Controlled Synthesis of Tellurium Nanowires.

One-dimensional tellurium nanostructures can exhibit distinct electronic properties from those seen in bulk Te. The electronic properties of nanostructured Te are highly dependent on their morphology, and thus controlled synthesis processes are required. Here, highly crystalline tellurium nanowires were produced via physical vapour deposition.

Graphene-Sealed Flow Cells for Transmission Electron Microscopy of Liquid Samples.

We introduce a graphene-based nanofluidic cell that facilitates imaging of liquid samples via transmission electron microscopy. The cell combines the benefits of graphene liquid cells-namely, high resolution, reduced charging effects, and excellent sample stability-with the ability to introduce reactants and control fluid concentrations as provided by conventional silicon-nitride-windowed flow cells. The graphene flow cell offers significantly less window bowing compared to existing commercial holders.

Coronene-Based Graphene Nanoribbons Insulated by Boron Nitride Nanotubes: Electronic Properties of the Hybrid Structure.

We present a theoretical study on the formation of graphene nanoribbons-via polymerization of coronene molecules-inside the inner cavity of boron nitride nanotubes. We examine the electronic property of the hybrid system, and we show that the boron nitride nanotube does not significantly alter the electronic properties of the encapsulated graphene nanoribbon. Motivated by previous experimental works, we examine graphene nanoribbons with two different widths and investigate probable scenarios for defect formation and/or twisting of the resulting graphene nanoribbons and their effect on the electronic properties of the hybrid system.

Self-Assembled PCBM Nanosheets: A Facile Route to Electronic Layer-on-Layer Heterostructures.

We report on the self-assembly of semicrystalline [6,6]-phenyl-C-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) nanosheets at the interface between a hydrophobic solvent and water, and utilize this opportunity for the realization of electronically active organic/organic molecular heterostructures. The self-assembled PCBM nanosheets can feature a lateral size of >1 cm and be transferred from the water surface to both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces using facile transfer techniques. We employ a transferred single PCBM nanosheet as the active material in a field-effect transistor (FET) and verify semiconductor function by a measured electron mobility of 1.

Electrostatically Driven Nanoballoon Actuator.

We demonstrate an inflatable nanoballoon actuator based on geometrical transitions between the inflated (cylindrical) and collapsed (flattened) forms of a carbon nanotube. In situ transmission electron microscopy experiments employing a nanoelectromechanical manipulator show that a collapsed carbon nanotube can be reinflated by electrically charging the nanotube, thus realizing an electrostatically driven nanoballoon actuator. We find that the tube actuator can be reliably cycled with only modest control voltages (few volts) with no apparent wear or fatigue.

On the Stability and Abundance of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Many nanotechnological applications, using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), are only possible with a uniform product. Thus, direct control over the product during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of SWNT is desirable, and much effort has been made towards the ultimate goal of chirality-controlled growth of SWNTs. We have used density functional theory (DFT) to compute the stability of SWNT fragments of all chiralities in the series representing the targeted products for such applications, which we compare to the chiralities of the actual CVD products from all properly analyzed experiments.

Fabrication of One-Dimensional Zigzag [6,6]-Phenyl-C61-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Nanoribbons from Two-Dimensional Nanosheets.

One-dimensional (1D) zigzag [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) nanoribbons are produced by folding two-dimensional ultrathin PCBM nanosheets in a simple solvent process. The unique 1D PCBM nanostructures exhibit uniform width of 3.8 ± 0.

C₆₀/collapsed carbon nanotube hybrids: a variant of peapods.

We examine a variant of so-called carbon nanotube peapods by packing C60 molecules inside the open edge ducts of collapsed carbon nanotubes. C60 insertion is accomplished through a facile single-step solution-based process. Theoretical modeling is used to evaluate favorable low-energy structural configurations.

Small palladium islands embedded in palladium-tungsten bimetallic nanoparticles form catalytic hotspots for oxygen reduction.

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode side of proton exchange membrane fuel cells is one major technical challenge for realizing sustainable solutions for the transportation sector. Finding efficient yet cheap electrocatalysts to speed up this reaction therefore motivates researchers all over the world. Here we demonstrate an efficient synthesis of palladium-tungsten bimetallic nanoparticles supported on ordered mesoporous carbon.

Synthesis of palladium/helical carbon nanofiber hybrid nanostructures and their application for hydrogen peroxide and glucose detection.

We report on a novel sensing platform for H2O2 and glucose based on immobilization of palladium-helical carbon nanofiber (Pd-HCNF) hybrid nanostructures and glucose oxidase (GOx) with Nafion on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). HCNFs were synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition process on a C60-supported Pd catalyst. Pd-HCNF nanocomposites were prepared by a one-step reduction free method in dimethylformamide (DMF).

Formation of nitrogen-doped graphene nanoscrolls by adsorption of magnetic γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles.

Graphene nanoscrolls are Archimedean-type spirals formed by rolling single-layer graphene sheets. Their unique structure makes them conceptually interesting and understanding their formation gives important information on the manipulation and characteristics of various carbon nanostructures. Here we report a 100% efficient process to transform nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide sheets into homogeneous nanoscrolls by decoration with magnetic γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles.

On the fabrication of crystalline C60 nanorod transistors from solution.

Flexible and high-aspect-ratio C(60) nanorods are synthesized using a liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation process. As-grown nanorods are shown to exhibit a hexagonal close-packed single-crystal structure, with m-dichlorobenzene solvent molecules incorporated into the crystalline structure in a C(60):m-dichlorobenzene ratio of 3:2. An annealing step at 200 °C transforms the nanorods into a solvent-free face-centred-cubic polycrystalline structure.

Water assisted growth of C₆₀ rods and tubes by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method.

C₆₀ nanorods with hexagonal cross sections are grown using a static liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method in a system of C₆₀/m-dichlorobenzene solution and ethanol. Adding water to the ethanol phase leads instead to C₆₀ tubes where both length and diameter of the C₆₀ tubes can be controlled by the water content in the ethanol. Based on our observations we find that the diameter of the rods/tubes strongly depends on the nucleation step.