Hierarchical Bifunctional NiO Electrocatalyst: Highly Porous Structure Boosting the Water Splitting Activity.

The development of an efficient, low-cost and earth-abundant electrocatalyst for water splitting is crucial for the production of sustainable hydrogen energy. However their practical applications are largely restricted by their limited synthesis methods, large overpotential and low surface area. Hierarchical materials with a highly porous three-dimensional nanostructure have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional electrocatalytic properties.

Solar Light-Driven Molecular Oxygen Activation by BiOCl Nanosheets: Synergy of Coexposed {001}, {110} Facets and Oxygen Vacancies.

Single-crystalline BiOCl nanosheets with coexposed {001} and {110} facets, as well as oxygen vacancies, were synthesized using a simple method. These nanosheets have the ability to activate molecular oxygen, producing reactive superoxide radicals (77.8%) and singlet oxygen (22.

Mesoporous CdS via Network of Self-Assembled Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Characterization and Enhanced Photoconducting Property.

Semiconduction nanoparticles are intensively studied due to their huge potential in optoelctronic applications. Here we report an efficient chemical route for hydrothermal synthesis of aggregated mesoporous cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles using supramolecular-assembly of ionic and water soluble sodium salicylate as the capping agent. The nanostructure, mesophase, optical property and photoconductivity of these mesoporous CdS materials have been characterized by using small and wide angle powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2-sorption, Raman analysis, Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR), UV-Visible DSR spectroscopy, and photoconductivity measurement.

Synthesis of Hollow Doughnut Shape Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle: A Case of Self-Assembly Composite Templates.

The new class of silica nanoparticles with unprecedented structural morphology is synthesized by hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), l-arginine, and ammonium metatungstate (AMT) composite template, all in aqueous ethanol. The morphology of the synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) can be tuned from a spherical to a hollow doughnut shape through a hollow sphere by controlling the concentration of AMT in the composite template. The formation mechanism of the hollow doughnut shaped MSNs (hd-MSNs) is well-explored by means of zeta potential, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with elemental mapping analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

A new microporous oxyfluorinated titanium(IV) phosphate as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the selective oxidation of cyclohexanone.

Designing a new porous nanomaterial for eco-friendly catalytic reactions is very challenging. Here, a new crystalline microporous oxyfluorinated titanium phosphate material (TIPO-1) has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions in the absence of any structure directing agent. The triclinic crystalline phase with the unit cell parameters a=7.

Pore size and concentration effect of mesoporous silica nanoparticles on the coefficient of thermal expansion and optical transparency of poly(ether sulfone) films.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with uniform size (<50 nm) yet with different pore diameters were synthesized, and used as fillers in poly(ether sulfone) (PES) films in order to decrease their coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) without sacrificing optical transparency. Here, both CTE and optical transparency of the MSN/PES nanocomposite films gradually decreased with increasing MSN concentration. The PES films containing MSNs with larger pores showed the best performance in CTE and optical transparency.

Morphology evolution of single-crystalline hematite nanocrystals: magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts for enhanced facet-driven photoredox activity.

We have developed a new green chemical approach for the shape-controlled synthesis of single-crystalline hematite nanocrystals in aqueous medium. FESEM, HRTEM and SAED techniques were used to determine the morphology and crystallographic orientations of each nanocrystal and its exposed facets. PXRD and HRTEM techniques revealed that the nanocrystals are single crystalline in nature; twins and stacking faults were not detected in these nanocrystals.

Efficient solid acid catalyst containing Lewis and Brønsted Acid sites for the production of furfurals.

Self-assembled nanoparticulates of porous sulfonated carbonaceous TiO2 material that contain Brønsted and Lewis acidic sites were prepared by a one-pot synthesis method. The material was characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption, pyridine FTIR spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, N2 -sorption, atomic absorbance spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The carbonaceous heterogeneous catalyst (Glu-TsOH-Ti) with a Brønsted-to-Lewis acid density ratio of 1.

Synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurural from carbohydrates using large-pore mesoporous tin phosphate.

A large-pore mesoporous tin phosphate (LPSnP-1) material has been synthesized hydrothermally by using Pluronic P123 as the structure-directing agent. The material is composed of aggregated nanoparticles of 10-15 nm in diameter and has a BET surface area of 216 m(2)  g(-1) with an average pore diameter of 10.4 nm.

Mesoporous core–shell Fenton nanocatalyst: a mild, operationally simple approach to the synthesis of adipic acid.

