Catalyst Design: Counter Anion Effect on Ni Nanocatalysts Anchored on Hollow Carbon Spheres.

Herein, the influence of the counter anion on the structural properties of hollow carbon spheres (HCS) support was investigated by varying the nickel metal precursor salts applied. TEM and SEM micrographs revealed the dimensional dependence of the HCS shell on the Ni precursor salt, as evidenced by thick (~42 nm) and thin (~23 nm) shells for the acetate and chloride-based salts, respectively. Importantly, the effect of the precursor salt on the textural properties of the HCS nanosupports (~565 m/g) and ~607 m/g), influenced the growth of the Ni nanoparticles, viz for the acetate-( 6.

From 0D to 2D: N-doped carbon nanosheets for detection of alcohol-based chemical vapours.

The application of N-doped carbon nanosheets, with and without embedded carbon dots, as active materials for the room temperature chemoresistive detection of methanol and/or ethanol is presented. The new carbons were made by converting 0D N-doped carbon dots (NCDs) to 2D nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets by heat treatment (200-700 °C). The nanosheets exhibited a lateral size of ∼3 μm and a thickness of ∼12 nm at the highest annealing temperature.

The Transformation of 0-D Carbon Dots into 1-, 2- and 3-D Carbon Allotropes: A Minireview.

Carbon dots (CDs) represent a relatively new type of carbon allotrope with a 0-D structure and with nanoparticle sizes < 10 nm. A large number of research articles have been published on the synthesis, characteristics, mechanisms and applications of this carbon allotrope. Many of these articles have also shown that CDs can be synthesized from “bottom-up” and “top-down” methods.

Direct Visualisation of the Surface Atomic Active Sites of Carbon-Supported Co O Nanocrystals via High-Resolution Phase Restoration.

The atomic arrangement of the terminating facets on spinel Co O nanocrystals is strongly linked to their catalytic performance. However, the spinel crystal structure offers multiple possible surface terminations depending on the synthesis. Thus, understanding the terminating surface atomic structure is essential in developing high-performance Co O nanocrystals.

Platinum Nanocatalysts Supported on Defective Hollow Carbon Spheres: Oxygen Reduction Reaction Durability Studies.

The durability and long-term applicability of catalysts are critical parameters for the commercialization and adoption of fuel cells. Even though a few studies have been conducted on hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) as supports for Pt in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) catalysis, in-depth durability studies have not been conducted thus far. In this study, Pt/HCSs and Pt/nitrogen-doped HCSs (Pt/NHCSs) were prepared using a reflux deposition technique.

Importance of Surface Topography in Both Biological Activity and Catalysis of Nanomaterials: Can Catalysis by Design Guide Safe by Design?

It is acknowledged that the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials (NMs) have an impact on their toxicity and, eventually, their pathogenicity. These properties may include the NMs' surface chemical composition, size, shape, surface charge, surface area, and surface coating with ligands (which can carry different functional groups as well as proteins). Nanotopography, defined as the specific surface features at the nanoscopic scale, is not widely acknowledged as an important physicochemical property.

Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol Using Cobalt Oxide Supported Inside and Outside Hollow Carbon Spheres.

Cobalt oxide nanoparticles (6 nm) supported both inside and outside of hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) were synthesized by using two different polymer templates. The oxidation of benzyl alcohol was used as a model reaction to evaluate the catalysts. PXRD studies indicated that the Co oxidation state varied for the different catalysts due to reduction of the Co by the carbon, and a metal oxidation step prior to the benzyl alcohol oxidation enhanced the catalytic activity.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of titania-amorphous carbon nanotubes/amorphous nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes nanohybrids for photocatalytic degradation of textile wastewater.

