Catalytic ammonia synthesis on HY-zeolite-supported angstrom-size molybdenum cluster.

The development of new catalysts with high N2 activation ability is an effective approach for low-temperature ammonia synthesis. Herein, we report a novel angstrom-size molybdenum metal cluster catalyst for efficient ammonia synthesis. This catalyst is prepared by the impregnation of a molybdenum halide cluster complex with an octahedral Mo6 metal core on HY zeolite, followed by the removal of all the halide ligands by activation with hydrogen. In this activation, the size of the Mo6 cluster (ca. 7 Å) is almost retained. The resulting angstrom-size cluster shows catalytic activity for ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2, and the reaction proceeds continuously even at 200 °C under 5.0 MPa. DFT calculations suggest that N[triple bond, length as m-dash]N bond cleavage is promoted by the cooperation of the multiple molybdenum sites.

Enhanced Li-ion conductivity in LiBH4-ZrO2 nanocomposites and nanoscale Li imaging by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy.

A complementary solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was performed for LiBH4-ZrO2 nanocomposites. As a result, amorphous LiBH4 films with thicknesses of less than 30 nm were observed covering the ZrO2 particles. Li imaging by energy-filtered TEM is useful for the real-space characterization of nanoscale LiBH4.

Surface modification effects of graphite for selective hydrogen absorption by titanium at room temperature.

Surface modification effects of graphite and organic solvents on Ti were investigated by thermogravimetry (TG), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations to improve its hydrogen absorption properties. As a result, Ti ball-milled with graphite showed high reactivity and selectivity for hydrogen with high durability.

In vitro and in vivo anti-herpes simplex virus activity of monogalactosyl diacylglyceride from Coccomyxa sp. KJ (IPOD FERM BP-22254), a green microalga.

A monogalactosyl diacylglyceride (MGDG) was isolated as an antiviral component from Coccomyxa sp. KJ (IPOD FERM BP-22254) via bioassay-guided fractionation. α-Linolenic acid (C18:3) and 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid (C16:3) accounted for approximately 72% and 23%, respectively, of the MGDG total fatty acids of the MGDG. The MGDG showed virucidal activity against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), a pathogen that causes genital herpes. Physical changes in HSV-2 shape were observed after treatment with MGDG, including a decrease in particle size, and possible damage to the viral envelope, as assessed using electron microscopy. In accordance with the morphological findings, virus particles lost their ability to bind to host cells. HSV-2 treated with high concentrations of MGDG resulted in no pathogenicity in an animal model, indicating that MGDG exhibits irreversible virucidal activity against HSV-2 particles. In the animal model of HSV-2-induced genital herpes, intravaginally administered MGDG exerted a prophylactic effect by suppressing viral yields in the genital cavity and formation of herpetic lesions, resulting in a higher survival rate in treated mice than control mice administered solvent. Thus, MGDG offers a novel prophylactic option against HSV infections.

Evolution of 3D nanoporosity and morphology in selectively dealloying ternary Au55Cu25Si20 metallic glass ribbon with enhanced alcohol electro-oxidation performance.

Current fabrication methods of nanoporous gold (NPG) mainly rely on dealloying Ag-Au binary crystalline precursors, typically Ag65Au35, with the "dealloying threshold" or "parting limit" above 55 at%. Here we report a simple chemical dealloying process, through selective dissolution of one element from a Au55Cu25Si20 metallic glass ribbon with low 'parting limit', and a novel peculiar three-dimensional 'cone shaped protrusion' nanoporous structure which has never been reported before. In this structure, a metastable gold silicide formed in the initial dealloying stage was decomposed into gold nanoparticles and amorphous SiOx in the later coarsening stage. Our finding provides insights into the underlying relationship between 'parting limit' and atomic level structure of metallic glass. Comprehensive discussions on the porosity evolution stages as well as the correlation between the porous 'cone shaped protrusion' development and potential energy landscape are made in this report. The fabricated 3D NPG also exhibited excellent electro-oxidation catalytic ability attributed to the high density of low-coordinated atomic sites provided by the gold particle inside of 'cone shaped protrusion'.

Toward hybrid Au nanorods @ M (Au, Ag, Pd and Pt) core-shell heterostructures for ultrasensitive SERS probes.