Mesoporous nanoparticles composed of γ-Al2O3 cores and α-Fe2O3 shells were synthesized in aqueous medium. The surface charge of γ-Al2O3 helps to form the core–shell nanocrystals. The core–shell structure and formation mechanism have been investigated by wide-angle XRD, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and elemental mapping by ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) TEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Template-free synthesis of a porous organic-inorganic hybrid tin(IV) phosphonate and its high catalytic activity for esterification of free fatty acids.

Here we have synthesized an organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous tin phosphonate monolith (MLSnP-1) with crystalline pore walls by a template-free sol-gel route. N2 sorption analysis shows Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 347 m2 g(-1). Wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern shows few broad diffraction peaks indicating crystalline pore wall of the material.

Poly[3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,5-thienylene] grafted reduced graphene oxide: an efficient alternate material of TiO2 in dye sensitized solar cells.

Replacement of the TiO2 layer in a traditional dye sensitized solar cell (DSC) by poly[3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,5-thienylene] grafted reduced graphene oxide (PHET-g-rGO) yields an overall power conversion efficiency of 3.06% with the N-719 dye, where the rGO part increases the charge mobility by reducing the backward recombination reaction in the DSC.

Self-assembled titanium phosphonate nanomaterial having a mesoscopic void space and its optoelectronic application.

Here we report the synthesis of a new crystalline titanium phosphonate material (HTiP-7) having a self-assembled nanostructure and a mesoscopic void space without the aid of any surfactant or templating agent. The material has been synthesized hydrothermally through the reaction between benzene-1,3,5-triphosphonic acid (BTPA) and titanium(iv) isopropoxide at neutral pH at 453 K for 24 h. This hybrid phosphonate material has been thoroughly characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption, HR TEM, FE SEM, TG-DTA, FT IR and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopic studies.

A multifunctional porous organic Schottky barrier diode.

Mesoporous materials: A multifunctional porous organic material (ANPPIT; see picture) has been synthesized and characterized. Multifunctionality of the compound has been determined from nitrogen adsorption, guest-dependent luminescence, and electrical conductivity measurements.

Synthesis and temperature-induced morphological control in a hybrid porous iron-phosphonate nanomaterial and its excellent catalytic activity in the synthesis of benzimidazoles.

A new organic-inorganic hybrid porous iron-phosphonate material, HPFP-1, has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions by using hexamethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetrakis-(methylphosphonic acid) (HDTMP) as the organophosphorus precursor. The morphology of this material was found to be different at three different temperatures. The material that was synthesized at 453 K showed a flake-like particle morphology and the material was highly crystalline.

Highly ordered mesoporous TiO2-Fe2O3 mixed oxide synthesized by sol-gel pathway: an efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for dehalogenation reaction.

Highly ordered two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal TiO(2)-Fe(2)O(3) mixed-oxide material MFT-1, which is composed of very tiny nanoparticles, is synthesized using sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as a structure-directing agent. Interestingly, synthesis of an ordered mesophase was not possible using SDS as a template for mesoporous pure Fe(2)O(3) or TiO(2) phases. This mesoporous iron-titanium mixed-oxide material has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), N(2) sorption, ultraviolet-visible light diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) studies.

Hybrid porous tin(IV) phosphonate: an efficient catalyst for adipic acid synthesis and a very good adsorbent for CO2 uptake.

A new porous organic-inorganic hybrid tin phosphonate material has been synthesized hydrothermally, which shows a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 723 m(2) g(-1) and it adsorbs 4.8 mmol g(-1) CO(2) at 273 K and 5 bar pressure. The material also shows remarkable catalytic activity in one-pot liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexanone to adipic acid under eco-friendly conditions.

Self-assembled TiO2 nanospheres by using a biopolymer as a template and its optoelectronic application.

Self-assembled TiO(2) nanoparticulate materials with well-defined spherical morphologies were synthesized by using a biopolymer sodium alginate as a template under different synthesis conditions. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to characterize the TiO(2) nanoparticles. N(2) sorption analysis revealed the moderately good surface area (124.

Self-assembled mesoporous γ-Al2O3 spherical nanoparticles and their efficiency for the removal of arsenic from water.

We report a highly efficient synthetic strategy for self-assembled mesoporous γ-Al(2)O(3) materials using sodium salicylate as template. The mesoporous γ-Al(2)O(3) samples synthesized following this strategy have high surface areas (231-497 m(2)g(-1)), consist of crystalline tiny spherical nanoparticles of dimensions ca. 2-10nm and showed high affinity for the adsorption of arsenic from the contaminated aqueous solutions.