Gadolinium doped tin dioxide nanoparticles: an efficient visible light active photocatalyst

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol with sol-gel prepared rare earth doped tin dioxide （SnO2） nanoparticles was reported. Gadolinium doped tin dioxide （SnO2：Gd） nanoparticles were found to absorb higher visible light compared to lanthanum, neodymium and cerium doped materials that were studied in detail. Photocatalytic degradation of phenol under artificial white light and sunlight in the presence of SnO2：Gd nanoparticles was studied with high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）, capillary electrophoresis （CE）, total organic carbon （TOC） measurements and the determination of chemical oxygen demand （COD）. Clear correlations be- tween the results obtained from these multiple measurements were found, and a kinetic pathway for the degradation process was pro- posed. Within 150 min of solar irradiation, the TOC of a 10 ppm phenol solution in water was reduced by 95%-99%, thus demon- strating that SnO2：Gd nanoparticles are efficient visible light photocatalysts.

Effect of Particle Size on Target Sintering Behavior of Cubic ITO Nanopowders

The effect of particle size on the density and resistivity of ITO green bodies and targets was systematically investigated.The experimental results show that the relative density of ITO green bodies decreases with the increase of ITO particle size.When the particle size is 10.7 nm,the relative density of ITO green bodies rises to the maximum value of 56.6%.The resistivity declines exponentially with the increase of particle size,which satisfies the exponential equation of R=exp(-41.823 × d).When the particle size is 41.6 nm,the resistivity reaches the minimum value of 0.8 Ω·cm.The relative density of ITO target decreases with the increase of particle size.Fine particles can increase the driving force of densification in initial stage.Electron mobility,caused by grain boundary scattering,will increase due to the increase of particle size or the decrease of grain boundary potential.When the particle size is 10.7 nm,the target with compact grain stacking and low porosity shows a maximum relative density of 99.25%,and the resistivity reaches the minimum value of 0.34×10^-3 Ω·cm.

Sub-100 nm hollow SnO_2@C nanoparticles as anode material for lithium ion batteries and significantly enhanced cycle performances

Rational designing and controlling of nanostructures is a key factor in realizing appropriate properties required for the high-performance energy fields. In the present study, hollow Sn O2@C nanoparticles（NPs） with a mean size of 50 nm have been synthesized in large-scale via a facile hydrothermal approach.The morphology and composition of as-obtained products were studied by various characterized techniques. As an anode material for lithium ion batteries（LIBs）, the as-prepared hollow Sn O2@C NPs exhibit significant improvement in cycle performances. The discharge capacity of lithium battery is as high as 370 m Ah g 1, and the current density is 3910 m A g 1（5 C） after 573 cycles. Furthermore, the capacity recovers up to 1100 m Ah g 1at the rate performances in which the current density is recovered to 156.4 m A g 1（0.2 C）. Undoubtedly, sub-100 nm Sn O2@C NPs provide significant improvement to the electrochemical performance of LIBs as superior-anode nanomaterials, and this carbon coating strategy can pave the way for developing high-performance LIBs.