无模板法可控合成多层次结构二氧化钛微球

以1,4-二氧六环为溶剂,采用溶剂热法成功实现无模板法可控合成二氧化钛多层次结构微球。通过系统改变反应体系中浓盐酸与四异丙醇钛(TTIP)相对物质的量比能够有效调控二氧化钛形貌。当浓盐酸与TTIP物质的量比控制在0(或0.7或0.9)、1.8、3.6与5.7时,所得产物分别为纳米颗粒构建二氧化钛微球、纳米棒修饰二氧化钛微球、纳米棒花菜结构以及纳米棒海胆结构。在成功进行形貌调控的基础上,进一步探讨了二氧化钛多种结构的形成机理,并对其光催化产氢性能进行了表征。研究发现,在这4种结构中,纳米棒修饰二氧化钛微球具有最佳的光催化性能,这可能是由于同时存在金红石和锐钛矿两种晶型而形成异质结结构所导致。     

Sub‐Micron Anisotropic InP‐based III–V Semiconductor Material Deep Etching for On‐Chip Laser Photonics Devices

Two InP‐based III–V semiconductor etching recipes are presented for fabrication of on‐chip laser photonic devices. Using inductively coupled plasma system with a methane free gas chemistry of chlorine and nitrogen at a high substrate temperature of 250 °C, high aspect ratio, anisotropic InP‐based nano‐structures are etched. Scanning electron microscopy images show vertical sidewall profile of 90° ± 3°, with aspect ratio as high as 10. Atomic Force microscopy measures a smooth sidewall roughness root‐mean‐square of 2.60 nm over a 3 × 3 μm scan area. The smallest feature size etched in this work is a nano‐ring with inner diameter of 240 nm. The etching recipe and critical factors such as chamber pressure and the carrier plate effect are discussed. The second recipe is of low temperature (?10 °C) using Cl₂ and BCl₃ chemistry. This recipe is useful for etching large areas of III–V to reveal the underlying substrate. The availability of these two recipes has created a flexible III–V etching platform for fabrication of on‐chip laser photonic devices. As an application example, anisotropic InP‐based waveguides of 3 μm width are fabricated using the Cl₂ and N₂ etch recipe and waveguide loss of 4.5 dB mm^?1 is obtained.

     

Nanostructured Li3V2(PO4)3 Cathodes

To further increase the energy and power densities of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), monoclinic Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ attracts much attention. However, the intrinsic low electrical conductivity (2.4 × 10^?7 S cm^?1) and sluggish kinetics become major drawbacks that keep Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ away from meeting its full potential in high rate performance. Recently, significant breakthroughs in electrochemical performance (e.g., rate capability and cycling stability) have been achieved by utilizing advanced nanotechnologies. The nanostructured Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ hybrid cathodes not only improve the electrical conductivity, but also provide high electrode/electrolyte contact interfaces, favorable electron and Li⁺ transport properties, and good accommodation of strain upon Li⁺ insertion/extraction. In this Review, light is shed on recent developments in the application of 0D (nanoparticles), 1D (nanowires and nanobelts), 2D (nanoplates and nanosheets), and 3D (nanospheres) Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ for high‐performance LIBs, especially highlighting their synthetic strategies and promising electrochemical properties. Finally, the future prospects of nanostructured Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathodes are discussed.     

Ultraviolet Photoluminescence of Carbon Nanospheres and its Surface Plasmon‐Induced Enhancement

Ultraviolet (UV) light can be used in versatile applications ranging from photoelectronic devices to biomedical imaging. In the development of new UV light sources, in this study, stable UV emission at ≈350 nm is unprecedentedly obtained from carbon nanospheres (CNSs). The origin of the UV fluorescence is comprehensively investigated via various characterization methods, including Raman and Fourier transform infrared analyses, with comparison to the visible emission of carbon nanodots. Based on the density functional calculations, the UV fluorescence is assigned to the carbon nanostructures bonded to bridging O atoms and dangling –OH groups. Moreover, a twofold enhancement in the UV emission is acquired for Au‐carbon core‐shell nanospheres (Au‐CNSs). This remarkable modification of the UV emission is primarily ascribed to charge transfer between the CNSs and the Au surface.     

