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Abstract: In this study, high-density transparent tin dioxide (SnO2) nanorod array was prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate by thermal evaporation of a mixture of SnCl2·2H2O and anhydrous ZnCl2 powders at 600°C in air atmosphere. The structural properties of the sample were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Further investigation revealed that ZnCl2 played an important role in the formation of high transparent SnO2 nanorod array. CdS film was deposited on SnO2 nanorod array by the CBD method to form SnO2/CdS heterostructure film. Photoelectrochemical measurements indicated that the novel SnO2/CdS photoelectrode had a potential application in photovoltaic devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: SiO2-coated martensite stainless steel nanoparticles were prepared using wire electrical explosion technique combined with sol–gel technique, and their structural and magnetic properties were studied. The coating silica on stainless steel nanoparticles was based on the use of silane coupling agent 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (HS-(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3, MPTS) as a primer to render the stainless steel surface vitreophilic, thus rendering stainless steel surface compatible with silica. The control over the silica coating layer thickness can be achieved by varying the reaction time. For stainless steel nanoparticles, their saturation and remnant magnetizations decreased upon silica coating, and their saturation magnetizations obviously decreased with increasing the thickness of SiO2 coating layer. These stainless steel/silica core–shell nanoparticles can be utilized as precursors for making property-tunable magnetic nanoparticles, thin films, and multilayered core–shell structure nanocomposites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]