Carbon-Nitride Popcorn-A Novel Catalyst Prepared by Self-Propagating Combustion of Nitrogen-Rich Triazenes.

The interest in development of non-graphitic polymeric carbon nitrides (PCNs), with various C-to-N ratios, having tunable electronic, optical, and chemical properties is rapidly increasing. Here the first self-propagating combustion synthesis methodology for the facile preparation of novel porous PCN materials (PCN3-PCN7) using new nitrogen-rich triazene-based precursors is reported. This methodology is found to be highly precursor dependent, where variations in the terminal functional groups in the newly designed precursors (compounds 3-7) lead to different combustion behaviors, and morphologies of the resulted PCNs. The foam-type highly porous PCN5, generated from self-propagating combustion of 5 is comprehensively characterized and shows a C-to-N ratio of 0.67 (C3 N4.45 ). Thermal analyses of PCN5 formulations with ammonium perchlorate (AP) reveal that PCN5 has an excellent catalytic activity in the thermal decomposition of AP. This catalytic activity of PCN5 is further evaluated in a closer-to-application scenario, showing an increase of 18% in the burn rate of AP-Al-HTPB (with 2 wt% of PCN5) solid composite propellant. The newly developed template- and additive-free self-propagating combustion synthetic methodology using specially designed nitrogen-rich precursors should provide a novel platform for the preparation of non-graphitic PCNs with a variety of building block chemistries, morphologies, and properties suitable for a broad range of technologies.

C-14 powered dye-sensitized betavoltaic cells.

A dye-sensitized betavoltaic cell is developed for the first time, which utilizes radioisotopic carbon, composed of nano-sized quantum dots, and ruthenium-based dye sensitized TiO2 as electrodes. In this cell, emitted beta radiations are absorbed by the dye rather than TiO2, which resulted in enhanced performance compared to the pristine betavoltaic cell.

Synthesis and Growth Mechanism of Stable Prenucleated (≈0.8 nm Diameter) PbS Quantum Dots by Medium Energy Ion Scattering Spectroscopy.

In the current work, stable prenucleated PbS quantum dots (QDs) with a sub-nanometer (0.8 nm) size have been successfully synthesized via a systematically designed experiment. A detailed analysis of critical nucleation, growth, and stability for such ultrasmall prenucleated clusters is done. The experimental strategy is based on controlled concentration, temperature and injection of respective precursors, thus enabling us to control nucleation rate and separation of stable sub-nanometer PbS QDs with size 0.8 nm. Significantly, by providing additional thermal energy to sub-nanometer PbS QDs, we achieved the fully nucleated cubic crystalline structure of PbS with size of around 1.5 nm. The size and composition of the prenucleated QDs are investigated by sophisticated tools like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) spectroscopy which confirms the synthesis of PbS with Pb2+ rich surface while the UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data suggests an alternative crystallization path. Non-classical nucleation theory is employed to substantiate the growth mechanism of prenucleated PbS QDs.

Novel Porous Brain Electrodes for Augmented Local Field Potential Signal Detection.

Intracerebral local field potential (LFP) measurements are commonly used to monitor brain activity, providing insight into the flow of information across neural networks. Herein we describe synthesis and application of a neural electrode possessing a nano/micro-scale porous surface topology for improved LFP measurement. Compared with conventional brain electrodes, the porous electrodes demonstrate higher measured amplitudes with lower noise levels.

The Biocompatibility of Nanoporous Acupuncture Needles.

We investigate the biocompatibility of a new class of acupuncture needles that possess a hierarchical nano/microscale porous surface topology, referred to as porous acupuncture needles (PAN). The PAN is synthesized via a facile electrochemical anodization technique by which a surface area approximately 20 times greater than a conventional acupuncture needle, of approximately the same diameter, is obtained. PAN biocompatibility is evaluated using a variety of standard tests, with results indicating that the PAN can safely be used within therapeutic practice.

Hybrid Cu x O-TiO2 Heterostructured Composites for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction into Methane Using Solar Irradiation: Sunlight into Fuel.

Photocatalytic CO2 conversion to fuel offers an exciting prospect for solar energy storage and transportation thereof. Several photocatalysts have been employed for CO2 photoreduction; the challenge of realizing a low-cost, readily synthesized photocorrosion-stable photocatalytic material that absorbs and successfully utilizes a broad portion of the solar spectrum energy is as yet unmet. Herein, a mesoporous p-type/n-type heterojunction material, Cu x O-TiO2 (x = 1, 2), is synthesized via annealing of Cu/Cu2O nanocomposites mixed with a TiO2 precursor (TiCl4). Such an experimental approach in which two materials of diverse bandgaps are coupled provides a simultaneous opportunity for greater light absorption and rapid charge separation because of the intrinsic p-n heterojunction nature of the material. As detailed herein, this heterostructured photocatalyst demonstrates an improved photocatalytic activity. With the CO2 reduction of our optimal sample (augmented light absorption, efficacious charge separation, and mesoporosity) that utilizes no metal cocatalysts, a remarkable methane yield of 221.63 ppm·g-1·h-1 is achieved.