Synthesis of Various Metal/TiO2 Core/shell Nanorod Arrays

We present a general approach to fabricate metal/TiO2 core/shell nanorod structures by twostep electrodeposition. Firstly, TiO2 nanotubes with uniform wall thickness are prepared in anodic aluminum oxide （AAO） membranes by electrodeposition. The wall thickness of the nanotubes could be easily controlled by modulating the deposition time, and their outer diameter and length are only limited by the channel diameter and the thickness of the AAO membranes, respectively. The nanotubes＇ tops prepared by this method are open, while the bottoms are connected directly with the Au film at the back of the AAO membranes. Secondly, Pd, Cu, and Fe elements are filled into the TiO2 nanotubes to form core/shell structures. The core/shell nanorods prepared by this two-step process are high density and free-standing, and their length is dependent on the deposition time.

Absorption performance of DMSA modified Fe_3O_4@SiO_2 core/shell magnetic nanocomposite for Pb^(2+) removal

The purpose of this study is to explore the adsorption performance of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA)modified Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanocomposite(Fe3O4@SiO2@DMSA)for Pb2+ions removal from aqueous solutions.The effects of solution pH,initial concentration of Pb2+ions,contact time,and temperature on the amount of Pb2+adsorbed were investigated.Adsorption isotherms,adsorption kinetics,and thermodynamic analysis were also studied.The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of the Fe3O4@SiO2@DMSA composite is 50.5 mg/g at 298 K,which is higher than that of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles.The adsorption process agreed well with Langmuir adsorption isotherm models and pseudo second-order kinetics.The thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous,endothermic and energetically driven in nature.

A Hybrid Electrode of Co_3O_4@PPy Core/Shell Nanosheet Arrays for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Herein, combining solverthermal route and electrodeposition, we grew unique hybrid nanosheet arrays consisting of Co_3O_4 nanosheet as a core, PPy as a shell. Benefiting from the PPy as conducting polymer improving an electron transport rate as well as synergistic effects from such a core/shell structure, a hybrid electrode made of the Co_3O_4@PPy core/shell nanosheet arrays exhibits a large areal capacitance of 2.11 F cm-2at the current density of 2 m A cm^(-2), a *4-fold enhancement compared with the pristine Co_3O_4electrode; furthermore, this hybrid electrode also displays good rate capability(*65 % retention of the initial capacitance from 2 to 20 m A cm^(-2)) and superior cycling performance(*85.5 % capacitance retention after 5000 cycles). In addition, the equivalent series resistance value of the Co_3O_4@PPy hybrid electrode(0.238 X) is significantly lower than that of the pristine Co_3O_4electrode(0.319 X). These results imply that the Co_3O_4@PPy hybrid composites have a potential for fabricating next-generation energy storage and conversion devices.

One-dimensional ZnS-based Hetero-,Core/shell and Hierarchical Nanostructures

A focus of the current nanotechnology has shifted from routine fabrication of nanostructures to designing functional electronic devices and realizing their immense potentials for applications. Due to infusion of multi-functionality into a single system, the utilization of hetero-, core/shell and hierarchical nanostructures has become the key issue for building such devices. ZnS, due to its direct wide bandgap, high index of refraction, high transparency in the visible range and intrinsic polarity, is one of the most useful semiconductors for a wide range of electronics applications. This article provides a dense review of the state-of-the-art research activities in one-dimensional （1D） ZnS-based hetero-, core/shell and hierarchical nanostructures. The particular emphasis is put on their syntheses and applications.

Sonochemical Synthesis of Core/Shell Structured CdS/TiO_2 Nanocrystals Composites

A simple sonochemical route for the surface coating of titanium dioxide on cadmium sulfide nanocrystal was reported. After 2 h ultrasonic irradiation treatment, the mixture of CdS nanocrystals and tetrabutyl titanate in an aqueous medium yielded CdS/TiO2 nanocrystals composites with core/shell structure. The thickness of TiO2 layer with smooth interface could be easily controlled via changing the concentration of the precursors and the time of irradiation. The core/shell nanocrysrals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and UV-vis spectrometry techniques. The prepared semiconductor composites with particular band structure present appealing properties especially in photochemical activity.

