多孔阵列聚合物模板及铜微/纳米线的可控制备

金属纳米线阵列材料是最具潜力的高时空分辨X射线强辐射源材料之一。采用集束热拉伸法,通过尺寸设计和参数控制,制备了包埋高度取向的聚苯乙烯微纳米线有序阵列结构的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯复合丝,通过后续包埋、切片、溶解等处理过程,获得孔径/孔间距约为1∶1的多孔聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯模板。通过光学显微镜和扫描电镜(SEM)观察,二级模板的孔径及孔间距尺寸约十几微米,三级模板的孔径及孔间距尺寸约500 nm。利用电化学沉积技术在制备的模板上成功地生长了铜微/纳米线,铜纳米线长度超过10μm。该研究为特定尺寸要求的金属微纳米线阵列的制备提供了技术支持。

Probe the Effects of Surface Adsorbates on ZnO Nanowire Conductivity using Dielectric Force Microscopy

Characterization of electric properties of nanomaterials usually involves fabricating field effect transistors （FET） and deriving materials properties from device performances. However, the quality of electrode contacts in FET devices heavily influences the device performance, which makes it difficult to obtain the intrinsic electric properties of nanomaterials. Dielectric force microscopy （DFM）, a contactless method developed recently, can detect the low-frequency dielectric responses of nanomaterials without electric contact, which avoids the influence of electric contact and can be used to study the intrinsic conductivity of nanomaterials. Here we study the influences of surface adsorbates on the conductivity of ZnO nanowires （NWs） by using FET and DFM methods. The conductivity of ZnO NW is much larger in N2 atmosphere than that in ambient environment as measured by FET device, which is further proven by DFM measurement that the ZnO NW exhibits larger dielectric response in N2 environment, and the influence of electrode contacts on measurement can be ruled out. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the adsorbates on ZnO NW surface highly influence the conductivity of ZnO NW rather than the electrode contact. This work also verifies the capability of DFM in measuring electric properties of nanomaterials.

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Efficient Visible Light Photocatalytic Properties of InVO4 Hierarchical Microspheres and InVO4 Nanowires

In this work, InVO4 hierarchical microspheres and InVO4 nanowires were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that InVO4 crystals can be fabricated in different morphologies by simply manipulating the reuction parameters of hydrothermal process. The as-prepared InVO4 photocatalysts exhibited higher photocatalytic activities in the degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation （λ〉420 nm） compared with commercial P25 TiO2. Furthermore, the as-synthesized InVO4 hierarchical microspheres showed higher photocatalytic activity than that of InVO4 nanowires. Up to 100% Rh B （3 μmol/L） was decolorized after visible-light irradiation for 40 min. In addition, the reason for the difference in the photocatalytic activities for InVO4 hierarchical microspheres and InVO4 nanowires was studied based on their structures and morphologies.

Microstructure and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Very Small Size GaAs Nanogranulae Embedded in SiO_2 Matrix by Magnetron Co-Sputtering

Microstructure of GaAs/SiO 2 nanogranular thin films fabricated by radio frequency magnetron co sputtering technique and postannealing are investigated via atomic force microscope,X ray diffraction,and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy.The results show that GaAs nanocrystals with average diameters from 1 5nm to 3 2nm (depending on the annealing temperature) are uniformly dispersed in the SiO 2 matrices.GaAs and SiO 2 are found in normal stoichiometry in the films.The nonlinear optical refraction and nonlinear optical absorption are studied by Z scan technique using a single Gaussian beam of pulse laser.The third order nonlinear optical refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient are enhanced due to the quantum confinement effects and estimated to be 4×10 -12 m 2/W and 2×10 -5 m/W respectively in nonresonant condition,while 2×10 -11 m 2/W and -1×10 -4 m/W respectively in quasi resonant condition.

Transparent Electronic Skin Device Based on Microstructured Silver Nanowire Electrode

Transparent, flexible electronic skin holds a wide range of applications in robotics, humanmachine interfaces, artificial intelligence, prosthetics, and health monitoring. Silver nanowire are mechanically flexible and robust, which exhibit great potential in transparent and electricconducting thin film. Herein, we report on a silver-nanowire spray-coating and electrodemicrostructure replicating strategy to construct a transparent, flexible, and sensitive electronic skin device. The electronic skin device shows highly sensitive piezo-capacitance response to pressure. It is found that micropatterning the surface of dielectric layer polyurethane elastomer by replicating from microstructures of natural-existing surfaces such as lotus leaf, silk, and frosted glass can greatly enhance the piezo-capacitance performance of the device. The microstructured pressure sensors based on silver nanowire exhibit good transparency, excellent flexibility, wide pressure detection range （0-150 kPa）, and high sensitivity （1.28 kPa-1）.

