Influence of Ge addition on the morphology and properties of TiN thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering

Thin films of TM-X-N (TM stands for early transition metal and X = Si, Al, etc.) are used as protective coatings. The most investigated among the ternary composite systems is Ti-Si-N. The system Ti-Ge-N has been chosen to extend the knowledge about the formation of nanocomposite films. Ti-Ge-N thin films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on Si and WC-Co substrates at T_s = 240 °C, from confocal Ti and Ge targets in mixed Ar/N₂ atmosphere. The nitrogen partial pressure and the power on the Ti target were kept constant, while the power on the Ge target was varied in order to obtain various Ge concentrations in the films. No presence of Ge-N bonds was detected, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed the presence of Ti-Ge bonds. Transmission Electron Microscopy investigations have shown important changes induced by Ge addition in the morphology and structure of Ti-Ge-N films. Electron Energy-Loss Spectrometry study revealed a significant increase of Ge content at the grain boundaries. The segregation of Ge atoms to the TiN crystallite surface appears to be responsible for limitation of crystal growth and formation of a TiGe_y amorphous phase.     

ZnO基纳米电子材料研究进展

纳米ZnO的许多优异性能使其成为人们研究的热点并得到广泛应用.ZnO是一种同时具有半导体和压电双重特性的材料.运用不同的工艺,目前已生长出纳米线(棒)、纳米带、纳米环、四角形纳米结构、纳米笼、纳米螺旋等多种特殊形态的纳米ZnO.由这些许多独特的形态,可以看出纳米ZnO是纳米材料家族中可以生长出的结构最多样的成员之一.这些纳米结构在光电、传导、传感以及生化等不同领域有很多潜在的新颖的应用前景.     

The design of autonomous DNA nano-mechanical devices: Walking and rolling DNA

We provide designs for the first autonomousDNA nanomechanical devices that execute cycles of motion without external environmental changes. These DNA devices translate along a circular strand of ssDNA and rotate simultaneously. The designs use various energy sources to fuel the movements, include (i) ATP consumption by DNA ligase in conjunction with restriction enzyme operations, (ii) DNA hybridization energy in trapped states, and (iii) kinetic (heat) energy. We show that each of these energy sources can be used to fuel random bidirectional movements that acquire after n steps an expected translational deviation of O(√n). For the devices using the first two fuel sources, the rate of stepping is accelerated over the rate of random drift due to kinetic (heat) energy. Our first DNA device, which we call walking DNA, achieves random bidirectional motion around a circular ssDNA strand by use of DNA ligase and two restriction enzymes. Our other DNA device, which we call rolling DNA, achieves random bidirectional motion without use of DNA ligase or any restriction enzyme, and instead using hybridization energy. We also describe how to modify the design for the rolling DNA device to include a ``latching mechanism' that fixes the wheels position at specified location along the road, so as to provide for overall unidirectional translational movement. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

分子自组装体系的影响因素及其在纳米材料中的应用

介绍了分子自组装体系的影响因素以及分子自组装技术在纳米材料制备方面的应用,并对聚合物自组装体系及研究进展作了综述.     

纳米有序结构制备技术现状

随着对纳米材料需求的不断增长，人们对如何制备纳米有序结构的技术产生了极大的兴趣。主要概述了近期来制备纳米有序结构的一些基本方法例如膜板合成法、自组织方法、欠电位沉积法、掠角沉积法等，并在此基础上简要的介绍了一些相关的概念原理和应用。     

Microstructure of Nanostructured WC-Co Coating Prepared by Thermal Spraying

Nanostructured WC-Co coatings were produced with Atmospheric Plasma Spraying (APS) and Low Pressure Plasma Spraying (LPPS). Microstructure characteristics and phase compositions of the coatings were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively. The microstructure compositions were analyzed with EDS. During APS deposition the existence of oxygen causes the decarburization of the coating, and the coating was composed of melted area and the WC/12Co powder. Besides WC phase, there was W2C phase. However in the coating deposited by LPPS the content of oxygen was so low that there were a limit degradation of the WC/12Co powder. The coatings were made up of compact block and loosen porosity area. There were large quantities of nanostructure WC grains and a small quantity of microstructure WC grains presented in the coating. Besides WC phase, a little W2C and WC1-x or Co6W6C phases occured. Consideration of the characteristics of the highly porous, spherical-shell morphology of nano-WC/12Co power, heterogeneous melting and localized superheating of the power were two main factors which caused the microstructure and phase composition of nano-WC-Co coatings.     

