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A novel Fenton reagent, chalcopyrite CuFeS nanocrystals (NCs) with an average diameter of 10.6 ± 1 nm are synthesized by a facile solution phase method in a standard Schlenk Line, and they can efficiently degrade organic dyes (methylene blue, rhodamine B and rhodamine 6G) aqueous solution (100 mg L) within 1 min. XRD and TEM have been carried out to determine the crystal information, size, and shape of CuFeS NCs. The degradation process is investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, and its advantage is illustrated by comparing with bulk chalcopyrite. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to discuss its degradation mechanism. Based on this Fenton reagent, CuFeS NCs/biomass composite degradation column is made using sawdust as substrate, and it can efficiently degrade organic dyes continually (the total amount of organic dyes degraded by the column are 8.67, 8.44, and 8.64 times the amount degraded by pure CuFeS NCs, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon modified lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12) anode nanocrystals for Li-ion batteries were synthesized by directly treating the titanium alkoxide and lithium acetate ethanol solution via the Reaction under Autogenic Pressure at Elevated Temperature (abbreviated to RAPET). The mixture of the liquid precursors decomposed during the RAPET process and then reacted in situ and transformed into carbon-modified Li4Ti5O12 anode nanocrystals. The organic moieties in the titanium alkoxide and the lithium salt provided both the oxygen and carbon for the synthesis. The resulting products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge–discharge testing. The influences of the titanium alkoxide precursors, i.e. the length of the alkoxy group, on the properties of the final products and the presence of the in situ resulting carbon on the electrochemical performance have been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-assemble propensity of the controlled shape and size distribution titania nanoparticles makes the particles oriented organization to ordered structures without substrate by a hydrolysis-hydrothermal route. The procedure offers the possibility of a generalized approach to the production of patterned organization of single and complex oxide nanoparticles with size and morphology tunable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hexagonal mesocrystals formed by tungsten oxide nanowires have been synthesized using a solvothermal method without any template. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis of the regular hexagonal mesocrystal demonstrates that the nanowires are highly ordered. Electrochemical behaviour of the mesocrystals has been evaluated by cyclic voltammograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles of Al-doped SnO2 have been hydrothermally synthesized. The influences of the hydrothermal reaction time, the molar ratio of Sn/Al as well as the pH value of the solution have been studied. During the hydrothermal synthesis, the particle’s core is rich in Sn and the surface is rich in Al. The Al-rich surface prevents the particles from further growing up either in the hydrothermal condition or during the calcination at 600 °C for a short period of time. The optimal hydrothermal synthesis condition of the nanoparticles is pH 5, Sn/Al=4:1 and 12 h at 160 °C. The products have been studied by XRD, TEM and 27Al solid-state NMR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]