Plasmonic coupling in single flower-like gold nanoparticle assemblies

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) arises when light interacts with metallic nanoparticles (NPs). When nanoparticles (NPs) assemble together, the plasmon coupling effect between the NPs often leads to new features in the LSPR of the assembled structure. Understanding the plasmon coupling in the complex assemblies will greatly benefit the development of new plasmonic devices. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of a 3D structure using two different sized Au NPs as building blocks. This 3D structure was achieved by manipulating the binding efficiency of ligands linking the NPs, and proper choice of the NP size. The assembled structure is flower-like structure, with one 130 nm Au NP in the center, and several 40 nm Au NPs attaching as “petals”. Single particle dark-field scattering measurements of the individual assemblies were performed, together with electrodynamics simulations. The experimental and theoretical studies show that, the plasmonic coupling lead to broadening of the LSPR and additional peaks, depending on the number and 3D arrangement of the 40 nm NPs around the center 130 nm NP.     

A multiple-labelling method for cells using Au nanoparticles with different shapes

An important and difficult issue is simultaneously identifying the detailed locations of various molecules on the cell surface, as this identification requires a synergistic effect between more than one molecule in a living cell. Au nanoparticles (NPs) with different shapes can be readily recognised under low vacuum scanning electron microscopy (lvSEM). Anisotropic Au nanorods (NRs) possess unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties, which can be further utilised for two photon luminescence (TPL) and other optical imaging techniques. In this paper, Au NRs and Au nanooctahedra (Au NOs) are introduced as biomarkers for ICAM-1 and Integrin β1. Combined with the advantages of lvSEM, this multiple-labelling method is a new method for studying the interactions between specific, functional molecules.     

Solvothermal synthesis of CdS nanorods and photovoltaic characteristics of CdS/PVK composite system

Large quantities of CdS nanorods are successfully synthesized through Cd（CH3COO）2·2H2o reacting with Na2S·9H2O and EDA in aqueous solution. XRD result shows that the sample is of hexagonal structure. And TEM result shows that the morphologies of the resulting CdS are mainly in three-armed rod-like structure with a diameter of 10--15 nm and a length of 100 nm. The nanocomposites of CdS/PVK with different molar ratios are prepared by spin coating method on tin-doped indium oxide （ITO） substrate. A notable decrease of photoluminescence （PL） efficiency and a significant enhancement of surface photovoltage signal have been observed in CdS/PVK composites when the molar fraction of CdS increases. We interpret these results as the energy level matching between CdS and PVK in nanocomposites. This energy level matching facilitates fast interfacial charge transfer then increases the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs and the carrier generation efficiency. The detailed charge transfer process has also been demonstrated.     

Synthesis of Li_4Ti_5O_(12) nanostructural anode materials with high charge–discharge capability

This study demonstrates a facile and efficient hydrothermal method to prepare spindle titanate(Li4Ti5O12 denoted as LTO)and/or carbon-LTO nanocomposites(CLTO),in which the LTO or C-LTO microspheres have diameters of a few micrometers,composed of numerous nanosheets with thickness of*30 nm and edge length of hundreds of nanometers.The morphology and size control of these nanoparticles could be achieved by varying experimental parameters including concentration of titanium butoxide,lithium hydroxide,and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide,as well as reaction temperature and time.These micro-nanostructures were characterized by several advanced techniques,such as transmission electron microscopy,scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction,energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis,surface area,and electrochemical measurements.The LTO and C-LTO microstructures were examined in the charge–discharge capacity at a rate of 50 C,as well as the stability after 100 cycles at a rate of 10 C.The excellent capability may be attributed to good conductivity,large surface area,and stable assembly structure of such micro-nanostructures,which could be explored as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.     

利用皮秒激光烧蚀制备非球形铝纳米颗粒

We report the picosecond laser ablation of aluminum targets immersed in a polar organic liquid (chloroform, CHCl₃) with ~2 ps laser pulses at an input energy of ~350 μJ. The synthesized aluminum nanoparticles exhibited a surface plasmon resonance peak at ~340 nm. Scanning electron microscopy images of Al nanoparticles demonstrated the spherical morphology with an average size of (27 ± 3.6) nm. The formation of smaller spherical Al nanoparticles and the diminished growth could be from the formation of electric double layers on the Al nanoparticles. In addition to spherical aluminum nanoparticles, triangular/pentagonal/hexagonal nanoparticles were also observed in the colloidal solution. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images of ablated Al targets demonstrated laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs), which were the high spatial frequency LIPSSs (HSF-LIPSSs) since their grating period was ~280 nm. Additionally, coarse structures with a period of ~700 nm were observed.     