Failure Prediction Modeling of Lithium Ion Battery toward Distributed Parameter Estimation

Lithium ion battery has typical character of distributed parameter system, and can be described precisely by partial differential equations and multi-physics theory because lithium ion battery is a complicated electrochemical energy storage system. A novel failure prediction modeling method of lithium ion battery based on distributed parameter estimation and single particle model is proposed in this work. Lithium ion concentration in the anode of lithium ion battery is an unmeasurable distributed variable. Failure prediction system can estimate lithium ion concentration online, track the failure residual which is the difference between the estimated value and the ideal value. The precaution signal will be triggered when the failure residual is beyond the predefined failure precaution threshold, and the failure countdown prediction module will be activated. The remaining time of the severe failure threshold can be estimated by the failure countdown prediction module according to the changing rate of the failure residual. A simulation example verifies that lithium ion concentration in the anode of lithium ion battery can be estimated exactly and effectively by the failure prediction model. The precaution signal can be triggered reliably, and the remaining time of the severe failure can be forecasted accurately by the failure countdown prediction module.

Liquid-phase preparation and electrochemical property of LiFePO_4/C nanowires

Olivine LiFePO4/C nanowires have been successfully synthesized by a simple and eco-friendly solution preparation.The phase,structure,morphology and composition of the as-prepared products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),thermogravimetric and differential-thermogravimetric analysis(TG-DTA) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry(EDS) techniques,showing uniform nanowire shape of LiFePO4/C with a diameter of 80-150 nm and a length of several microns.The heat-treated LiFePO4/C nanowires show excellent electrochemical properties of specific discharge capacity,rate capacity and cycling stability.In particular,the LiFePO4/C nanowires heat-treated at 400 °C show preferable first discharge specific capacity of 161 mA·h/g at 0.1C rate,while the voltage platform is 3.4 V and the first discharge specific capacity is 93 mA·h/g at 20C rate.The specific capacity retention is 98% after 50 cycles at 5C rate.

Convective Assembly of Linear Gold Nanoparticle Arrays at the Micron Scale for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering

A convective assembly technique at the micron scale analogous to the writing action of a ＂pipette pen＂ has been developed for the linear assembly of gold nanoparticle strips with micron scale width and millimeter scale length for surface enhanced Raman scattering （SERS）. The arrays with interparticle gaps smaller than 3 nm are hexagonally stacked in the vicinity of the pipette tip. Variable numbers of stacked layers and clean surfaces of the assembled nanoparticles are obtained by optimizing the velocity of the pipette tip. The SERS properties of tile assembled nanoparticle arrays rely on their stacking number and surface cleanliness.

Flexible and transparent capacitive pressure sensor with patterned microstructured composite rubber dielectric for wearable touch keyboard application

The development of pressure sensors with highly sensitivity, fast response and facile fabrication technique is desirable for wearable electronics. Here, we successfully fabricated a flexible transparent capacitive pressure sensor based on patterned microstructured silver nanowires(AgNWs)/polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS) composite dielectrics. Compared with the pure PDMS dielectric layer with planar structures, the patterned microstructured sensor exhibits a higher sensitivity(0.831 kPa^-1, <0.5 kPa), a lower detection limit,good stability and durability. The enhanced sensing mechanism about the conductive filler content and the patterned microstructures has also been discussed. A 5×5 sensor array was then fabricated to be used as flexible and transparent wearable touch keyboards systems. The fabricated pressure sensor has great potential in the future electronic skin area.