Being able to precisely control the morphologies of noble metallic nanostructures is of essential significance for promoting the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. Herein, we demonstrate an overgrowth strategy for synthesizing Au @ M (M = Au, Ag, Pd, Pt) core-shell heterogeneous nanocrystals with an orientated structural evolution and highly improved properties by using Au nanorods as seeds. With the same reaction condition system applied, we obtain four well-designed heterostructures with diverse shapes, including Au concave nanocuboids (Au CNs), Au @ Ag crystalizing face central cube nanopeanuts, Au @ Pd porous nanocuboids and Au @ Pt nanotrepangs. Subsequently, the exact overgrowth mechanism of the above heterostructural building blocks is further analysed via the systematic optimiziation of a series of fabrications. Remarkably, the well-defined Au CNs and Au @ Ag nanopeanuts both exhibit highly promoted SERS activity. We expect to be able to supply a facile strategy for the fabrication of multimetallic heterogeneous nanostructures, exploring the high SERS effect and catalytic activities.

Plasmonic surface nanostructuring of Au-dots@SiO2 via laser-irradiation induced dewetting.

The in situ observation of Au dot formation and the self-assembly dynamics of Au nanoparticles (NPs) was successfully demonstrated via dewetting of Au thin films on SiO2 glass substrates under nano-second pulsed laser irradiation using a multi-quantum beam high-voltage electron microscope. Moreover, using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) performed in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), the plasmonic properties of the formed Au/SiO2 nanostructure were analyzed to demonstrate its validity in advanced optical devices. The uniformly distributed Au NPs evolved into a dot alignment through movement and coalescence processes was demonstrated in this in situ observation. We carried out the plasmon-loss images of the plan view and the cross-section of the Au/SiO2 nanostructures were obtained at the plasmon-loss peak energy for investigate the three-dimensional distribution of surface plasmon. Furthermore, discrete-dipole approximation (DDA) calculations were used to simulate the plasmonic properties, such as the surface plasmon resonance and the surface plasmon field distribution, of isolated single Au/SiO2 nanostructures. This STEM-EELS-acquired surface plasmon map of the cross-sectional sample is in excellent agreement with the DDA calculations. This results demonstrated the influence of the contact condition between Au NP and SiO2 glass on the plasmonic properties, and may improve the technology for developing advanced optical devices.

Tuning Optoelectrical Properties of ZnO Nanorods with Excitonic Defects via Submerged Illumination.

When applied in optoelectronic devices, a ZnO semiconductor dominantly absorbs or emits ultraviolet light because of its direct electron transition through a wide energy bandgap. On the contrary, crystal defects and nanostructure morphology are the chief key factors for indirect, interband transitions of ZnO optoelectronic devices in the visible light range. By ultraviolet illumination in ultrapure water, we demonstrate here a conceptually unique approach to tune the shape of ZnO nanorods from tapered to capped-end via apical surface morphology control. We show that oxygen vacancy point defects activated by excitonic effects near the tip-edge of a nanorod serve as an optoelectrical hotspot for the light-driven formation and tunability of the optoelectrical properties. A double increase of electron energy absorption on near band edge energy of ZnO was observed near the tip-edge of the tapered nanorod. The optoelectrical hotspot explanation rivals that of conventional electrostatics, impurity control, and alkaline pH control-associated mechanisms. Thus, it highlights a new perspective to understanding light-driven nanorod formation in pure neutral water.

Controlling Shape Anisotropy of ZnS-AgInS2 Solid Solution Nanoparticles for Improving Photocatalytic Activity.

Independently controlling the shape anisotropy and chemical composition of multinary semiconductor particles is important for preparing highly efficient photocatalysts. In this study, we prepared ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution ((AgIn)xZn2(1-x)S2, ZAIS) nanoparticles with well-controlled anisotropic shapes, rod and rice shapes, by reacting corresponding metal acetates with a mixture of sulfur compounds with different reactivities, elemental sulfur, and 1,3-dibutylthiourea, via a two-step heating-up process. The chemical composition predominantly determined the energy gap of ZAIS particles: the fraction of Zn2+ in rod-shaped particles was tuned by the ratio of metal precursors used in the nanocrystal formation, while postpreparative Zn2+ doping was necessary to increase the Zn2+ fraction in the rice-shaped particles. The photocatalytic H2 evolution rate with irradiation to ZAIS particles dispersed in an aqueous solution was significantly dependent on the chemical composition in the case of using photocatalyst particles with a constant morphology. In contrast, photocatalytic activity at the optimum ZAIS composition, x of 0.35-0.45, increased with particle morphology in the order of rice (size: ca. 9 × ca. 16 nm) < sphere (diameter: ca. 5.5 nm) < rod (size: 4.6 × 27 nm). The highest apparent quantum yield for photocatalytic H2 evolution was 5.9% for rod-shaped ZAIS particles, being about two times larger than that obtained with spherical particles.