Nanocrystalline Titanium Dioxide for Solar Cells and Lithium Batteries

1 Results Nanocrystalline TiO2 (anatase) has attracted considerable interest for applications in regenerative photoelectrochemical solar cells[1]. This device is based on charge injection from photoexcited organometallic dye which is adsorbed on the TiO2 surface. A considerable enhancement of the solar cell efficiency was demonstrated on highly organized mesoporous TiO2 thin films made by supramolecular templating with amphiphilic triblock copolymer Pluronic[2]. Titanium dioxide can electrochemically accommodate Li which is useful for a design of new Li-ion batteries. Whereas the charge storage in anatase or rutile is based on the Li-insertion into the bulk crystal lattice, the monoclinic TiO2(B) exhibits an unusual pseudocapacitive Li-storage mechanism[3]. Photo(electro)chemical studies were carried out employing various forms of TiO2 ranging from single-crystal electrodes[4] towards polycrystalline mesoscopic films, either from randomly distributed nanocrystals[1] or from organized framework nanotextures[2]. As expected the photoelectrochemical and Li-insertion activity of mesoscopic TiO2 depend significantly on the electrode morphology. Salient features of Ti(Ⅳ) oxide electrodes will be reviewed for the applications in solar cells and Li-ion batteries.     

Non-spherical aluminum nanoparticles fabricated using picosecond laser ablation

We report the picosecond laser ablation of aluminum targets immersed in a polar organic liquid(chloroform, CHCl3) with ～2 ps laser pulses at an input energy of ～350 μJ. The synthesized aluminum nanoparticles exhibited a surface plasmon resonance peak at ～340 nm.Scanning electron microscopy images of Al nanoparticles demonstrated the spherical morphology with an average size of(27 ± 3.6) nm. The formation of smaller spherical Al nanoparticles and the diminished growth could be from the formation of electric double layers on the Al nanoparticles. In addition to spherical aluminum nanoparticles, triangular/pentagonal/hexagonal nanoparticles were also observed in the colloidal solution. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images of ablated Al targets demonstrated laser induced periodic surface structures(LIPSSs), which were the high spatial frequency LIPSSs(HSF-LIPSSs) since their grating period was ～280 nm. Additionally, coarse structures with a period of ～700 nm were observed.     

Fabrication and character ization of electrospun TiO2/CuS micro–nano-scaled composite fibers

A process to fabricate a kind of novel micro–nano scaled TiO2/CuS composite fibers by electrospinning technique and chemical precipitation method was developed in the present study. The microstructures and photoelectronic properties of the fibers were characterize d using SEM, FT-IR, UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results revealed that the TiO2 portion in the composite fibers was a mixture rutile and anatase phases while TiO2 and CuS had been fully composite. The fibers had smooth surface with a diameter of 50–300 nm. Comparing with pure TiO2 fiber, the TiO2/CuS micro–nano-scaled composite fibers exhibited a strong absorption in the visible light region and the efficiency of photo-induced charge separation were enhanced. This composite system is of widely potential applications in the areas such as solar cells, supercapacity, photocatalysis, etc.     

Layered Fe（Ⅲ） doped TiO2 thin-film electrodes for the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of glucose and potassium hydrogen phthalate

Four types of TiO 2 thin-film electrodes were fabricated from TiO 2 and Fe(III) doped TiO 2 sols using a layer-by-layer dip-coating technique. Electrodes fabricated were TF (pure TiO 2 surface, Fe(III)-TiO 2 bottom layer), FT (Fe(III)-TiO 2 surface, pure TiO 2 bottom layer), TT (both layers pure TiO 2 ) and FF (both layers Fe(III)-TiO 2 ). The photoelectrochemical behavior of these electrodes was characterized using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and steady-state photocurrent measurements in aqueous 0.1 mol L –1 NaNO 3 containing varying concentrations of glucose or potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP). EIS and LSV results revealed that exciton separation efficiency followed the sequence of TF﹥TT﹥FT > FF. Under a constant potential of +0.3 V, steady-state photocurrent profiles were recorded with varying organic compound concentrations. The TF electrode possessed the greatest photocatalytic capacity for oxidizing glucose and KHP, and possessed a KHP anti-poisoning effect. Enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of the TF electrode was attributed to effective exciton separation because of the layered TF structure.     

