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Room temperature phosphorescence carbon dots (RTP CDs) are one of the newly investigated nanomaterials because of their remarkable optical characteristics. They are widely utilized in many versatile optoelectronic and security applications. Apart from synthesis, one of its challenging attributes is its lifetime at room temperature. Here, a straightforward and quick heating approach is presented for synthesizing self‐matrix 1,10 phenanthroline and boron‐based RTP CDs. 1,10 phenanthroline is utilized as an aromatic and hetero atom containing carbon precursor and boric acid is used as a passivating to stabilize the triplet excitons and prevent nonradiative deactivation. Various characterization techniques like TEM, XRD, FTIR, UV–vis, PL, and elemental analysis (ICP and CHNS) have been used to study the properties of self‐matrix RTP CDs. The RTP CDs exhibited excellent blue‐green emission when excited at 302 nm. Compared to the available literature, the novelty of this work is observed from its high naked eye phosphorescence characteristic of ≈22 s with an average lifetime of ≈ 2.4 s at 302 nm, making them ultralong self‐matrix RTP CD material. Due to their exceptional qualities, the self‐matrix RTP CDs have been widely employed for various applications, including information encryption decryption, phosphor for LEDs, anticounterfeiting, and water sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wearable and stretchable strain sensor with a gauge factor above 23 was prepared using a simple and effective technique. Conducting nanocomposite strands were prepared from styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) and carbon black (CB) through a solvent-processing method that uses a syringe pump. This novel nanocomposite preparation technique is a straightforward and cost-effective process and is reported in the literature for the first time. The work included two stages: the flexible nanocomposite preparation stage and the piezoresistive sensor stage. Depending on its molecular structure, the thermoelastic polymer SEBS is highly resilient to stress and strain. The main aim of this work is to fabricate a highly flexible and piezoresistive nanocomposite fibre/strand. Among the prepared composites, a composite corresponding to a composition just above the percolation threshold was selected to prepare the strain sensor, which exhibited good flexibility and conductivity and a large piezoresistive effect that was linearly dependent on the applied strain. The prepared nanocomposite sensor was stitched onto a sports T-shirt. Commercially available knee and elbow sleeves were also purchased, and the nanocomposite SEBS/CB strands were sewn separately on the two sleeves. The results showed a high sensitivity of the sensing element in the case of breathing activity (normal breathing, a 35% change, and deep breathing at 135%, respectively). In the case of knee and elbow movements, simultaneous measurements were performed and found that the sensor was able to detect movement cycles during walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cellulose was carbonized in two-steps using hydrothermal and thermal carbonization in sequence, leading to a novel carbonaceous material prepared from a renewable source using a sustainable method without any chemicals and, moreover, giving high yields after a treatment at 600 °C in an inert atmosphere. During this treatment, cellulose was transformed to uniform microspheres with increased specific surface area and, more importantly, conductivity increased by about 7 orders of magnitude. The successful transition of cellulose to conducting carbonaceous microspheres was confirmed through SEM, FTIR, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Prepared samples were further used as a dispersed phase in electrorheological fluids, exhibiting outstanding electrorheological effects with yield stress over 100 Pa at an electric field strength 1.5 kV mm−1 and a particle concentration of only 5 wt%, significantly overcoming recent state-of-the-art findings. Impedance spectroscopy analysis showed clear interfacial polarization of this ER fluid with high dielectric relaxation strength and short relaxation time, which corresponded to increased conductivity of the particles when compared to pure cellulose. These novel carbonaceous particles prepared from renewable cellulose have further potential to be utilized in many other applications that demand conducting carbonaceous structures with high specific surface area (adsorption, catalyst, filtration, energy storage). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthorhombic niobium pentoxide (T-Nb2O5) possesses an intercalation pseudocapacitive behavior, which is a promising candidate of high-rate anodes for Li-ion capacitors. However, its low electric conductivity hinders the realization of this property. In our study, niobium oxides/carbon composites were prepared by calcinating a niobium peroxo-PAA complex (NbPAA) precursor to improve the electric conductivity. It has been found that the calcination temperature played an important role on the chemical compositions of obtained composites. A reduction phenomenon of niobium oxides by carbon was observed at high temperatures. At the medium temperature of 900 °C, the sample was composed of T-Nb2O5, monoclinic Nb2O5 (M-Nb2O5), amorphous carbon and niobium dioxide (NbO2). Due to the high conductivity of carbon, semi-conductivity of NbO2, and high specific capacity of M-Nb2O5, this sample exhibits a good specific capacity of 142 mAh g−1 (0.25 C) and a high-rate capability (capacity retention of 33.1%, 0.25 C to 25 C). It could be used as one of high-rate anodes for Li-ion capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the microwave-assisted synthesis of manganese metal–organic framework (MOF) material is presented. Synthesis procedure is based on a microwave-assisted solvothermal reaction of manganese(III) acetylacetonate with biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (Bpdc) in N,N′-dimethylformamide at the temperature of 160 °C. The obtained Mn-based metal–organic framework, labeled as Mn-Bpdc, was used as a precursor for the preparation of a porous MnO/carbon nanocomposite, which was obtained via thermal transformation in a nitrogen atmosphere at 700 °C. It was found that this approach provides an effective and simple preparation pathway for porous carbon decorated with homogeneously embedded manganese(II) oxide nanoparticles. Both Mn-Bpdc and MnO/C nanocomposite materials were characterized by a variety of physicochemical methods. The prepared MnO/C nanocomposite material was deposited on a cathode surface of lithium-sulfur batteries and utilized as a shuttle suppressing layer. This electrode structure immobilizes polysulfides inside the cathode and improves the stability during cycling. The electrode with MnO/C nanocomposite shuttle suppressing layer maintains high stability during cycling in comparison with a standard electrode. The electrode with MnO/C composite layer exhibits 84.8% capacity retention after 50 cycles at different C-rates compared to 76.2% obtained for the standard electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-step microwave-assisted polyol method was used to fabricate FexZn1−xO (x = 0.01, 0.05, 0.10) nanoparticles. Zinc acetate dihydrate, iron (III) acetylacetonate, oleic acid and diethylene glycol were placed in a Teflon-lined reaction vessel. The reaction mixture was heated up to 250 °C for 15 min in a microwave reactor. The surface modification with oleic acid prevented agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed characteristics wurtzite hexagonal structure of ZnO and successful incorporation of the Fe dopant into the host crystal lattice. Doping of ZnO by Fe led to bandgap modification as estimated by Tauc plot. The as-prepared nanopowders were dispersed in toluene and mixed with a poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) polymer to make stable homogenous dispersions. Then, the FexZn1−xO/MEH-PPV nanocomposite thin films were prepared by spin coating and used as thin active layers in polymer light-emitting diodes. The thickness of deposited FexZn1−xO/MEH-PPV film was ca. 30 nm and that of reference neat MEH-PPV film was ca. 25 nm. The electroluminescent spectroscopy study showed that direct blending of MEH-PPV with Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles is a simple and effective approach to significantly increase the luminance intensity of the diode in comparison to the diode fabricated by neat MEH-PPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gadolinium (Gd3+) substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2−xGdxO4) for Gd3+ (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20) have been synthesized by honey mediated sol-gel auto-combustion method. The X-ray diffraction study revealed the formation of spinel ferrite crystal structure. The Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study well support the XRD results analysis. The field emission scanning electron microscopy micrograph revealed spherical morphology and grain size around 10-30 nm for ZnFe2−xGdxO4 (x = 0.10) nanoparticles. The presence of Zn2+ and Fe3+ oxidation state in synthesized nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Magnetic properties of the Gd3+ substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature. The conversion of magnetic hysteresis curves from ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic with the substitution of Gd3+ in zinc ferrite nanoparticles was observed. Frequency dependent dielectric constant and ac conductivity measurements revealed that Gd3+ substitution improved the value of dielectric constant and ac conductivity of the Gd3+ substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles. Further, the existence of two semicircles in Cole-Cole plot demonstrated the role of both grains and grain boundaries to conduction process in synthesized Gd3+ ion substituted zinc ferrite nanoparticles. Furthermore, the grain relaxation time (τg), grain boundary relaxation time (τgb), grain resistance (Rg), grain capacitance (Cg), grain boundary resistance (Rgb) and grain boundary capacitance (Cgb) for synthesized ZnFe2−xGdxO4 (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20) nanoparticles have been calculated using modulus spectroscopy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ideally hexagonally ordered TiO2 nanotube layers were produced through the optimized anodization of Ti substrates. The Ti substrates were firstly covered with a TiN protecting layer prepared through atomic layer deposition (ALD). Pre-texturing of the TiN-protected Ti substrate on an area of 20×20 μm2 was carried out by focused ion beam (FIB) milling, yielding uniform nanoholes with a hexagonal arrangement throughout the TiN layer with three different interpore distances. The subsequent anodic nanotube growth using ethylene-glycol-based electrolyte followed the pre-textured nanoholes, resulting in perfectly ordered nanotube layers (resembling honeycomb porous anodic alumina) without any point defects and with a thickness of approximately 2 μm over the whole area of the pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review is devoted to non-hydrolytic sol-gel chemistry. During the last 25 years, non-hydrolytic sol-gel (NHSG) techniques were found to be attractive and versatile methods