), is used for drug loading, and the release behaviors of Dox in two different pH solutions are studied. The results indicate that the MSSMN has a high drug loading capacity and favorable release property for Dox; thus, it is very promising for the application in drug delivery.

Biofunctionalization of CeF3 : Tb3+ nanoparticles

CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles (short pillar-like morphology with an average length and width of 11 and 5 nm, respectively) were successfully prepared by a polyol process using diethyleneglycol (DEG) as solvent. After being functionalized with a SiO2-NH2 layer, these CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles can be conjugated with biotin molecules (activated by thionyl chloride) and further with avidin. The as-formed CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles, CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles functionalized with amino groups, biotin conjugated amino-functionalized CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles and biotinylated CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles bonded with avidin were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV/vis absorption spectra and luminescence spectra, respectively. The biofunctionalization of the CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles has less effect on their luminescence properties, i.e. they still show strong green emission (from Tb3+, with D-5(4) - F-7(5) at 543 nm as the most prominent group), indicative of the great potential for these CeF3: Tb3+ nanoparticles to be used as biological fluorescence probes.

Size-controllable synthesis of monodispersed SnO2 nanoparticles and application in electrocatalysts

Size-controllable tin oxide nanoparticles are prepared by heating ethylene glycol solutions containing SnCl2 at atmospheric pressure. The particles were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopic (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. TEM micrographs show that the obtained material are spherical nanoparticles, the size and size distribution of which depends on the initial experimental conditions of pH value, reaction time, water concentration, and tin precursor concentration. The XRD pattern result shows that the obtained powder is SnO2 with tetragonal crystalline structure. On the basis of UV/vis and FTIR characterization, the formation mechanism of SnO2 nanoparticles is deduced. Moreover, the SnO2 nanoparticles were employed to synthesize carbon-supported PtSnO2 catalyst, and it exhibits surprisingly high promoting catalytic activity for ethanol electrooxidation.

Morphology-controlled synthesis of magnetites with nanoporous structures and excellent magnetic properties

Different morphological single-crystal magnetites (Fe3O4) with a nanoporous structure, which exhibit excellent magnetic properties, have been synthesized by a polyol process. Both the type of polyol and the concentration of KOH play important roles in the formation of various morphologies. Cubic, truncated-octahedral, and octahedral shapes can be prepared by changing the concentration of the KOH solution in ethylene glycol.

Highly Uniform and Monodisperse Ba2CIF3 Microrods: Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization

One-dimensional hexagonal Ba2CIF3 microrods with highly uniform morphology and size have been successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method at a low temperature (160 degrees C). X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the samples. The synthesis process, based on a phase-transfer and separation mechanism, allows the control of properties such as particle size and shape in low dispersity by bonding the surfactant oleic acid to the crystal surface.

Solvothermal synthesis of well-dispersed MF2 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) nanocrystals and their optical properties

MF2 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized via a solvothermal process in the presence of oleic acid and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, UV/vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra, and lifetimes, respectively. In the synthetic process, oleic acid as a surfactant played a crucial role in confining the growth and solubility of the MF2 NCs. The as-prepared CaF2, SrF2 and BaF2 NCs present morphologies of truncated octahedron, cube and sheet in a narrow distribution, respectively.

Nanoporous In2O3 nanocrystal clusters: One-step synthesis, thermal stability and optical property

Nanoporous In2O3 nanocrystal clusters with high surface areas have been synthesized by a one-step solvent-thermal method at a relatively low temperature. On the basis of our experimental data and nanomaterial growth mechanism, a template-assistant dehydration accompanied by aggregation mechanism was proposed to explain their formation. Besides, the influence of the high-temperature treatment on their porous structure and optical properties were studied and compared by various technologies.

Biofilm-Engineered Nanostructures

The use of biofilms as nanostructure-engineering materials is discussed and exemplified using ZnO nanorods. Three examples are presented for illustration, the immobilization of ZnO-nanorod arrays on the inner wall of a polystyrene centrifuge tube using S. thermophilus, the morphological organization of ZnO "filters" using S. thermophilus. And the design and implementation of a ZnO-decorated Ag framework using E. coli.