Nano

TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TiO₂NTs) were prepared by anodic oxidation, then soaked in thiourea solution, and finally transformed into modified anatase TiO₂ structure by heat treatment. Through the test results of SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photo-current and so on, finding that S replaces Ti${}^{4+}$ in the form of S${}^{6+}$, and part of the Ti${}^{4+}$ is reduced to Ti${}^{3+}$. Ladder type energy band structure, producing by the appearance of S${}^{6+}$ and Ti${}^{3+}$, makes the electron–hole more easily and increases the carrier transfer speed to a certain degree. The photo-current size has increased from 1.07mA/cm² to 2.13mA/cm². By simulating decolorization test of sample to methylthionine chloride under visible light, the degradation rate of the modified sample to methylene blue increases from 32% to 63%, and increased by 1.97 times.

Considering sub-micron potassium titanate whiskers (BX-101), nanoscale potassium titanate whiskers (AX-301), sub-micron potassium titanate whiskers (AX-316) and high strength potassium titanate crystal (AX-319) as functional fillers, heat resistant ablative coated fabrics which have high radiant heat reflectivity were prepared. The effect of the type of functional filler on the thermal protection performance of heat resistant ablative coated fabrics was mainly discussed. Research showed that the microstructure of potassium titanate functional filler had a significant impact on the radiant heat reflectivity and thermal insulation performance of the prepared coated fabric. The coated fabric which took nanoscale potassium titanate whiskers (AX-301) with a minimum diameter and greater length-diameter ratio as functional filler has the highest thermal reflectivity and the best insulation property. Heat ray reflectivity of potassium titanate coated fabrics had positive correlation with their crystallinities. The higher the coated fabric crystallinity was, the greater the heat ray reflectivity. Thermogravimetric analysis results showed that after adding four kinds of potassium titanate fillers, the thermal stability of the prepared coated fabrics was enhanced, and the nanoscale potassium titanate whiskers (AX-301) coated fabrics had the best thermal stability.

As the expected life of dry cask storage installations increases, it becomes increasingly desirable to monitor the state and performance of the cask internals to ensure that they continue to safely contain the radioactive materials in the fuel. One aspect of this task is the monitoring of oxidation of the cladding. With this consideration in mind, Zircaloy-4 (Zr-4) cladding samples were exposed to air at 500${}^{\circ }$C for various duration times to create thin corrosion oxide layers on the surface. The surfaces of the oxidized samples were then systematically scanned by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to achieve the infrared (IR) interference spectra and study the relationship between the optical interference and the various thicknesses of the oxide layers. The profiles of the oxide layers were verified througth cross-sectional examination by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The IR interference patterns varied with oxide layer thickness, enabling the determination of oxide layer thickness of values, including half micron thick. Further analysis demonstrated that the interference oscillation period and the oscillation amplitude decreased with increasing oxide layer thickness. Combined with a physical model that describes the optical interference, the interference spectra were directly correlated to the oxide layer thickness quantitatively. The study provides the basis for an accurate, nondestructive and sensitive method to monitor the degree of zirconium-based cladding corrosion due to oxidation.

As one of the basic bismuth nitrates, Bi₂O₂(OH)(NO₃) (denoted as BION) has been reported to exhibit powerful photodegradation activity for various contaminants. However, pure BION could only be irradiated by UV light due to broad bandgap ($\sim$3.14eV). Herein, Bi₂S₃/Bi₂O₂(OH)(NO₃) (denoted as BS-BION) heterojunction was prepared by an in situ ion exchange reaction between BION and aqueous thiourea solution ($\mathrm{\text{pH}}\approx 3$). The resulting heterojunction possessed good visible light absorption and closely contacted interfaces, which benefited effective separation and transfer of photogenerated charges, thus leading to excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the as-prepared heterojunction photocatalyst also presented high photochemical stability, which may be of great significance for practical application.

Using NiCl${}_2\cdot 6{\text{H}}_2$O and Y(NO)₃ solution as raw material and urea as the precipitating agent, Yttrium-doped NiO hollow spheres (Y-NiOHS) were prepared through homogeneous precipitation method with melamine–formaldehyde polymer microspheres (MF) as templates. The electrochemical performances of Y-NiOHS with difference Y-doped mole ratios (Y:$\mathrm{\text{Ni}}=0.3$%, 0.5%, 1%Y-NiOHS) were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), constant current charge–discharge test (GCD) and AC impedance test (EIS). The results of CV show that 0.5%Y-NiOHS in 5mV/s scan rate can achieve the maximum capacity of 320.92F/g. The results of GCD show that the capacity of 0.5%Y-NiOHS is 226.2F/g at 0.5A/g discharge current density and the 1000 charge–discharge cycles after the capacitance retention rate is 85%. The electrochemical performance of 0.5%Y-NiOHS are better than NiOHS and NiO powder.