Application of carbon nanostructures toward SO2 and SO3 adsorption: a comparison between pristine graphene and N-doped graphene by DFT calculations

We studied the adsorption of SO_x (x?=?2,3) molecules on the surface of pristine graphene (PG) and N-doped graphene (NDG) by density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. We used Mulliken and NBO charge analysis to calculate the net charge transfer of adsorbed SO_x on pristine and defected graphene systems. Our calculations reveal much higher adsorption energy and higher net charge transfer by using NDG instead of pristine graphene. Furthermore, the density of state (DOS) graphs point to major orbital hybridization between the SO_x and NDG, while there is no evidence of hybridization by using pristine graphene. Based on our results, it is found that SO₂ and SO₃ molecules can be adsorbed on the surface of NDG physically and chemically with adsorption energies (E_ads) of ?27.5 and 65.2?kJ?mol^?1 (19.6 and 51.4?kJ?mol^?1 BSSE), respectively, while low adsorption energies were calculated in the case of using pristine graphene. So we introduced NDG as a sensitive adsorbent/sensor for detection of SO₂ and SO₃.     

Core-shell structure of polypyrrole grown on W18O49 nanorods for high performance gas sensor operating at room temperature

In this work, uniform core-shell structure of polypyrrole wrapped on tungsten oxide nanorods (PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ core-shell nanorods) were synthesized via a two-step process for gas-sensing applications. The core-nanorods of W₁₈O₄₉ were first grown by solvothermal method with tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆) as precursor. The PPy-shell layer was then formed uniformly on the solvothermally synthesized W₁₈O₄₉ nanorods by in-situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole monomer (Py), with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as dopant and ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidant. High dispersion of Py achieving in ethanol is proved to be crucial to form the uniform PPy-shell layer, and the layer thickness of PPy-shell is highly controlled by adjusting the Py concentration in polymeric solution. The morphology and structure of the nanocomposite were characterized systematically; it shows that the composite exhibits perfect core-shell structure of one-dimensional (1D) nanorods with average diameter of around 70–90 nm. The NH₃-sensing properties of the sensors based on the PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ core-shell nanorods were investigated at operating temperature of 15–130 °C over NH₃ concentration ranging from 1 to 200 ppm. The response magnitude of the PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ sensor can be affected seriously by temperature fluctuation, even in room temperature range (15–30 °C), and meanwhile, a temperature-dependent p-n response characteristic reversal is observed for the heteronanorods sensor. At much low room temperature of 15 °C, the present PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ nanorods show quick and sensitive response to NH₃ gas mainly due to the ultrathin, uniform PPy shell and the special heterojunction effect between p-type PPy and n-type W₁₈O₄₉. The underlying gas-sensing mechanism is analyzed.     

An easy and eco-friendly method to fabricate three-dimensional Pd-M (Cu,Ni) nanonetwork structure decorated on the graphene nanosheet with boosted ethanol electrooxidation activity in alkaline medium

A new rapid and facile strategy for the preparation of Pd-Ni/G and Pd-Cu/G catalysts with a three-dimensional porous structure are presented in this paper. Both catalysts are formed using the same strategies in two steps: 1) The reduction of Ni(OH)₂ and Cu(OH)₂ to the metallic form on the surface of G/GC Electrode using the Zn/HCl reducer, 2) The galvanic displacement of Ni and Cu by Pd²⁺. Afterwards, three-dimensional Pd nanonetwork is generated on the glassy carbon electrode via the galvanic displacement. Compared to the other routes, this strategy depicts several advantages (e.g. fast way, facile, surfactant and reductant free, cheap, and eco-friendly.) Both catalysts are applied towards Ethanol Oxidation Reaction (EOR). Both porous structures show higher electrocatalytic activity and stability toward EOR compared to the commercial Pd/C. The extraordinary catalytic activity and durability of the both proposed catalysts for EOR can be related to the two vital reasons:1) The combination of Ni and Cu with Pd will efficiently promote the catalytic performance of Pd-Ni/G and Pd-Cu/G samples due to synergetic effects. 2) The porous structure of the as-prepared catalysts renders a high surface area and leads easier mass transport through the pores.     

Bioinspired study of energy and electron transfer in photovoltaic system

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on understanding the fundamentals of energy transfer and electron transport in photovoltaic devices with uniquely designed nanostructures by analysing energy transfer in purple photosynthetic bacteria using dye-sensitised solar cell systems. Förster resonance energy transfer between the xanthene dye (donor of energy) and a new polymethine dye (acceptor of energy) was studied in dye-sensitised solar cells, which leads to a doubling of energy conversion efficiency in comparison to the cell with only the polymethine dye. The electron transport in the two different nanostructures of zinc oxide (nanorods and nanosheets) was investigated by spectroscopic methods (UV-vis spectrometer, time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy) and electrochemical potentiostat methods. The nanosheet structure of zinc oxide showed high short circuit current and long diffusion length. This fundamental study will lead to efficient artificial photosystem designs.