One-step in situ synthesis of NHx-adsorbed rhodium nanocrystals at liquid-liquid interfaces for possible electrocatalytic applications.

Nearly monodisperse rhodium nanoparticles with adsorbed NH(x) were synthesized at the CCl(4)-water interface. The presence of NH(x)-adsorbed species was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. The synthesis of controlled size 2-38 nm rhodium particles was studied as a function of reducing agent concentration by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HRTEM confirmed the formation of rhodium nanoparticles having fringe spacing consistent with reported Rh (111) planes. The continuity of these films over an area of 1×1 µm was revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies. The electrocatalytic application of these nanostructure Rh-NH(x) thin films for formaldehyde oxidation in 0.5M NaOH was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The Rh nanoparticles formed by the present strategy are expected to be useful for other catalytic applications also.

Copper phthalocyanine films deposited by liquid-liquid interface recrystallization technique (LLIRCT).

The simple recrystallization process is innovatively used to obtain the nanoparticles of copper phthalocyanine by a simple method. Liquid-liquid interface recrystallization technique (LLIRCT) has been employed successfully to produce small sized copper phthalocyanine nanoparticles with diameter between 3-5 nm. The TEM-SAED studies revealed the formation of 3-5 nm sized with beta-phase dominated mixture of alpha and beta copper phthalocyanine nanoparticles. The XRD, SEM, and the UV-vis studies were further carried out to confirm the formation of copper phthalocyanine thin films. The cyclic voltametry (CV) studies conclude that redox reaction is totally reversible one electron transfer process. The process is attributed to Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox reaction.

Palladium and gold nanoparticle array films formed by using self-assembly of block copolymer.

The well-arrayed Pd and Au nanoparticle thin films were successfully prepared by making use of self-assembled PS-b-P4VP block copolymer (BCP) as a mask for the reduction of PdCl2 deposited on glass substrate. The films consisted of spherialcal nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 45 nm. For monitoring the size, shape and array formation of Pd nanopaticle films, this procedure was proved better to the conventional process in which PdCl2 impregnated in the channels of self assembled BCP film is reduced to form nanoparticle array. This observations of Pd nanoparticle array film formation is supported by the AFM and UV-VIS studies of Au nanoparticle array films formed by conventional method.