The selective effect of food-grade guar gum on chalcopyrite-monoclinic pyrrhotite separation using mixed aerofloat (CSU11) as collector

The flotation separation of chalcopyrite from monoclinic pyrrhotite using food-grade guar gum (FGG) as a depressant was studied through flotation tests, kinetic studies, dynamic potential measurements, adsorption experiments, and infrared spectral analyses. The microflotation results showed that the flotation separation of chalcopyrite from monoclinic pyrrhotite could not be realized by adding mixed aerofloat (CSU11) alone. The depressant FGG exhibited a selective depression effect on monoclinic pyrrhotite by controlling the pulp pH range from 5.0 to 6.0, with a maximum floatability variation of 79.36% in the presence of CSU11. The flotation kinetics, zeta-potential, adsorption, and infrared spectroscopy studies revealed that the FGG could absorb more strongly on the surface of monoclinic pyrrhotite than on the surface of chalcopyrite. In addition, the results revealed that the interaction of FGG with the monoclinic pyrrhotite surface was governed primarily by strong chemisorption, whereas FGG mainly bonded to chalcopyrite through hydrogen bonding. This difference was responsible for the excellent depression selectivity of FGG toward monoclinic pyrrhotite flotation and weak depression effect toward chalcopyrite flotation.     

基于SnO2/TiO2/Au NPs纳米复合材料发展光电化学方法特异性检测唾液酸

制备了氧化铟锡（ITO）/二氧化锡（SnO₂）/二氧化钛（TiO₂）/金纳米粒子（Au NPs）纳米复合电极（ITO/SnO₂/TiO₂/Au NPs）,并利用它发展了可以选择性检测唾液酸（SA）的光电化学（PEC）法.采用旋涂法制备了ITO/SnO₂电极,并通过静电纺丝和磁控溅射技术在ITO/SnO₂表面原位合成了TiO₂纳米纤维和Au NPs.与单纯SnO₂比,ITO/SnO₂/TiO₂/Au NPs纳米复合电极的光电性能显著提高.这可能与Au NPs的局域表面等离子体共振效应（LSPR）和TiO₂/SnO₂异质结之间的协同作用密切相关.之后,通过金硫键（Au-S）将四巯基苯硼酸（4-MPBA）修饰在ITO/SnO₂/TiO₂/Au NPs电极表面,利用4-MPBA和SA之间的非特异性酯化反应,发展了可以特异性检测SA的PEC传感平台.     

Synthesis of dandelion-like TiO2 microspheres as anode materials for lithium ion batteries with enhanced rate capacity and cyclic performances

Dandelion-like TiO₂ microspheres consisting of numerous rutile single-crystalline nanorods were synthesized for the first time by a hydrothermal method. Their crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and galvanostatic charge and discharge tests. The results show that the synthesized TiO₂ microspheres exhibit good rate and cycle performances as anode materials of lithium ion batteries. It can be found that the dandelion-like structure provides a larger specific surface area and the single-crystalline nanorod provides a stable structure and fast pathways for electron and lithium ion transport, which contribute to the rate and cycle performances of the battery.     

Synthesis and Largely Enhanced Nonlinear Refraction of Au@Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Core-Shell Nanorods

Au@Cu₂O core-shell nanorods with tunable thickness of Cu₂O shell were synthesized and their linear and nonlinear optical responses were investigated. Two transverse plasmon resonance peaks were observed when the Au nanorods were coated with Cu₂O shells, which were adjusted by the Cu₂O shell thickness. The nonlinear absorption of the Au@Cu₂O nanorods is enhanced by 5 times at the longitudinal plasmon resonance wavelength compared with that of bare Au nanorods. More intriguingly, largely enhanced nonlinear refraction and suppressed nonlinear absorption at the transverse plasmon resonance wavelength were observed in the Au@Cu₂O nanorods. Our findings indicate the existence of strong local field enhancement at the interface between the Au core and the Cu₂O shell, which would provide a promising strategy in designing plasmonic nonlinear nanodevices with good nonlinear figures of merit.     

水热体系下二氧化钛与氧化石墨烯复合纳米晶的合成

 200 ℃下四方结构的二氧化钛(TiO2)与氧化石墨烯(GO)复合纳米晶在一个装有适量钛酸四丁酯、无水乙醇、氧化石墨烯和蒸馏水的密闭的水热釜中加热12 h后被制备。X射线粉末衍射仪（XRD)、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、透射电子显微镜（TEM）等一系列分析仪器被运用来揭示二氧化钛与氧化石墨烯复合纳米晶是由粒径大约160 nm的四方结构的二氧化钛纳米晶与氧化石墨烯复合而成,通过紫外吸收对其光学性能进行了必要的测试。
     

Blue TiO2 polymorph: An efficient material for dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated using a low-temperature sintering process