Synthesis of Branched DNA Scaffolded Super‐Nanoclusters with Enhanced Antibacterial Performance

Metal nanoclusters (NCs) possess unique optical properties, and exhibit a wide variety of potential applications. DNA with robust molecular programmability is demonstrated as an ideal scaffold to regulate the formation of NCs, offering a rational approach to precisely tune the spatial structures of NCs. Herein, the first use of branched DNA as scaffold to regulate the formation of silver nanoclusters (super‐AgNC) is reported, in which the spatial structures are precisely designed and constructed. Super‐AgNC with tunable shapes and arm‐lengths including Y‐, X‐, and (Y–X)‐ shaped super‐AgNC is achieved. The molecular structures and optical properties of super‐AgNCs are systemically studied. As a proof of application, remarkably, super‐AgNCs exhibit superior antibacterial performance. In addition, super‐AgNCs show excellent biocompatibility with three types of tissue cells including 293T (human embryonic kidney cells), SMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells), and GLC‐82 (lung adenocarcinoma cells). These performances enable the super‐AgNCs adaptable in a variety of applications such as biosensing, bioimaging, and antibacterial agents.     

Deformation of Mesoporous Titania Nanostructures in Contact with D2O Vapor

For many applications, mesoporous titania nanostructures are exposed to water or need to be backfilled via infiltration with an aqueous solution, which can cause deformations of the nanostructure by capillary forces. In this work, the degree of deformation caused by water infiltration in two types of mesoporous, nanostructured titania films exposed to water vapor is compared. The different types of nanostructured titania films are prepared via a polymer template assisted sol–gel synthesis in conjunction with a polymer‐template removal at high‐temperatures under ambient conditions versus nitrogen atmosphere. Information about surface and inner morphology is extracted by scanning electron microscopy and grazing incidence small‐angle neutron scattering (GISANS) measurements, respectively. Furthermore, complementary information on thin film composition and porosity are probed via X‐ray reflectivity. The backfilling induced deformation of near surface structures and structures inside the mesoporous titania films is determined by GISANS before and after D₂O infiltration. The respective atmosphere used for template removal influences the details of the titania nanostructure and strongly impacts the degree of water induced deformation. Drying of the films shows reversibility of the deformation.     

Sensitive Label-Free Immunoassay by Colorimetric Plasmonic Biosensors Using Silver Nanodome Arrays

The sensitive direct detection of biomolecules is demonstrated by a colorimetric plasmonic biosensor utilizing the surface colors of plasmonic metasurfaces named Ag nanodome arrays. The Ag nanodome arrays consist of polystyrene bead monolayers coated with Ag thin films whose surface colors are optimized by changing the size of the polystyrene beads. The bulk refractive index sensitivity of colorimetric detection evaluated using the hue angle is 590° RIU⁻¹ (RIU: refractive index unit). For selected geometry, the refractive index resolution (5.0 × 10⁻⁵ RIU) obtained by colorimetric detection surpasses that of spectroscopic detection evaluated via the dip wavelength in the reflection spectrum. The numerical simulations predict an enhanced sensing performance when the hue angle of the surface colors of the Ag nanodome arrays changes from 300° to 200°, corresponding to changes in the dip wavelength from 570 to 600 nm in the reflection spectra. Furthermore, the detection sensitivity of the biomolecules is characterized using a direct IgG immunoassay format. The detection limit of the IgG concentration is as low as 134 pM using simple colorimetric detection. The feasibility of sensitive label-free immunoassays using a colorimetric plasmonic biosensor is expected to accelerate the development of highly sensitive and reliable smartphone-based plasmonic biosensors.     

ZnO hierarchical nanostructures grown at room temperature and their C2H5OH sensor applications

Highly crystalline ZnO hierarchical nanostructures were prepared at room temperature through the alkaline hydrolysis of zinc salt by the forced mixing of two immiscible solutions: Zn-nitrate aqueous solution and oleic-acid-dissolved n-hexane solution. The oleic acid acted as a surfactant in the room-temperature formation of well-defined ZnO hierarchical nanostructures, which subsequently demonstrated a sensitive and selective detection of C₂H₅OH. The responses of these hierarchical nanostructures to 10-100 ppm C₂H₅OH ranged from 15.7 to 177.7, which were 7-9 times higher than those of the agglomerated nanoparticles.