Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of {110}-Faceted TiO2 Rutile Nanorods in the Photodegradation of Hazardous Pharmaceuticals.

Rutile TiO2 with highly active facets has attracted much attention owing to its enhanced activity during the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants such as pharmaceuticals in wastewater. However, it is difficult to obtain by controlling the synthetic conditions. This paper reports a simple hydrothermal synthesis of rutile TiO2 nanorods with highly exposed {110} facets. The obtained rutile was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The main contribution to the photocatalytic activity comes from rutile nanorods with highly dominant active {110} facets, which were studied in the photodegradation of reactive cinnamic acid and more recalcitrant ibuprofen. The contribution of active species was also investigated. The present work further confirmed the hydrothermal synthesis route for controlling the preparation of highly crystalline and active rutile nanocrystals.

In situ observation of phase transformation in iron carbide nanocrystals.

This paper reports on the in situ observation of phase transformation in an iron carbide nanocrystal encapsulated in a graphitic shell by means of high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). A Fe7C3 nanocrystal in orthorhombic (o-Fe7C3) structure with carbon graphitic cover is captured at the initial time of the experiment. Under the projection of a high-energy electron beam (200kV), the graphitic carbon layer evaporates gradually and structural changes in orthorhombic (o-Fe7C3) crystal manifests simultaneously. Specifically, changes in crystal direction happens first and then the crystal structure switching between orthorhombic and hexagonal (h-Fe7C3) follows. Details analysis and conclusive evidences of the phase structure and transformation are presented and discussed. The appearance of o-Fe7C3 structure is captured for about 92min over 100min of observation, indicating the preference of o-Fe7C3 form over h-Fe7C3 form.

Single phase Si1-xGex nanocrystals and the shifting of the E1 direct energy transition.

We report preparation and characterization of Si1-xGex alloys with varied composition x of a large range from 0-1. The materials have been obtained by co-sputtering, followed by a heat treatment process at 600, 800, and 1000 °C for 30 min in a nitrogen gas atmosphere. X-ray diffraction data have revealed the formation of single-phase nanoparticles in the face-centered cubic (FCC) structure of Si1-xGex alloys. We found that lattice constant a of the Si1-xGex alloys increased linearly with the composition parameter x. Average diameters of the single-phase nanoparticles were estimated to be between 3-10 nm. Further evidence of FCC single-phase [Formula: see text] nanoparticles has been obtained by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. From absorption spectra, the gradual shift of the direct phononless transition identified for the E1 point in the Brillouin zone of bulk Ge is observed in single-phase Si1-xGex nanoparticles as a function of the composition parameter x.