Here, a new family of 2D transition metal carbo-chalcogenides (TMCCs) is reported, which can be considered a combination of two well-known families, TM carbides (MXenes) and TM dichalcogenides (TMDCs), at the atomic level. Single sheets are successfully obtained from multilayered Nb S C and Ta S C using electrochemical lithiation followed by sonication in water. The parent multilayered TMCCs are synthesized using a simple, scalable solid-state synthesis followed by a topochemical reaction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSilver, king among plasmonic materials, features low inelastic absorption in the visible-infrared (vis-IR) spectral region compared to other metals. In contrast, copper is commonly regarded as too lossy for actual applications. Here, we demonstrate vis-IR plasmons with quality factors >60 in long copper nanowires (NWs), as determined by electron energy-loss spectroscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnhancing both the energy storage and power capabilities of electrochemical capacitors remains a challenge. Herein, TiCT MXene is mixed with MoO nanobelts in various mass ratios and the mixture is used to vacuum filter binder free, open, flexible, and free-standing films. The conductive TiCT flakes bridge the nanobelts, facilitating electron transfer; the randomly oriented, and interconnected, MoO nanobelts, in turn, prevent the restacking of the TiCT nanosheets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study presents the preparation, characterization, and properties of a new composite containing cerium oxide nanoparticles and a conjugated polymer. CeO nanoparticles prepared using the co-precipitation method were dispersed into the conjugated polymer, prepared using the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. The interface interactions between the two components and the resultant optoelectronic properties of the composite are demonstrated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe investigate the role of interfaces and surfaces in the magnetic and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) properties of CeO2 hollow spheres decorated with Ag nanoparticles (H-CeO2@Ag). The composites, H-CeO2@Ag, were synthesized using a newly developed two-step process. The CeO2 hollow sphere diameter ranges from 100 nm to 2 μm and the grafted Ag nanoparticle (NP) size varies from 5 to 50 nm with a controllable coverage ratio.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGiven the narrow band gap enabling excellent optical absorption, increased charge carrier density and accelerated surface oxidation reaction kinetics become the key points for improved photoelectrochemical performances for water splitting over hematite (α-Fe2O3) photoanodes. In this study, a facile and inexpensive method was demonstrated to develop core/shell structured α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays. A thin, Ag-doped overlayer of ~2-3 nm thickness was formed along α-Fe2O3 nanorods via ultrasonication treatment of solution-based β-FeOOH nanorods in Ag precursor solution followed by high temperature annealing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF