Synthesis and characterization of Gd-doped PbMoO_4 nanoparticles used for UV-light-driven photocatalysis

Gd-doped PbMoO_4 nanoparticles were prepared by a refluxing method at 80℃ for 2 h.Effect of molar content of Gd dopant on phase,morphology and optical properties was studied.The as-prepared Gddoped PbMoO_4 samples can be indexed to pure tetragonal PbMoO_4 phase.The particles size of PbMoO_4 is decreased with increasing in the molar content of Gd dopant from 15.20±3.04 nm for pure PbMoO_4 to 8.72±1.53 nm for 5 mol% Gd-doped PbMoO_4.The absorption of 5 mol% Gd-doped PbMoO_4 nanoparticles shows red-shift caused by lattice distortion of PbMoO_4.The photocatalytic performance of 5 mol% Gddoped PbMoO_4 nanoparticles shows the highest degradation of rhodamine B(RhB) of 97.92% under UV radiation and 67.65% under visible radiation because Gd~(3+) dopant as an electron acceptor plays the role in enhancing the separation of electron-hole pair.     

Characterization of perovskite LaFeO3 synthesized by microwave plasma method for photocatalytic applications

Perovskite LaFeO₃ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by microwave plasma method combined with high temperature calcination at 700–1000?°C. The influences of calcination temperature on morphology, crystalline structure, purity and the atomic compositions of samples were studied. The photocatalytic performance of LaFeO₃ was evaluated though the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light. In this research, the orthorhombic LaFeO₃ nanoparticles showed band gaps in the range of 2.15–2.30?eV. The particle size increased with increasing in the calcination temperature, leading to the decreasing in the surface area. The LaFeO₃ sample calcined at 900?°C showed the highest photodegradation of 77.8% and the apparent rate constant of 0.0077?min^?1 within 180?min because of the narrower of band gap and the higher crystalline degree and oxygen adsorption.     

Cyclic microwave assisted synthesis of Sb2S3 dumb-bells using polyvinylpyrrolidone as a template and splitting agent

Antimony sulfide (Sb₂S₃) was successfully synthesized from antimony chloride (SbCl₃) and sodiumthiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃) in ethylene glycol (EG) containing different polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) masses under cyclic microwave radiation. XRD and SEM show that the products were orthorhombic Sb₂S₃ nanorods forming the dumb-bells. TEM study reveals Sb₂S₃ single-crystal nanorods, growing along the [001] direction. The dumb-bell formation is also proposed, according to the splitting ends and a middle tie-up. Its direct band gap, calculated from UV-visible absorption, is 1.52 eV.     

Methanol–Water System for Solvothermal Synthesis of YVO4:Eu with High Photoluminescent Intensity

A methanol–water mixed solvent was used as a reaction medium for the preparation of Eu³⁺-doped YVO₄ phosphor materials. These were synthesized by a solvothermal method at 150°–300°C using a 10 vol% solution of water in methanol as the reaction medium followed by calcination at 1000°–1200°C. The phase composition and optical properties of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The powders obtained were composed of spherical particles ∼0.5 μm in size, with an internal structure that was different for samples prepared under subcritical and supercritical conditions of methanol. After the calcination, the powders obtained at 240°–300°C retained the initial raspberry-like morphology, whereas the morphology of samples prepared at 150°–210°C changed significantly due to noticeable sintering. The fluorescence intensity exhibited by the prepared samples was higher than the fluorescence intensity shown by one of the best commercial YVO₄:Eu phosphors having a large particle size.     

Sonochemical preparation of PbWO4 crystals with different morphologies

PbWO₄ was prepared from Na₂WO₄·2H₂O and Pb(OAc)₂·3H₂O in a solution containing a cationic surfactant (N-cetyl pyridinium chloride) using the sonochemical process (ultrasonic irradiation). The product morphologies, characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were controlled by the surfactant, pH values and ultrasonic irradiation times. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) studies revealed diffraction patterns in good agreement with the simulation model, along with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman analyses showed a W–O stretching band consistent with tetragonal PbWO₄. Photoluminescent properties of the pine tree shaped products were also investigated.     

