Microwave-assisted synthesis of CePO<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanorod phosphor with violet emission

Monoclinic and hexagonal CePO4 nanoparticles and nanorods were successfully synthesized from Ce(NO3) 3·6H2O and Na3PO4·12H2O solu-tions at pH 1-5 by a 180 W microwave radiation for 60 min.The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD) ,Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) .XRD patterns revealed that the products are hexagonal CePO4 structures at pH 2-5,and monoclinic CePO4 structures at pH 1.SEM characterization shows that these products were nanoparticles,short nanorods,and long nanorods,controlled by the pH of the precursor solutions.Optical properties of the nanorods were also investigated by ultraviolet-visible(UV-vis) and photoluminescence(PL) spectroscopy.     

Characterization of Bi2S3 nanorods and nano-structured flowers prepared by a hydrothermal method

Bismuth sulfide nanorods and nano-structured flowers were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction of bismuth nitrate pentahydrate and thiourea solutions, containing 1 and 2 ml of 65% HNO₃, respectively. By using X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HRTEM), the products were specified as orthorhombic Bi₂S₃ in the shapes of nanorods and flower-like clusters of nanorods, with the growth of nanorods in the [001] direction. A diffraction pattern was also simulated, and was in good accordance with the SAED pattern obtained from the experiment.     

Solvothermal synthesis of CdS nanowires templated by polyethylene glycol

CdS nanowires were solvothermally synthesized from Cd(NO₃)₂ and S powder using ethylenediamine as a solvent and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a template. Hexagonal CdS with P6₃mc space group was detected using XRD and SAED, results which are in good accordance with those obtained by the simulation. SEM, TEM and HRTEM revealed the gradual development of nanowires in the [0 0 1] direction with a number of atoms aligning in a crystal lattice. Raman spectra of different products showed the fundamental and overtone modes at the same wavenumbers of 300 and 601 cm⁻¹, respectively. Their relative intensities at different molecular weight PEG were influenced by the anisotropic geometry of the products. Their photoluminescence peaks were detected at the same wavelengths of 518 nm. A formation mechanism for CdS nanowires was also proposed to relate to the experimental results.     

Facile sonochemical synthesis and photocatalysis of Ag nanoparticle/ZnWO_4-nanorod nanocomposites

A facile sonochemical method was developed to synthesize metallic Ag spherical nanoparticles on the surface of ZnWO_4 nanorods by forming heterostructure Ag/ZnWO_4 nanocomposites.The Ag/ZnWO_4 nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The experimental results showed that fcc metallic Ag nanoparticles were supported on surface of monoclinic sanmartinite ZnWO_4 nanorods.The Ag3d_(3/2) and Ag 3 d_(5/2) peaks have well-separated binding energies of 6.00 eV,certifying the existence of metallic Ag.The Ag/ZnWO_4 nanocomposites were evaluated for photodegradation of methylene blue(MB)induced by ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis)radiation.In this research,heterostructure 10 wt% Ag nanoparticle/ZnWO_4-nanorod composites have the highest photocatalytic activity of 99%degradation of MB within 60 min.The increase in photocatalytic activity was the result of photoinduced electrons in conduction band of ZnWO_4 that effectively diffused to metallic Ag spherical nanoparticles and the inhibition of electron-hole recombination process.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructure flowers

Hexagonal ZnO nanostructure flowers were successfully synthesized from a 1:15 molar ratio of Zn(CH₃COO)₂2H₂O to KOH using 180 W microwave radiation for 20 min. The product phase was detected using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). A diffraction pattern was also simulated and was found to be in accordance with those of the experiment and the JCPDS database. Raman spectrometry revealed the presence of four vibration peaks at 337.85, 381.13, 437.54 and 583.30 cm^? 1. The product, spear-shaped nanorods in flower-like clusters, was characterized using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). High resolution TEM (HRTEM) showed that growth of the spear-shaped nanorods was in the [001] direction, which was normal to the (002) planes composing a lattice fringe of the nanorods. A formation mechanism of hexagonal ZnO nanostructure flowers was also proposed.     

