Fabrication of hollow silver spheres by MPTMS-functionalized hollow silica spheres as templates

In this study, we provide a strategy to prepare the hollow silver spheres by accumulating the silver nanoparticles on the surface of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS)-functionalized silica as templates, which was accomplished by the chemisorption between silver nanoparticles and thiol groups. Then, the resulting hollow silver spheres were obtained through the chemical wet etching process with 10 M HF solution. In conventional method, the fabrication of hollow silver spheres from core-shell spheres was not easy due to the difficulties in retaining the shell structures during core removal. The method in this paper could overcome this limitation. The major focus of study is on understanding the mechanism of formation of the hollow silver spheres through the self-assembly behavior by chemisorption between silver nanoparticles and thiol groups. The silver-coated silica and hollow silver spheres were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).     

Synthesis of triangular Au core-Ag shell nanoparticles

In this paper, we demonstrate a simple and reproducible method for the synthesis of triangular Au core-Ag shell nanoparticles. The triangular gold core is obtained by the reduction of gold ions by lemongrass extract. Utilizing the negative charge on the gold nanotriangles, silver ions are bound to their surface and thereafter reduced by ascorbic acid under alkaline conditions. The thickness of the silver shell may be modulated by varying the pH of the reaction medium. The formation of the Au core-Ag shell triangular nanostructures has been followed by UV-vis-NIR Spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. The sharp vertices of the triangles coupled with the core-shell structure is expected to have potential for application in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and in the sensitive detection of biomolecules.     

Chitosan as template for the synthesis of ceria nanoparticles

Cerium oxide (CeO₂), nanoparticles were prepared using chitosan as template, cerium nitrate as a starting material and sodium hydroxide as a precipitating agent. The resultant ceria–chitosan spheres were calcined at 350 °C. The synthesized powders were characterized by, XRD, HRTEM, UV–vis, FTIR, and TG-DTA. The average size of the nanoparticles obtained was ∼4 nm and BET specific surface area ∼105 m² g⁻¹. Blueshifts in the ultraviolet absorption spectra have been observed in cerium oxide nanocrystallites. The band-gap was found to be 4.5 eV. The blueshifts are well explained for diameters down to less than a few nanometers by the change in the electronic band structure.     

Influence of catalyst and solvent on the preparation of silica particles with mesoporous shell

Silica spheres with sub-micrometer sized mesoporous shell structure were prepared. Effect of different catalyst and solvent on the synthesis of silica particles with mesoporous shell is studied. Depending on its constituents the particle properties are changed. The synthesized materials were characterized by different physicochemical methods such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron micrograph, transmission electron micrograph, thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis, nitrogen adsorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The analysis reveals that the synthesized materials are having mesoporous shell structure. The mesoporosity increases with catalyst size maybe due to incorporation of more octadecyltrimethoxy silane in shell followed by the elimination of organics on calcinations.     

Assembly, characterization and swelling kinetics of Ag nanoparticles in PDMAA-g-PVA hydrogel networks

A series of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-g-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PDMAA-g-PVA) graft hydrogel networks were designed and prepared via a free radical polymerization route initiated by a PVA-(NH₄)₂Ce(NO₃)₆ redox reaction. Silver nanoparticles with high stability and good distribution behavior have been self-assembled by using these hydrogel networks as a nanoreactor and in situ reducing system. Meanwhile the PDMAA or PVA chains can efficiently act as stabilizing agents for the Ag nanoparticles in that Ag⁺ would form complex via oxygen atom and nitrogen atom, and form weak coordination bonds, thus astricting Ag⁺. The structure of the PDMAA-g-PVA/Ag was characterized by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR). The morphologies of pure PDMAA-g-PVA hydrogels and PDMAA-g-PVA/Ag nanocomposite ones were observed by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). TEM micrographs revealed the presence of nearly spherical and well-separated Ag nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 10 to 20 nm, depending on their reduction routes. XRD results showed all relevant Bragg's reflection for crystal structure of Ag nanoparticles. UV–vis studies apparently showed the characteristic surface plasmon band at 410–440 nm for the existence of Ag nanoparticles within the hydrogel matrix. The swelling kinetics demonstrated that the transport mechanism belongs to non-Fickian mode for the PDMAA-g-PVA hydrogels and PDMAA-g-PVA/Ag nanocomposite ones. With increasing the DMAA proportion, the r₀ and S_∞ are enhanced for each system. The assembly of Ag nanoparticles and the swelling behavior may be controlled and modulated by means of the compositional ratios of PVA to DMAA and reduction systems.     

