Synthesis of silica/Au core-shell nanostructures by galvanic replacement of silica/Ag in aqueous and alkaline medium

We present here a facile one-step method for the synthesis of silica/Au core-shell nanostructures by exploiting the potential difference of AuCl₄^? and Ag in aqueous as well as alkaline media. Initially, silica/Ag core-shell nanostructures were synthesised by coating Ag nanoparticles on silica core (size ～150 nm) in a two-step process (seeding and growth) and were characterised for their morphological, structural and optical behaviours. A complete coverage of silica core with Ag nanoparticles was seen from scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images. The presence of resonance peaks in the optical spectrum manifests the nature of the shell (thin shell ～413 and 650 nm, thick shell ～434 nm). Galvanic replacement of silica/Ag core-shell nanostructures in chloroauric acid solution (HAuCl₄) was studied in both the aqueous and alkaline medium, where an aqueous environment results into fast and effective replacement as compared to an alkaline medium, which has been confirmed from optical absorption studies. The optical studies showed that in an alkaline environment, on galvanic replacement of Ag with Au, the individual absorption peak of Ag (～414 nm) and Au (～520 nm) disappeared, whereas new absorption wavelengths in higher region (600–800 nm) of electromagnetic spectrum were observed. A detailed mechanism is proposed for the same to explain this behaviour. A range of novel new plasmonic core-shell nanomaterials can be synthesised as an intermediate of this facile one-step reaction.     

输送流体的同心圆筒结构动力学特性研究

该文研究了以反应堆吊篮为工程背景的两同心圆筒结构在内外流的共同作用下的动态特性,用Flugge壳式理论和流体势流理论推导出了描述此类系统的频率方程,用秦山核电站II期1∶5模型实验的模型作为该文的算例,求解频率方程获得了结构的固有振动频率,并讨论了影响结构振动频率的因素,如流体速度、密度和结构的厚径比,在这些因素中,流速对结构的固有频率的影响较小.因此,可以用结构在静水中的固有频率近似结构在动水中的固有频率.     

Current advances in precious metal core–shell catalyst design

Precious metal nanoparticles are commonly used as the main active components of various catalysts. Given their high cost, limited quantity, and easy loss of catalytic activity under severe conditions, precious metals should be used in catalysts at low volumes and be protected from damaging environments. Accordingly, reducing the amount of precious metals without compromising their catalytic performance is difficult, particularly under challenging conditions. As multifunctional materials, core–shell nanoparticles are highly important owing to their wide range of applications in chemistry, physics, biology, and environmental areas. Compared with their single-component counterparts and other composites, core–shell nanoparticles offer a new active interface and a potential synergistic effect between the core and shell, making these materials highly attractive in catalytic application. On one hand, when a precious metal is used as the shell material, the catalytic activity can be greatly improved because of the increased surface area and the closed interfacial interaction between the core and the shell. On the other hand, when a precious metal is applied as the core material, the catalytic stability can be remarkably improved because of the protection conferred by the shell material. Therefore, a reasonable design of the core–shell catalyst for target applications must be developed. We summarize the latest advances in the fabrications, properties, and applications of core–shell nanoparticles in this paper. The current research trends of these core–shell catalysts are also highlighted.     

Growth mode transition of atomic layer deposited Al2O3 on porous TiO2 electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells

This study investigates the growth behavior of atomic-layer-deposited (ALD) Al₂O₃ overlayers on porous TiO₂ electrodes, which comprise an anatase nanoparticle layer and a rutile particle layer, for optimizing dye-sensitized solar cells. The growth mode of the ALD Al₂O₃ overlayers changes from island growth to layer-by-layer growth during the first few ALD reaction cycles, and the growth mode transition is much more pronounced for the anatase electrode layer. The transition is likely a result of the reduction in the contractive lattice strain of the TiO₂ nanoparticles. The lattice strain in the hydroxylated TiO₂ nanoparticles is progressively reduced during the ALD Al₂O₃ deposition, resulting in the growth mode transition.     

Structure and tribological properties of Ag films deposited at low temperature

The effects of substrate temperature on the structure and tribological properties of Ag films deposited at low temperatures (LT, 130-217 K) by arc ion plating (AIP) have been studied. The structure and morphology of the Ag films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The results showed that there exist (1 1 1) and (2 0 0) preferred orientation transitions for decreasing temperature at different bias voltages. The tribological properties were evaluated by a ball-on-disk tribometer and wear tracks were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that substrate deposition temperature significantly affected the wear of LT Ag films. For each bias voltage studied, the film showing the highest wear rate was deposited at the lowest temperature and the film with the lowest wear rate, (significantly lower than room temperature (RT) deposited Ag films), was deposited at a temperature between the highest and the lowest temperatures examined. The wear mechanism was discussed in terms of lubrication effect of film material transferred to the counterpart and its dependence on the microstructure of the original deposited film.     

Blast resistance and energy absorption of foam-core cylindrical sandwich shells under external blast

The early time, through-thickness stress wave response of a foam-core, composite sandwich cylindrical shell under external blast is examined in this paper. Solutions for the transient response of the facesheets were derived as stress waves propagated through an elastic–plastic, crushable foam core. These solutions were found to be in good agreement with results from finite element analysis. The blast response of the composite sandwich cylindrical shell was shown to be affected by the magnitude and duration of the pressure pulse. High amplitude, low duration (impulsive) pressure pulses induced the greatest energy absorption. Low amplitude, long duration pressure pulses caused minimal energy absorption. The amount of energy absorbed increased and the failure load decreased with increasing core thickness. Sandwich shells with foams of varying density, compressive modulus and crushing resistance were also examined. The sandwich shells with the foam of the highest density, compressive modulus and crushing resistance (Divinycell HCP100) were found to be the most blast resistant to failure even though no energy was absorbed by them. Per unit weight, however, the shells with a lighter, less stiff and strong, Divinycell H200 foam core were more blast resistant to failure than shells with a Divinycell HCP100 foam core.     

特定手性单壁碳纳米管的可控生长

单壁碳纳米管具有优异的电学、光学、热学、力学等性能,可能成为未来纳米器件的支撑材料之一。实现碳纳米管的结构可控生长制备依然面临着严峻的挑战。其中手性控制是单壁碳纳米管可控制备的最大挑战,它的实现标志着直径、壁数、手性角及导电属性等的可控制备。以特定手性单壁碳纳米管的可控生长为中心,分别综述了利用化学气相沉积法在粉体生长与表面生长两方面实现手性可控生长的研究进展,并在此基础上总结出基本思路,为实现单一手性碳纳米管的可控制备奠定基础。