Size Dispersion Of Nanoparticles Research Articles

Arbutin Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Its Catalytic Activity against Different Organic Dyes

In this study, we report one-pot, single step synthesis of silver nanoparticles stabilized by using arbutin. The concentration of reducing agent (NaBH4) used in the preparation was kept at double, and arbutin was used as a stabilizing agent. The confirmation of prepared silver nanoparticles was done by color change and UV-Vis surface plasmon resonance peak at 435 nm in UV-Vis spectrum. Size dispersion of nanoparticles was carried out by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and surface charge on nanoparticles. Stability was analyzed by Zeta potential. A strong negative charge indicated that nanoparticles are well stabilized throughout the solution. Morphology and 3D topographic images were obtained by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The crystalline nature of nanoparticles was elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The size and morphology of solid, well-grinded nanoparticles was proceeded by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The catalytic activities of nanoparticles were carried out against methylene blue, methyl orange, safranin, and eosin. The results demonstrated that synthesized silver nanoparticles commenced the degradation reaction of dyes mentioned. Prepared silver nanoparticles are found to have adequate catalytic activity, as it can be comprehended in time-dependent UV-Vis spectrums of dyes after treating them with AgNPs.

Analytical modeling for plasmonic graphene/GaAs solar cells with random distribution of nonuniform-sized nanoparticles

Numerical simulations based on solving the Maxwell equations provide a robust and efficient approach to obtaining optical properties of plasmonic metal nanoparticles (NPs), but they have high computational costs when considering the real conditions of incorporated NPs such as random distribution and nonuniform size. Therefore, an effective medium theory, taking into account light scattering on the surface of NPs and light concentration by localized surface plasmon resonance, has been employed to obtain optical properties of randomly embedded spherical NPs with nonuniform radii into GaAs. The results are input into an optoelectrical model of graphene/GaAs Schottky barrier solar cells (SCs), calibrated by the experimental data, to compare the performance of plasmonic graphene/GaAs SCs with the incorporation of different metal NPs of Au, Ag, Al, and Cu. Furthermore, the effects of the number of graphene layers, the radius of NPs, and the amount of size dispersion on the photovoltaic parameters of plasmonic graphene/GaAs SCs have been investigated. It is demonstrated that increasing the radius and size dispersion of NPs, by inducing an inhomogeneous broadening and an increase of plasmon band amplitude, enhances the efficiency of plasmonic graphene/GaAs SCs.

One-Step Synthesis, Structure, and Band Gap Properties of SnO2 Nanoparticles Made by a Low Temperature Nonaqueous Sol-Gel Technique.

Because of its electrically conducting properties combined with excellent thermal stability and transparency throughout the visible spectrum, tin oxide (SnO2) is extremely attractive as a transparent conducting material for applications in low-emission window coatings and solar cells, as well as in lithium-ion batteries and gas sensors. It is also an important catalyst and catalyst support for oxidation reactions. Here, we describe a novel nonaqueous sol–gel synthesis approach to produce tin oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with a low NP size dispersion. The success of this method lies in the nonhydrolytic pathway that involves the reaction between tin chloride and an oxygen donor, 1-hexanol, without the need for a surfactant or subsequent thermal treatment. This one-pot procedure is carried out at relatively low temperatures in the 160–260 °C range, compatible with coating processes on flexible plastic supports. The NP size distribution, shape, and dislocation density were studied by powder X-ray powder diffraction analyzed using the method of whole powder pattern modeling, as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The SnO2 NPs were determined to have particle sizes between 3.4 and 7.7 nm. The reaction products were characterized using liquid-state 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) that confirmed the formation of dihexyl ether and 1-chlorohexane. The NPs were studied by a combination of 13C, 1H, and 119Sn solid-state NMR as well as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The 13C SSNMR, FTIR, and Raman data showed the presence of organic species derived from the 1-hexanol reactant remaining within the samples. The optical absorption, studied using UV–visible spectroscopy, indicated that the band gap (Eg) shifted systematically to lower energy with decreasing NP sizes. This unusual result could be due to mechanical strains present within the smallest NPs perhaps associated with the organic ligands decorating the NP surface. As the size increased, we observed a correlation with an increased density of screw dislocations present within the NPs that could indicate relaxation of the stress. We suggest that this could provide a useful method for band gap control within SnO2 NPs in the absence of chemical dopants.