Lithium Storage Performance of Hollow and Core/Shell TiO_2 Microspheres Containing Carbon

TiO2 microspheres containing carbon have been synthesized viaa one-pot hydrothermal process using CTAB as the mesoporous template and nanoparticle stabilizer and Ti(SO4)2and sucrose as titanium and carbon precursors,respectively. Through well designed calcinations, Ti O2 microspheres with various amounts of carbon-residue,such as core/shell C@TiO2, hollow neat H–TiO2, and hollow C/TiO2 composites, are obtained. When these microspheres are used as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the lithium storage performance is significantly influenced by the structure and carbon-residue. With a thin shell of TiO2 nanoparticles and carbon-residue, the capacity of hollow C/TiO2 composites maintains at 143.3 m A·h·g-1at 0.5 C(83.5 m A·g-1) after 100 cycles.Moreover, after high rate charge/discharge cycles from 0.2 C to 20 C and back to 0.2 C again, the reversible capacity recovers atas high as 195.1 m A·h·g-1with respect to its initial value of 205.0 m A·h·g-1. The results of cycle voltammograms and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further reveal that Li+insertion/extraction processes are reversible, and the diffusion coefficient of Li+in the hollow C/TiO2 composites is much higher than those of others, because the hollow structure can act as the ion-buffering reservoir and facilitate Li+transfer from both sides of the shell, and the carbon-residue in the shell improves the conductivity as well.

Synthesis and Upconversion Luminescence of LaF_3:Yb^(3+),Er^(3+)/SiO_2 Core/Shell Microcrystals

LaF3：Yb^3＋ , Er^＋ microcrystals were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and then, the LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋ microcrystals were coated with silica. Phase identification of LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋ and LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋/SiO2 was performed via XRD. The TEM image showed that the size of LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋ was 150 nm and LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋/SiO2 presented clearly a core/shell structure with 20 nm shell thickness. The upconversion spectra of LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋ and LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋/SiO2 in solid state and in ethanol were studied with a 980 nm diode laser as the excitation source. The upconversion spectra showed that the silica shell had little effect on the properties of fluorescence of the LaF3：Yb^3＋ , Er^＋ microcrystals. At the same time, the green luminescence photo of LaF3： Yb3＋, Er3＋/SiO2 in the PBS buffer was obtained, which indicated that the LaF3： Yb^3＋ , Er^＋/SiO2 could be used in biological applications.

Type-Ⅱ Core/Shell Nanowire Heterostructures and Their Photovoltaic Applications

Nanowire-based photovoltaic devices have the advantages over planar devices in light absorption and charge transport and collection.Recently,a new strategy relying on type-Ⅱ band alignment has been proposed to facilitate efficient charge separation in core/shell nanowire solar cells.This paper reviews the type-Ⅱ heterojunction solar cells based on core/shell nanowire arrays,and specifically focuses on the progress of theoretical design and fabrication of type-Ⅱ Zn O/Zn Se core/shell nanowire-based solar cells.A strong photoresponse associated with the type-Ⅱ interfacial transition exhibits a threshold of 1.6 e V,which demonstrates the feasibility and great potential for exploring all-inorganic versions of type-Ⅱ heterojunction solar cells using wide bandgap semiconductors.Future prospects in this area are also outlooked.

Visible-light-induced NiCo_(2)O_(4)@Co_(3)O_(4) core/shell heterojunction photocatalysts for efficient removal of organic dyes

Semiconductor photocatalysis has been considered as a potential technology for the removal of organic dyes from wastewater.The development of photocatalysts with high stability and strong catalytic activity is the most important in application.Visible-light-induced NiCo_(2)O_(4)@Co_(3)O_(4) core/shell heterojunctions were synthesized via a sol-gel method in this paper.Compared to bare NiCo_(2)O_(4) and Co_(3)O_(4),NiCo_(2)O_(4)@Co_(3)O_(4) showed a remarkably enhanced removal rate towards congo red(CR)degradation with 98.4%of the removal rate to CR at 120 min under irradiation.The excellent performance of NiCo_(2)O_(4)@Co_(3)O_(4) benefits from the effective separation of photogenerated electron-holes by forming a heterojunction,and the rapid transfer efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers results from the core/shell architectures.A mechanism that NiCo_(2)O_(4)@Co_(3)O_(4) degrades CR to harmless inorganic substances by h^(+),•O-2 and•OH during the photocatalytic process was proposed.

