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.

Luminescent CdSe and CdSe/CdS core-shell nanocrystals synthesized via a combination of solvothermal and two-phase thermal routes

A new solvothermal route has been developed for synthesizing the size-controlled CdSe nanocrystals with relatively narrow size distribution, and the photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields (QYs) of the nanocrystals can reach 5-10%. Then the obtained CdSe nanocrystals served as cores to prepare the core/shell CdSe/CdS nanocrystals via a two-phase thermal approach, which exhibited much higher PL QYs (up to 18-40%) than the CdSe core nanocrystals. The nanocrystal samples were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra, PL spectra, wide-angle Xray diffraction (WAXD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Solution-phase synthesis of Au@ZnO core-shell composites

A novel solution-phase method for the preparation of Au@ZnO core-shell composites was described. With this method, the composites were grown without heating that is usually needed in other solution methods. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show that the diameter of Au@ZnO core-shell composites is about 10.5 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was applied to characterize Au@ZnO core-shell composites. The optical properties of Au@ZnO core-shell composites, including UV-vis absorption and photo luminescence (PL), were observed at room temperature.

Electrostatic assembly of Cu2O nanoparticles on DNA templates

In this paper, a method for highly ordered assembly of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles (NPs) by DNA templates was reported. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped Cu2O NPs were adsorbed onto well-aligned lambda-DNA chains to form necklace-like one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures. UV-vis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the nanostructure. The Cu2O nanostructures fabricated with the method are both highly ordered and quite straight.

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.

Crystallization of weakly segregated poly(styrene-b-epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymer in thin films

The surface morphology and crystallization behavior of a weakly segregated symmetric diblock copolymer, poly(styrene-b-6-caprolactone) (PS-b-PCL), in thin films were investigated by optical microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). When the samples were annealed in the molten state, surface-induced ordering, that is, relief structures with uniform thickness or droplets in the adsorbed monolayer, were observed depending on the annealing temperature. The polar PCL block preferred to wet the surface of a silicon wafer, while the PS block wet the air interface. This asymmetric wetting behavior led to the adsorbed monolayer with a PCL block layer having a thickness of around 4.0 nm. The crystallization of PCL blocks could overwhelm the microphase-separated structure because of the weak segregation. In situ observation of crystal growth indicated that the nucleation process preferred to occur at the edge of the thick parts of the film, that is, the relief structures or droplets. The crystal growth rate was presented by the time dependence of the distance between the tip of crystal clusters and the edge. At 22 and 17 degreesC, the average crystal growth rates were 55 +/- 10 and 18 +/- 4 nm/min, respectively.

Preparation, characterization and quantized capacitance of 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol monolayer protected gold nanoparticles

Monolayer protected gold nanoparticles (MPCs) are the focus of recent research for their stability and are deemed as the building blocks of bottom-up strategies. In this Letter, 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol monolayer protected gold nanoparticles (MPD-MPCs) were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The value of quantized double-layer capacitance (1.13 aF) of MPD-MPCs in aqueous media was obtained by differential pulse voltammograms.

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid Capped Gold Nanoclusters: Quantized Capacitance in Aqueous Media

3-Mercaptopropionic add monolayer protected gold nanoclusters (MPA-MPCs) were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The exact value of quantized double-layer capacitance of MPCS in aqueous media was obtained by differential pulse voltammograms.

Electroactive gold nanoparticles protected by 4-ferrocene thiophenol monolayer

Numerous reports have focused on ferrocene-terminated electroactive self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a flat An surface but only a few on ferrocene SAMs on An colloid. In this paper, we employ 4-ferrocene thiophenol as a novel capping agent to produce electroactive gold nanoparticles in consideration of the peculiar pi-conjugated structure. Transmission electron microscopy shows the narrow-dispersed gold core with an average core diameter of ca. 2.5 nm. UV/vis spectra examine the pi-conjugated structure of 4-ferrocene thiophenol and surface plasmon absorbance of the indicated gold nanoparticles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals electronic properties of the An core and thiol ligands. Electrochemical measurement shows that the oxidation peak current is proportional to the scan rate, indicating the electrode process is controlled by adsorbed layer reaction. The formal potential of the Fc-MPCs is compared with that of free ferrocene in MeCN solution and the Fc-SAMs. The shifts are attributed to the phenyl moiety in the 4-ferrocene thiophenol and dielectric constant of the solvation environment.

One-pot synthesis and characterization of novel silver-gold bimetallic nanostructures with hollow interiors and bearing nanospikes

One-pot preparation of shell-type silver-gold bimetallic nanostructures with hollow interiors and bearing nanospikes, based on colloid seed-engaged replacement reaction and colloid-mediated deposition reactions, has been reported. Heating-induced evolution of Ag-Au bimetallic nanoshells can lead to spontaneous production of nanospikes on the colloid surface. The hollow interior structure and bimetallic nature of the as-prepared colloids are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Preparation of multilayer films containing pt nanoparticles on a glassy carbon electrode and application as an electrocatalyst for dioxygen reduction

