Fabrication and characterization of a highly sensitive hydroquinone chemical sensor based on iron-doped ZnO nanorods.

Herein, we report the development of a simple and highly sensitive hydroquinone (HQ) chemical sensor based on an electrochemically activated iron-doped (Fe-doped) zinc oxide nanorod (ZnO NR) modified screen-printed electrode (SPE). The Fe-doped ZnO NRs were prepared using a hydrothermal process and their morphological, crystal, compositional and optical properties were characterized in detail. The detailed characterizations showed that the NRs are densely grown, well-crystalline and possess a wurtzite hexagonal phase.

Highly selective colorimetric detection and preconcentration of Bi(III) ions by dithizone complexes anchored onto mesoporous TiO2.

We successfully developed a single-step detection and removal unit for Bi(III) ions based on dithizone (DZ) anchored on mesoporous TiO2 with rapid colorometric response and high selectivity for the first time. [(DZ)3-Bi] complex is easily separated and collected by mesoporous TiO2 as adsorbent and preconcentrator without any color change of the produced complex onto the surface of mesoporous TiO2 (TiO2-[(DZ)3-Bi]) at different Bi(III) concentrations. This is because highly potent mesoporous TiO2 architecture provides proficient channeling or movement of Bi(III) ions for efficient binding of metal ion, and the simultaneous excellent adsorbing nature of mesoporous TiO2 provides an extra plane for the removal of metal ions.

One-pot synthesis and characterization of Nb2O5 nanopowder.

Nanosized niobium oxide powders were synthesized with a yield of approximately 87% using a simple and facile soft-chemical process. Niobium pentachloride (Nb2Cl5) was used as the precursor which was first converted into niobium ethoxide and then hydrolysed with water to synthesize niobia nanopowder. The synthesized powder was calcined at 500 degrees C for phase conversion to end-centered monoclinic as confirmed by diffraction studies and elemental analysis with a chemical composition in the ratio of Nb:O as 1:2.

Temperature dependant characteristics of zinc oxide nanorods based heterojunction diode.

Temperature-dependant characteristics of heterojunction diode made by n-ZnO nanorods grown on p-silicon substrates has been characterized and demonstrated in this paper. ZnO nanorods were grown onto the silicon substrate via simple thermal evaporation process by using metallic zinc powder in the presence of oxygen at approximately 550 degrees C without the use of any metal catalysts or additives. The as-grown ZnO nanorods were characterized in terms of their structural and optical properties.

Low-temperature growth and dye-sensitized solar cells applications of flower-shaped ZnO hexagonal nanorods.

Flower-shaped ZnO structures composed of hexagonal nanorods were grown in a large-quantity via simple aqueous solution process by using zinc nitrate as a source of zinc ions at low-temperature of approximately 85 degrees C. The as-grown flower-shaped ZnO structures composed of hexagonal nanorods were characterized in terms of their structural, optical and photovoltaic properties by using X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, FTIR, UV-Vis and Raman-scattering spectroscopy. The detailed structural investigations confirmed that the as-synthesized products are well-crystalline and possessing wurtzite hexagonal phase.