The synthesis of TiO nanohybrids fabricated using amorphous carbon nanotubes (aCNTs) and amorphous nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (aNCNTs) a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method is reported. The photocatalytic removal of Reactive Red 120 (RR 120) and organics from industrial textile wastewater using these nanohybrids is discussed. The synthesis process was shown to promote the removal of nano graphitic flakes from the outer walls of the aNCNTs and aCNTs and subsequent incorporation of these carbonaceous materials into TiO nanocrystals as such enabling a stronger interaction between the TiO and the carbonaceous material.

Unravelling the interfacial interaction in mesoporous SiO@nickel phyllosilicate/TiO core-shell nanostructures for photocatalytic activity.

Core-shell based nanostructures are attractive candidates for photocatalysis owing to their tunable physicochemical properties, their interfacial contact effects, and their efficacy in charge-carrier separation. This study reports, for the first time, on the synthesis of mesoporous silica@nickel phyllosilicate/titania (mSiO@NiPS/TiO) core-shell nanostructures. The TEM results showed that the mSiO@NiPS composite has a core-shell nanostructure with a unique flake-like shell morphology.

The role of oxygen in a carbon source (castor oil versus paraffin oil) in the synthesis of carbon nano-onions.

The role of a carbon source containing oxygen groups on the physicochemical properties of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) was investigated. Two oils, castor oil (with O groups) and paraffin oil (without O groups) were converted to CNOs in gram-scale yields using an open flame pyrolysis procedure. The products were heated under argon at 900 °C for varying times (1 h, 2 h, 3 h), to investigate the temperature dependence on their structural properties.

Building carbon structures inside hollow carbon spheres.

The synthesis and characterization of helical carbon nanofibers (CNFs) contained within a fully confined nanoreactor is described. In particular, hollow carbon spheres (od = ca. 310 nm; wall thickness ca.

Deciphering the Structural, Textural, and Electrochemical Properties of Activated BN-Doped Spherical Carbons.

In this study, the effect of K₂CO₃ activation on the structural, textural, and electrochemical properties of carbon spheres (CSs) and boron and nitrogen co-doped carbon spheres (BN-CSs) was evaluated. Activation of the CSs and BN-CSs by K₂CO₃ resulted in increased specific surface areas and I/I ratios. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results, the BN-CSs comprised of 64% pyridinic-N, 24% pyrrolic-N and 7% graphitic-N whereas the activated BN-CSs had 19% pyridinic-N, 40% pyrrolic-N and 22% graphitic-N displaying the effect of activation on the type of N configurations in BN-CSs.

Effect of Gold Nanospheres and Nanodots on the Performance of PEDOT:PSS Solar Cells.

Gold nanospheres were synthesized using a modified Turkevich method ( = 14±4 nm, = 531 nm), while gold nanodots made of spheres (5±2 nm) and non-spherical nanodots (aspect ratio of 1.7±0.4) were synthesized using a modified seed mediated method.

Synthesis of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes from Plastic Waste Using a Stainless-Steel CVD Reactor as Catalyst.

The disposal of non-biodegradable plastic waste without further upgrading/downgrading is not environmentally acceptable and many methods to overcome the problem have been proposed. Herein we indicate a simple method to make high-value nanomaterials from plastic waste as a partial solution to the environmental problem. Laboratory-based waste centrifuge tubes made of polypropylene were chosen as a carbon source to show the process principle.

Single-step synthesis of crystalline h-BN quantum- and nanodots embedded in boron carbon nitride films.

Herein we report on the synthesis and characterization of novel crystalline hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) quantum- and nanodots embedded in large-area boron carbon nitride (BCN) films. The films were grown on a Cu substrate by an atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition technique. Methane, ammonia, and boric acid were used as precursors for C, N and B to grow these few atomic layer thick uniform films.

In-situ X-ray diffraction activation study on an Fe/TiO2 pre-catalyst.

This study focuses on the use of in situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and quantitative phase analysis using the Rietveld method to monitor the structural properties of a titania-supported iron (10% Fe/TiO2) pre-catalyst during calcination (oxidation) and activation (reduction) in the temperature range 25-900°C. The TiO2 oxidation study revealed an increase in anatase particle size before the anatase to rutile phase transformation, lending credibility to the bridging mechanism proposed by Kim et al. [(2007), Mater.