for the preparation of oxide materials. Compared to conventional hydrolytic approaches, the NHSG route allows reaction control at the atomic scale resulting in homogeneous and well defined products. Due to these features and the ability to design specific materials, the products of NHSG reactions have been used in many fields of application. The aim of this review is to present an overview of NHSG research in recent years with an emphasis on the syntheses of mixed oxides, silicates and phosphates. The first part of the review highlights well known condensation reactions with some deeper insights into their mechanism and also presents novel condensation reactions established in NHSG chemistry in recent years. In the second section we discuss porosity control and novel compositions of selected materials. In the last part, the applications of NHSG derived materials as heterogeneous catalysts and supports, luminescent materials and electrode materials in Li-ion batteries are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-hydrolytic sol–gel reactions of silicon acetates with trimethylsilyl (TMS) esters of phosphoric and phosphonic acids produce cross-linked matrices containing homogeneous dispersions of silicate and phosphoryl groups connected together by networks of Si–O–P(=O) linkages. The condensation degrees reach 80 to 90%. Residual organic groups (10 to 20%) were reacted with a variety of compounds (H2O, Me3SiOSiMe3, POCl3, SiCl4, AlMe3, Al(NMe2)3, and AlCl3) in order to enrich the surface of these porous matrices with Brønsted (≡P–OH) and Lewis (tetracoordinated Al) acid functional groups. The differences in the reactivity of ≡Si–OAc and ≡P–OSiMe3 groups were utilized for the selective modification at the silicon and phosphorus atoms. The reaction procedures were optimized and significantly porous silicophosphate materials with a high content of either hydroxyl groups or four-coordinated aluminium species were obtained. The activity and selectivity of prepared samples as catalysts for the dimerization of α-methylstyrene were tested. Excellent activities and moderate to very high selectivities were achieved suggesting the potential use of silicophosphate xerogels in heterogeneous catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel templated non-hydrolytic sol-gel synthesis of titanosilicate xerogels is reported. Acetamide elimination from silicon acetate and titanium diethylamide allows obtaining titanosilicates with a high content of Si-O-Ti bonds but low surface areas. These xerogels lose porosity on calcination. However, with addition of Pluronic P123 as a structure-directing agent, we synthesized mesoporous titanosilicate materials with large surface areas (up to 615 m g) and well dispersed tetrahedral Ti that are stable at temperatures up to 500 °C. These potential catalysts were characterized by variety of physico-chemical methods (IR, GC-MS, XRD, Si and C CPMAS NMR, DRUV-Vis, and N porosimetry) and tested in cyclohexene epoxidation with cumyl hydroperoxide in toluene. They display catalytic activity with the 100 % selectivity to cyclohexene oxide and high catalytic yields up to 96 % which is comparable to previously reported titanosilicate catalysts. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel non-hydrolytic sol-gel (NHSG) synthesis of mesoporous zirconium silicate xerogels is presented. The condensation between silicon acetate, Si(OAc), and Zr(NEt) resulting in acetamide elimination leads to homogeneous zirconium silicate xerogels containing Si-O-Zr linkages. The addition of Pluronic P123 template provides stiff gels that are after template removal by calcination at 500 °C in air converted to stable mesoporous xerogels with wormhole-type pores, high surface area over 500 m g, and tetrahedrally coordinated Zr atoms in the framework. The composition and morphology of the xerogels, volatile reaction byproducts, and thermal transformations were followed by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis TG-DSC, nitrogen adsorption, C and Si solid-state NMR spectroscopy, DRUV-Vis spectroscopy, SAXS, and HT powder XRD. These potential catalysts were tested for the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of 4- tert-butylcyclohexanone and for aminolysis of styrene oxide with aniline. Resulting reaction systems display good activity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-hydrolytic sol–gel reactions of acetoxysilanes with trimethylsilyl esters of phosphoric and phosphonic acids produce cross-linked matrices containing homogeneous dispersions of silicon and phosphoryl groups connected together by networks of Si–O–P(=O) linkages. These polycondensation reactions proceed cleanly and under mild conditions for a wide variety of precursor silanes RnSi(OAc)4−n (R = alkyl, aryl; n = 1, 2) and phosphoryl compounds RP(O)(OSiMe3)2 (R = alkyl, aryl) to provide hybrid xerogels, the final properties of which are a sensitive function of the organic substituents and the Si : P ratio of the precursors. The reactions of bridged acetoxysilanes (AcO)3Si–X–Si(OAc)3 and phosphoryl reagents (Me3SiO)2P(O)–X–P(O)(OSiMe3)2 have also been investigated and found to produce gels that exhibit large surface areas (up to 700 m2 g−1). The presence of SiO6 structural units in bridged-phosphoryl xerogels is related to their microporosity while the absence of such moieties in bridged-acetoxysilane networks is congruent with significant mesoporosity. Several important parameters are identified which can be used to tailor the properties of these hybrid matrices such that gels with specific polarity, porosity and surface area can be targeted at the time of synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel non-hydrolytic syntheses