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Abstract: Si-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared via a solvothermal method and were sensitized by the Fe-quinoline complexes (HQSI) to improve the visible light photocatalytic activity. The used HQSI had a narrow band gap of 1.54eV and showed strong visible light absorption. HQSI can transfer photoelectrons to the conduction band of TiO2 and be regenerated by the electron injection from Rhodamine B. After sensitization, the Si-doped TiO2 exhibited stronger absorption in the visible region and showed higher visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B in an aqueous solution than the simple Si-doped TiO2 and sensitized commercial TiO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Novel flower-like CeF3 nanostructures with a mean diameter of 190nm were successfully synthesized via a rapid and facile microwave irradiation route using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium as the complexing reagent. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL). XRD patterns showed that the CeF3 nanoflowers were hexagonal phase and had good crystallinity and purity. TEM and SEM images showed that the as-prepared CeF3 samples displayed 3D flower-like nanostructures and had uniform sizes and morphologies. The experimental results revealed that the as-prepared CeF3 nanoflowers might be assembled by nanodisks. The formation process of the CeF3 nanoflowers was preliminarily investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Flower-like MoS2 microspheres with high purity were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route by adding sodium silicate as an additive. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD patterns showed that the MoS2 microspheres had good crystallinity with well-stacked layered structure. TEM and SEM images showed that the MoS2 microspheres had uniform sizes with mean diameter about 480 nm and were constructed with MoS2 sheets with thickness of several nanometers. It was found that the possible precursor H4SiMo12O40 obtained by sodium silicate reacting with sodium molybdate played a crucial role in the formation of the flower-like MoS2 microspheres in our experiment. A possible formation mechanism of MoS2 microspheres was preliminarily presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Porous Si3N4 ceramics with uniform morphology were fabricated via freeze casting and silicon powder nitridation process. Because of the interlocking grains, Si3N4 porous ceramics obtained high porosity of 70.51% and high flexural strength of 16.3 MPa despite of its nitridation degree 88.8%. With SiC addition, a much higher nitridation degree 97.9% was achieved. But the relatively low porosity of 66.7% with low flexural strength of 9.6 MPa was gained owing to the restrained growth and deflection of grains. After post-sintering, the increased aspect ratio of grains gave rise to the improved flexural strength for Si3N4 porous ceramics, while the contrary phenomenon was observed with SiC addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower-like MoS2 microspheres were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route followed by annealing treatment using biopolymer (sodium alginate, SA) as an additive. The experimental results indicated that the MoS2 products were of hexagonal phases and had a hierarchical flower-like morphology, which were constructed with MoS2 nanosheets. A probable SA-induced assembly process was presented to account for the formation of the flower-like microspheres. Additionally, as an electrode material for supercapacitor, this MoS2 microsphere delivered a high specific capacitance at a large current density with good cycle ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Utilizing the reactions between toluene diisocyanate (TDI), silanol, and ethylenediamine (EDA), NH2 groups were successfully grafted on mesoporous SBA-15 surface without any destroy to the mesostructure. TDI was employed as a ‘bridge’ molecule whose one NCO group was used to link SBA-15 surface silanols and the other one was left to link EDA. Such NH2-grafting is highly effective for a high loading amount of NH2 groups on SBA-15 because the special stepwise grafting can avoid amino/silanol and amino/amino interactions. Subjected to remove toxic heavy metal ions in aqueous solution, the obtained NH2-SBA-15 showed very high adsorption rates 99.4%, 100%, 99.7%, 98.7% and 99.9% for Cu2+, Zn2+, Cr3+, Ni2+ and Cd2+, respectively, which should be attributed to the strong complexation reactions between metal ions and grafted NH2 groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]