Search results for "nanoparticle"
showing 10 items of 2198 documents
Synthesis of Au-CdS@CdSe Hybrid Nanoparticles with a Highly Reactive Gold Domain.
2017
We propose a novel route to synthesize semiconductor–gold hybrid nanoparticles directly in water, resulting in much larger gold domains than previous protocols (up to 50 nm) with very reactive surfaces which allow further functionalization. This method advances the possibility of self-assembly into complex structures with catalytic activity toward the reduction of nitro compounds by hydrides. The large size of these gold domains in hybrid particles supports efficient light scattering at the plasmon resonance frequency, making such structures attractive for single-particle studies.
Energy scales and dynamics of electronic excitations in functionalized gold nanoparticles measured at the single particle level.
2019
The knowledge of the electronic structure and dynamics of nanoparticles is a prerequisite to develop miniaturized single-electron devices based on nanoparticles. Low-temperature transport measurements of individual stable metallic nanoparticles enable unravelling the system specific electronic structure while ultrafast optical spectroscopy gives access to the electron dynamics. In this work, we investigate bare and thiol-functionalized gold nanoparticles. For the latter, we employ a fast and low-cost fabrication technique which yields nanoparticles with narrow size distribution. Using relatively long thiol-ended alkane chains for the functionalization modifies the electronic density of stat…
Nano-composite thermochromic thin films and their application in Energy-efficient glazing
2010
A hybrid atmospheric pressure and aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition strategy is presented as a facile route for the production of vanadium dioxide nano-composite thin films. The effect of the inclusion of gold nanoparticles and the use of a surfactant molecule, tetraoctylammonium bromide, is discussed. The films were fully characterised using a wide variety of techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV/vis/NIR spectroscopy. It is shown that micro-structural changes brought about by careful control of film growth conditions, and/or the use of surfactant, lead to an enhancement of thermochromic properties. Gold nano…
Smart optically active VO2 nanostructured layers applied in roof-type ceramic tiles for energy efficiency
2016
Abstract The capability to control in an smart way the infrared reflectance to environmental temperature variations can be achieved with thermochromic materials like VO2. In this paper, we report the application of VO2 on ceramic tiles aiming to control the reflected infrared radiation on smart roofs and thus improving the energy efficiency, which is associated to the reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions. The VO2 nanoparticles have been produced by hydrothermal synthesis assisted by microwave irradiation, providing a new, quicker and cleaner production route. Afterwards, the VO2 nanoparticles were transferred to the surface of ceramic glassy tiles, which were prepared through dispersin…
Magnetic Polyurethane Microcarriers from Nanoparticle-Stabilized Emulsions for Thermal Energy Storage
2020
Hydrated inorganic salts are phase change materials (PCMs) with promising thermal energy storage capacity. However, their application is commonly restricted because of problems of phase segregation...
Tensile strength and impact strength of color modified acrylic resin reinforced with titanium dioxide nanoparticles
2017
Background Poor mechanical properties are among the main limitations of acrylic resins. Addition of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles to acrylic resin has been shown to improve its mechanical properties with an adverse effect on its color. Thus, this study sought to assess the tensile and impact strength of a color modified heat cure acrylic resin reinforced with TiO2 nanoparticles. Material and Methods In this in vitroexperimental study, 1wt% TiO2 nanoparticles were added to SR Triplex Hot heat-cure acrylic resin powder and mixed. Pigments and color fibers were also added and 18 samples were fabricated of this paste for tensile and impact strength testing (n=9) according to ISO5271. Ei…
Fe3O4@Au@mSiO2 as an enhancing nanoplatform for Rose Bengal photodynamic activity
2017
A novel nanoplatform composed of three types of materials with different functionalities, specifically core-shell Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles encapsulated near the outer surface of mesoporous silica (mSiO2) nanoparticles, has been successfully synthesised and used to enhance the efficiency of a photosensitiser, namely Rose Bengal, in singlet oxygen generation. Fe3O4 is responsible for the unusual location of the Fe3O4@Au nanoparticle, while the plasmonic shell acts as an optical antenna. In addition, the mesoporous silica matrix firmly encapsulates Rose Bengal by chemical bonding inside the pores, thus guaranteeing its photostability, and in turn making the nanosystem biocompatible. Moreover, th…
Heavy Metals in Mollusc Shells: A Quick Method for their Detection
2015
It is known for a long time that calcified tissues secreted by aquatic or terrestrial invertebrates – such as mollusc shells – have the ability to concentrate large amounts of pollutants, in particular heavy metals. In the present paper, we have found an extremely rapid and easy procedure to qualitatively detect the putative presence of heavy metals in shells, without having to use sophisticated techniques such as Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy, atomic adsorption spectroscopy or ICP-MS. Our method rests on the capacity of the silver enhancement chemicals that are traditionally used in immunogold localization experiments to increase the size of heavy metal nanoparticles, whatever the che…
Microwave synthesis of yttria stabilized zirconia
2005
Yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) nanocrystals, with a mean size between 5 and 10 nm, were prepared by microwave flash synthesis. Flash synthesis was performed in alcoholic solutions of yttrium, zirconium chloride and sodium ethoxide (EtONa) using a microwave autoclave (RAMO system) specially designed by authors. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), BET adsorption technique, photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) are used to characterized these nanoparticles. Compared with conventional synthesis, nanopowders can be produced in a short period (e.g. 10 s), both high purity and stoechiometric control a…
Properties of spark plasma sintered nanostructured Zn1+xSb
2011
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…