Facile preparation of monodisperse micrometer-sized hollow silica spheres with tunable size and commendable surface topography

The fabrication of hollow silica spheres (HSS) is of great importance due to its plenty of implications. Till now, several methods to prepare HSS have been reported, which existed some drawbacks. Herein, a facile and efficient approach was developed to successfully fabricate micrometer-sized monodisperse HSS based on templating method. The approach was achieved by changing the initial water volume and using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinking agent. The alteration of water volume was the key factor in controlling the size of HSS, and EGDMA was used to accessorily enlarge the bulk of template spheres. In this way, the uniform HSS were controlled in micrometer scale, which simultaneously possessed the favorable surface topography. This method could achieve high reproducibility and would become a general method to systematically manipulate the size and shape of inorganic spheres as we expected. Most importantly, the formation mechanism for HSS was presented and some key influencing factors were analyzed.     

Preparation of highly concentrated and stable suspensions of silver nanoparticles by an organic base catalyzed reduction reaction

Highly concentrated and stable suspensions of silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by chemical reduction from silver nitrate in a formaldehyde reductant using an organic base, triethylamine, as the reaction promoter. In this reaction, a low molecular weight organic compound, thiosalicylic acid (TSA), was used as the protecting agent. The average size of the silver nanoparticles prepared from this method was less than 10 nm, which allowed low-temperature sintering of the metal. The suspensions were further stabilized by the addition of excessive triethylamine, which forms an amine salt with TSA. A 50 wt%, stable suspension has been prepared. The suspensions of silver nanoparticles prepared by this method are free from any metal ion contamination, and are suitable for use in semiconductor industries.     

A facile and novel way for the synthesis of nearly monodisperse silver nanoparticles

A facile and novel way was reported for the preparation of nearly monodisperse silver nanoparticles with controlled hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface, using trioctylphosphine as the surfactant and stabilizer. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The monodisperse silver nanoparticles showed a strong surface plasmon resonance band at 402 nm from the UV-vis spectrum.     

Carbon-nanotube-supported Ag and Cu2O nanoparticles: Dendrimer-mediated synthesis and their broadband optical limiting properties

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were covalently functionalized with fourth-generation poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers with a trimesyl core (DT4), and the as-synthesized MWCNT-DT4 was used as the template for in situ growth of Ag and Cu₂O nanoparticles on MWCNTs. Extensive characterizations of the resultant hybrids have been performed using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, selected area electron diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The side-wall of the nanotubes was uniformly coated with the nanoparticles with mean sizes of 7–8 nm. The optical limiting property measurements of the nanoparticle-modified MWCNTs were carried out by the open-aperture z-scan technique. The results demonstrate that the samples suspended in water show broadband OL performance, and their OL behavior is better than that of MWCNT-DT4 in water due to the presence of Ag and Cu₂O nanoparticles.     