Ion-Mediated Ligand Exchange and Size Focusing of Semiconductor Nanocrystals in Ligand-Saturated Solutions

Controlling the morphology of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) remains to be a challenging task. Traditional growth strategies employ a high concentration of monomers to promote particle nucleation, which tends to oversaturate the solution with reactive species. This leads to secondary nucleation events and other dispersion-broadening processes. Here, we explore monomer-deprived synthetic conditions as a bilateral strategy for tuning both the shape and the surface-ligand chemistry of semiconductor colloids. Rather than controlling the nucleation phase, the present method employs a postsynthetic treatment based on low-temperature digestive ripening, where small particles grow at the expense of larger ones. The feasibility of the present approach was demonstrated by observing a 4-fold reduction in the CdSe nanoparticle size dispersion during the digestive ripening reaction, which was induced by high concentrations of L-type (amines) or X-type (oleic acid) ion-solubilizing ligands. In the latter ca...

Thermal energy transport in a surface phonon-polariton crystal

We demonstrate that the energy transport of surface phonon polaritons can efficiently be observed in a crystal made up of a three-dimensional assembly of spheroidal nanoparticles of silicon carbide. The ultralow phonon thermal conductivity of this nanostructure, along with its high surface area-to-volume ratio, allows the predominance of the polariton energy over that generated by phonons. The polariton dispersion relation, propagation length, and thermal conductance are numerically determined as functions of the size, shape, and temperature of the nanoparticles. It is shown that the thermal conductance of a crystal with prolate nanoparticles at 500 K and a minor (major) axis of 50 nm ($5\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$) is $0.5\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nW}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, which is comparable to the quantum of thermal conductance of polar nanowires. We also show that a nanoparticle size dispersion of up to 200 nm does not change significantly the polariton energy, which supports the technological feasibility of the proposed crystal.

Magneto-optic Response of Functionalized vs. Uncoated Fe2O3 (Maghemite) Nanoparticles

ABSTRACTIron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted a lot of interest due to their many potential applications in areas including optoelectronics, magneto-optics, high density data storage, etc. In particular, iron oxides (Fe3O4 and γ –Fe2O3) are also well suited for biomedical applications [1]. We have investigated Faraday Rotation (FR) response for two types of Fe2O3 NPs (in aqueous suspension) that are of the same average diameter (10 nm) but differ in one important respect; one group consists of uncoated particles whereas the other group is functionalized with caffeic acid. This system is being investigated and characterized for use in tumor imaging applications. Faraday rotation (FR) refers to the rotation of the polarization vector of a light beam as it passes through a sample in the presence of a magnetic field. FR can reveal interesting material properties such as saturation magnetization and wavelength dependent Verdet constant of the material under investigation. The latter is a measure of the magnetically induced birefringence of the material. Typically FR setups rely on AC or DC magnetic fields. While these are valuable techniques with their own advantages, this work focuses on a pulsed field setup that can reveal dynamic information about the resulting magnetization, as the magnetic response of the sample is measured in the presence of short intense fields on the order of 0.6 Tesla and lasting approximately 100 milliseconds. All experiments are carried out at excitation wavelength of 633 nm (He-Ne wavelength).The two NP samples show very different response to the field pulses. The NP systems investigated in this work show very unique short term and long term behavior revealing various time scales of interest. These unique characteristic times for the functionalized vs. uncoated particles provide valuable clues about the magnetization response of the NP and its relationship to the detailed structure of the NPs (core vs. shell). Magnetic response from these systems persists long after the magnetic field pulse has subsided. This can be related to the relaxation modes (Néel vs. Brownian) and as possible evidence of NP size dispersion. Additionally, the possibility of agglomeration is also discussed. While more detailed quantitative analysis will be dealt with in a more comprehensive publication that is under preparation, we hope to show in this preliminary report both that the AC and pulsed FR measurements can reveal complimentary information and that FR in general can be a reliable technique, which can be used to develop a detailed picture of the magnetic response of these NP systems.

Production of Nanometer-Size GaAs Nanocristals by Nanosecond Laser Ablation in Liquid

This paper reports the formation and characterization of spherical GaAs quantum dots obtained by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation in a liquid (ethanol or methanol). The produced bare GaAs nanoparticles demonstrate rather narrow size distribution which depends on the applied laser power density (from 4.25 to 13.9 J/cm2 in our experiments) and is as low as 2.5 nm for the highest power used. The absolute value of the average diameter also decreases significantly, from 13.7 to 8.7 nm, as the laser power increases in this interval. Due to the narrow nanoparticle size dispersion achieved at the highest laser powers two absorption band edges are clearly distinguishable at about 1.72 and 3.15 eV which are ascribed to E0 and E1 effective optical transitions, respectively. A comparison of the energies with those known for bulk GaAs allows one to conclude that an average diameter of the investigated GaAs nanoparticles is close to 10 nm, i.e., they are quantum dots. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images show that the bare GaAs nanoparticles are nanocrystalline, but many of them exhibit single/multiple twin boundary defects or even polycrystallinity. The formation of the GaAs crystalline core capped with a SiO2 shell was demonstrated by HRTEM and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Effective band edges can be better distinguished in SiO2 capped nanoparticles than in bare ones, In both cases the band edges are correlated with size quantum confinement effect.

