Accurate iron quantification in colloids and nanocomposites by a simple UV-Vis protocol.

The selection and comparative study is reported of calibration curves to quantify iron by a simple UV-Vis protocol based on the formation of iron (III) chloride complexes. The reliability of each calibration curve was evaluated using statistical and analytical parameters. The robustness of each calibration curve using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) of different sizes and surface functionalization is demonstrated .

From Silver Plates to Spherical Nanoparticles: Snapshots of Microwave-Assisted Polyol Synthesis.

The fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with different sizes by microwave (MW)-assisted synthesis is presented. The fast heating of the MW technique, combined with the possibility to thermally quench the reactions, enabled us to capture snapshots of nucleation and growth processes difficult to accomplish in other techniques. The Ag NPs were synthesized using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) through a polyol approach.

Fast and Simple Microwave Synthesis of TiO/Au Nanoparticles for Gas-Phase Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

The fabrication of small anatase titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles (NPs) attached to larger anisotropic gold (Au) morphologies by a very fast and simple two-step microwave-assisted synthesis is presented. The TiO/Au NPs are synthesized using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as reducing, capping and stabilizing agent through a polyol approach. To optimize the contact between the titania and the gold and facilitate electron transfer, the PVP is removed by calcination at mild temperatures.