GaP/GaPN core/shell nanowire array on silicon for enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production

Simultaneously improving the efficiency and stability on a large scale is significant for the development of photoelectrochemical(PEC)water splitting systems.Here,we demonstrated a novel design of GaP/GaPN core/shell nanowire(NW)decorated p-Si photocathode for improved PEC hydrogen production performance compared to that of bare p-Si photocathode.The formation of the p-n junction between p-Si and GaP NW promotes charge separation,and the lower conduction band position of GaPN relative to that of GaP further facilitates the transfer of photogenerated electrons to the electrode surface.In addition,the NW morphology both shortens the carrier collection distance and increases the specific surface area,which result in superior reaction kinetics.Moreover,introduction of N in GaP is beneficial for enhancing the light absorption as well as stability.Our efficient and facile strategy can be applied to other solar energy conversion systems as well.

Highly Stable CdSe/CdS/ZnS Fluorophores in Acidic Environment:Acile Preparation and Modification of Core/shell/shell Nanocrystals

We described a facile method for preparing CdSe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals from air-stable single source precursors.The single source precursors of cadmium ethylxanthate and zinc ethylxanthate were used to form CdS and ZnS shell layers in octadecene.An efficient modification of CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanocrystals was subsequently performed to obtain hydrophilic nanocrystal fluorophores with good stability in a pH range of 1.6—10.

In Situ Growth of 3D Hierarchical ZnO@Ni_xCo_(1-x)(OH)_y Core/Shell Nanowire/Nanosheet Arrays on Ni Foam for High-Performance Aqueous Hybrid Supercapacitors

In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel battery-type electrode featuring three-dimensional(3D) hierarchical ZnO@Ni_xCo_(1-x)(OH)_y core/shell nanowire/nanosheet arrays arranged on Nifoam substrate via a two-step protocol including a wet chemical process followed by electro-deposition. We then characterized its composition, structure and surface morphology by X-ray diff raction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry(EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscopy, EDS elemental mapping. Our electrochemical measurements show that the ZnO@Ni_(0.67)Co_(0.33)(OH)_y electrode material exhibited a noticeably high specific capacity of as much as 255(mA ·h)/g at 1 A/g. Additionally, it demonstrated a superior rate capability, as well as an excellent cycling stability with 81.6% capacity retention over 2000 cycles at 5 A/g. This sample delivered a high energy density of 64 W·h/kg and a power density of 250 W/kg at a current density of 1 A/g. With such remarkable electrochemical properties, we expect the 3D hierarchical hybrid electrode material presented in this work to have promising applications for the next generation of energy storage systems.

Assembling Co_9S_8 nanoflakes on Co_3O_4 nanowires as advanced core/shell electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

Rational design of advanced cost-effective electrocatalysts is vital for the development of water electrolysis. Herein, we report a novel binder-free efficient CoS@CoOcore/shell electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction（OER） via a combined hydrothermal-sulfurization method. The sulfurized net-like CoSnanoflakes are strongly anchored on the CoOnanowire core forming self-supported binder-free core/shell electrocatalysts. Positive advantages including larger active surface area of CoSnanoflakes,and reinforced structural stability are achieved in the CoS@CoOcore/shell arrays. The OER performances of the CoS@CoOcore/shell arrays are thoroughly tested and enhanced electrocatalytic performance with lower over-potential(260 m V at 20 m A cm) and smaller Tafel slopes（56 mV dec-1） as well as long-term durability are demonstrated in alkaline medium. Our proposed core/shell smart design may provide a new way to construct other advanced binder-free electrocatalysts for applications in electrochemical catalysis.

