Study on growth of hollow nanoparticles of alumina

This article addresses the growth of hollow nanocrystalline particles of γ-alumina by the post-oxidation of nano-aluminium particles in air. The nanoparticles of aluminium were synthesized in a DC-transferred arc thermal plasma reactor. The as-synthesized nano-aluminium particles were oxidized, in air, at different temperatures. The as-synthesized parent nano aluminium and their daughter nanoparticles of aluminium oxide were thoroughly characterized with the help of X-ray diffraction analysis, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Two-step oxidation behaviours, unique in nanoparticles, are found to be the main driving force behind the formation of hollow spherical structures. The entire phenomenon is compared with the oxidation behaviour of coarse grain aluminium. The content of γ-alumina, identified by X-ray diffraction, relative to that of unreacted aluminium, has increased almost exponentially with the oxidation temperature in the case of nano aluminium. Similar behaviour is not observed in the case of coarse grain aluminium. The crystalline features of alumina, forming the walls of the hollow sphere, were confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy.     

Carbon nanotube-enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of metallo-octacarboxyphthalocyanines

The photoelectrochemistry of metallo-octacarboxyphthalocyanines (MOCPc, where M = Zn or Si(OH)₂) integrated with MWCNTs for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is reported. The DSSC performance (obtained from the photo-chronoamperometric and photo-impedimetric data) decreased as ZnOCPc > (OH)₂SiOCPc. The incorporation of the MWCNTs on the surface of the TiO₂ film (MOCPc–MWCNT systems) gave higher photocurrent density than the bare MOCPc complexes. Also, from the EIS results, the MOCPc–MWCNT hybrids gave faster charge transport kinetics (approximately three times faster) compared to the bare MOCPc complexes. The electron lifetime was slightly longer (ca. 6 ms) at the ZnOCPc systems than at the (OH)₂SiOCPc system (ca. 4 ms) meaning that the presence of the MWCNTs on the surface of the TiO₂ film did not show any significant improvement on preventing charge recombination process.     

Schottky solar cells on thin epitaxial silicon

Schottky solar cells fabricated on 10, 20 and 30 μm epitaxial silicon produce a current density ranging from about 10–22 mA/cm², depending on Si thickness and orientation, in close agreement with theoretically predicted data. These results are also in close agreement with recent data on p-n solar cells, using thin epitaxial silicon. Data reported herein predict that 10% efficient Schottky solar cells could be produced using about 20 μ of silicon on a suitable substrate. A 7.6% efficient Schottky solar cell on epitaxial silicon has been recently fabricated and tested using AM1 sunlight (100 mW/cm²).     

Electrical Conduction and Magnetoelectric Effect in CuFe1.8Cr0.2O4–Ba0.8Pb0.2TiO3 Composites

Magnetoelectric composites of CuFe_1.8Cr_0.2O₄– Ba_0.8Pb_0.2TiO₃ were prepared using high temperature solid-state reaction technique. X-ray structural analysis of these composites confirms the presence of both the phases in the composite. Detailed studies of dielectric properties (, tan and _ac ) as a function of frequency (100 Hz to 1 MHz) and temperature (30°C to 250°C) show that these compounds exhibit diffuse ferroelectric phase transitions. Results of ac conductivity, dc resistivity and thermoelectric power measurements show that conduction occurs by hopping of charge carriers. The magnetoelectric effect has been studied as a function of intensity of magnetic field. The electrical polarisation was induced in piezoelectric (Ba_0.8Pb_0.2TiO₃) phase as result of strain induced in the ferrite (CuFe_1.8Cr_0.2O₄) phase by the applied magnetic field. The Jahn-Teller distortion caused in the ferrite lattice by Jahn-Teller ions like Cu²⁺ and Cr³⁺ is also responsible for the elastic coupling of strain to the Ba_0.8Pb_0.2TiO₃ phase.     

Photoelectrochemical investigation on spray depositedn-CdIn2S4 thin films

Polycrystalline thin films ofn-CdIn₂S₄ have been spray deposited onto amorphous and fluorinedoped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates at the optimized substrate temperature of 380°C. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical absorption studies. XRD studies revealed that the films were polycrystalline with spinel cubic structure. The optical absorption studies showed the band gap energy to be 2·14 eV. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) investigations were carried out using cell configurationn-CdIn₂S₄/1 M NaOH+1 M Na₂S+1 M S/C. Using Butler model, the optical band gap and minority carrier diffusion length (L _P) were found to be 2·22 eV and 0·07 μm, respectively. Gartner’s model was used to calculate the minority carrier diffusion length and the donor concentration (N _D) for CdIn₂S₄ films at three different wavelengths.N _D was found to be of the order of 10¹⁶ cm⁻³.     