Deriving the three-dimensional structure of ZnO nanowires/nanobelts by scanning transmission electron microscope tomography

Characterizing the three-dimensional （3D） shape of a nanostructure by con- ventional imaging techniques in scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy can be limited or complicated by various factors, such as two-dimensional （2D） projection, diffraction contrast and unsure orientation of the nanostructure with respect to the electron beam direction. In this paper, in conjunction with electron diffraction and imaging, the 3D morphologies of ZnO nanowires and nanobelts synthesized via vapor deposition were reconstructed by electron tomography in a scanning transmission electron microscope （STEM）. The cross-sections of these one-dimensional （1D） nanostructures include triangle, hexagonal, and rectangle shapes. By combining the reconstructed shape with the crystalline information supplied by electron diffraction patterns recorded from the same nanowire/nanobelt, the growth direction and its exposed surfaces were uniquely identified. In total, three different growth directions were confirmed. These directions are 〈 0001 〉, 〈21 10 〉 and 〈21 13 〉, corresponding to 〈001〉, 〈100〉 and 〈101〉 orientations in three-index notation. The 〈0001〉 growth nanowires show triangle or hexagonal cross-sections, with exposed {01]-0} side surfaces. The dominant surfaces of the 〈21 10〉 growth nanobelt are _＋（0001） planes. Both hexagonal and rectangle cross-sections were observed in the 〈 2]-13 〉 growth ZnO nanostructures. Their surfaces include the {01]-0}, {]-101} and {2112} planes. The nanobelts with a large aspect ratio of ~10 normally grow along the 〈 21 10 〉 direction, while nanobelts with small aspect ratio grow along 〈21 13 〉 growth direction. The approach and methodology demonstrated here can be extended to any nanostructures that even amorphous. can be crystalline, polycrystalline or

Straight and kinked InAs nanowire growth observed in situ by transmission electron microscopy

Live observations of growing nanowires using in situ transmission electron microscopy （TEM） is becoming an increasingly important tool for understanding the dynamic processes occurring during nanowire growth. Here we present observations of growing InAs nanowires, which constitute the first reported in situ growth of a In-V compound in a transmission electron microscope. Real time observations of events taking place over longer growth lengths were possible due to the high growth rates of up to I nm/s that were achieved. Straight growth （mainly in 〈111〉B directions） was observed at uniform temperature and partial pressure while intentional fluctuations in these conditions caused the nanowires to form kinks and change growth direction. The mechanisms behind the kinking are discussed in detail. In situ observations of nanowire kinking has previously only been reported for nonpolar diamond structure type materials （such as Si）, but here we present results for a polar zinc blende structure （InAs）. In this study a closed cell with electron and X-ray transparent a-SiN windows was used in a conventional high resolution transmission electron microscope, enabling high resolution imaging and compositional analysis in between the growth periods.

Chelating agents role on phase formation and surface morphology of single orthorhombic YMn_2O_5 nanorods via modified polyacrylamide gel route

YMn2O5nanorods were synthesized through a modified polyacrylamide gel route.The synthesis strategy in this work is based on a sol-gel process using a polyacrylamide gel method in which oxalic acid,citric acid or tartaric acid is employed as the chelating agent.In the gel routes,oxalic acid was used as a carboxyl chelating agent,while citric acid or tartaric acid was a carboxyl and hydroxyl chelating agent.The as-prepared samples were characterized by means of techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction(XRD)measurement,thermogravimetric analysis(TG),differential scanning calorimetry analysis(DSC),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),thermal expansion measurement and field-emission scanning electron microscopy(SEM)investigations.It was found that oxalic acid is the best chelating agent with Y(NO3)3·6H2O and Mn(CH3COO)2·4H2O as precursors to prepare a single orthorhombic YMn2O5nanorods at 1000°C.Scanning electron microscope observation shows that the morphology of YMn2O5powders is significantly dependent on the chelating agent.The peaks(single orthorhombic YMn2O5nanorods)at 642,600,573,546,521,493,486,468,448 and 400cm?1were observed from FTIR spectra.The phase,surface morphology and chelation mechanisms of YMn2O5samples have been discussed on the basis of the experimental results.

Nanoparticulate X-ray CT contrast agents

X-ray computed tomography(CT) has been widely used as a powerful diagnostic tool in clinics because it can provide high-resolution 3D tomography of the anatomic structure based on the distinctive X-ray absorptions between different tissues. Currently, CT contrast agents are mainly small iodinated molecules, which suffer from drawbacks such as short blood- retention time, nonspecific in vivo biodistribution, and renal toxicity. Utilization of nanoparticles as potential CT contrast agents to overcome the aforementioned issues has advanced rapidly. In this mini review, we introduce current research efforts in the development of nanoparticulate CT contrast agents and discuss the challenges for additional breakthroughs in this field.