GISAXS analysis of 3D nanoparticle assemblies—effect of vertical nanoparticle ordering

We report on grazing-incidence small-angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) study of 3D nanoparticle arrays prepared by two different methods from colloidal solutions—layer-by-layer Langmuir–Schaefer deposition and spontaneous self-assembling during the solvent evaporation. GISAXS results are evaluated within the distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA) considering the multiple scattering effects and employing a simplified multilayer model to reduce the computing time. In the model, particular layers are represented by nanoparticle chains where the positions of individual nanoparticles are generated following a model of cumulative disorder. The nanoparticle size dispersion is considered as well. Three model cases are distinguished—no shift between the neighboring chains (AA stacking), a shift equal to half of the mean interparticle distance (AB stacking) and random shift between the chains. The first two cases correspond to vertically correlated nanoparticle positions across different chains. A comparison of the experimental GISAXS patterns with the model cases enabled us to distinguish important differences between the 3D arrays prepared by the two methods. In particular, laterally ordered layers without vertical correlation of the nanoparticle positions were found in the nanoparticle multilayers prepared by the Langmuir–Schaefer method. On the other hand, the solvent evaporation under particular conditions produced highly ordered 3D nanoparticle assemblies where both laterally and vertically correlated nanoparticle positions were found.

Size tuning of luminescent silicon nanoparticles with meso-porous silicon membranes

Size tuning of silicon (Si) nanoparticles (NPs) with the use of meso-porous silicon (meso-PS) free-standing layers is reported for the first time. Accumulation of Si NPs inside the membrane pores during the filtering process (NP transport through the meso-PS) leads to an auto-filtration effect (called Si-by-Si (SBS) filtration) allowing more efficient size selection of the NPs. General complex fractal shape and surface chemistry of the whole porous network, layer thickness as well as a given initial NP size dispersion determine final size of the NPs in the filtered solution. Moreover, quantum of step-like NP size increasing equal to 0.12 nm was found.

Structures and optical properties of 4–5 nm bimetallic AgAu nanoparticles

Three types of bimetallic AgAu nanoparticles, with mean size of 4-5 nm, Ag(core)Au(shell), Au(core)Ag(shell) and alloyed AgAu, have been synthesized using an inverse micelle method. To image these small size nanoparticles, quantitative high angle annular dark field imaging using scanning transmission electron microscopy was successfully applied. Our results show that good control of nanoparticle size dispersion and composition modulation was achieved. Optical properties of the nanoparticles are correlated with direct internal structure analysis. The structural stability is discussed, based on thermodynamic considerations.

Synthesis of magnetite (Fe 3O 4) nanoparticles without surfactants at room temperature

Iron oxide nanoparticles in the interval of 4–43 nm were synthesized by a colloidal method at room temperature, without use of surfactants and using precursors like FeCl 3·6H 2O and FeCl 2·4H 2O; deionizated water free of dissolved oxygen and ammonia solution (29% vol.) and using several aging times (2, 5 and 10 min). A detailed study by X- ray diffraction (XRD), Conventional Transmission Electron Microscopy (CTEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and electron diffraction patterns showed that with a reaction time less than 5 min nanoparticles of magnetite phase (Fe 3O 4) were synthesized, and with a bigger time of reaction the lepidocrocite phase (FeO(OH)) was identified. The minor particle average size measured was 6 nm in the sample, 0.0125 M with 2 min of aging time (0.0125M2 m). In addition it was possible to obtain a narrow nanoparticle size dispersion from 4 to 10 nm for small aging times.

Size distribution effect on the magnetization and magneto-resistance in ferromagnetic nanostructured manganites

We present experimental data of magnetization and magneto-resistance of nanostructured La 2/3B 1/3MnO 3 with B=Ca, Sr, which present difference between the coercive field in the magnetization loop with their corresponding maximum value in the magneto-resistance. This difference is described by a model that include, size distribution of magnetic particles, randomly oriented anisotropy axis and electronic transfer between the particles, which is mediated by spin-polarized tunneling process. Also, the model predicts that the maximum magneto-resistance can be, in the magnetic disorder state, two times larger than the experimental value. The model results can be used to estimate the size dispersion of nanoparticles in similar systems.

New Approaches to Obtaining Semiconductor Doped Glasses with Narrow Size Distribution of Nanoparticles

Precipitation process of CuBr nanoparticles (NPs) in silicate glasses has been investigated. Nonstandard preparation procedure was used. Energy shift of exciton lines due to quantum size effect has been found to increase at first then to decrease. This is the case for glass samples that do not contain a great many of nuclei of precipitated phase before heat treatment. The effect can be explained taking into account change of distribution function during precipitation process. Early stages of precipitation process are reasonable for decreasing size dispersion of NPs.