Carbon supported Pd-Sn and Pd-Ru-Sn nanocatalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium

Carbon supported Pd-Sn and Pd-Ru-Sn nanocatalysts were prepared by the chemical reduction method, using sodium borohydride and ethylene glycol mixture as the reducing agent. The catalytic activity towards ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium was studied by cyclic, carbon monoxide stripping voltammetries and chronoamperometry. The current density obtained for the electro-oxidation was affected by varying ethanol concentration between 0.25 and 4 M. Raising ethanol concentration up to 3 M increased the coverage of the adsorbed ethoxy (CH₃CO_ads) species on the nanocatalyst surface, thus yielding an increase in current density. Pd-Sn/C displayed better electrocatalytic activity and stability towards poisoning than Pd-Ru-Sn/C and Pt-Ru/C (E-TEK Inc.) nanocatalysts. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that Pd-Sn and Pd-Ru-Sn nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on carbon support. The average particle size of Pd-Sn was 7 ± 0.5 nm in diameter while for Pd-Ru-Sn was 6 ± 0.7 nm.     

Methanol oxidation reaction activity of microwave-irradiated and heat-treated Pt/Co and Pt/Ni nano-electrocatalysts

Bimetallic Pt nanoparticles were prepared by alloying Pt with the non-noble transition metals, Co and Ni, using a conventional heat-treatment (HT) method and microwave-irradiation (MW). The resulting samples were Pt–Co-Ht, Pt–Ni-HT, Pt–Co, MW and Pt–Ni-MW. The aim was to evaluate the electrocatalytic behaviour and surface properties of the materials based on the alloying metal used and the synthesis process. XRD studies of the nanoparticles indicated that alloyed structures were formed for the microwave (MW) synthesized samples, as seen by a decrease in the lattice parameters. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, surface segregation of Co and Ni occurred (1:4 surface atomic ratio Pt–Co or Ni) for the Pt–Co-MW and Pt–Ni-MW samples. In contrast the heat-treated Pt–Ni catalyst showed Pt surface segregation. Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) studies revealed an increase in the electrocatalytic activity upon the addition of Co and Ni to Pt when compared to a monometallic Pt catalyst. The presence of oxide and hydroxide alloying metal species is suggested to be the cause of the observed enhancement in the catalytic activity. Overall the Pt–Ni-MW catalyst displayed the best MOR activity and this is attributed to the large amounts of Ni-hydroxide species observed on the catalyst surface.     

Modulated synthesis of chromium-based metal-organic framework (MIL-101) with enhanced hydrogen uptake

Modulated synthesis of MIL-101(Cr) in high yield and with good reproducibility using formic acid as a modulator is reported. Higher molar ratio of formic acid/CrCl₃ was found to form better shape-defined MIL-101(Cr) crystals with higher surface area, larger pore volume and better hydrogen uptake performance. The highly crystalline MIL-101(Cr), composed of crystals in the size range of 100–150 nm with multifaceted surface, could be obtained in an optimized molar regime of CrCl₃·6H₂O/H₂BDC/100HCOOH/550H₂O at 210 °C for 8 h. The MIL-101(Cr) obtained from the modulated synthesis also showed high thermal and moisture stabilities as well as enhanced hydrogen storage capacity, making this material particularly promising for practical hydrogen storage applications.     

Folate-Targeted Monodisperse PEG-Based Conjugates Made by Chemo-Enzymatic Methods for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

This paper focuses on preliminary in vitro and in vivo testing of new bivalent folate-targeted PEGylated doxorubicin (DOX) made by modular chemo-enzymatic processes (FA₂-dPEG-DOX₂). A unique feature is the use of monodisperse PEG (dPEG). The modular approach with enzyme catalysis ensures exclusive γ-conjugation of folic acid, full conversion and selectivity, and no metal catalyst residues. Flow cytometry analysis showed that at 10 µM concentration, both free DOX and FA₂-dPEG-DOX₂ would be taken up by 99.9% of triple-negative breast cancer cells in 2 h. Intratumoral injection to mice seemed to delay tumor growth more than intravenous delivery. The mouse health status, food, water consumption, and behavior remained unchanged during the observation.