Recently,surface-disordered or non-stoichiometric TiO_2,such as blue TiO_2(B-TiO_2),has received much attention owing to its unique properties,such as structural disorder near the surface and the existence of Ti~(3+)ions and oxygen vacancies.Therefore,surface-disordered TiO_2has been applied for microwave absorption,photocatalysis,in photoelectrochemical sensors and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.In this work B-TiO_2,a polymorph consisting of nanoparticles,nanotubes and nanosheets,was successfully synthesized and employed as a semiconductor layer in dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs)fabricated using a low-temperature heat treatment process(120°C).Based on the analyses of the experimental results regarding the structure and those from the characterization of B-TiO_2,and its application to DSSCs,it has been found that the B-TiO_2 material has an effect on electron-hole pair separation.The conversion efficiency of the B-TiO_2 DSSC(BTiO_2-DSSC)was 6.18%,whereas that of the TiO_2-P25 DSSC(P25-DSSC)was 3.61%,and that of the TiO_2 polymorph DSSC(PTiO_2-DSSC)which is the precursor of B-TiO_2 was 4.51%.     

Photocatalytic property of TiO2 sensitized by different crystal phase CdS

TiO2 samples sensitized by different crystal phase CdS(CT) are synthesized by hydrothermal process at different reaction temperature. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance(UV-Vis). The XRD result reveals that the crystal phase of CdS is transformed from cubic phase to hexagonal phase with the increase of hydrothermal reaction temperature(120-160 ℃). The absorption edge of CT is extended from 498 nm to 546 nm. The photocatalytic degradation of rhodamin B(RhB) in aqueous solution is used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of CT. With the increase of the preparation temperature, the photocatalytic activity of CT becomes stronger. The degradation rate of RhB by CdS/TiO2 at 160 ℃(CT-160 ℃)reaches 78%.     

Effect of TiO2 nanotubes lateral spacing on photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells

Vertically aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays （-8 μm long, -110nm wide） have been fabricated through anodic oxidation of Ti-metal sheet in fluoride- containing electrolyte. By changing the volume ratio of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in the electrolyte, TiO2 nanotube arrays with different tube-to-tube lateral spacing, i.e., closely packed, just separated, and fully separated, have been synthesized and applied as photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells （DSSCs）. Photovoltaic efficiency of 2.99 %, 3.34 %, and 3.44 % has been obtained for DSSCs based on the closely packed, just separated, and fully separated TiO2 nanotube arrays, respectively, illustrating the effect of tube-to-tube lateral spacing of TiO2 nanotube arrays on the performances of DSSCs. It is suggested that fully separated TiO2 nanotube arrays are beneficial to the conversion efficiency of DSSCs due to higher dye loading and faster electron transfer.     

CdS修饰低密度TiO2纳米棒阵列复合膜的制备及光电性能

为了提高CdS光敏层在TiO₂一维纳米棒阵列中的填充率,在TiO₂种子层的基础上,采用水热法于FTO导电玻璃表面生长了棒长较短、棒间距较大的低密度TiO₂一维纳米棒阵列膜,通过化学浴沉积在TiO₂纳米棒表面包覆CdS种子层,以此为基底采用水热法于TiO₂一维纳米阵列中生长CdS光敏层。采用SEM,XRD及紫外-可见吸收光谱对不同CdS水热生长时间的TiO₂/CdS复合膜结构进行了表征,并对其光电性能进行了研究。结果表明,低密度TiO₂纳米棒阵列有利于CdS生长液在阵列中渗入形成完全包覆的CdS种子层,CdS光敏层通过水热过程在整个TiO₂纳米棒表面均匀生长,逐渐形成CdS对TiO₂纳米棒阵列的完全填充和包覆,并在阵列顶端形成由CdS纳米短棒组成的花状修饰层;CdS的修饰将TiO₂一维纳米阵列膜的光吸收拓展至可见光区,水热生长7 h所得到的TiO₂/CdS复合膜具有最高光电流。所制备的CdS修饰低密度TiO₂纳米棒复合膜在太阳电池器件中具有很好的应用前景。     

Ag沉积Bi12O17Cl2半导体制备及光催化活性研究

采用光原位还原法制备了一系列Ag沉积的氯氧化铋(Ag/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂)二元复合半导体材料,并对其进行表征。X射线光电子能谱分析证实了样品中存在Ag单质,由于Ag颗粒的局部表面等离子体共振效应使紫外可见漫反射光谱图中可见光吸收能力明显增强,扫描电子显微镜图表明制备的材料具有纳米片堆积形成的三维立体形貌。与纯Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂样品相比,复合材料可见光照射下对甲苯醇的光催化选择性氧化性能明显增强,这主要与复合材料中形成了金属−半导体异质结以及Ag的等离子体共振效应相关。