Reduced-temperature ordering of FePt nanoparticle assembled films by Fe30Pt70/Fe3O4 core/shell structure

In this paper, Fe30Pt70/Fe3O4 core/shell nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical routine and the layered polyethylenimine （PEI）-Fe30Pt70/Fe3O4 structure was constructed by molecule-mediated self-assembly technique. The dimension of core/shell structured nanoparticles was that of 4nm core and 2 nm shell. After annealing under a flow of forming gas （50%Ar2＋30%H2） for 1 h at or above 400℃, the iron oxide shell was reduced to Fe and diffused to Pt-rieh core, which leaded to the formation of L1. phase FePt at low temperature. The x-ray diffraction results and magnetic properties measurement showed that the chemical ordering temperature of Fe30Pt70/Fe3O4 core/shell nanoparticles assembly can be reduced to as low as 400℃. The sample annealed at 400℃ showed the eoereivity of 4KOe with the applied field of 1.5T. The core/shell structure was suggested to be an effective way to reduce the ordering temperature obviously.

Wrinkling in graded core/shell systems using symplectic formulation

Wrinkles in flat graded elastic layers have been recently described as a timevarying Hamiltonian system by the energy method.Cylindrical core/shell structures can also undergo surface instabilities under the external pressure.In this study,we show that by treating the radial direction as a pseudo-time variable,the graded core/shell system with radially decaying elastic properties can also be described within the symplectic framework.In combination with the shell buckling equation,the present paper addresses the surface wrinkling of graded core/shell structures subjected to the uniform external pressure by solving a series of ordinary differential equations with varying coefficients.Three representative gradient distributions are showcased,and the predicted critical pressure and critical wave number are verified by finite element simulations.The symplectic framework provides an efficient and accurate approach to understand the surface instability and morphological evolution in curved biological tissues and engineered structures.

Synthesis and Properties of Water-soluble CdSe/ZnS Nanocrystals with the Type-I Core/Shell Structure

The synthesis of CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals though aqueous phase using the coprecipitation method was reported. The influences of factors such as injection methods and dosages of precursors, reaction duration of water-bathing and the initial CdSe：ZnS molar ratio were discussed. In comparison to the CdSe plain core nanocrystals, the CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals show much brighter photoluminescence demonstrated by the photoluminescence spectra. The epitaxial growth of the core/shell structures was verified by TEM and XRD.

Infrared light-emitting diodes based on colloidal Pb Se/Pb S core/shell nanocrystals

Colloidal Pb Se nanocrystals(NCs)have gained considerable attention due to their efficient carrier multiplication and emissions across near-infrared and short-wavelength infrared spectral ranges.However,the fast degradation of colloidal Pb Se NCs in ambient conditions hampers their widespread applications in infrared optoelectronics.It is well-known that the inorganic thick-shell over core improves the stability of NCs.Here,we present the synthesis of Pb Se/Pb S core/shell NCs showing wide spectral tunability,in which the molar ratio of lead(Pb)and sulfur(S)precursors,and the concentration of sulfur and Pb Se NCs in solvent have a significant effect on the efficient Pb S shell growth.The infrared light-emitting diodes(IR-LEDs)fabricated with the Pb Se/Pb S core/shell NCs exhibit an external quantum efficiency(EQE)of 1.3%at 1280 nm.The ligand exchange to optimize the distance between NCs and chloride treatment are important processes for achieving high performance on Pb Se/Pb S NC-LEDs.Our results provide evidence for the promising potential of Pb Se/Pb S NCs over the wide range of infrared optoelectronic applications.

An oxide/silicon core/shell nanowire metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor

This paper studies an oxide/silicon core/shell nanowire MOSFET （OS-CSNM）. Through three-dimensional device simulations, we have demonstrated that the OS-CSNM has a lower leakage current and higher Ion/Ioff ratio after intro- ducing the oxide core into a traditional nanowire MOSFET （TNM）. The oxide/silicon OS-CSNM structure suppresses threshold voltage roll-off, drain induced barrier lowering and subthreshold swing degradation. Smaller intrinsic device delay is also observed in OS-CSNM in comparison with that of TNM.