Application of gallium nitride nanostructures and nitrogen doped carbon spheres as supports for the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde.

This paper reports on the synthesis and use of nanostructures of gallium nitride (GaN NSs) and nitrogen doped carbon spheres (NCSs) as support materials for the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. This study provides the first investigation of GaN as a catalyst support in hydrogenation reactions. The GaN NSs were synthesized via chemical vapour deposition (CVD) in a double stage furnace (750 degrees C) while NCSs were made by CVD in a single stage furnace (950 degrees C) respectively.

Functionalized spherical carbon nanostructure/poly(vinylphenol) composites for application in low power consumption write-once-read-many times memories.

We apply functionalized carbon nanoshell and carbon sphere based composites in poly(vinylphenol) matrix in write-once-read-many-times memory elements. The devices based on carbon nanoshells show an ON/OFF current ratio of 10(5) and long-term information retention. The functionalized carbon nanoshells and carbon spheres show improved dispersion in the poly(vinylphenol) matrix, allowing the preparation of homogeneous films even at the submicrometer scale.

Incorporation of small BN domains in graphene during CVD using methane, boric acid and nitrogen gas.

Chemical doping of graphene with small boron nitride (BN) domains has been shown to be an effective way of permanently modulating the electronic properties in graphene. Herein we show a facile method of growing large area graphene doped with small BN domains on copper foils using a single step CVD route with methane, boric acid powder and nitrogen gas as the carbon, boron and nitrogen sources respectively. This facile and safe process avoids the use of boranes and ammonia.

Nitrogen-doped, boron-doped and undoped multiwalled carbon nanotube/polymer composites in WORM memory devices.

We report the preparation of write-once-read-many times memory devices using composites of carbon nanotubes and poly(vinyl phenol) sandwiched between Al electrodes. Three types of nanotubes (undoped multiwalled carbon nanotubes, nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes and boron-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes) are investigated for this application. The OFF to ON state switching threshold is only slightly dependent on nanotube type, but the ON/OFF current ratio depends on both nanotube type and concentration and varies up to 10(6), decreasing for nanotube concentrations larger than 0.

Electronic detection of Drechslera sp. fungi in charentais melon ( Cucumis melo Naudin) using carbon-nanostructure-based sensors.

The development of chemical sensor technology in recent years has stimulated an interest regarding the use of characteristic volatiles and odors as a rapid and early indication of deterioration in fruit quality. The fungal infestation by Drechslera sp. in melons is a severe problem, and we demonstrate that electronic sensors based on carbon nanostructures are able to detect the presence of these fungi in melon.

Composites of polyvinyl alcohol and carbon (coils, undoped and nitrogen doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes) as ethanol, methanol and toluene vapor sensors.

We investigate the chemical sensing behavior of composites prepared with polyvinyl alcohol and carbon materials (undoped multiwalled carbon nanotubes, nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes and carbon nanocoils). We determine the sensitivity of thin films of these composites for ethanol, methanol and toluene vapor, comparing their conductance and capacitance responses. The composite that exhibits highest sensitivity depends on specific vapor, vapor concentration and measured electrical response, showing that the interactivity of the carbon structure with chemical species depend on structural specificities of the carbon structure and doping.

AC-conductance and capacitance measurements for ethanol vapor detection using carbon nanotube-polyvinyl alcohol composite based devices.

We report the preparation of inexpensive ethanol sensor devices using multiwalled carbon nanotube-polyvinyl alcohol composite films deposited onto interdigitated electrodes patterned on phenolite substrates. We investigate the frequency dependent response of the device conductance and capacitance showing that higher sensitivity is obtained at higher frequency if the conductance is used as sensing parameter. In the case of capacitance measurements, higher sensitivity is obtained at low frequency.