Complete thermoelectric benchmarking of individual InSb nanowires using combined micro-Raman and electric transport analysis

Nanowires （NWs） are ideal nanostructures for exploring the effects of low dimensionality and thermal conductivity suppression on thermoelectric behavior. However, it is challenging to accurately measure temperature gradients and heat flow in such systems. Here, using a combination of spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy and transport measurements, we determine all the thermoelectric properties of single Se-doped InSb NWs and quantify the figure of merit ZT. The measured laser-induced heating in the NWs and associated electrical response are well described by a 1D heat equation model. Our method allows the determination of the thermal contact resistances at the source and drain electrodes of the NW, which are negligible in our system. The measured thermoelectric parameters of InSb NWs agree well with those obtained based on field-effect transistor Seebeck measurements.

Valence Band Splitting in Wurtzite InP Nanowires Observed by Photoluminescence and Photoluminescence Excitation Spectroscopy

We have investigated individual bulk-like wires of wurtzite InP using photoluminescence, photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Using two different methods we find that the top of the valence band is split, as expected theoretically. This splitting of the valence band is peculiar to wurtzite InP and does not occur in zinc blende InP. We find the energy difference between the two bands to be 40 meV.

Synthesis of Ag-SiO_2 composite nanospheres and their catalytic activity

A simple,mild,and time-saving method is employed to synthesize Ag-SiO2 composite nanospheres with Ag nanoparticles uniformly distributed on the surface of SiO2 nanoparticles.The chemical elements and the morphology of Ag-SiO2 composite nanospheres were analyzed with transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray power diffraction(XRD),and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).On the surface of Ag-SiO2 composite nanospheres,silane coupling agent(KH-550)is introduced as an intermediary to connect the surfaces of SiO2 nanospheres and Ag nanoparticles,which is also helpful for avoiding the aggregation of Ag nanoparticles.It is found that Ag-SiO2 composite nanospheres have very good catalytic properties for the reduction of organic dyes,which may have potential application in wastewater treatment.

E-beam-induced in situ structural transformation in one-dimensional nanomaterials

Electron beam （e-beam） irradiation is an inev- itable, but crucial issue for electron microscopy. Our investigation results show the e-beam-induced in situ structural transformations in silicon （Si） nanowires and zinc oxide （ZnO） nanowires （NWs）, respectively. Crystal to amorphous structure transition was revealed in Si NWs utilizing high resolution electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Reconstruction at the （1010） surface of ZnO NWs was also observed in the transmission electron microscope （TEM） using aberration-corrected electron microscopy. These e-beam-induced in situ struc- tural transformations prove that the electron beam irradi- ation effect is able to be used for the local modification of one-dimensional nanomaterials.

Production of Graphene Nanospheres by Annealing of Graphene Oxide in Solution

We report a simple method to produce graphene nanospheres （GNSs） by annealing graphene oxide （GO） solution at high-temperature with the assistance of sparks induced by the microwave absorption of graphite flakes dispersed in the solution. The GNSs were formed by rolling up of the annealed GO, and the diameters were mostly in the range 300-700 nm. The GNS exhibited a hollow sphere structure surrounded by graphene walls with a basal spacing of 0.34 nm. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the GNSs confirmed that the GO was efficiently reduced during the fabrication process. The resulting GNSs may open up new opportunities both for fundamental research and applications, and this method may be extended to the synthesis of other nanomaterials and the fabrication of related nanostructures.

BIOCONVECTION IN A NON-DARCY POROUS MEDIUM SATURATED WITH A NANOFLUID AND OXYTACTIC MICRO-ORGANISMS

The aim of this paper is to present a continuum model for bioconvection of oxytactic micro-organisms in a non-Darcy porous medium and to investigate the effects of bio- convection and mixed convection on the steady boundary layer flow past a horizontal plate embedded in a porous medium filled with a water-based nanofluid. The governing partial differential equations for momentum, heat, oxygen and micro-organism conser- vation are reduced to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations that are numerically solved using a built-in MATLAB ODE solver. The effects of the bioconvection parameters on the nanofluid fluid properties, nanoparticle concentration and the density of the micro-organism are analyzed. A comparative anal- ysis of our results with those previously reported in the literature is given. Among the significant findings in this study is that bioconvection parameters highly influence beat, mass and motile micro-organism transfer rates.