Photocatalytic activity of La-doped ZnO nanostructure materials synthesized by sonochemical method

ZnO nanostructure materials doped with different La contents were synthesized by sonochemical method. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR). In this research, XRD patterns of pure ZnO and La-doped ZnO are specified as hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure with no detection of La2O3 phase. SEM and TEM characterization revealed the flower shape of pure ZnO built-up from petals of hexagonal prisms with hexagonal pyramid tips. Upon doping with La, the flower-shaped ZnO is broken into individual 1D prism-like nanorods. Photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized products were determined by measuring the degradation of methylene blue(MB) under ultraviolet–visible(UV) light irradiation.Among them, the 2.0 mol% La-doped ZnO shows better photocatalytic properties than any other products.     

Formation of LiNi0.5Co0.5VO4 nano-crystals by solvothermal reaction

LiNi_0.5Co_0.5VO₄ nano-crystals were solvothermally prepared using a mixture of LiOH·H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and NH₄VO₃ in isopropanol at 150–200 °C followed by 300–600 °C calcination to form powders. TGA curves of the solvothermal products show weight losses due to evaporation and decomposition processes. The purified products seem to form at 500 °C and above. The products analyzed by XRD, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) correspond to LiNi_0.5Co_0.5VO₄. V–O stretching vibrations of VO₄ tetrahedrons analyzed using FTIR and Raman spectrometer are in the range of 620–900 cm⁻¹. A solvothermal reaction at 150 °C for 10 h followed by calcination at 600 °C for 6 h yields crystals with lattice parameter of 0.8252 ± 0.0008 nm. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images clearly show that the solvothermal temperatures play a more important role in the size formation than the reaction times.     

Effects of ethylenediamine to water ratios on cadmium sulfide nanorods and nanoparticles produced by a solvothermal method

Cadmium sulfide nanorods and nanoparticles were successfully produced by a solvothermal reaction at 200 °C for 24 h using ethylenediamine and water as pure and mixed solvents. The products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In pure ethylenediamine, they show the hexagonal structure CdS nanorods with 0.2-2 μm long and 30 nm diameter, and the 1LO and 2LO modes at 299.36 and 600.72 cm^− 1, respectively. Growth of CdS nanorods is along the [001] direction, interpreted by HRTEM images and SAED patterns. In the 50:50 vol.% of ethylenediamine:water mixed solvents, the length of CdS nanorods decreased to 100-200 nm. The CdS nanoparticles were produced when pure water was used.     

Characterization of Bi2S3 with different morphologies synthesized using microwave radiation

Bi₂S₃ with different morphologies (nanoparticles, nanorods and nanotubes) was synthesized using bismuth nitrate pentahydrate (Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O) and two kinds of sulfur sources (CH₃CSNH₂ and NH₂CSNH₂) in different solvents (water, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol) via a microwave radiation method at 180 W for 20 min. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that all of the products are orthorhombic Bi₂S₃ phase of nanoparticles, nanorods and nanotubes, influenced by the sulfur sources and solvents. Formation mechanisms of the products with different morphologies are also proposed.     

Growth of hexagonal prism ZnO nanorods on Zn substrates by hydrothermal method and their photoluminescence

Hexagonal prism ZnO nanorods were successfully grown on Zn substrates by the 120 °C and 24 h hydrothermal reaction of the solutions with pH of 9–12. Results from XRD, SEM, TEM, SAED and HRTEM showed that the as-synthesized products were wurtzite ZnO with the shape of hexagonal prism nanorods grown along the [0 0 1] direction with smooth prismatic side planes. The PL spectra showed strong emission band at 543 nm in the green-yellow region due to the recombination of electrons trapped in singly ionized oxygen vacancies and photoexcited holes. This facile, reproducible and effective low-cost approach is promising for the future large-scale synthesis of wurtzite ZnO nanostructures for different applications in nanotechnology.