Manganese ferrite nanoparticles with different concentrations: Preparation and magnetism

Mn Fe_2O_4nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of a metal–organic salt in organic solvent with a high boiling point.Some nanoparticles exhibited the triangular shape which has not been observed before as far as we know,while some nanoparticles formed the aggregates with different sizes and shapes.The strength of interparticle dipolar interaction was changed by diluting Mn Fe_2O_4nanoparticles in the Si O_2matrix with different concentrations.The strong dipolar interaction has been suggested to enhance the blocking temperature(T_B)and suppress the remanence(M_r)to saturation(M_s)magnetization ratio(M_r/M_s)for the spherical-like cobalt ferrite nanoparticles in many previous reports.However,M_r/M_sand T_Bof Mn Fe_2O_4nanoparticles reported herein mainly depend on the size and shape of the nanoparticles and their aggregates.     

Sintering of nanoscale silver coated textiles,a new approach to attain conductive fabrics for electromagnetic shielding

The demand for conductive textiles is increasing, owing to the need for lightweight and flexible conductive materials for a variety of applications, including electromagnetic shielding of electronic equipment. Herein we propose a process that combines the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles at the textile fibre surface followed by sintering of the nanoparticles to obtain highly conductive fabrics. The formation of silver particles at the nanoscale allowed for sintering to be performed efficiently, at reduced temperature and time, bestowing fabrics with high conductivity and capability of shielding electromagnetic radiation. The nanoparticle synthesis method entailed the precipitation of 2.0 g L⁻¹ silver nitrate and further reduction with citrate, with the formation of a deposit of silver nanoparticles at the fabric surface. The amount of silver deposited (up to 195 mg of silver per g of fabric) resulted in moderate electrical conductivity with sheet resistance of 803 Ω/sq. Upon sintering, this value decreased dramatically to 5.2 Ω/sq. The sintering process was monitored by SEM, which showed that sintering at 200 °C for 30 min resulted in maximal electrical conductivity with the lowest amount of silver deposited, while forming a homogenous surface. Fabrics submitted to these sintering conditions maintained their sheet resistance and shielding effectiveness values, even after eight washing cycles.     

Synthesis and formation mechanism of hematite hollow microspheres by a one-pot templateless surfactant-free hydrothermal process

Hollow microspheres of hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) were prepared by a simple hydrothermal treatment of ferrous ammonium sulphate hexahydrate ((NH₄)₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6H₂O) aqueous solution without any surfactants and additives at 180–200 °C. The products were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM and TEM. The results show that α-Fe₂O₃ hollow microspheres are about 1 μm in diameters and are composed of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with a diameter range from 50 nm to 150 nm. The effects of reaction parameters such as reaction time, temperature and [(NH₄)₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6H₂O] on the morphology of the final product were investigated. A potential formation mechanism of α-Fe₂O₃ hollow microspheres was also proposed, where the intermediate, urchin-like goethite, served as a sacrificial template for the formation of hollow structure. The reaction parameters-depended morphologies of the final products consisted well with the proposed formation mechanism.     

Synthesis of hollow spheres with mesoporous silica nanoparticles shell

Hollow spheres with mesoporous silica nanoparticles shell were synthesized with the use of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and polystyrene (PS) hollow spheres as dual templates. The key to this study is that the uneven surface of the template provides nucleation sites for mesoporous nanoparticles, resulting in the formation of hollow spheres with mesoporous silica nanoparticles shell. The final products with hierarchical mesopores can be obtained through a simple one-step approach.     

Structural and electrical properties of Au and Ti/Au contacts to n-type GaN

Au and Ti/Au layers were deposited on n-GaN. The samples were annealed at 400, 700 and 900 °C for 10 min in vacuum. The contacts were rectifying up to 700 °C and the highest Schottky barrier height of 1.07 eV was obtained for an Au single layer by current-voltage measurements. A binary phase of Au₂Ga was identified at the interface of the n-GaN/Ti/Au contact after annealing at 900 °C. The formation of Ti₂N and TiN (twin) phases epitaxially grown on GaN was also observed in the same contact as well as some gold diffusion into the topmost region of the GaN epilayer.     

