Realization of High Capacity and Cycling Stability in Pb-Free A2 CuBr4 (A=CH3 NH3 /Cs, 2 D/3 D) Perovskite-Based Li-Ion Battery Anodes.

Lead-free hybrid and inorganic perovskites (A2 CuBr4 ; A=CH3 NH3 or Cs, 2 D or3 D) are synthesized by a room-temperature solid-state reaction route and examined as anode materials in Li-ion batteries. A remarkably high reversible capacity of 630 mAh g-1 is realized in the 2 D hybrid perovskite at 100 mA g-1 at the end of 140 cycles. A full cell with this anode is also tested and shows impressive cycling stability. A good reversible capacity of 420 mAh g-1 with excellent stability tested up to 1400 cycles is also obtained for the 3 D perovskites. Pb-free hybrid/inorganic halide perovskites can thus be used as viable anode materials for battery applications.

Synthesis of cerium and nickel doped titanium nanofibers for hydrolysis of sodium borohydride.

A recyclable titanium nanofibers, doped with cerium and nickel doped was successfully synthesized by using sol-gel and electrospinning method for hydrogen generation from alkali free hydrolysis of NaBH4. The resultant nanocomposite was characterized to find out the structural and physical-chemical properties by a series of analytical techniques such as FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy),N2 adsorption-desorption and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), etc. The results revealed that cerium and nickel nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed on the surface of the TiO2 nanofibers due to having similar oxidation state and atomic radium of TiO2nanofibers with CeO2 and NiO for the effective immobilization of metal ions. The NiO doped catalyst showed superior catalytic performance towards the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4 at room temperature. These catalysts have ability to produce 305 mL of H2 within the time of 160 min at room temperature. Additionally, reusability test revealed that the catalyst is active even after five runs of hydrolytic reaction, implying the as-prepared NiO doped TiO2 nanofibers could be considered as a potential candidate catalyst for portable hydrogen fuel system such as PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cells).

Controlled synthesis of ZnO from nanospheres to micro-rods and its gas sensing studies.

1D ZnO rods are synthesized using less explored hydrazine method. Here we find, besides being combustible hydrazine can also be used as a structure-directing agent. The ratio of zinc nitrate (ZN) to hydrazine is found to control the morphology of ZnO. At lower concentration of ZN as compared with hydrazine the morphology of ZnO is found to be spherical. As we increase the hydrazine content the morphology changes from spherical (diameter approximately 100 nm) to the elongated structures including shapes like Y, T as well dumbbell (diameter approximately 40 nm and length approximately 150 nm). Interestingly for more than 50% of hydrazine ZnO micro-rods are formed. Such rods are of diameter approximately 120 nm having length of about 1 microm for ZN to hydrazine ratio of 1:9, isolated as well as bundle of rods are seen in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the phase formation with average particle size of 37 nm as calculated using Scherrer's formula. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is also done to confirm the d-spacing in ZnO. Gas sensing study for these samples shows high efficiency and selectivity towards LPG at all operating temperatures. Photoluminescence (PL) study for these samples is performed at room temperature to find potential application as photoelectric material.

Titania nanoparticles synthesis in mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41.

Nanocrystalline titanium oxide (TiO(2)) is one of the most useful oxide material, because of its widespread applications in photocatalysis, solar energy conversion, sensors and optoelectronics. The control of particle size and monodispersity of TiO(2) nanoparticles is a challenging task. The use of MCM-41, an inorganic template of uniform pore size (2-10 nm), can overcome this difficulty and produce stable nanoparticles of uniform size and shape. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of titania nanoparticles inside the pores of silica based MCM-41 forming a TiO(2)/Si-MCM composite. Composites are formed in the alcoholic medium by incipient wetness impregnation method. Titania particles of average 3 nm size are obtained. Effect of silica and titania precursors on the quality of nanoparticles has been investigated. The characterization of titania-MCM-41 composites has been carried out using a variety of techniques like UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It has been found that the titania particles are co-ordinated with Si-MCM by SiOTi covalent bond.

Nitrate reductase-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles from AgNO3.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using alpha-NADPH-dependent nitrate reductase and phytochelatin in vitro has been demonstrated for the first time. The silver ions were reduced in the presence of nitrate reductase, leading to the formation of a stable silver hydrosol 10-25 nm diam. and stabilized by the capping peptide. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-Vis absorption. These studies will help in designing a rational enzymatic strategy for the synthesis of nanomaterials of different chemical composition, shapes and sizes as well as their separation.

Thermally assisted semiconductor-like to insulator transition in gold-poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites.

Gold-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites were fabricated by mixing gold nanoparticles capped with oleylamine in polymethylmethacrylate. The samples were analysed using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, small angle x-ray scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrical resistivity of nanocomposite samples was measured by a four-probe technique in the 70-300 K range. The nanocomposites showed a transition with an onset at ∼160-165 K. They exhibited a semiconductor-like conductivity at higher temperatures and nearly temperature independent conductivity at lower temperatures. The interfacial interaction of Au nanoparticles and PMMA polymer is investigated using FTIR and XPS. A ligand-exchange process occurs when capped gold nanoparticles are incorporated in PMMA polymer.