of titanosilicate xerogels by polycondensation of silicon acetate, Si(OAc), with titanium (IV) dimethylamide or diethylamide, Ti(NR) (R = Me, Et), are presented. The reactions are based on acetamide elimination and yield gels with a high content of Si-O−Ti bonds in comparison with the ester elimination route. Although a ligand exchange was observed, it was interestingly not followed by homo-condensation and during the synthesis the phase separation to SiO and TiO was avoided. The degree of condensation reached up to 68 %. The xerogels prepared for a comparison by ester elimination from Si(OAc) and titanium (IV) isopropoxide featured a significantly lower content of the Si-O-Ti bonds. The initial tests in the epoxidation of cyclohexene by cumyl hydroperoxide (CHP) indicated a high selectivity and moderate activity of the xerogels. The catalytic properties were significantly improved by combining non-hydrolytic and hydrolytic methods yielding mesoporous and homogeneous Si/Ti mixed oxides. The catalysts prepared by these methods provided a complete epoxidation of cyclohexene in 2 h at 65 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal hydroxides have attracted a lot of attention as the electrode materials for supercapacitors owing to their relatively high theoretical capacity, low cost, and facile preparation methods. However, their low intrinsic conductivity deteriorates their high-rate performance and cycling stability. Here, self-supported sheets-on-wire CuO@Ni(OH)2/Zn(OH)2 (CuO@NiZn) composite nanowire arrays were successfully grown on copper foam. The CuO nanowire backbone provided enhanced structural stability and a highly efficient electron-conducting pathway from the active hydroxide nanosheets to the current collector. The resulting CuO@NiZn as the battery-type electrode for supercapacitor application delivered a high capacity of 306.2 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.8 A g−1 and a very stable capacity of 195.1 mAh g−1 at 4 A g−1 for 10,000 charge–discharge cycles. Furthermore, a quasi-solid-state hybrid supercapacitor (qss HSC) was assembled with active carbon, exhibiting 125.3 mAh g−1 at 0.8 A g−1 and a capacity of 41.6 mAh g−1 at 4 A g−1 for 5000 charge–discharge cycles. Furthermore, the qss HSC was able to deliver a high energy density of about 116.0 Wh kg−1. Even at the highest power density of 7.8 kW kg−1, an energy density of 20.5 Wh kg−1 could still be obtained. Finally, 14 red light-emitting diodes were lit up by a single qss HSC at different bending states, showing good potential for flexible energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report the preparation of visible-light active direct Z-scheme Cu2O/WO3 nanocomposite photocatalyst by a solid-state reaction avoiding the otherwise inevitable formation of CuWO4 phase in wet syntheses. Structure, morphology, and thermal and optical properties of prepared WO3 nanoplatelets decorated by Cu2O were investigated by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM/TEM, combined thermogravimetric (TG)/differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, and UV–VIS spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of the prepared samples under UV and visible light was studied through monitoring discoloration of methylene blue under illumination by selected wavelengths, allowing for the distinguishing between the contributions of the two semiconductive components. Experimental results showed that the decoration of WO3 nanoplates by Cu2O nanoparticles led to an improvement in photocatalytic performance, regardless of used LED (Light-Emitting Diode) wavelength, even at low concentrations. By using scavengers selectively blocking reactive species involved in the discoloration reaction, we determined that the Cu2O/WO3 nanocomposite exhibited the characteristics of direct Z-scheme-type photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the utilization of controlled radical polymerization as a tool for controlling the stimuli-responsive capabilities of graphene oxide (GO) based hybrid systems. Various polymer brushes with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were grafted from the GO surface by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The modification of GO with poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA), poly(trimethylsilyloxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMATMS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with online Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Various grafting densities of GO-based materials were investigated, and conductivity was elucidated using a four-point probe method. Raman shift and XPS were used to confirm the reduction of surface properties of the GO particles during SI-ATRP. The contact angle measurements indicated the changes in the compatibility of GOs with silicone oil, depending on the structure of the grafted polymer chains. The compatibility of the GOs with poly(dimethylsiloxane) was also investigated using steady shear rheology. The tunability of the electrorheological, as well as the photo-actuation capability, was investigated. It was shown that in addition to the modification of conductivity, the dipole moment of the pendant groups of the grafted polymer chains also plays an important role in the electrorheological (ER) performance. The compatibility of the particles with the polymer matrix, and thus proper particles dispersibility, is the most important factor for the photo-actuation efficiency. The plasticizing effect of the GO-polymer hybrid filler also has a crucial impact on the matrix stiffness and thus the ability to reversibly respond to the external light stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]