Polyol-mediated synthesis of water-soluble LaF3:Yb,Er upconversion fluorescent nanocrystals

Well-crystallized LaF₃:Yb,Er nanoparticles were prepared by the polyol method and three kinds of polyols (glycol, diethylene glycol and glycerol) were chosen as the reaction medium respectively. All of the obtained LaF₃:Yb,Er nanoparticles have roughly spherical shapes, and the average sizes of these nanoparticles ranged from 5 to 7 nm. These nanoparticles could be well dispersed in water or ethanol to form colloidal solutions. When these nanoparticles were excited by the 980 nm laser, several upconversion emissions were observed.     

High-yield synthesis of single-crystalline 3C-SiC nanowires by a facile autoclave route

Single-crystalline 3C-SiC nanowires have been synthesized in large scale through a one-step autoclave route by the reaction of SiCl₄, (C₅H₅)₂Fe and metallic Na at 500 °C. Electron microscopy investigations show that the nanowires have typical diameters of 15-50 nm, lengths up to several tens of micrometers and grow along the [111] direction. The possible growth mechanism of the nanowires is discussed.     

Synthesis of magnesium borate nanorods

Single-crystalline magnesium borate Mg₂B₂O₅ nanorods have been synthesized via a simple route based on the calcinations of mixed powders containing Mg(OH)₂ and H₃BO₃. The nanorods have the typical diameters in the range of 70-120 nm and the lengths up to a few micrometers. An optimal synthesis temperature for Mg₂B₂O₅ nanorods was obtained, and the possible growth mechanism was also presented.     

SEM observation of the “orange peel effect” of materials

This study investigated the peculiar “orange peel” effect often observed in nanomaterials using high-resolution scanning electron microscopes. The study used different materials, including semiconductor thin films and ceramic nanoparticles. The investigation established that the “orange peel” is of an artifact caused by the metallic coating of the samples in sample preparation. This discovery is important in eliminating the misinterpretation of such effect on the true surface feature of materials, hence avoiding the confusion in the discussion of the properties of nanomaterials.     

纳米材料技术实用化现状和对策

纳米材料作为纳米技术的重要方面，在化学工业、生物医药、电子电器、航天航空等领域已获得应用。本文基于国内外纳米材料技术的研究进展，结合本单位在纳米材料技术领域取得的成果，分析了纳米材料技术实用化的现状和趋势，提出了纳米材料技术实用化应重视的领域和应解决的关键问题。     

TC4钛合金表面等离子喷涂Al2O3-13wt％TiO2涂层及激光重熔研究

采用等离子喷涂技术在TC4钛合金表面制备了常规Metco130陶瓷涂层及纳米结构Al2O3-13wt％TiO2涂层，并利用CO2激光器对涂层进行了激光重熔，采用X射线衍射分析（XRD）、扫描电镜分析（SEM）、微区成分分析（EDAX）及维氏硬度试验研究了激光重熔前后涂层的组织性能变化。结果表明，等离子喷涂涂层与基体形成了较好的机械结合，但涂层中存在孔隙，激光重熔后，重熔层与基体形成了良好的冶金结合，其组织结构更为均匀而致密。采用谢乐公式估算了重熔后涂层中各相的平均粒径，结果表明，等离子喷涂纳米结构的涂层在激光重熔后仍然处于纳米结构。另外，选择合理的激光工艺参数，涂层的硬度得到了较大提高。     

Electrical response of Sm2O3-doped SnO2 to C2H2 and effect of humidity interference

Pure and Sm₂O₃-doped SnO₂ are prepared through a sol–gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sensor based on 6 wt% Sm₂O₃-doped SnO₂ displays superior response at an operating temperature of 180 °C, and the response magnitude to 1000 ppm C₂H₂ can reach 63.8, which is 16.8 times larger than that of pure SnO₂. This sensor also shows high sensitivity under various humidity conditions. These results make our product be a good candidate in fabricating C₂H₂ sensors.     

Atom probe tomography of nanoscale architectures in functional materials for electronic and photonic applications

Microscopy has played a central role in the advancement of nanoscience and nanotechnology by enabling the direct visualization of nanoscale structure, leading to predictive models of novel physical behaviors. Electronic and photonic device technologies, whose features and performance are often improved through miniaturization, have particularly benefited from new capabilities in the characterization of material structure and composition. This paper reviews recent applications of atom probe tomography to semiconducting materials with nanoscale architectures that are designed to impart novel properties and device functionality by virtue of their shape and size. A review is necessary because rapid advances in atom probe instrumentation and analysis in the last decade have greatly expanded the utility of atom probe tomography to address scientific questions and technical questions in this area. The paper is organized in terms of the surface topologies of nanoscale architectures. We begin with nominally planar interfaces including thin film heterostructures and superlattices with open surfaces. Distinctive capabilities in the analysis of interfaces are introduced, as are challenges arising from measurement artifacts. We then discuss nanowires and nanowire heterostructures with surfaces that are closed along one dimension, for which atom probe tomography has provided unique and important understandings on the doping processes. Finally, we consider nanocrystals and quantum dots with completely closed surfaces. Along the way, current challenges and opportunities for atom probe tomography are highlighted, and the reader is directed to complementary reviews of more technical aspects of atom probe analysis.     

The effect of carbon precursor on the pore size distribution of mesoporous carbon during templating synthesis process

The starch and cyclodextrin were selected as the precursors and the mixture of surfactant and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as template to prepare mesoporous carbon. The result showed that a bimodal pore size distribution in mesoporous carbon derived from starch appeared; one was around 3.4 nm and the other ranged from 3.8 to 16.2 nm. However, there existed a concentrated pore size distribution from 3.2 to 4.2 nm in mesoporous carbon derived from cyclodextrin. The different molecular structure of starch and cyclodextrin and their polymerization process in the presence of sulfur acid were responsible for the resulted mesoporous carbon structure; the starch could polymerize by head to head or side by side, but the cycleodextrin was only polymerized by head to head.