Prospective Chalcohalide Perovskites: Pursuing (and Failing) the Synthesis of CsBiSCl Nanocrystals.

Heavy pnictogen chalcohalides are often termed lead-free, perovskite-inspired materials. Despite theoretical predictions, incontrovertible experimental demonstrations of heavy pnictogen chalcohalides adopting a perovskite structure are lacking. Here we report our attempts to prepare CsBiSCl adopting a perovskite structure as colloidal nanocrystals.

Two-Channel Indirect-Gap Photoluminescence and Competition between the Conduction Band Valleys in Few-Layer MoS.

MoS is a two-dimensional layered transition metal dichalcogenide with unique electronic and optical properties. The fabrication of ultrathin MoS is vitally important, since interlayer interactions in its ultrathin varieties will become thickness-dependent, providing thickness-governed tunability and diverse applications of those properties. Unlike with a number of studies that have reported detailed information on direct bandgap emission from MoS monolayers, reliable experimental evidence for thickness-induced evolution or transformation of the indirect bandgap remains scarce.

Molybdenum precursor delivery approaches in atomic layer deposition of α-MoO.

In this research work, we present a study on time-sequenced plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) processes towards the achievement of high-quality α-MoO thin films which are suitable for exfoliation. In particular, a conventional precursor injection method along with a boosted precursor delivery approach are discussed and analysed. In the latter, the proposed gas supply mechanism ensures a large number of deposited Mo atoms per unit of time, which, along with a proper thermal energy, leads to high-quality and oriented orthorhombic α-MoO films.

Pseudocapacitive behaviour in sol-gel derived electrochromic titania nanostructures.

Nanostructured thin films are widely investigated for application in multifunctional devices thanks to their peculiar optoelectronic properties. In this work anatase TiO nanoparticles (average diameter 10 nm) synthesised by a green aqueous sol-gel route are exploited to fabricate optically active electrodes for pseudocapacitive-electrochromic devices. In our approach, highly transparent and homogeneous thin films having a good electronic coupling between nanoparticles are prepared.

Films of chitosan and natural modified hydroxyapatite as effective UV-protecting, biocompatible and antibacterial wound dressings.

Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide widely used in biomedicine, for instance for wound dressing. Hydroxyapatite is a very bioactive calcium phosphate which, if modified with an appropriate element (iron Fe), can also have UV-absorbing properties. In this work, we report the study of films of chitosan incorporated with iron-modified hydroxyapatite of natural origin (from cod fish bones); this combination led to an innovative chitosan-based material with excellent and advanced functional properties.

Waste-Based Pigments for Application in Ceramic Glazes and Stoneware Bodies.

The use of wastes, some of them hazards, as raw materials of ceramic pigments has been a way to diminish their environmental impact, to economically valorize them, and to face the depletion of virgin raw materials. In this work were prepared pigments having in their composition only industrial wastes: Cr/Ni electroplating (ES), and sludges from the cutting of natural stones-marble (MS) and granite (GS). The prepared mixtures were calcined at three temperatures (1100, 1200, and 1300 °C) and the obtained powders were characterized by XRD and UV-vis.

Erratum: One-Step Synthesis, Structure, and Band Gap Properties of SnO Nanoparticles Made by a Low Temperature Nonaqueous Sol-Gel Technique.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b02122.

Hybrid Noble-Metals/Metal-Oxide Bifunctional Nano-Heterostructure Displaying Outperforming Gas-Sensing and Photochromic Performances.

As nanomaterials are dominating 21st century's scene, multiple functionality in a single (nano)structure is becoming very appealing. Inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun, we designed a bifunctional (gas-sensor/photochromic) nanomaterial, made with TiO whose surface was simultaneously decorated with copper and silver (the Cu/Ag molar ratio being 3:1). This nanomaterial outperformed previous state-of-the-art TiO-based sensors for the detection of acetone, as well as the Cu-TiO-based photochromic material.

One-Step Synthesis, Structure, and Band Gap Properties of SnO Nanoparticles Made by a Low Temperature Nonaqueous Sol-Gel Technique.

Because of its electrically conducting properties combined with excellent thermal stability and transparency throughout the visible spectrum, tin oxide (SnO) is extremely attractive as a transparent conducting material for applications in low-emission window coatings and solar cells, as well as in lithium-ion batteries and gas sensors. It is also an important catalyst and catalyst support for oxidation reactions. Here, we describe a novel nonaqueous sol-gel synthesis approach to produce tin oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with a low NP size dispersion.

Exploring Tantalum as a Potential Dopant to Promote the Thermoelectric Performance of Zinc Oxide.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has being recognised as a potentially interesting thermoelectric material, allowing flexible tuning of the electrical properties by donor doping. This work focuses on the assessment of tantalum doping effects on the relevant structural, microstructural, optical and thermoelectric properties of ZnO. Processing of the samples with a nominal composition ZnTaO by conventional solid-state route results in limited solubility of Ta in the wurtzite structure.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Rare-Earth Modified Titania: Influence on Phase Composition, Optical Properties, and Photocatalytic Activity.

In order to expand the use of titania indoor as well as to increase its overall performance, narrowing the band gap is one of the possibilities to achieve this. Modifying with rare earths (REs) has been relatively unexplored, especially the modification of rutile with rare earth cations. The aim of this study was to find the influence of the modification of TiO₂ with rare earths on its structural, optical, morphological, and photocatalytic properties.

Solid-Gas Phase Photo-Catalytic Behaviour of Rutile and TiO (1 < n < 2) Sub-Oxide Phases for Self-Cleaning Applications.

The solid-gas phase photo-catalytic activities of rutile TiO₂ and TiO (1 < n < 2) sub-oxide phases have been evaluated. Varying concentrations of Ti defects were introduced into the rutile polymorph of titanium dioxide through carbo-thermal reduction at temperatures ranging from 350 °C to 1300 °C. The resulting sub-oxides formed were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, impedance spectroscopy and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

Smallest Bimetallic CoPt Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles.

We present for the first time a nonaqueous sol-gel route to produce ultrasmall (<2 nm) magnetic bimetallic CoPt nanoparticles (NPs). The one-pot procedure is carried out at low temperature (180 °C) using benzyl alcohol, acting as both reducing agent and solvent. The highly monodisperse CoPt NPs were investigated with innovative advanced X-ray methods (whole powder pattern modeling), HR-STEM, XPS, and SQUID magnetometry.

Alkali Niobate and Tantalate Perovskites as Alternative Photocatalysts.

Alkali tantalates and niobates are listed as important photocatalysts for the development of renewable energy technologies and environmental remediation. Herein, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution by using highly crystalline particles with perovskite-like structures, LiTaO , LiNbO , NaTaO , NaNbO , KNbO , and KTaO , is investigated. It is demonstrated that ferroelectric KNbO is the most efficient photocatalyst of those tested because it combines an electronic band structure that can respond successfully to UVA light with a relatively high surface energy that enhances the catalytic properties.