Search

Abstract: Copper sulfides were synthesized by using the low-molecular-mass hydrogel nanofibers self-assembled from a L-glutamic acid derivative. The as-prepared copper sulfides showed a nanoribbon structure with diameter of 30–70nm and lengths of 1–10μm. The investigation of FT-IR absorption spectra and XRD pattern for the neat hydrogel and composite gel suggested that H-bonding was the main driving force to help the formation of ordered nanofibers of the hydrogel and the composite gel. The resulted mineralization indicated that the inorganic ions (Cu2+) were firstly coordinated to the carboxylate anions (COO−). With the penetration of H2S, the preformed CuS nanoparticles on the surface of the fibers acted as the growing points for the continuous growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A self-assembled layered superlattice composite film was fabricated by casting the chloroform solutions of ionic complex between dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODA) and 18-molybdophosphate anion (P2Mo186−) onto CaF2, borosilicate glass, and quartz substrates. Infrared and UV spectra revealed that the Dawson structure characteristic of P2Mo186− was preserved in the composite film. A well-ordered superlattice structure was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). From XRD results and the cross-sectional area of DODA cation and P2Mo18 polyanion, a possible structural model was proposed. The P2Mo18/DODA film showed good photochromic properties. Irradiated with UV light, the transparent film changed from light yellow to blue. Then, bleaching occurred when the film was in contact with ambient air or O2 in the dark. A possible photochromic mechanism was proposed according to electron spin resonance (ESR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and UV–Vis spectra. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]