Synthesis of CNTs via ethanol decomposition over ball-milled Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> coated copper sheets

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized on ball-milled Fe₂O₃ coated copper sheets by the catalytic decomposition of ethanol vapor at 650°C. TEM, SEM, and EDX revealed the presence of 30–50 nm diameter multiwalled carbon nanotubes with catalytic particles at their tips. CNTs, α-Fe, and Fe₃C were detected by XRD. Raman and TG analyses show that the product is CNTs with less than 10 wt % residues. The carbon yield was the maximum at 354 wt %. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Passage of the Roughening Temperature Influence on the Crystalline Structure and Morphology of a Nano Metal–Organic Material

The reactions between 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (HMBT) and AgNO₃ in ultrasonic bath with low and high concentrations of initial reagents provided yellow precipitates of [Ag₆(MBT)₆] (1), which can be considered as 1L and 1H, respectively. Powder XRD patterns of them showed that they have crystalline structure and SEM images of 1L and 1H approved that microblocks and nanosheets of 1 were formed, respectively. Similar studies after mechanical and thermo-mechanical treatment of 1L and 1H indicated that compound 1 with nanoparticle and agglomerated nanoparticle morphologies were obtained. As a result of heat and energy created from the friction process and also external heat source a roughening transition was occurred and the crystalline samples of 1L and 1H, loses their facets. This can be understood by considering compound 1 surface above the roughening temperature as a liquid surface.     

Photocatalysis of Cd-doped ZnO synthesized with precipitation method

ZnO particles doped with 0 mol%-5 mol% Cd dopant were successfully synthesized by a precipitation method.The as-synthesized products were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis(TGA),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),X-ray diffraction(XRD),photoluminescence(PL) spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy(SEM) coupled with an energydispersive X-ray(EDX) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The precursors showed weight loss at 35-700℃ caused by phase transformation and evaporation processes.The as-synthesized products were specified as hexagonal wurtzite ZnO.The crystallite size of ZnO samples doped with 0 mol%-5 mol% Cd gradually increased with the increase in Cd content.The photocatalytic activities of 0 mol%-5 mol% Cd-doped ZnO samples were evaluated through photodecolorization of methylene blue(MB) under ultraviolet(UV) radiation.In this research,ZnO doped with 3 mol% Cd shows the best photocatalytic activity in degrading of MB molecules as much as 89% within 240 min.     

Characterization of Cu3SbS4 microflowers produced by a cyclic microwave radiation

Copper antimony sulfide (Cu₃SbS₄) crystals were produced from mixtures of different molar ratios of CuCl, SbCl₃ and thiourea in 40 and 60 ml ethylene glycol (EG) by a 300 W cyclic microwave radiation (CMR) for different lengths of time. In the present research, tetragonal Cu₃SbS₄ microflowers, characterized by X-ray and electron diffraction including electron microscopy and Raman analyses, were successfully produced in the 40 ml solution containing 2:2:4 molar ratio Cu:Sb:S for 40 cycles. Their UV-visible absorption was studied to determine the energy gap (E_g). A formation mechanism was also proposed to relate with the experimental results.     

Characterization of CoWO4 nano-particles produced using the spray pyrolysis

CoWO₄ nano-particles were produced by spraying the solution containing CoCl₂·6H₂O and Na₂WO₄·2H₂O on glass slides at 250–450 °C. XRD, SAED, TEM, HRTEM and AFM revealed the presence of CoWO₄ nano-particles with their crystallographic planes aligning in systematic array. Raman spectra provide evidence of the wolframite structure, corresponding to the product phase. Their photoluminescence (PL) emissions show the narrow central peaks of the same spectral region at 411–419 nm.