In this paper, a simple route for the preparation of Pt nanoparticles is described. PtCl62- and [tetrakis-(N-methylpyridyl)porphyrinato] cobalt (CoTMPyP) were assembled on a 4-aminobenzoic acid modified glassy carbon electrode through the layer-by-layer method. The three-dimensional Pt nanoparticle films are directly formed on an electrode surface by electrochemical reduction of PtCl62- sandwiched between CoTMPyP layers. Regular growth of the multilayer films is monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verifies the constant composition of the multilayer films containing Pt nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy proves that the as-prepared Pt nanoparticles are uniformily distributed with average particle diameters of 6-10 nm. The resulting multilayer films containing Pt nanoparticles on the modified electrode possess catalytic activity for the reduction of dissolved oxygen. Rotating disk electrode voltammetry and rotating ring-disk electrode voltammetry confirm that Pt nanoparticle containing films can catalyze an almost four-electron reduction of O-2 to water in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution.

Synthesis and self-assembly of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanoparticles

In this article, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped gold nanoparticles were synthesized successfully by using CTAB as a phase-transfer catalyst and stabilizer simultaneously in a two-phase toluene/water system. The as-prepared gold nanoparticles were characterized and analyzed by virtue of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible absorbance spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The particle size information and collective self-assembling properties of the CTAB-capped gold nanoparticles on carbon-coated copper grid and mica were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. As a result it is demonstrated that the 3-D CTAB monolayers on a gold cluster are in the disordered liquid state. The interparticle spacing can be controlled either physically by the inherent particle-to-particle interactions or chemically by molecular linker. The assembly of both nanoparticles and linker-bridged nanonetworks on mica follows a hydrophobic interaction mechanism.

Synthesis, characterization and fabrication on a glassy carbon electrode of a tetra-iron substituted sandwich-type pentadecatungstodiarsenate heteropolyanion

A novel sandwich-type compound, Na-12[Fe-4(H2O)(2)(As2W15O56)2].41H(2)O, has been synthesized. The compound was well-characterized by means of IR, UV-vis, W-183 NMR and elemental analyses. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic, P (1) over bar symmetry group. The structure of the compound is similar to that of Na-16[M-4(H2O)(2)(As2W15O56)(2)].nH(2)O (M = Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, Mn, Cd), and consists of an oxo-aqua tetranuclear iron core, [(Fe4O14)-O-III(H2O)(2)], sandwiched by two trivacant alpha-Wells-Dawson structural moieties, alpha-[As2W15O56]. Redoxelectrochemistry of the compound has been studied in buffer solutions at pH = 4.7 using polarography and cyclic voltammetry ( CV). The compound exhibited four one-electron couples associated with the Fe(III) center followed by three four-electron redox processes attributed to the tungsten-oxo framework. The compound-containing monolayer and multilayer films have been fabricated on a 4-aminobenzoic acid modified glassy carbon electrode surface by alternating deposition with a quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) partially complexed with [Os(bpy)(2)Cl](2+/-). CV, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been used to characterize the multilayer films.

Simple preparation method of Pd nanoparticles on an Au electrode and its catalysis for dioxygen reduction

A simple method for the fabrication of Pd nanoparticles is described. The three-dimensional Pd nanoparticle films are directly formed on a gold electrode surface by simple electrodeposition at -200 mV from a solution of 1 M H2SO4+0.01 mM K2PdCl4. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy verifies the constant composition of the Pd nanoparticle films. Atomic force microscopy proves that the as-prepared Pd nanoparticles are uniformly distributed with an average particle diameter of 45-60 nm. It is confirmed that the morphology of the Pd nanoparticle films are correlated with the electrodeposition time and the state of the Au substrate. The resulting Pd-nanoparticle-film-modified electrode possesses high catalytic activity for the reduction of dissolved oxygen in 0.1 M KCl solution. Freshly prepared Pd nanoparticles can catalyze the reduction of O-2 by a 4-electron process at -200 mV in 0.1 M KCl, but this system is not very stable. The cathodic peaks corresponding to the reduction of O-2 gradually decrease with potential cycling and at last reach a steady state. Then two well-defined reduction peaks are observed at -390 and -600 mV vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl (sat.). Those two peaks correspond to a 2-step process for the 4-electron reduction pathway of O-2 in this neutral medium.

Surface morphology control of immiscible polymer-blend thin films

The effects of the molecular weights (molecular weight of polystyrene, M-w,M-PS, varying from 2.9 to 129 k) on the surface morphologies of spin-coated and annealed polystyrene/poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS/PMMA = 50/50, w/w) blend films were investigated by atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For the spin-coated films, when the M-w,M-PS varied from 2.9 to 129 k, three different kinds of surface morphologies (a nanophase-separated morphology, a PMMA cellular or network-like morphology whose meshes filled with PS, a sea-island like morphology) were observed and their formation mechanisms are discussed, respectively. Upon annealing, two different morphology-evolution processes were observed. It is found that a upper PS-rich phase layer is formed when M-w,M-PS < 4 k, and this behavior is mainly attributed to the low interfacial tension between PS and PMMA component. When M-w,M-PS > 4 k, the PS-rich phase forms droplets on top of the PMMA-rich phase layer which wets the SiOx substrate. These results indicate that the surface morphology of the polymer blend films can be controlled by the polymer molecular weight and annealing conditions.