Native growth of vertically pattened ZnO nanowire arrays under mild conditions without templates or catalysts

Based on the implications of a pellet experiment,we have designed and implemented a low temperature(≤90℃) approach to generate native patterned,vertically aligned ZnO nanoarrys without any templates or catalysts.This simple,economic and spontaneous patterning process offers a promising avenue for overcoming several inherent limitations of the artificial manners[1].While the purity,orientation and electrical properties of the as prepared materials allow them to be applied in various fields.

Weak epitaxy growth affording high-mobility thin films of disk-like organic semiconductors

Thin films of phthalocyanine compounds show weak epitaxial growth on a monodomain film of a rod-like molecule (see figure). The resulting organic electronic devices exhibit high charge carrier mobilities close to those of the single-crystal devices.

Hydrothermal growth and gas sensing property of flower-shaped SnS2 nanostructures

Unusual 3D flower-shaped SnS2 nanostructures have been synthesized using a mild hydrothermal treatment in the presence of octyl-phenol-ethoxylate ( Triton X-100) at 160 degrees C. The nanostructures have an average size of 1 mu m, and consist of interconnected nanosheets with thicknesses of about 40 nm. Based on time-dependent experimental results, we ascribe the oriented attachment mechanism to the growth of the SnS2 nanostructures. The nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 plays a key role in the formation of the flower-like morphology. Room temperature gas-sensing measurements show that the 3D SnS2 nanostructures could serve as sensor materials for the detection of NH3 molecules.

An one-pot epitaxial growth method to synthesize cactus-like ZnO

In this work, we have developed a one-pot, morphology controlled epitaxial growth method to synthesize novel cactus-like ZnO in solution. Utilizing zinc acetate and hexamethylenetetramine as the precursors, ZnO nanorods synthesized in the first step remained in the solution, without any separation, served directly as the matrix for the epitaxial growth in the second step. Control experiments revealed that a proper mass of precursors added in the second step was crucial to form cactus-like ZnO. The as-synthesized ZnO was single crystalline and possessed three photoluminescence emissions centered at 390, 425 and 490 run. Finally, a possible mechanism for the epitaxial growth ZnO was proposed and discussed.

Improved size control of large palladium nanoparticles by a seeding growth method

A new approach to the preparation of large palladium nanoparticles with diameters between 25 and 100 nm is presented. In this approach PdCl42- ions are reduced on the surface of performed 12-nm-diameter gold "seeds'' by the introduction of ascorbic acid. The resultant particles exhibit improved monodispersity relative to previous work. Interestingly, these nanoparticles possess Au-Pd core-shell structures. The method can be scaled up to produce 50-110 mg of large palladium nanoparticles.

Electrochemical growth and characterization of polyoxometalate-containing monolayers and multilayers on alkanethiol monolayers self-assembled on gold electrodes

A general strategy has been developed for fabrication of ultrathin monolayer and multilayer composite films composed of nearly all kinds of polyoxometalates (POMs), including isopolyanions (IPAs), and heteropolyanions (HPAs). It involves stepwise adsorption between the anionic POMs and a cationic polymer on alkanethiol (cysteamine and 3-mercaptopropionic acid) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) based on electrostatic interaction. Here a Keggin-type HPA SiMo11VO405- was chosen as a main representative to elucidate, in detail, the fabrication and characterization of the as-prepared composite films. A novel electrochemical growth method we developed for film formation involves cyclic potential sweeps over a suitable potential range in modifier solutions. It was comparatively studied with a commonly used method of immersion growth, i.e., alternately dipping a substrate into modifier solutions. Growth processes and structural characteristics of the composite films are characterized in detail by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), micro-Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RA), and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The electrochemical growth is proven to be more advantageous than the immersion growth. The composite films exhibit well-defined surface waves characteristic of the HPAs' redox reactions. In addition, the composite films by the electrochemical growth show a uniform structure and an excellent stability. Ion motions accompanying the redox processes of SiMo11VO405- in multilayer films are examined by in situ time-resolved EQCM and some results are first reported. The strategy used here has been successfully popularized to IPAs as well as other HPAs no matter what structure and composition they have.

Crystal growth and TG-DTA properties of K(2)Ln(NO3)(5).2H(2)O (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm)

Single crystals of KLnN(Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) can be grown in water solution with pH approximate to 1 similar to 2 at about 40 degrees C. Crystals of KLnN (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd) are orthorhombic with space group Fdd2. KPrN crystal was grwon and its crystal structure was determined for the first time. The KPrN crystal parameters obtained by the direct method are as follows: a=21.411(3) Angstrom, b=11.2210(10)Angstrom, c=12.208(2) Angstrom, Z=6, R=0.0240. The TG-DTA curves of KLnN(Ln=La,Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) demonstrate that the processes of dehydration, melt, irreversible phase transition and decomposition of NO3- take place in sequence with the temperature increasing(except KCN). There are three steps in the decomposition of NO3- in KLnN(Ln=La, Nd, Sm) while two steps in KLnN (Ln=Ce, Pr). K(2)Ln(NO3)(5). 2H(2)O are formed at about 225 degrees C by the reaction of the starting materials of KNO3 and Ln(NO3)(3). nH(2)O.