Large-scale preparation of hollow graphitic carbon nanospheres

Hollow graphitic carbon nanospheres (HGCNSs) were synthesized on large scale by a simple reaction between glucose and Mg at 550 °C in an autoclave. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy demonstrates the formation of HGCNSs with an average diameter of 10 nm or so and a wall thickness of a few graphenes. The HGCNSs exhibit a reversible capacity of 391 mAh g⁻¹ after 60 cycles when used as anode materials for Li-ion batteries.     

Formation of silver nanoparticles in low-alkali borosilicate glass via silver oxide intermediates

A successful procedure has been worked out for the subsequent colouration of low-alkali borosilicate glass that comprises silver doping by silver/sodium ion exchange below the glass transformation temperature followed by thermal processing well above, at 750 °C. The particle formation process as studied by electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy revealed the formation of silver nanoparticles proceeding via silver oxide intermediates. The intermediate nanoparticles are supposed to result from a phase separation within the silver ion-doped glass. Their formation and succeeding transformation to silver nanoparticles upon thermal processing is accompanied by characteristic absorption peaks in the visible range which gradually convert to the surface plasmon resonance of spherical silver nanoparticles. The optical density of the silver-based colouration achieved this way assumes values comparable to those usually obtained with soda lime silicate glass.     

Spontaneous formation of silver nanoparticles on polymeric supports

Silver nanoparticles with a size range of 2-4 nm were prepared on polyethylene glycol-coupled 2-chlorotrityl resins without using any reducing agents. In contrast to the polyol process, silver nanoparticles were simply reduced in the tetrahydrofuran/chloroform system on the resin without using any alcohols, and the resulting silver nanoparticles exhibited a uniform size distribution. The polyethylene glycol spacer on the resin played an important role in obtaining silver nanoparticles, probably acting as a polydentate-chelating agent for the silver ions.     

Ionic liquid-induced synthesis of selenium nanoparticles

A simple wet chemical method has been used to synthesize selenium nanoparticles by the reaction of ionic liquid with sodium selenosulphate, a selenium precursor, in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol stabilizer, in aqueous medium. The method is capable of producing spherical selenium nanoparticles in the size range of 76-150 nm under ambient conditions. This is a first report on the production of nano-selenium assisted by an ionic liquid. The synthesized nanoparticles can be separated easily from the aqueous sol by a high-speed centrifuge machine, and can be re-dispersed in an aqueous medium. The synthesized selenium nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy techniques.     

Preparation and properties of poly(urea–formaldehyde) microcapsules filled with epoxy resins

The poly(urea–formaldehyde) (PUF) microcapsules filled with epoxy resins have potential for self-healing or toughening polymeric composites. A series of PUF microcapsules containing epoxy resins were synthesized by selecting different process parameters including surfactant type, surfactant concentration, adjusting time for pH value and heating rate. The effects of process parameters on the size and surface morphology of microcapsules were discussed. The storage stability, solvent resistance and the mechanical strength of microcapsules were investigated. The morphology of microcapsules was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM). The results indicate that the formation of microcapsules is affected by the surfactant type. The size of microcapsules can be controlled by the surfactant concentration. The surface morphology of microcapsules can be adjusted by the surfactant concentration, the adjusting time for pH and the heating rate. The microcapsules prepared by using surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) show good storage stability, excellent solvent resistance and appropriate mechanical strength.     

Preparation of Mn2SnO4 nanoparticles as the anode material for lithium secondary battery

The ultrafine Mn₂SnO₄ nanoparticles with diameters of 5-10 nm have been prepared by thermal decomposition of precursor MnSn(OH)₆. The MnSn(OH)₆ nanoparticles precursor was synthesized by a hydrothermal microemulsion method. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction have been employed to characterize the crystal structures and morphologies of the as-prepared samples. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that the as-synthesized nanoparticles were single crystals. The thermal characterization was studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry analysis measurements. Electrochemical test showed that the Mn₂SnO₄ nanoparticles exhibited a high initial charge-discharge capacity of 1320 mAh/g.