Directly assembling ligand-free ZnO nanocrystals into three-dimensional mesoporous structures by oriented attachment.

Mesoporous materials have found a great number of important utilities due to their well-defined pore structure and high internal surface area, which are routinely synthesized with the assistance of block copolymers or templates. So far, a key challenge is how to assemble directly ligand-free inorganic nanocrystals into mesoporous structures, so that the high surface activity of ligand-free nanocrystals is not destroyed by further treatment to remove organic species or templates. In this paper, we report the direct assembly of highly uniform ZnO mesoporous ellipsoids from ligand-free ZnO nanocrystals of ∼5 nm.

Transition-metal phosphate colloidal spheres.

The music of the spheres: Transition-metal phosphate colloidal spheres with one metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu; see picture) or more than one metal (such as Fe-Ni, Co-Cu, Fe-Co-Cu, Fe-Co-Ni-Cu, Mn-Fe-Co-Ni-Cu, and Mn-Fe-Co-Ni-Cu-Zn) were synthesized in solution at low temperature. Porous and hollow iron phosphate spheres were prepared by adjusting the pH value of the reaction.

One-pot synthesis of monodisperse CeO2 nanocrystals and superlattices.

Monodisperse CeO(2) nanocrystals and superlattice-like colloidal particles have been successfully synthesized in ethanol-water mixed solvent by adopting a one-pot approach using icosahedral (NH(4))(2)Ce(NO(3))(6) as precursor.

[Application of FTIR array of correlation coefficient to the identification of Salvia miltiorrhizae Bge].

Based on the fingerprint infrared spectrum database, array of correlation coefficient has been first applied to identify traditional Chinese medicine slviae miltiorrhizae Bge. from different producing areas and growing environments. The result showed that the setting of high correlation coefficient in particular ranges of spectrum could differentiate the producing area of Slviae, while the setting of low correlation coefficient threshold of R5 to R7 ranges could identify wild or cultivated samples.

Systematic synthesis of lanthanide phosphate nanocrystals.

Uniform LnPO(4).x H(2)O (Ln=Y, La-Nd, Sm-Lu) nanocrystals that have controllable 0D (spherelike), 1D (rodlike), and 2D (polygonlike) structures have been systematically synthesized by means of a hydrothermal method by using a mixed solvent of water and ethanol. Transmission electron microscopy images and SEAD (selected area electron diffraction) patterns revealed that the products are highly crystalline and have structurally uniform shapes.