p-Phosphonic acid calix[8]arene mediated synthesis of ultra-large, ultra-thin, single-crystal gold nanoplatelets.

Single-crystal Au nanoplatelets, as large as 28 µm in cross section and as thin as 6 nm, are generated by bubbling hydrogen gas into an aqueous solution of HAuCl4 in the presence of p-phosphonic acid calix[8]arene, which acts as both a catalyst and stabiliser. The use of the ultrathin Au nanoplatelets in oxygen gas sensing has also been established.

Hydrogen induced p-phosphonic acid calix[8]arene controlled growth of Ru, Pt and Pd nanoparticles.

Monodispersed Ru, Pt and Pd nanoparticles with narrow size distributions (2, 12 and 20 nm respectively) have been synthesised via bubbling hydrogen gas into aqueous solutions of the noble metal ions in the presence of p-phosphonic acid calix[8]arene, at room temperature. Molecular modelling of the Ru nanoparticles provides insight into the role of the calixarene in controlling the size and stabilisation of the metal nanoparticles.

Diatom frustules as light traps enhance DSSC efficiency.

Diatoms are one of the most successful photosynthetic organisms and given the important role that their shells (frustules) play in light trapping we explored their use in multilayered materials for application as photoanodes in dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). We find a substantial improvement in energy conversion efficiency of 30%, increasing from 3.5% to 4.6% with diatom incorporation.

Regiospecific assembly of gold nanoparticles around the pores of diatoms: toward three-dimensional nanoarrays.

The templated growth of gold nanoparticles in 3D arrays within the nanopores of unicellular diatoms involves pretreament of the skeletons with poly(vinylpyridine) which has a unique dewetting property. This self-assembly provides a nanochemical analogue of lithography for engineering complex nanostructures. The process can be universally applied to the many types of diatom skeletons which vary in size and structure.