Hematite nanospindles with a uniform size of $\sim$270nm in length and $\sim$90nm in width are prepared using a facile one-step hydrothermal method. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) serves as a structure-directing agent to control the primary morphology and aggregations. When evaluated as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the electrode of sodium alginate (SA) binder exhibits a much better electrochemical performance than that with the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder. Remarkably, the electrode using SA binder can deliver a high reversible specific capacity of 979mAh$\cdot$g${}^{-1}$ after 50 cycles and prominent rate capability. The microstructural evolution of the nanospindles after the electrochemical cycling is investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Our results may provide important mechanistic insights for the design of nanostructured anode materials for LIBs.

Halloysite nanotubes@polydopamine (HNTs@PDA) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized, and Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) were loaded on HNTs@PDA by electrostatic adsorption. The electrochemical sensor based on HNTs@PDA–Au nanocomposites was constructed. The effect of the composition, structure and property of HNTs@PDA–Au on the response performance of the sensor was explored. The morphology and composition of the nanocomposites were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopic, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical results revealed HNTs@PDA–Au as the sensing interface with good effect on electrocatalytic oxidation of N₂H₄. This sensor detected N₂H₄ in the range from 0.75$\mu$mol$\cdot$L${}^{-1}$ to 2.8mmol$\cdot$L${}^{-1}$, with a sensitivity of 171.7$\mu$A (mmol$\cdot$L${}^{-1}{)}^{-1}$cm${}^{-2}$ and a detection limit of 0.25$\mu$mol$\cdot$L${}^{-1}$ (S/N $=$ 3).

The novel magnetic PW-doped PEDOT (PW@PEDOT) imprinted photocatalyst with good reproducibility was prepared by the surface imprinting technique and microwave heating method. Due to the existence of PW@PEDOT and imprinted cavity in the imprinted layer, the as-prepared magnetic PW@PEDOT imprinted photocatalyst not only had higher photocatalytic activity, but also had the excellent specific recognition ability for selective photodegradation of TC. This paper proposed a new idea to prepare the imprinted photocatalysts.

In this paper, a facile one-pot bottom-up approach for the preparation of graphene and Ni/graphene nanostructures at normal pressure and low temperature (150${}^{\circ }$C) has been developed. The graphene and Ni/graphene nanostructures were prepared by reducing hexachloro-benzene (C₆Cl${}_6)$ with potassium in $n$-tetradecane (C${}_{14}$H${}_{30})$ solution without the presence of a catalyst. Meanwhile, the effect of Ni content on the specific surface area (SSA) of the final products was investigated. The testing results display that the as-prepared samples have large SSA and high C/O ratio, implying that the designed synthesis method is simple and efficient. To evaluate the adsorption performances of the samples, we select organic dye rhodamine B (RhB) as the model organic contaminant in aqueous solutions. The experimental results show that the samples possess high adsorption capacity ($q_{max}=943.4$mg g${}^{-1})$, ultrafast adsorption rate ($>99$%, 2min), high adsorption efficiency ($\ge 99.8$%) and good chemical stability in a wide pH range (2–11), high salt tolerance ($>80$mg mL${}^{-1})$, and good reusability ($>99.5$%, 9 cycles) for dye RhB from water. In particular, the samples exhibit a good property for the treatment of the raw industrial wastewater (RIW).

This study compared the susceptibility of different triangular silver nanoprisms (TSNPRs) towards the etching of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a catalytical product of glucose oxidase (GOx). The influence of capping agents and structural size have been explored towards the oxidation of silver nanoprisms. Results indicated that the etching of the TSNPRs was extremely effected by surface capping agents, in which citrate contributed a highest H₂O₂-sensitive effect in the absence of secondary capping ligands (e.g., glycerol and ethanol). Meanwhile, compared to bigger TSNPRs, smaller nanoprisms exhibited a different signal output of plasma resonance peak through intensity decrease rather than wavelength shift, making them more H₂O₂-etching susceptibile. In virtue of GOx etching-based system, TSNPRs with a small size and citrate capping were served as a substitute for big nanoprisms to sense glucose, offering a number of advantages such as high sensitivity, improved calibration, time-saving and extended detection ranges. Moreover, the small sized TSNPRs capping with citrate alone have been expected to be of great interest in the trace of GOx, providing an ultrahigh sensitive GOx etching-based analytical platform for point-of-care diagnostics towards other analytes (e.g., DNA, protein).

Palladium nanoparticles are widely used in catalysis, sensors, coatings and hydrogen storage devices. This paper reports the one-pot photochemical reduction of Pd(II) alcohol solutions into Pd⁰ nanoparticle suspensions. The synthesis involves the reduction of [PdCl₄]${}^{2-}$ dissolved in EtOH/2-PrOH mixtures by the ketyl radicals (Me)₂(HO)C$\cdot$ generated from 254nm irradiation, in the absence of other chemical reducing agents. Clusters of $\sim 10$nm Pd⁰ particles thus produced could be separated from their suspensions by microfiltration. Preliminary tests are reported on the catalytic potential of such particles for the thermal dehydrogenation of alcohols.