Photophysical properties of luminescent silicon nanoparticles surface-modified with organic molecules via hydrosilylation.

Luminescent silicon nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention for their potential uses in various applications. Many approaches have been reported to protect the surface of silicon nanoparticles and prevent their easy oxidation. Various air-stable luminescent silicon nanoparticles have been successfully prepared. However, the effect of interactions of the π-electron system with the silicon surface on the excited state properties of silicon nanoparticles is unclear. In this study, we have successfully prepared silicon nanoparticles protected with three organic compounds (styrene, 1-decene, and 1-vinyl naphthalene) and have examined their photophysical properties. The ligand π-electron systems on the silicon surface promoted the light harvesting ability for the luminescence through a charge transfer transition between the protective molecules and silicon nanoparticles and also enhanced the radiative rate of the silicon nanoparticles.

Site-Selective Trimetallic Heterogeneous Nanostructures for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance.

Trimetallic Au/Ag/Pt hetero-nanostructures (AAPHNs) with distinctive, designed morphology are synthesized by galvanic replacement reaction and a site-selective strategy. The three metals present on the surface are shown to act synergistically to enhance the electro-catalytic performance and durability for methanol oxidation. The described structural modification of the nanocomposites increases the range of potential applications to include both the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells and photocatalysis of the hydrogen evolution reaction.

A pathway of nanocrystallite fabrication by photo-assisted growth in pure water.

We report a new production pathway for a variety of metal oxide nanocrystallites via submerged illumination in water: submerged photosynthesis of crystallites (SPSC). Similar to the growth of green plants by photosynthesis, nanocrystallites shaped as nanoflowers and nanorods are hereby shown to grow at the protruded surfaces via illumination in pure, neutral water. The process is photocatalytic, accompanied with hydroxyl radical generation via water splitting; hydrogen gas is generated in some cases, which indicates potential for application in green technologies. Together with the aid of ab initio calculation, it turns out that the nanobumped surface, as well as aqueous ambience and illumination are essential for the SPSC method. Therefore, SPSC is a surfactant-free, low-temperature technique for metal oxide nanocrystallites fabrication.

Enhanced magneto-optical properties of semiconductor EuS nanocrystals assisted by surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles.

Remarkable magneto-optical properties of a new isolator material, that is, europium sulfide nanocrystals with gold (EuS-Au nanosystem), has been demonstrated for a future photo-information technology. Attachment of gold particles that exhibit surface plasmon resonance leads to amplification of the magneto-optical properties of the EuS nanocrystals. To construct the EuS-Au nanosystems, cubic EuS and spherical Au nanocrystals have been joined by a variety of organic linkers, that is, 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT), 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT), 1,10-decanedithiol (DDT), 1,4-bisethanethionaphthalene (NpEDT), or 1,4-bisdecanethionaphthalene (NpDDT) . Formation of these systems was observed by XRD, TEM, and absorption spectra measurements. The magneto-optical properties of the EuS-Au nanosystem have been characterized by using Faraday rotation spectroscopy. The Faraday rotation angle of the EuS-Au nanosystem is dependent on the Au particle size and interparticle distance between EuS and Au nanocrystals. Enhancement of the Faraday rotation of EuS-Au nanosystems was observed. The spin configuration in the excited state of the EuS-Au nanosystem was also investigated using photo-assisted electron paramagnetic resonance.

Remarkable photoluminescence enhancement of ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution nanoparticles by post-synthesis treatment.

The photoluminescence intensity of ZnS-AgInS(2) solid solution nanoparticles was remarkably enhanced by increasing the heating temperature to 180 degrees C, above which the emission was simply diminished, while ZnS coating of the particles resulted in further enhancement of PL intensity, giving the highest quantum yield of ca. 80%.

