Single source precursor route to nanometric tin chalcogenides.

Low-temperature solution phase synthesis of nanomaterials using designed molecular precursors enjoys tremendous advantages over traditional high-temperature solid-state synthesis. These include atomic-level control over stoichiometry, homogeneous elemental dispersion and uniformly distributed nanoparticles. For exploiting these advantages, however, rationally designed molecular complexes having certain properties are usually required.

Coinage Metal Complexes with Di-tertiary-butyl Sulfide as Precursors with Ultra-Low Decomposition Temperature.

We report here the synthesis of [Cu (TFA) ( Bu S) ] (1), [Ag (TFA) ( Bu S) ] (2) and [AuCl( Bu S)] (3) (TFA=trifluoroacetate), which decompose in solution medium at ultra-low temperature (e. g., in boiling toluene) to afford phase-pure and highly crystalline Cu S , Ag S and metallic Au nanoparticles, respectively.

Molecules versus Nanoparticles: Identifying a Reactive Molecular Intermediate in the Synthesis of Ternary Coinage Metal Chalcogenides.

The identification of reactive intermediates during molecule-to-nanoparticle (NP) transformation has great significance in comprehending the mechanism of NP formation and, therefore, optimizing the synthetic conditions and properties of the formed products. We report here the room temperature (RT) synthesis of AgCuSe NPs from the reaction of di--butyl selenide with trifluoroacetates (TFA) of silver(I) and copper(II). The isolation and characterization of a molecular species during the course of this reaction, [AgCu(TFA)(BuSe)] (), which shows extraordinary reactivity and interesting thermochromic behavior (blue at 0 °C and green at RT), confirmed that ternary metal selenide NPs are formed via this intermediate species.

Room-temperature conversion of CuSe to CuAgSe nanoparticles to enhance the photocatalytic performance of their composites with TiO.

Rational design and precise engineering are needed to optimize the structural and chemical parameters of functional materials. In this work, we demonstrate how pre-formed binary metal selenides can be an excellent synthetic choice for the synthesis of ternary coinage metal selenide nanoparticles (NPs) with controlled composition. The mild conditions required to obtain these ternary coinage metal selenide NPs offered an easy synthesis of n% CuAgSe-TiO2 (n = 0.

Precursor-mediated synthesis of CuSe nanoparticles and their composites with TiO for improved photocatalysis.

The direct synthesis of copper selenide nanoparticles from the reaction of ditertiarybutyl selenide tBu2Se with copper(ii) trifluoroacetate Cu(TFA)2 under mild conditions is reported. The isolation of a molecular species during the course of this reaction, established as [Cu2(TFA)2(tBu2Se)3], by spectroscopic studies and single crystal X-ray structure analysis, confirmed that metal selenide NPs are formed via this intermediate species containing a reduced copper center. Extending this reaction in the presence of commercial TiO2 (P25) offered an easy synthesis of copper selenide-titania nanocomposites with different Cu/Ti ratios.

Cubic mesoporous Ag@CN: a high performance humidity sensor.

The fabrication of highly responsive, rapid response/recovery and durable relative humidity (%RH) sensors that can precisely monitor humidity levels still remains a considerable challenge for realizing the next generation humidity sensing applications. Herein, we report a remarkably sensitive and rapid %RH sensor having a reversible response using a nanocasting route for synthesizing mesoporous g-CN (commonly known as g-CN). The 3D replicated cubic mesostructure provides a high surface area thereby increasing the adsorption, transmission of charge carriers and desorption of water molecules across the sensor surfaces.