A study of cokes used as anodic materials in lithium ion rechargeable batteries

A variety of cokes pretreated at different temperatures are used as anodic materials and their electrochemical characteristics are examined by cyclic voltammetry. It is found that for some cokes such as petroleum coke (preheated at 1300 degrees C), pitch coke (1300 degrees C), needle coke (1900 degrees C), metallurgical coke (1900 degrees C), high capacity and cyclic efficiency are achieved. Needle coke (1900 degrees C) and metallurgical coke (1900 degrees C) in particular give a capacity of over 200 mAh/g and a cyclic efficiency of nearly 100%, whereas poor performance is exhibited by those pretreated at higher or lower temperatures, e.g., petroleum cokes (500 degrees C, 2800 degrees C), pitch coke (500 degrees C) and needle coke (2800 degrees C). The cyclic voltammograms show two electrochemical processes, one at about 0.1 V vs. Li+/Li which is electrochemically reversible, and may be attributed to the intercalation/deintercalation of lithium ions while the other, at about 0.6 V vs. Li+/Li, is electrochemically irreversible and may be assigned to the decomposition of the electrolyte solvent, which leads to formation of the passive film on the anode surface. The experimental results strongly suggest that the pretreatment temperature of cokes and of the solvent are determining factors for the growth, structure and properties of the passive film.

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.

Influence of biofilms growth on corrosion potential of metals immersed in seawater

The changes of corrosion potential (E-corr) of metals immersed in seawater were investigated with electrochemical technology and epifluoresence microscopy. In natural seawater, changes of E-corr were determined by the surface corrosion state of the metal. E-corr of passive metals exposed to natural seawater shifted to noble direction for about 150 mV in one day and it didn't change in sterile seawater. The in-situ observation showed that biofilms settled on the surfaces of passive metals when E-corr moved in noble direction. The bacteria number increased on the metal surface according to exponential law and it was in the same way with the ennoblement of E-corr. The attachment of bacteria during the initial period played an important role in the ennoblement of E-corr and it is believed that the carbohydrate and protein in the biofilm are reasons for this phenomenon. The double layer capacitance (C-dl) of passive metals decreased with time when immersed in natural seawater, while remained almost unchanged in sterile seawater. The increased thickness and reduced dielectric constant of C-dl may be reasons.

Study on growth factors of intermetallic layer within hot-dipped 25% Al-Zn alloy coating on steel

25%Al-Zn alloy coating performs better than hot dip galvanized coating and 55%Al-Zn-Si coating with regard to general seawater corrosion protection. This study deals with the interfacial intermetallic layer's growth, which affects considerably the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of 25%Al-Zn alloy coatings, by means of three-factor quadratic regressive orthogonal experiments, The regression equation shows that the intermetallic layer thickness decreases rapidly with increasing content of Si added to the Zn-Al alloy bath, increases with rise in bath temperature and prolonging dip time. The most effective factor that determined the thickness of intermetallic layer was the amount of Si added to Zn-Al alloy bath, while the effect of bath temperature and dip time on the thickness of intermetallic layer were not very obvious.

Growth of zeolite KSO1 on calcined kaolin microspheres

Zeolite KSO1 was successfully synthesized on calcined kaolin microspheres (ca. 60-80 mu m) in situ, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

INVESTIGATION OF BUBBLE DYNAMICS AND HEATING DURING FOCUSED ULTRASOUND INSONATION IN TISSUE-MIMICKING MATERIALS

The deposition of ultrasonic energy in tissue can cause tissue damage due to local heating. For pressures above a critical threshold, cavitation will occur in tissue and bubbles will be created. These oscillating bubbles can induce a much larger thermal energy deposition in the local region. Traditionally, clinicians and researchers have not exploited this bubble-enhanced heating since cavitation behavior is erratic and very difficult to control. The present work is an attempt to control and utilize this bubble-enhanced heating. First, by applying appropriate bubble dynamic models, limits on the asymptotic bubble size distribution are obtained for different driving pressures at 1 MHz. The size distributions are bounded by two thresholds: the bubble shape instability threshold and the rectified diffusion threshold. The growth rate of bubbles in this region is also given, and the resulting time evolution of the heating in a given insonation scenario is modeled. In addition, some experimental results have been obtained to investigate the bubble-enhanced heating in an agar and graphite based tissue- mimicking material. Heating as a function of dissolved gas concentrations in the tissue phantom is investigated. Bubble-based contrast agents are introduced to investigate the effect on the bubble-enhanced heating, and to control the initial bubble size distribution. The mechanisms of cavitation-related bubble heating are investigated, and a heating model is established using our understanding of the bubble dynamics. By fitting appropriate bubble densities in the ultrasound field, the peak temperature changes are simulated. The results for required bubble density are given. Finally, a simple bubbly liquid model is presented to estimate the shielding effects which may be important even for low void fraction during high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment.

Carbon nanotubes as materials in nanotechnology

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are hollow tubes of sp2-hybridised carbon with diameters of the order of nanometres. Due to their unique physical properties, which include ballistic transport and high mechanical strength, they are of significant interest for technological applications. The electronic properties of CNTs are of particular interest for use as gas sensors, interconnect materials in the semi-conductor industry and as the channel material in CNT based field effect transistors. The primary difficulty associated with the use of CNTs in electronic applications is the inability to control electronic properties at the growth stage; as grown CNTs consist of a mixture of metallic and semi-conducting CNTs. Doping has the potential to solve this problem and is a focus of this thesis. Nitrogen-doped CNTs typically have defective structures; the usual hollow CNT structure is replaced by a series of compartments. Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental results, we propose an explanation for the defective structures obtained, based on the stronger binding of N to the growth catalyst in comparison to C. In real electronic devices, CNTs need to be contacted to metal, we generate the current-voltage (IV) characteristics of metal-contacted CNTs considering both the effect of dopants and the structure of the interface region on electronic properties. We find that substitutionally doped CNTs produce Ohmic contacts and that scattering at the interface is strongly influenced by structure. In addition, we consider the effect of the common vacancy defects on the electronic properties of large diameter CNTs. Defects increase scattering in the CNT, with the greatest scattering occurring for the largest defect (555777). We validate the independent scattering approximation for small diameter CNTs, which enables mean free paths in large diameter CNTs to be calculated, with a smaller mean free paths found for larger defects.