Photochemical shape control of cadmium sulfide nanorods coated with an amorphous silica thin layer.

The surface of cadmium sulfide nanorods was modified by 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, followed by the hydrolysis of trimethoxysilyl groups to form a silica shell structure (SiO2/CdS[rod]). Size-selective photoetching was applied to SiO2/CdS[rod] to modify the size of the CdS rod core. The absorption spectra were blue-shifted by irradiation of monochromatic light, and finally absorption onset agreed with the wavelength of irradiation light. These facts indicated that CdS rod particles were photoetched to smaller ones until the irradiated photons were no longer absorbed by the photoetched particles and that the SiO2 shell layer surrounding the CdS rod core prevented coalescence between photoetched particles. Changes in the wavelength of irradiation light from 488 to 436 nm caused a decrease in rod width from 3.5 to 2.3 nm along with remarkable decrease in the length of rod from 14 to 4.2 nm, suggesting that the photoetching rate was dependent on the kind of crystal faces and that the photocorrosion reactions at the tips of the CdS rod, that is, on (001) and/or (001) faces, were faster than those on other faces that appeared on the sides of the rod. This technique enabled control of CdS rod shape by selecting the wavelength of irradiation light.

Photocatalytic activity of octahedral single-crystalline mesoparticles of anatase titanium(IV) oxide.

Octahedral titanium(IV) oxide (TiO(2)) crystallites with exposed anatase [101] facets exhibited relatively high photocatalytic activity for oxidative decomposition of organic compounds and low activity for hydrogen evolution in the absence of molecular oxygen, probably due to the characteristics of the anatase [101] surface.

Facile synthesis of ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution nanoparticles for a color-adjustable luminophore.

Nanoparticles of ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution (ZAIS) were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of (AgIn)xZn2(1-x)(S2CN(C2H5)2)4 precursors in a hot oleylamine solution. X-ray powder diffraction analyses revealed that the resulting nanoparticle powders were not a mixture of ZnS and AgInS2 but a ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution in which the fraction of ZnS was enlarged with a decrease in the value of x, that is, an increase in the content of Zn2+ in the precursors used. The energy gap of ZAIS nanoparticles could be controlled by the composition of solid solution. Intense emission was observed at room temperature, regardless of the kind of the particles, the peak wavelength of PL being blue-shifted from 720 to 540 nm with a decrease in the value of x. The highest quantum yield of ca. 24% was obtained for nanoparticles prepared with x = 0.86, which was much higher than the quantum yields reported for I-III-VI2-based semiconductor nanoparticles, such as CuInS2 and ZnS-CuInS2 solid solution.

Heterodimeric particle assemblies: preparation of anisotropically connected spherical silica particles via surface-bound gold nanoparticles.

Assemblies of heterodimeric particles were prepared through selective coupling of two kinds of spherical silica particles of different sizes by connection with gold nanoparticles attached anisotropically to the particles.

Photochemical fine-tuning of luminescent color of cadmium selenide nanoparticles: fabricating a single-source multicolor luminophore.

Size-selective photoetching was applied to silica-coated cadmium selenide (SiO2/CdSe) nanoparticles to precisely control their photoluminescence properties. The absorption spectra of CdSe was blue-shifted by irradiation of monochromatic light, and finally, the absorption onset agreed with the wavelength of irradiation light, indicating that CdSe particles were photoetched to smaller ones until the irradiated photons were not absorbed by the photoetched particles and that the SiO2 shell layer surrounding the CdSe core prevented coalescence between the photoetched particles. Although as-prepared SiO2/CdSe did not exhibit photoluminescence, the application of size-selective photoetching to SiO2/CdSe resulted in the development of the band gap emission, with the degree being enhanced with progress of the photoetching. The peak wavelength of photoluminescence decreased with a decrease in the wavelength used for the photoetching, so that the luminescence color could be tuned between red and blue. Partial photoetching of SiO2/CdSe nanoparticle films produced intense band gap emission of CdSe at the photoetched area, while the remainder of the SiO2/CdSe films did not exhibit detectable photoluminescence, resulting in the formation of a clear photoluminescence image under UV irradiation. This technique makes it possible to produce a multicolored photoluminescence image by irradiation with monochromatic lights having various wavelengths using a single source material.