Narrow Results

Cu nanoparticles have been synthesized by thermal decomposition of Cu-oleate complex, which was prepared by the reaction with CuCl₂ and sodium oleate in water solution. The monodispersed Cu nanoparticles were produced by controlling temperature (290°C). TEM images of the nanoparticles showed two-dimensional assembly of particles with diameter of 16.2 ± 2.9 nm, demonstrating the uniformity of these nanoparticles. EDX spectrum and XRD peaks of the nanoparticles showed the highly crystalline nature of the Cu structures. The decomposition of Cu-oleate complex was analyzed with TGA and the crystallization of Cu nanoparticles was observed with XRD.

Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals have been prepared using [bis(2-hydroxyacetophenato)manganese(II)] as precursor. Transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated nanocrystals Mn₃O₄ with an average diameter of about 20 nm. The structural study by X-ray diffraction indicates that these nanocrystals have pure tetragonal phase. The phase pure samples were characterized using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy for Mn 2p level. The values of binding energies are consistent with the relative values reported in the literature.

Ceria (CeO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) have been produced from cerium nitrate and walnut shell as a worthless agricultural waste by a thermal decomposition method followed by open air calcination. These NPs further were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, particle sizes can be tuned by changing cerium source/biomass ratio. To test the catalytic activity of cerium NPs as a heterogeneous catalyst, we selected three-component synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinoxalin-2-amine. Also, the efficiency of CeO₂ NPs as a support for palladium NPs and subsequent use in aerobic oxidation of alcohols has been investigated. TEM image of a recovered catalyst indicates the formation of 12 nm sized palladium NPs within the cerium oxide NPs. The catalyst is quite effective for the oxidation of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones under atmospheric pressure of air. Oxidation of secondary aliphatic alcohols is performed in oxygen atmosphere.

Nanostructured CuO has been successfully synthesized via Thermal decomposition method at 700^∘C. Prepared CuO was characterized using IR spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). IR spectra confirm the metal–oxygen bonding in these nanoparticles. The XRD pattern confirms a single-phase crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. The synthesized CuO was demonstrated as an efficient catalyst in degradation of Rhodamine B in the presence of light through oxidation. More than 93% of the Rhodamine B dye was degraded after 150min. It was observed that photocatalytic degradation of dyes follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. A tentative mechanism has also been proposed for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes in the presence of copper oxide semiconductor.