0000000000725648
AUTHOR
Alexander Birkel
Rapid Microwave Preparation of Thermoelectric TiNiSn and TiCoSb Half-Heusler Compounds
The 18-electron ternary intermetallic systems TiNiSn and TiCoSb are promising for applications as high-temperature thermoelectrics and comprise earth-abundant, and relatively nontoxic elements. Heusler and half-Heusler compounds are usually prepared by conventional solid state methods involving arc-melting and annealing at high temperatures for an extended period of time. Here, we report an energy-saving preparation route using a domestic microwave oven, reducing the reaction time significantly from more than a week to one minute. A microwave susceptor material rapidly heats the elemental starting materials inside an evacuated quartz tube resulting in near single phase compounds. The initia…
Electrodeposition of ZnO nanorods on opaline replica as hierarchically structured systems
We present a new method to prepare hierarchical structures by using ZnO replica and ZnO-coated PMMA opals as electrodes in an electrodeposition process of ZnO nanorods. Depending on the approach the nanorods can be either grown exclusively on top of the replica or inside the replica structures. Therefore two types of systems are accessible: 3D photonic crystals with a hierarchically structured surface consisting of nanorods and macroporous ZnO structures with an increased surface area.
Infrared to visible upconversion luminescence properties in the system Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln=La, Gd)
Abstract We have investigated the upconversion properties of the rare-earth doped systems La 2 BaZnO 5 ( I 4/ mcm ) and Gd 2 BaZnO 5 ( Pbnm ). The dependence of the luminescence properties on the identity and the concentration of the dopants, Er 3+ and Er 3+ co-doped with Yb 3+ , as well as on the synthetic route, was examined. Following coherent excitation at 975 nm, strong upconversion emission was observed in the visible region (525, 550 and 660 nm). Power dependence studies revealed a two photon process for these emissions. In the co-doped samples, a blue emission (410 nm) could also be observed. For this emission, the power dependence studies confirmed a three photon process.
Snapshots of the Formation of NaTi3O6(OH)·2H2O Nanowires: A Time-Resolved XRD/HRTEM Study
Layered titanates are important intermediates during the formation of TiO2-related nanostructures in hot concentrated base solution. Microwave-assisted hydrothermal techniques allow a time-resolved ex-situ analysis of the reaction in one-minute intervals by rapid heating and quenching followed by separation and structure analysis of the intermediates. By a combination of powder X-ray diffraction, high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) the individual stages of the reaction could be identified. Sodium titanate nanosheets are formed within several minutes by digesting the crystalline TiO2-P25 precursor in NaOH. These nanosheets with a low sod…
Interaction of Alkaline Metal Cations with Oxidic Surfaces: Effect on the Morphology of SnO2 Nanoparticles
Reaction pathways to SnO(2) nanomaterials through the hydrolysis of hydrated tin tetrachloride precursors were investigated. The products were prepared solvothermally starting from hydrated tin tetrachloride and various (e.g., alkali) hydroxides. The influence of the precursor base on the final morphology of the nanomaterials was studied. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data indicated the formation of rutile-type SnO(2). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed different morphologies that were formed with different precursor base cations. Data from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide theoretical evidence that the adsorption of the cations of the precursor base to the f…
The interplay of crystallization kinetics and morphology during the formation of SnO2 nanorods: snapshots of the crystallization from fast microwave reactions
A microwave-assisted reaction pathway to rutile SnO2nanorods was investigated. The microwave-treatment significantly reduces the reaction time compared to standard hydro-/solvothermal techniques. By moving the overall process into a shorter time slot, the growth and crystal formation during the reaction could be monitored via snapshots by trapping the intermediates through quenching. To gain a better insight into the template-free growth of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, a parameter-dependent (various temperatures/pressures and times were investigated) study was carried out. For all materials, the phase purity and crystallite sizes were determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Th…
Highly efficient and stable dye-sensitized solar cells based on SnO2nanocrystals prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis
Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with excellent long-term stability were fabricated based on tin(IV) oxide (SnO2) nanocrystals with tunable morphologies and band energy levels. The nanocrystals were prepared by a facile, fast, and energy-saving microwave-assisted solvothermal reaction. Through variation of the precursor base used during nanocrystal synthesis control over morphology was achieved—precursor metal cations are known to have a strong influence on the growth process of SnO2 nanostructures. A simple and economic way to prepare semiconducting pastes for photoanodes was devised. The photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on SnO2 photoanodes wa…
Properties of spark plasma sintered nanostructured Zn1+xSb
Engineering materials with specific physical properties has recently focused on the effect of nanoscopic inhomogeneities at the 10 nm scale. Such features are expected to scatter medium and long-wavelength phonons lowering thereby the thermal conductivity of the system without simultaneously decreasing the charge transport (phonon–glass electron–crystal concept). A new Zn1+xSb nanophase obtained by a wet chemical approach was densified by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Investigations on compounds subsumed as “Zn4Sb3” always suffer from its low thermal stability and the contamination of the nanoparticles with solvents and additives used in the synthesis. In order to gain insight into this com…