Comparative Study between Magnetite Nanoparticles and Magnetite/Silver as a Core/Shell Nanostructure

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) and magnetite/silver nanoparticles (M/Ag NPs) were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation of Fe2+ and Fe3+. In case of M/Ag NPs, MNPs (core) were separately coated by silver metal (shell) in presence of glucose as a reducing agent. The particle size and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Magnetic properties were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The superparamagnetic natures of the nanoparticles were confirmed by the absence of the hysteresis loop. Coverage with silver produced a core-shell heterostructure which weakens magnetization of MNPs, inducing an inert character to the fnal nanostructure. The surface conjugation of MNPs with silver metal has been employed in order to improve the compatibility of magnetite nanoparticles to overcome their limitations in practical applications.

Cardiogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on elastomeric poly (glycerol sebacate)/collagen core/shell fibers

AIM: To facilitate engineering of suitable biomaterials to meet the challenges associated with myocardial infarction. METHODS: Poly (glycerol sebacate)/collagen (PGS/ collagen) core/shell fibers were fabricated by core/ shell electrospinning technique, with core as PGS and shell as collagen polymer; and the scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle and tensile testing for cardiac tissue engineering. Collagen nanofibers were also fabricated by electrospinning for comparison with core/shell fibers. Studies on cell-scaffold interaction were carriedout using cardiac cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) co-culture system with cardiac cells and MSCs separately serving as positive and negative controls respectively. The co-culture system was characterized for cell proliferation and differentiation of MSCs into cardiomyogenic lineage in the co-culture environment using dual immunocytochemistry. The co-culture cells were stained with cardiac specific marker proteins like actinin and troponin and MSC specific marker protein CD 105 for proving the cardiogenic differentiation of MSCs. Further the morphology of cells was analyzed using SEM.RESULTS: PGS/collagen core/shell fibers, core is PGS polymer having an elastic modulus related to that of cardiac fibers and shell as collagen, providing natural environment for cellular activities like cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. SEM micrographs of electrospun fibrous scaffolds revealed porous, beadless, uniform fibers with a fiber diameter in the range of 380 ± 77 nm and 1192 ± 277 nm for collagen fibers and PGS/collagen core/shell fibers respectively. The obtained PGS/collagen core/shell fibrous scaffolds were hydrophilic having a water contact angle of 17.9 ± 4.6° compared to collagen nanofibers which had a contact angle value of 30 ± 3.2°. The PGS/collagen core/shell fibers had mechanical properties comparable to that of native heart muscle with a young's modulus of 4.24 ± 0.7 MPa, while that of collagen nanofibers was comparatively higher around 30.11 ± 1.68 MPa. FTIR spectrum was performed to confirm the functional groups present in the electrospun scaffolds. Amide Ⅰ and amide Ⅱ of collagen were detected at 1638.95 cm -1 and 1551.64 cm -1 in the electrospun collagen fibers and at 1646.22 cm -1 and 1540.73 cm -1 for PGS/collagen core/shell fibers respectively. Cell culture studies performed using MSCs and cardiac cells co-culture environment, indicated that the cellproliferation significantly increased on PGS/collagen core/shell scaffolds compared to collagen fibers and the cardiac marker proteins actinin and troponin were expressed more on PGS/collagen core/shell scaffolds compared to collagen fibers alone. Dual immunofluorescent staining was performed to further confirm the cardiogenic differentiation of MSCs by employing MSC specific marker protein, CD 105 and cardiac specific marker protein, actinin. SEM observations of cardiac cells showed normal morphology on PGS/collagen fibers and providing adequate tensile strength for the regeneration of myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: Combination of PGS/collagen fibers and cardiac cells/MSCs co-culture system providing natural microenvironments to improve cell survival and differentiation, could bring cardiac tissue engineering to clinical application.